Two Days Within The Emergency Aid Preparedness Project

On September 25 the Faculty of Theology of Yerevan State University hosted 16 representatives of ART and UMCOR partner Church structures and NGOs who came to take part in a special training on psychological rehabilitation, ways of treating the victims of disasters and revealing peculiar role of the clergy in emergencies.
Initially the training should have included only the clergy but as the participants of previous trainings within “Emergency Aid Preparedness” project expressed great interest and eagerness to get acquainted with the psychological aspect of work in the emergency situations so the number of the participants was increased including all those wishing to participate.
The training was conducted by Ms. Eleonora Zakaryan, PHD in Psychology, who had wide experience of work with the victims in Gyumry after the earthquake of 1988. The trainer encouraged interactive discussions, sharing of ideas and personal experience in emergency situations. She herself told the participants interesting cases from her own experience, thus explaining the basics of crisis psychology through live examples.
Thus the trainees got acquainted with main concepts and methods of work within the scope of reaction to disasters, psycho trauma features, stress symptoms, stress adjustment phases, steps of Crisis Psychology, roles of the rescuers, actions to be taken, guidelines for organizational activities, grief and its cycles of reconciliation with the loss. Participants received relevant materials and were encouraged to contact the trainer in case of any further questions.
Next day a group of the trainees visited Metsamour town of Armavir region where ART project on Christian community work model is underway. Here the participants got acquainted with the work conducted by “Zangakatun” NGO at the educational–cultural centre of St. Lazarus church. The participants saw the results of the training in emergency situations asking centre children different questions on types of emergencies typical to Armenia, ways of prevention and responding to them. Children were very enthusiastic and active especially when telling Biblical examples of emergency situations.
Second part of the day was dedicated to Conflict Management training that was conducted by Mrs. Karine Baghdasaryan, ART Programme Officer. The training represented under the motto “Do no harm” gave the trainees very useful and practical information regarding the topic mentioned. It was mainly focused on investigating context when writing a proposal, identifying possible conflicts, elaborating options, identifying dividers (systems, attitude, values, symbols, etc) and connectors, distribution of means (material and non-material), its consequences, hidden/subconscious behavioral and moral messages.
Then the trainees were made a surprise: the “Sunflower” chorus of the educational-cultural centre interpreted a number of songs which was followed by a little piece of performance by “Palancho” puppet theatre. These activities made wonderful sunny day of autumn even more positive, creative and warm for the trainees who were very excited and pleased with the training results.
At the end of the day the participants were also distributed first aid kits and fire extinguishers to make the disaster resistance of their offices stronger and more effective. The project also foresees one day training on International response mechanism, Disaster cycle and basics of Contingency planning which is to be held in October by UNDP Armenia Disaster Reduction Unit.