Baraka means blessings in the Swahili language. Our purpose is to foster niche multicultural partnerships dedicated to create awareness of Mental illness and end the stigma and stereotypes associated with it. We aim to create awareness of Mental health amongst the diverse and under-served African Ethnicity Communities. That is, Africans in the motherland and in the Diaspora, African-Americans, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino Communities.
Our mission is to provide diverse and culturally competent, holistic and wellness focused services that promote collaborations and empowerment, education, curb development of mental health challenges and aide those we partner with by bridging the gaps. We focus on mental health advocacy and educational consulting through speaking engagements, development workshops and training sessions utilizing technology and community outreach. We are a natural hub and melting pot of human and information resources.
It takes a Village to Endure Mental illness
Baraka Village International vision was conceived in May 2012, after going though a profound storm, spiritual realm and psychiatric episode that resulted in Jacci’s hospitalization at various Psychiatric hospitals and the State Mental Hospital. Jacci had been mute for several days, unable to speak, eat, sleep and communicate as her mind was completely scattered and she was completely broken after the awakening ordeal. When she regained some familiarity and recollection of her thoughts, she decided to attend the art therapy session for her recovery as music was still playing in her ears even though she was having trouble hearing and seeing clearly. She couldn’t read or write, so she browsed through several children’s coloring books until the found the picture above. She choose to color with crayons instead with inspiration from her favourite song "Thugz Mansion - by Tupac Shakur (Instrumental Version)" which was still playing in her head. It was the last song she had replayed over and over for several days prior to being hospitalized. She picked the shells design because she still "seeing" and "hearing" many things and could hear the sound of the ocean through the sea shells. She had to design her new life after recovery and what she wanted it to be. The smaller dots were to help her pick her broken life back up, connect the pieces and rebuild herself. The four shells represented the larger picture of how everything, which is life, connected. (Feel, See, Hear, Speak). It was very instrumental in her speedy recovery. Three weeks later, she was able to hold dialogue with her team of doctors that got her advocating for herself and discharged even faster.
