Since 2012, we have been training employees of the Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights in Kurdistan-Iraq as trauma therapists and trauma pedagogues. Many of the colleagues are now very experienced and do important work in the trauma care centers of our partner organization. It is important that they also pass on their knowledge to others, be it in seminars for teachers, to other health care institutions or simply to interested individuals. In a society like Kurdistan-Iraq, where almost all families have experienced a lot of violence and trauma, it is important that as many people as possible are informed about trauma and its consequences. Only then can they change their society. Only a trauma-informed society can find ways to deal with violence and better support those affected.
For this reason, we have trained 15 of our particularly experienced colleagues as trainers over the past year and a half. The participants were able to try out in a protected setting how they can pass on the content and techniques of psychotraumatology to others.
“First, I was a participant in the Wings of Hope trauma training program. Then I accompanied a group as a supervisor and now I’m taking part in this training-of-trainers course. I’ve learned a lot along the way. It’s good to pass this on to others now,” says a colleague from the northern Iraqi town of Chamchamal, summarizing his experiences.
At the end of this professional training, we met again in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, from July 1 to 5. Lutz Besser and I led the colleagues in small groups to prepare and conduct four-hour seminars for different target groups. The participants were assigned different roles: There were people who were constantly asking questions and thus disrupting the process, who were permanently looking at their cell phones or who became very emotional. We then reflected together on how to deal with such challenging situations. It was impressive to see how creatively and expertly the participants had prepared and conducted their seminars.
“The challenge made me grow. I realized that I can talk about this important topic in front of others and also deal with difficult situations. I am sure that I will make my contribution to our society,” said one participant in the final round.
“I was very surprised at how differently everyone presented their topics. We learned a lot from each other,” emphasized others.
Even though this professional training is now coming to an end, the group will stay in contact and support each other in spreading knowledge about trauma and its consequences and in strengthening each other. It is wonderful for us to see how our work over the last few years is now bearing fruit here in the long term.
Martina Bock
