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Taking what has been learned into the participants’ future work
SAID ALOUD
Taking what you have learned into your future work
Aim. To encourage you to think about the work that awaits you at home, and how you can retain the skills you have learned and shared in the workshop.
PART II: THE TRAINING
Trainer. The workshop is now at an end. In these three days we have learned from the story of the Butterfly Woman and the terrible events that occurred to her.
• Why women exposed to such violations struggle with their own feelings and thoughts.
• Why new experiences and events may trigger trauma reactions.
• Why survivors may feel completely alone, lost and unworthy.
• Different approaches can be helpful to survivors as they struggle to restore their strength, their sense of hope and their dignity.
Your big challenge, now, is to make sure that you remember the stories and discussions we have shared, and the exercises and skills you have learned, and can apply them in your work when you return to your communities. Also, remember to implement the human rights-based approach in your work.
I cannot summarise everything we have done together. Here, nevertheless, is a list of basics that you may find useful.
[ She pins up the basic principles that are listed on the facing page.] Now I want to take a step back and to put what we have done in perspective.
We have followed the tale of one woman, her suffering, and return to life. In the real world, every survivor and every case is unique. You cannot apply what we have learned here mechanically. In every instance, you must use your own imagination and judgement to decide what kind of support this woman needs, what kind of approach this case requires. No short cuts are available to you.
This means that you need to internalise, and understand for yourself, the ideas we have shared here and the exercises we have learned. Only then can you adapt and develop them to meet the particular needs and situations of the women you want to help.
At the same time, I suggest there are some golden questions, which are always relevant.
• What resources can this survivor draw upon, in herself and from outside?
• Will I( or other helpers) see her regularly or just a few times, or only very occasionally?
• As a helper, how much do I know about her situation? Do I know enough?
• As a helper, am I promising too much? Can I sustain the help that I am offering?
Always think clearly about the survivor’ s best interest, and never knowingly promise a survivor support that you cannot sustain.
Stay in touch!
CLOSING CEREMONY. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES. FAREWELLS.