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TWB Supported Training on Psychosocial Counseling

in Disaster Situations in Pakistan

Thanks to the support Teachers Without Borders (TWB) USA in

collaboration with Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy

(PODA) organized a 4-day training for humanitarian relief workers

and social activists and volunteers. Chengdu University, China and

Roshni Helpline and Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH) in

Karachi supported the program as partners from 11th to 14th March

2011.

The participants included 20 women and 21 men representing

NGO workers, nurses, students, psychologists, teachers, journalists,

medical doctors, human rights activists, artisan, lawyers and

community development professionals.

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Mr. Yu Lu Wang, the volunteer member of Teachers Without

Borders (also the Assistant Professor of Psychology from Chengdu

University, China and Ms. Li Hong Xu, TWB China Country Coordinator(also a teacher from Teachers Training College, Chengdu University,

China) conducted the sessions on techniques and skills for

psychosocial counseling in disaster situations. The two trainers have

extensive experience in providing psychosocial counseling to the

victims of 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, China.

The training provided the participants orientation about assessing

and handling patients with post trauma counseling techniques in

disaster situations. The participants learnt about the Individual

Counseling Techniques and Group Counseling Techniques. The

trainers used role play, practical activities, groups work and also

held sessions on Theories of Behaviorism to explain the essential skills

that all counselors must have. The participants learnt hands on

techniques and skills.

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At the end of the 4 days training course the certificates distribution

ceremony was held at Hotel Sarawan in Karachi. Ms. Sameena Nazir

Executive Director PODA, Mr. Yu Lu Wang, the trainer, Mr. Sharfuddin

Memon, Advisor to the Home Department, Government of Sindh and

Mr. Aamir Farooqi, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP), Jamshed

Town Karachi distributed the certificates. Sameena Nazir said that weneed to prepare for disasters in the times of peace so that we can

provide assistance to disaster victims in a professional and efficient

manner. She shared that in 2005 when Pakistan faced an

unprecedented earthquake disaster PODA was not prepared to

respond and we did not have staff trained in psychosocial counseling

or disaster relief and response work. We decided as an institution

that we must build our capacity to respond to disasters effectively and

professionally, she said adding that now in 2011 PODA has 10 highly

qualified staff who can start and implement disaster relief projects in

any part of the country. This training was part of our on-going work toprovide training to new PODA staff, volunteers and social activists to

be ready and keep on developing their skills and learn the new

techniques to work in disasters.

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Mohammad Arif, Program Manager Disaster Relief and Recovery

Programs at PODA shared that during September 2010 to March 2011,

PODA has established 36 Child Friendly Spaces (CSFs) and 30 Women

Friendly Spaces (WFSs) in the flood affected areas of Sindh, Punjab

and Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa and now as part of emergency response to

provide psychosocial services to women and children in some of the

most affected areas including Sukkur, D.I. Khan, Muzzaffargarh,

Noshera, Mianwali and host cities of Karachi, Hyderabad and Multan.

PODA is very pleased with the training TWB provided and discussedstrategies to make psychological conselling a sustainable program in

Pakistan. They also hoped to establish TWB office in Pakistan.

Li Hong and Yu Lu are very pleased to be in Pakistan because

Chinese people consider Pakistan its best friend. It is adviced to the

participants that psychosocial counseling is a specialized skill that

should be used with knowledge and carefulness. Further exchange of

knowledge and skills is being considered.

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(photo of all the participants and organizers )