Closing Ceremony: Being a Learner

The year 2010 which brought many happiness and tears, successes and loses, meeting and parting and love and heart broken for me is reaching to its end. At first, although it was December, in my country, at the very first days, we really did not have cold weather. Gradually, the closer the Christmas, the colder the weather we got. Anyway, I really got a great time in that month having great jobs, working and meeting with amazing people and achieving records together. The end of 2010 was exactly a Sweet December for me. Why do not I celebrate my closing ceremony of the year?

First of all, I was a learner. That is the time for me to reflect what I am working, to explore new knowledge and skills and to ask what I used to unclear and I want to know. That is a big opportunity for enthusiastic learner. The last training I attended was in April. As a community facilitator on psychosocial capacity building issues, that was the chance again to upgrade me. The title of the training is Training on Crisis Intervention & Trauma Competency. The general goal is Promoting Recovery through Effective Treatment and Providing Guidance to Local Organizations Involved in Disaster Mental Health. Total 15 participants (10 females and 5 males) joined it and they are working in NGOs. Three of them are medical doctors. Some of them are working in government departments. Some are youths and some are experienced adults. What a mixing group!

It was a-five-day long training starting from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Those five days are on only weekends based on the availability of the participants. That was contributed by SalusWorld (http://salusworld.org ) and the beautiful trainer is from it and she was an American-citizen doctor of psychologist, counselor and trainer.

That was a really interesting and effective learning period for me. We reviewed what trauma is and that really made me connect my work experiences and the academic theories. Both old and new lessons were stimulating me. This time we went in depth knowledge and skills on treatment goals and methods on people with traumatic wounds especially on crisis situations. That made me remembers my experiences of cyclone Nargis relief works. We do not want to those kinds of disasters but I was quite feeling secure wondering I collect new knowledge and skills to help people in case of emergency crisis.

We could study more deeply on PTSD, war (please remember the men who are serving in war zones such Iraq and Afghanistan) effects on people, therapeutic intervention techniques and preparedness in disaster situations. As the usual methods of SalusWorld trainings, we did many group discussion and presentation, role plays and dramas, relaxation and healing activities and games. As a part of training, together, we all did sharing our 2010. That was an actually awesome moment for me. I got 100 % in post test. I do know it is not just having full marks in test to be a good counselor, we definitely need our empathetic heart but I was very happy to see my good result. There is no doubt in my mind that I always have a kind heart and helping hands.

Very soon, the New Year is waiting us. I am very excited to share and apply my new learning in my works. It was not so easy to capture my words of appreciation for being a learner.