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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 )
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