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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 .