We launched Wellness Weavers with one core vision:
To create a welcoming space where health experts and individuals in need of support can come together, share wisdom, and explore natural, accessible tools for healing.
This past week, that vision came to life.
In our very first Wellness Weavers gathering, we were joined by friends and partners across continents—including Allison Massa, FNLP, a dedicated natural health practitioner, and Muhindo and Rogers, community leaders in Uganda. Together, we opened our hearts, minds, and experiences to uncover how we can support children’s health and healing in refugee settlements, especially those navigating trauma and hunger.
🧡 A Conversation Rooted in Shared Purpose
The discussion flowed with honesty, compassion, and a shared desire to deepen our care for both people and planet. Allison shared her journey of turning away from conventional medicine in search of more empowering, holistic health solutions. Tracy reflected on her belief that healing the earth and the body go hand in hand.
Together, we acknowledged how limited resources don’t need to mean limited healing—and how education, movement, and presence can be powerful medicine when shared intentionally.
We’re especially grateful to Allison, who donated her time and wisdom so generously to support this community. Her calm, grounded presence reminded us that healing doesn’t need fancy tools—just breath, rhythm, and intention.
👧🏿 Centering Children in Refugee Communities
The majority of our session, our focus was children in Uganda—many of whom live in refugee camps or on the streets, struggling to keep up with education and stability. We discussed the mental health challenges these children face: trauma, emotional dysregulation, hunger, and grief.
💬 “School can’t happen if a child is suffering from trauma. Healing must come first.”
One participant shared that while children often enjoy activities like football, they also experience sudden emotional outbursts that stem from deep, unprocessed trauma. What they need, we all agreed, is consistent emotional support woven into their daily routine.
This is where Allison’s wisdom truly landed:
“The nervous system relaxes on the exhale,” she shared.
“So we teach the children to take long, slow breaths out—again and again—until that becomes their natural response to stress.”
That single shift—lengthening the exhale—can turn chaos into calm. It’s a tool children can carry with them always, no matter their circumstances.
🔑 Takeaways: Simple Tools, Deep Impact
Here are the core takeaways we shared in the meeting—practical steps anyone can implement, even in low-resource settings:
1. Daily Healing Time Using YouTube Resources
Create a consistent time each day to introduce simple healing practices using free YouTube videos. We recommend trying one practice per week:
- Breathe with Sandy (for calming the nervous system)
- Qi Gong (for gentle, energetic movement)
- EFT Tapping (to release stuck emotions)
- Conscious Dance / Movement
- Teal Swan (for trauma healing tools)
✨ Rotate weekly and see which practices the children enjoy most.
2. Peace Sticks for Flow & Emotional Regulation
Tracy introduced Peace Sticks—a rhythmic game where two people pass sticks to music. It helps children enter a flow state, release stress, and build connection. Visit World Peace Tribe here.
🌀 Make your own Peace Sticks with local materials and play daily. It’s simple, powerful, and fun. Reach out to us to get a PDF of how to make and play Peace Sticks.
3. Explore Bone Broth for Nourishment
We also discussed the importance of food-based healing. Tracy recommended reaching out to Shine On Sierra Leone about starting a bone broth project—one of the most nourishing, accessible foods for healing gut and brain function.
🍲 Tracy will follow up with them—and we invite others to explore partnerships and donations to support this work.
4. Daily Emotional Support Routines
The group agreed on the value of structured emotional support:
- Morning breathwork or tapping
- Circle check-ins
- Safe spaces for storytelling and sharing emotions
- Regular rhythm and repetition
These consistent practices can transform not only emotional health—but also the capacity to learn and connect.
We’re thrilled to announce that Wellness Weavers will continue as an ongoing monthly virtual circle—a space to:
- Share resources for health and healing
- Explore trauma-informed tools
- Support children in refugee settlements and beyond
- Weave a global network of care and collaboration
💫 You’re invited.
đź“… Register for the next Wellness Weavers meeting (click here)
đź’› Donate to support trauma healing for children in Uganda (click here)
Sign up for our Newsletter to receive updates straight to your inbox (click here)
🙏 A Note of Deep Gratitude
Thank you, Allison Massa, for your heartfelt donation of time, care, and healing guidance. Your presence reminded us that sometimes the deepest medicine is already within us—we just need someone to help us breathe it out. Visit Allison’s website: https://bloomwithalma.com/
Healing is not a luxury—it is a necessity. And healing together is how we rise.
Watch the full meeting here: https://youtu.be/8xbs0GGvMOk
With heart,
Tracy Tarlow & the Springboard Connectivity Team
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