Resilience, survivorship, and education were celebrated on January 18 as members of the Peterborough community came together for the launch of a new collaborative initiative between researchers in Trent University’s Emotion and Health Research Laboratory, the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC), and The Mane Intent.

The Honourable Maryam Monsef ’03, also a Trent alumna, was in attendance at the event to announce $464,983 in funding, over four years, from the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the innovative program, “Building Internal Resilience through Horses.”

“At Trent University’s Emotion and Health Research Laboratory, we are committed to translating our research into practice, focusing on the development of socioemotional competencies to enhance our mental health and resilience among young children, youth, and young adults,” said the program’s lead researcher and assistant professor of Psychology at Trent University, Dr. Kateryna Keefer. “The equine assisted learning is a promising and unique pathway for health promotion and resilience building and we are excited to strengthen its scientific evidence base, so that it can be sustained long term and disseminated Canada wide.”

The program will work to promote internal resilience for young women living in the Peterborough area who are survivors of child maltreatment and/or intimate partner violence. Through equine assisted learning and psychoeducational workshops, the program aims to reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, promote positive mental health, and equip survivors with coping skills and resilience to foster their safety in the future.

The project will conclude with a national conference focused on resilience for health and community service providers, educators, and community-based organizations.