A CADENA relief camp with tents and the Peruvian flag in the desert near Secocha

CADENA volunteers setting up a water filtration unit between relief tents

Psychology First Aid · Field Research

Community First Aid Project

CompanyCADENA

LocationPeru

Year2022

Following a severe flood in the town of Secocha, located four hours from Arequipa, Peru, CADENA mobilized a team of doctors and psychologists. The initiative provided both individual and group support, focusing on trauma processing and equipping the community with psychological tools for recovery.

Working in a post-disaster environment reinforced my belief that you cannot solve a problem by only looking at the individual. You must understand the collapsing system surrounding them. Mapping urgent needs in Secocha taught me how to look past surface symptoms to identify root behavioral drivers, the exact same systemic approach I use today to uncover true user friction and build resilient digital products.

A CADENA psychologist providing one-on-one support to a community member at a table

Psychological First Aid

What I did

Supported post-disaster recovery through localized, trauma-informed interventions.

What I took from it

Facilitated emotional support spaces to promote resilience and collective healing.

A CADENA psychologist taking notes during a play-based session with a child

A CADENA psychologist sitting with a mother and child on steps outside

Buildings in Secocha destroyed by the flood

Takeaway

Working in a post-disaster environment reinforced my belief that you cannot separate the individual from the system.

Next Project

Rethinking First Aid Access

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