Communities and their individual members

Our view of how wellness and recovery efforts ought to be undertaken is from the point of view that a community, rather than individual, has defined. Much effort in the name of progress has focused on the individual and their view of the world. For the BWI and our partners this has led to atomisation of human experience and rendered the starting and end points finite. However we consider the circular nature of Afrikan and Eastern wisdoms and philosophies more reflective of the communities we work with. For example, a Eurocentric view suggests “I think therefore I am” while from our experience of Afrikan people “I am because we are and because we are I am” has guided and informed the latter’s view of the world. As a result people of Afrikan descent, for instance, as well as other Eastern heritages that live in Europe and other parts of the world heavily influenced by Eurocentric philosophies find that they are perpetually torn between a natural and aspired for worldview, which position renders aspirations for wellness that much more complex.

In our approach we engage with people on a gradual and emerging basis that places them back in the context of their community. This journey reflects the need for people to address their identity (healing) as well as their sense of connectedness (social support) which factors are significant in helping attain and maintain wellness on the one hand. On the other hand these factors and others that generally emerge through our interactions form a base for and goal for people in recovery.