International Development

At Roxa Development Institute (RDI), we support Veterans and Refugees affected by conflict through trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health care. Our work helps people in crisis and post-crisis settings find stability, healing, and hope.

RDI has partnered with governments, NGOs, and community organizations to deliver trauma-informed mental health services to conflict-affected communities locally and internationally. Through collaborative, culturally responsive initiatives, including work supported by the Government of Canada, we help build sustainable support systems that promote long-term wellbeing.

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Cultivating Relationships for Actionable Insights: The Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Advantage

A key part of our approach includes training professionals through our signature course.

This one-day training:

  • Introduces the role of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), such as corporate, intelligence and humanitarian efforts

  • Equips participants with legal and ethical foundations for information gathering

  • Builds practical skills in active listening, rapport-building, and subtle elicitation techniques

  • Teaches how to gather high-quality information while maintaining trust, privacy, and cultural sensitivity.

  • Equips participants for ethical decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and informed programming in complex environments

Brochure titled "Cultivating Relationships for Actionable Insights" with a subtitle about the HUMAN intelligence advantage, featuring a young man adjusting his tie in a business suit. Contains details about learning topics and a QR code at the bottom.

View the brochure to learn more!

We are carrying our mission forward through projects like the Veterans Transition Centre (VTC) – Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Refugees Transition Centre (RTC) – Edmonton, Alberta, both set to open in 2026. These facilities will offer trauma-informed counselling and transition support, tailored to the needs of Veterans and Refugee families. Through strong partnerships at home and internationally, we’re able to respond with compassion, ethical practice, and measurable impact in diverse and evolving global contexts.

Past Projects

The Roxa Development Institute and its partners have supported several international initiatives that promote mental health and resilience among communities displaced by conflict.

  • In 2021, RDI joined Canadian mental health experts to respond to the urgent needs of Afghan Refugees displaced by conflict. The team launched a trauma-informed program focused on providing support through translated materials, online tools, and community-based outreach. This work laid a foundation for future trauma support.

  • To make trauma education more accessible, RDI introduced a self-paced online course. Tailored to Afghan learners, including former interpreters and professionals awaiting resettlement, the course introduced core concepts of trauma and healing in a supportive, flexible format. Over 180 participants engaged in the course, gaining tools to understand and manage emotional stress while preparing for new chapters in their lives.

  • RDI developed a series of online trauma workshops for Afghan students, faculty, and newcomers preparing for life in Canada. From introductory sessions to one-on-one support, these workshops offered safe spaces to learn, reflect, and begin healing.

  • Building on earlier efforts, RDI expanded our work with our partners to deliver structured emotional support to Refugees across several countries. Through translated materials and culturally inclusive outreach, over 300 participants engaged in psycho-educational sessions that focused on mental health literacy and motivational tools.