The Tapping Solution Foundation (TTSF) announces the release of its award-winning documentary, Project Light: From Rwanda to Newtown — a story of hope, healing, and possibility.

A free screening will take place Monday, October 19, from 6 to 8 pm, at Newtown Middle School. Refreshments, giveaways, and babysitting will also be offered.

The 60-minute documentary follows the transformation achieved by 12 orphan genocide survivors in Rwanda after participating in a new form of sustainable humanitarian aid called Project Light.

These young people, called ambassadors, were trained to heal their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their hearts, as well as teach others to do the same. In only two short years they paid forward their healing to hundreds, from Rwanda to Sandy Hook.

Produced by Academy Award-winner Barnet Bain and narrated by Emmy-nominated actress CCH Pounder, the movie features Newtown High School student J.T. Lewis, brother of Jesse Lewis, who was killed on 12/14.

Dr Lori Leyden, head of TTSF and founder of Create Global Healing, developed Project Light as a result of her work in Rwanda with orphan genocide survivors since 2007.

“With inquiries from around the world, my vision is to establish Project Light programs wherever they are needed most around the world. When I witnessed J.T.’s transformation as a result of connecting with our Project Light ambassadors, I knew my vision was becoming a reality,” she said.

Project Light was a film festival finalist at Moondance, Unspoken, New York Peace, Illuminate and most recently, was the lead film at Anima, in Argentina where Dr Leyden, sponsored by the US Embassy, represented the film to an international audience.

Jennifer Barahona, executive director of Newtown Sandy Hook Community Foundation, recommends Newtowners to take part in this special event, noting, “This movie is a powerful reminder of the goodness and light that is possible following even the darkest of times.”

The documentary will be followed by a Q&A session with Nick Ortner, Newtown resident, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of TTSF; Dr Leyden; and J.T. Lewis, founder of Newtown Helps Rwanda.

Mr Ortner established The Tapping Solution Foundation in collaboration with Dr Leyden. TTSF has been delivering EFT/Tapping trauma services and professional training for parents, children, educators, first responders, mental health and health care providers for Newtown residents since December 2012.

TTSF has also developed a powerful network of local, national, and international alliances to bring train-the-trainer trauma relief and resiliency services and educational programs to Newtown. This is a sustainable long-term, community-based initiative supporting healing in Newtown and globally.

EFT/Tapping is a stress and trauma somatic release method that is simple to learn, child-friendly, and recognized by the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for stress and trauma.

This strategy has been used successfully in nearly 15 countries, including Rwanda, Indonesia, Japan, Haiti, Kosovo, Israel, New Zealand, and right here at home in Newtown. EFT/Tapping is just as highly effective for stress resiliency, anxiety, pain relief, test anxiety, panic attacks, and a host of other physical and emotional symptoms.