Students attend trauma healing session |28 August 2020
Mervin Pool facilitating the session (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
A group of students from the Beau Vallon secondary school on Monday took part in a trauma healing training session organised by the Seychelles Bible Society (SBS).
The training of trainers programme for the trauma healing session for the youth is aimed at training the students to fight and stand up against bullying, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, grief and drug abuse among other traumatic anti-social behaviour in the school, in the community and in the homes.
The training session with regard to spirituality adaptation in combating traumatism was held at the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps) conference room. It was facilitated by Mervin Pool from the Everlasting Love Ministry. The training follows the first training of trainers’ session with the same group of students on June 17, 2020, which was solely on coping with traumatic situations, that was facilitated by Beryl Dodin from the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).
The executive secretary of SBS, Margaret Maillet, said the society was mandated and funded by government for the continuation of this trauma healing training of trainers programme for all secondary school students which was introduced last year with training of trainers working with the churches, SNYC, Care, National Council for Children (NCC), including teachers.
“We expect the students to share what they have learned with other students so that together they can help others who are involved in traumatic situations,” Mrs Maillet said.
As the programme ends in December 2020, she noted that though a bit late in starting the programme due to unforeseen circumstances including the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the society is expected to work with other students in other secondary schools namely from English River and Plaisance on top of the list.
She noted that the society has funds from government to cover the programme from January to December 2020. She said that the society will also be using social media to train and pass on messages to the youths, among other people, on the effects of being traumatised.
Sixteen-year-old Faqirath Henriette from S5(1) said that as compared to the past few years at the school, the level of traumatic situations, especially with regard to bullying, have gone down considerably.
“I hope the baggage I and my other colleagues are receiving will help us to help others suffering from trauma. So, they will not be feeling alone and left out,” she said.
The continuation of the training session with the same group will be held at the school next week.
Patrick Joubert
