WELCOME TO

THE TEN MILLION MEMORY PROJECT AND MEMORY WORK

10MMP is an acronym for Ten Million Memory Project. It is a psycho social support initiative being developed by REPSSI and its partners. It is a catalyst whose objective it is to reach 10 million children by 2010, through networks like the Red Cross and others who are already working in the field and who have an interest in memory approaches.

Memory work might be defined as the deliberate setting up of a safe space in which to contain the telling of a story about life. This space might be a room, the shade under a tree, a drawing, map, memory box, basket or book. In therapeutic contexts, the scope of memory work is not necessarily restricted to the past, its purpose is often to deal with difficulties in the present, and its main orientation often tends towards planning and the future. Memory work often acknowledges and reinforces the amazing capacity people have to survive and even to celebrate life amidst all the challenges.

Memory work is widely practiced in Africa and beyond. Many practitioners are collaborating under the umbrella of the Ten Million Memory Project (10MMP). The 10MMP includes a deliberate mix of academics, faith basers, flat earthers, grass rooters, youngsters and veterans. Our joint vision is to share memory approaches with at least 10 Million Children across Africa by 2010. This is being accomplished by working into existing extensive networks like the Red Cross, and by developing key partnerships in at least 27 African countries.

The broad strategy at this stage includes the development of simple training material, the establishment of pools of regional master trainers and national training teams, media and communications advocacy, the integration of memory work into education, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

Some of the 10MMP partner organizations are listed below:

NACWOLA who pioneered memory work in Africa and where the main focus is on disclosure and succession planning.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies who have been piloting and training their workers and volunteers in memory approaches for several years.
MAP (Memory Action Projects) based at the University of Cape Town who have developed psycho social innovations in a context of ARV, for example the use of body maps which are used as a communication tool and as patient-held files to help with adherence.
The Sinomlando Project, an oral history centre at the School of Theology at the University of Natal, whose memory work combines elements of Oral History and Family Therapy.
South Coast Hospice also in Kwa Zulu Natal who because of the nature of their client base have developed very powerful memory interventions that place orphaned and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS at the centre.
A British based charity called Madaboutart that uses an arts based and child centered approach.
REPSSI, a psycho-social initiative for children affected by HIV and AIDS within the SADC region

For more information, contact jonathan@10mmp.org