The David Berceli Trauma Release Foundation is invited to provide a pro bono trauma recovery workshop for 200 inmates at Pretoria Central Prison in South Africa in April, 2010.
The purpose of the David Berceli trauma release foundation is to provide trauma and stress relief exercises to financially disadvantaged and to conduct research for improvement of the exercises and methods involved by training practitioners to deliver the services to groups or individuals and conducting research projects on the techniques and methods used.
The David Berceli trauma release foundation is funding David’s Pretoria Central Prison workshop in South Africa and $575 was raised at the March, 2010 Level 1 training in Aspen, Colorado.
In November 1962 Nelson Mandela was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for incitement and illegally leaving the country. He was imprisoned at Pretoria Central Prison. He spent seven months at Pretoria Central Prison before he was transferred to Robben Island. The historical red brick prison on Potgieter Street, in service for 75 years, was demolished in 1979. Building the new prison started in 1980 and work was finally completed in the late 1990’s.
Trauma and stress are part of everyone’s life and can be particularly chronic and intense in a prison setting. Learning and performing the exercises can help the individual release the chronic, deep tension held within the muscles.
The foundation is grateful to the following donors at the Aspen, Colorado Level 1 training who are helping to make this workshop possible: Diane Argenzio, Eileen Gielow, Jean Owen, Robert Audet, Kimberly Hay, Tammy Perry, Tanya Black, Lisa Heifner, Davi Roach, Margo Carpenter, Ann Jagert, Stephanie Schilling, Barry Chapman, Sallyanne Johnson, Andrea Villa, Jim Chenoweth, Agnes Kernan, Jacquie Wheeler, Ellie Davis, Rita Marsh, Judi Williams, Lisa DeBussy, Adam McCabe, Zack Zdinak.
David Berceli will also lead two TRE Level I certification trainings during his time in South Africa, one each in Johannesburg and Cape Town, furthering the foundation's mission to train practitioners to deliver the services to groups or individuals regionally.