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The good helper
SAID ALOUD
The good helper
Aims. To help both the trainer and the group to understand, in their own terms, what it means to be a‘ helper’, and what kinds of‘ help’ may be included. Also, to identify their own resources, and what additional skills and resources they might need.
PART II: THE TRAINING
Trainer. Now we know a little bit more about your community and about the problems you have been facing and some of the challenges you have met.
Next I would like to know more about how you have tried to tackle these challenges. What have been your experiences, where have you been successful, and where do you need more skills or support? Please share your thoughts about being a helper. Tell us what you think are the qualities of a good helper. Then tell us what you do in your own work. Show us how you do it.
Exercise 3. Describe the qualities of a good helper.( 15 minutes in plenary.)
EXERCISE
The Trainer will draw a helper on the wall chart and ask you to name the qualities she needs to have. She will write your thoughts on the drawing.
Consider the following questions:
• What are the qualities of a good helper here in …?
• Do men and women help in different ways?
• What can you say about yourself as a helper?
• What do you do when you meet a survivor who is overwhelmed by emotions – by sadness, shame, anger, anxiety or numbness?
• Is it sometimes difficult to help a survivor? What makes it difficult to help?
• Can you mention any specific ways in which you applied the human rights-based approach in your work as a helper?
• Give examples from your work with survivors where you did not apply a human rights-based approach? How might that work be done differently if you adopted a human rights-based approach?
Role Play 1. The first meeting between a Helper and a Survivor.( 10-15 minutes.)
ROLE PLAY EXERCISE
The Trainer and a participant will demonstrate a role play. You can then break into pairs to practise. One of you is the Helper, the other the Survivor. Use the questions to show how you approach a survivor who is overwhelmed by her emotions and by what has happened to her. Remember to use the human rights-based approach when you meet with the survivor.
At the end, take off the scarf if you are the Survivor, brush off your role as Helper or Survivor. Brush yourself down physically and say aloud“ Now I am [ me ]”.
Summing up( 5-10 minutes.)
The Trainer will summarise the discussion so far and ask you to comment and react to the plenary discussion and role play.
BREAK 15 – 20 MINUTES.