The United Voices in Action program has launched supportive two-day “Resilience During War” trainings for IDPs over the age of 30 in 19 Ukrainian communities.
298 participants, including IDPs, have gained skills and knowledge that will help them cope with traumatic experiences; regulate their emotional state; and better understand the people around them.
The trainings focused on helping participants learn techniques for supporting themselves and their loved ones in difficult situations, such as handling stressful news updates, feelings of anxiety and loss, separation from loved ones, or a sense of hopelessness when building a life in a new place.
“I was a completely different person yesterday morning (before the training) and tonight (at the end of the training). I returned to myself, to the way I was a year and a half ago. I laughed and regained my faith in people. Participating in the training gave me the opportunity to recharge my ‘battery.’ I didn’t expect to get such a result,”.
Tetiana, an IDP participant in the Lviv training
The training aimed to help those who had had a variety of traumatic experiences, including forced displacement, occupation, military action, or lost loved ones.
To prevent deeper traumatic disorders, these people need to learn to stabilize their physical and psychological state. It is especially important that IDPs do not feel isolated in their new communities, but rather integrate and plan their future lives as soon as possible. For this, they need to be able to find their own internal resources.
During intensive days of training, participants learned to distinguish emotions, feelings, and sensations; shared the causes of negative experiences and emotions; and then, together with qualified trainers, learned how to control them.
“I believe that this event was professionally prepared: the training had a clear and logically structured framework, I acquired theoretical knowledge, and worked through my emotions. The participants were very well selected. For me, after traumatic events related to war and displacement, as well as a long period of recovery when I started doing something with my hands (drawing, crafting), this training is the beginning of returning to active work. I feel more ready to work with people. I gained new knowledge, heard people’s experiences, and made new acquaintances,”.
Olena, an IDP participant at the Chernivtsi training
Participants also learned how to overcome stress and what to do during a panic attack. In addition, there was a lot of discussion about resources – where people who have lost a lot can find them, what they can rely on, and how to find inner strength. Many practical self-exploration tools were proposed.
At the end of the training, participants received certificates indicating that they had acquired certain knowledge and practical skills. Participants were encouraged to act as facilitators of psychological support groups that they could create after the trainings. As a result of the 19 trainings, 140 psychological self-support groups of 5-7 people were created. Self-support groups help participants share their experience with others, demonstrate relaxation exercises and emotional management, as well as simply communicate or engage in joint creativity. The IREX team provides mentorship, methodological support, and materials to trainers.
