TWB Supported Training on Psychosocial Counseling in Disaster Situations in Pakistan

Thanks to the support Teachers Without Borders (TWB) USA in collaboration with Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) organized a 4-day training for humanitarian relief workers and social activists and volunteers. Chengdu University, China and Roshni Helpline and Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH) in Karachi supported the program as partners from 11th to 14th March 2011.

The participants included 20 women and 21 men representing NGO workers, nurses, students, psychologists, teachers, journalists, medical doctors, human rights activists, artisan, lawyers and community development professionals.

Mr. Yu Lu Wang, the volunteer member of Teachers Without Borders (also the Assistant Professor of Psychology from Chengdu University, China and Ms. Li Hong Xu, TWB China Country Coordinator (also a teacher from Teachers Training College, Chengdu University, China) conducted the sessions on techniques and skills for psychosocial counseling in disaster situations. The two trainers have extensive experience in providing psychosocial counseling to the victims of 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, China.

The training provided the participants orientation about assessing and handling patients with post trauma counseling techniques in disaster situations. The participants learnt about the Individual Counseling Techniques and Group Counseling Techniques. The trainers used role play, practical activities, groups work and also held sessions on Theories of Behaviorism to explain the essential skills that all counselors must have. The participants learnt hands on techniques and skills.

At the end of the 4 days training course the certificates distribution ceremony was held at Hotel Sarawan in Karachi. Ms. Sameena Nazir Executive Director PODA, Mr. Yu Lu Wang, the trainer, Mr. Sharfuddin Memon, Advisor to the Home Department, Government of Sindh and Mr. Aamir Farooqi, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP), Jamshed Town Karachi distributed the certificates. Sameena Nazir said that we need to prepare for disasters in the times of peace so that we can provide assistance to disaster victims in a professional and efficient manner. She shared that in 2005 when Pakistan faced an unprecedented earthquake disaster PODA was not prepared to respond and we did not have staff trained in psychosocial counseling or disaster relief and response work. We decided as an institution that we must build our capacity to respond to disasters effectively and professionally, she said adding that now in 2011 PODA has 10 highly qualified staff who can start and implement disaster relief projects in any part of the country. This training was part of our on-going work to provide training to new PODA staff, volunteers and social activists to be ready and keep on developing their skills and learn the new techniques to work in disasters.

Mohammad Arif, Program Manager Disaster Relief and Recovery Programs at PODA shared that during September 2010 to March 2011, PODA has established 36 Child Friendly Spaces (CSFs) and 30 Women Friendly Spaces (WFSs) in the flood affected areas of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa and now as part of emergency response to provide psychosocial services to women and children in some of the most affected areas including Sukkur, D.I. Khan, Muzzaffargarh, Noshera, Mianwali and host cities of Karachi, Hyderabad and Multan. PODA is very pleased with the training TWB provided and discussed strategies to make psychological conselling a sustainable program in Pakistan. They also hoped to establish TWB office in Pakistan.

Li Hong and Yu Lu are very pleased to be in Pakistan because Chinese people consider Pakistan its best friend. It is adviced to the participants that psychosocial counseling is a specialized skill that should be used with knowledge and carefulness. Further exchange of knowledge and skills is being considered.

(photo of all the participants and organizers )