A Road to Recovery Through Art: The story of a young man displaced by conflict who expresses his experiences through art

Gondar, Ethiopia - Bahran, a 20-year-old, lived peacefully with his mother and sister until the conflict broke out in Shire, Tigray, in 2020. To save their lives, they fled to Gondar in the neighbouring Amhara region, finding refuge at Kebero Meda, an internally displaced persons (IDPs) site on the outskirts of Gondar city. 

When Bahran arrived in Gondar, he struggled due to the losses from the conflict. His family lost their home and belongings, and he lost his friends and social connections. 

He frequently felt hopeless and worried, often spending his days alone and finding it challenging to interact with others in the community. As a result, Bahran decided to leave high school and stop pursuing what he loved most: his passion for painting. 

Bahran then discovered that IOM offers Mental Health and Psychosocial (MHPPS) services at the site. He contacted the MHPSS team, who provide individual and group counselling, socio-relational and recreational activities, mental health awareness, psychoeducation, Psychological First Aid (PFA), and referrals. 

He received multiple counselling sessions and support to help him cope and participated in different recreational activities. The peer-to-peer support he received from his mates also helped him to share his problems and cope with his situation better. 

Bahran also joined the MHPSS art club at the IDP site and began expressing his experiences through sketches. Art became his coping mechanism, and a means to a healing journey as he reflected camp life in his work. 

Bahran ultimately returned to his usual self, resumed school and began improving his relationship with his family and peers. 

“There were several negative thoughts that used to go through my mind as I dealt with the challenging experiences,” says Bahran. “I appreciate the support I received in the camp as I managed to slowly heal my mental health and am now hopeful for a better future.” 

"Mental health and Psychosocial support is vital for recovery during crises," said  Firew Ambachew, MHPSS Project Associate at IOM Ethiopia. "Our interventions help the most affected, including displaced people, stranded migrants, and those impacted by disasters or conflict." 

He emphasized the case of Bahran saying, "His journey exemplifies the transformative impact of these initiatives. With targeted assistance, he was able to recover, rebuild his life, and restore his self-esteem." 

Such initiatives are vital in addressing the psychological and social toll of displacement and adversity. Whether in camps, transit centres or host communities, IOM's work underscores the importance of mental health care in fostering long-term recovery and integration for crisis-affected populations. 

Bahran has since taken his painting talents to a new height and opened a small gallery in Gondar city where he displays his pieces and works on commissioned pieces to earn a small income. He is also spurring hope in his peers to follow suit and become artists also. He says he wants to be a globally recognized artist one day. 

In 2024 alone IOM provided MHPSS services to over two thousand displaced individuals and the host community in Kebero Meda IDP site, supported by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).  

With the generous support of BHA, the IOM MHPSS team, in 2024, collaborated with community volunteers to organize socio-relational, cultural, art-based, sports, play activities, individual and group counseling services for 55,462 IDPs, drought and conflict-affected host communities in Ethiopia. These activities have been used as therapeutic alternatives to foster social connection, cultural expression, coping skills, and community recovery.