In Focus

Church World Service conducted psychosocial first aid training for volunteers and staff of its partner Mitra Alam in Solo, Central Java. The aim is to equip volunteers and partners in Psychological First Aid, so that they can provide appropriate psychosocial support to the disaster-affected community.

Eight volunteers attended this four-day training, from 18 to 23 November 2010. The training covered psychosocial first aid, local wisdom, communication, stress and coping strategies and self-care using lectures, brainstorming, discussions and role play. 
Volunteers are trying out a local game to be applied into recreational activity. They will facilitate the activities in Sidorejo Village
(Iim Imanuel Hutagalung/ CWS Indonesia )

“I think the most interesting material is about communication. Even though we speak in the same language, misunderstanding
and misperception are possible to happen between the disaster-affected community and the volunteers. Therefore it is important that we know how to communicate well with the survivors considering their psychological wellbeing,” said Puger, one of the participants. 

All participants thought that the training was crucial for them to help volcano-affected people. “This training is very useful. The facilitator gave us material about stress and trauma, which now we know the differences. And, we should be able to cope with our own stress before we help others,” said Arif, one of Mitra Alam’s volunteers.

Dino Satria, CWS Emergency Response Coordinator, said “We hope that the volunteers we have trained can apply the material training provided during program implementation so it will go well.” CWS will conduct 8 sessions of recreational activities for children in Sidorejo Village, Wedi Sub-village, Klaten. “The activities should be able to help children who are affected by the eruption get a sense of routinity by attending recreational activities,” added Vini Wardhani, CWS Program Officer for Psychosocial Care.