Our new self-care project for staff working with the vulnerable
As well as directly reaching displaced women and girls through our work, we believe it’s important to support other organisations and agencies working with ISIS survivors and victims of gender-based violence.
As a result, we recently started a new project to deliver mental health support and self-care workshops to NGO staff, community leaders and activists who have such important roles in enabling victims to recover and rebuild.
The project, in partnership with HÁWAR.help.e.V, will provide a safe space and support network for exchanges about the social and emotional challenges staff face in their daily work, as well as capacity-building seminars on improving responses for survivors of the ISIS atrocities.
Until now, there have been no programmes to support staff in this way, and many of those consulted said they often feel overwhelmed or alone in their work. The project aims to make staff feel stronger, less isolated and better equipped to support the critically vulnerable.
So far, self-care workshops that have taken place include sessions on relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene and art therapy. Additionally, there will be capacity-building training in gender-based violence response and case management, as well as protection principles, Psychological First Aid (PFA), communications and networking skills.
The project has made a strong start already, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results it brings those who are doing such incredible work in the community…
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