**Information release**
Release of new training materials: A Psychosocial Training Module
The Refugees Studies Centre recently released a new comprehensive set of
training materials, The Refugee Experience, designed for use by humanitarian
workers.
War-affected people suffer intense psychosocial pressure in their daily
lives. Their experiences of violence and forced displacement, as well as the
adjustment to life in a new environment, frequently leave refugees
distressed and exhausted.
Forced migrants are resourceful and take action to improve and develop their
own situation. Humanitarian workers who seek to assist them may, however,
often feel overwhelmed and unequipped to understand the demands put to them
by refugees.
In order to meet this need the RSC, in collaboration with other partners,
has compiled 'state of the art' training materials that equip humanitarian
workers with insight into the psychosocial aspects of the refugee
experience. The module covers a range of topics, such as:
- the effects of modern day conflict on civilians
- a cross-cultural understanding of the experiences of refugees
- an insight into gender issues for refugees
- the particular plight of refugee children
The training materials will also provide humanitarian workers with essential
skills to help refugees overcome obstacles that prevent them from getting on
with their own lives, such as:
- community participation
- communication and helping skills for humanitarian workers
The Refugee Experience has been released in many different formats in order
to make it accessible to a broad range of organisations, states Maryanne
Loughry, psychologist and co-editor. A printed version and CD Rom is
available for £ 10 (including post and packaging) worldwide. It is available
on the web, free of charge: http://www.forcedmigration.org/rfgexp
Further information:
Carola Eyber, RSC, University of Oxford
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Tel: + 44 1865 270729
Maryanne Loughry, RSC, University of Oxford
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Tel: +44 1865 270268
International contributions to The Refugee Experience include:
- A general introduction to psychosocial work with refugees by Alastair Ager
- A critical review by Derrick Summerfield
- Inger Agger on different approaches to providing psychosocial assistance
- A discussion of the psychosocial needs of refugee children and adolescents
by Maggie McCallin of the ARC (Action for the Rights of Children) project
- Mary Diaz on gender and forced migration
- Alcinda Honwana on non-western concepts of mental health
- A training module on community participation by Eva Segerström
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