Successful Completion of Three 1-Day Retreat Workshops for Psychosocial Community Volunteers in Nyalath, Aweil Center County

December 6, 2024 – Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan

The CIPAD project team, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has successfully conducted three impactful 1-day experience-sharing retreats for trained Psychosocial Community Volunteers (PCVs), UNDP-trained Psychosocial Support Trainers of Trainers (ToTs), and the CIPAD project team in Nyalath, Aweil Center County. These retreats, which took place on 30^th Sept 2024, 22^nd November 2024, and 5^th December 2024, attended by 38 (16 females and 22 males), 36 (15 females and 21 males), and 35 (14 females and 21 males) respectively and focused on crucial elements of trauma healing, psychosocial support, and personal well-being.

The three retreats of 1-day each were designed to provide a platform for participants to reflect on their work and engage in crucial discussions on self-care, emotional healing, and team-building. The main objectives of the retreats were as follows:

1. Reflection on Experience: Creating a supportive environment for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in their roles as Psychosocial Community Volunteers. This allowed for valuable peer learning and exchange.
2. Refresher Training: Providing participants with updated knowledge and practical techniques on trauma healing and psychosocial support, enhancing their ability to deliver effective services in their respective communities.
3. Self-Care and Emotional Well-Being: Equipping participants with strategies for self-care and emotional resilience, ensuring they remain healthy and prevent burnout while performing their critical work in trauma healing.
4. Fostering Teamwork and Community Support: Strengthening connections among the participants, promoting teamwork, and building a supportive network that will further enhance community-driven psychosocial initiatives in trauma healing.

The retreat also served as a reminder of the importance of ongoing professional development, providing essential skills and tools to volunteers who are at the front lines of supporting communities affected by trauma.

As the retreats concluded, the feedback from participants highlighted a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm, and a commitment to continue providing impactful psychosocial support in their communities. The CIPAD project team, alongside UNDP, is committed to supporting these dedicated volunteers as they continue their vital work. This work was implemented in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Japan.