The closing meeting was opened with a welcome speech by Florian Pötter, First Secretary and Foreign and Security Policy Officer of the German Embassy in Kyiv, who emphasized the importance of our project for Ukrainian society in the current situation and thanked for the work done:

The international project “Overcoming the consequences of war together” has been implemented by the DRA e.V. together with the main Ukrainian partner of the project public organization “Kraina vilnykh liudei” (County of free people) from August 2016 to March 2019 as well as ten other partner organizations from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Germany.

As part of 5 educational programs for advanced training and education in 6 areas of our project, as well as 3 study tours, a total of 91 activists and specialists from representatives of Ukrainian civil society, as well as partially from Russia, Armenia and Georgia, were trained and re-trained, including the first 18 clinical supervisors in Ukraine. In addition, 286 participants of our two international conferences and one international round table (specialists and experts from more than 10 countries of the world, among them – 9 conflict regions of Eastern and Southern Europe, and the Caucasus) shared their valuable practical experience, got acquainted with the new information from other countries and with important people for further cooperation.

Based on the newly acquired knowledge and skills, the participants in our project implemented a total of 28 mini-projects and conducted over 400 free clinical supervisions for specialists providing psychosocial care in Ukraine. In addition, as part of our project in Ukraine, 4 inter-regional information campaigns were held based on public tenders.

In total, 3847 people participated in the 32 subprojects, which were conducted with the support of our project, and more than 4.279.500 people were involved through social networks and other Internet resources.

The project itself and its results were presented by Maria Slesazeck – Manager of the Project “Overcoming the consequences of war together”, DRA e.V., (Berlin, Germany),

Nadia Khomenko – national coordinator of the project in Ukraine, chairman of the board of the NGO “Kraina vilnykh liudei” (County of free people) in Kyiv and Kramatorsk (the main partner of the project in Ukraine), as well as representatives of the project partners from Georgia, Russia and Armenia:

Diana Miribian – project coordinator in Armenia and an employee of “Armenian Caritas” in Gyumri – thanked for effective cooperation in the field of integration of internally displaced persons and refugees.

In the form of 6 short presentations, participants first revealed the idea of the techniques, areas of application and possible target groups. Then these methods of work could be studied and personally tested more specifically in an interactive environment within each of the 17 two-hour workshops.

Presentation of the educational program for clinical supervision in Ukraine.

Presentation of  educational program “From rehabilitation to education and practice of counteracting domestic violence as a consequence of the armed conflict in the East of Ukraine with the involvement of men”.

“The fair of 32 subprojects of our project”, which took place in the evening of the first day of the conference, introduced the methods one can apply to resolve and weaken problems and conflicts caused by the war as well as which social groups our participants worked with.

The same evening, the publications published as part of our project were also presented: a methodological guidebook on anti-discrimination work in conflict-affected regions and an information brochure on successful integration projects for internally displaced persons and refugees in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Russia (North Caucasus).

Alla Gamakharia, Project Coordinator in Georgia and Head of the Fund “Sukhumi” in Kutaisi (Georgia), presented an information brochure on successful integration projects implemented in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Russia ( North Caucasus) at the fair of subprojects.

Additionally, the final meeting served as a platform for exchange of information and beginning of long-term relations between our participants, project partners from 5 different countries and invited representatives of Ukrainian civil society from Kyiv and surrounding areas.

Presentation of the component of the project: “Achieving dialogue and peaceful settlement of conflicts with the help of Forum theater”.

Presentation of four social enterprises based within one of the components of our project: “Promoting the development of social entrepreneurship for resolving social and economic conflicts”.

Presentation of information campaigns conducted in order to reduce stigmatization of psychotherapeutic assistance offers in Ukraine.

Achievements of the project “Overcoming the consequences of war together.”

Video recordings of the final meeting of our international project, as well as other videos created in the framework of this and our previous project, can be found on the Project Video page.

Video materials are divided into different directions of our project. For example, the title of one of the components of the project “Promoting the development of social entrepreneurship for resolving social and economic conflicts” presents a record of the international thematic conference “Social entrepreneurship as a tool for overcoming the consequences of war in civil society”, which was held on September 4, 207 in Dnipro. On the page of another component of the project “Integration of internally displaced persons and refugees” there was a television report of the Georgian regional channel “Deviataia Volna” (The Ninth Wave) about an educational trip to Georgia, which took place in July 2017.

As a whole, within the framework of our project, participants of 4 educational programs have implemented 28 subgrant projects that have received our financial support and professional assistance, as well as several interregional information campaigns on the basis of open tenders within the project.

The purpose of these sub-projects presented on the website is to support civil society representatives in Ukraine and in the North and South Caucasus, whose work is aimed at processing and prevention of war-related conflicts.

Videos and materials are sorted into different directions of our project.

On the «Small project materials» page, you can get access to the following publications:

• Information flyer «Take a step further» with useful contacts for psychological assistance throughout Ukraine
• Information booklet with useful contacts for counseling on the prevention of domestic violence in Kharkiv
• Information flyer on the topic «Domestic violence» with contacts for possible help in Cherkasy
• Methodological guidebook «Forum-theater for the spectators» for working with children, based on the experience of working with children from the area of hostilities in the camp «Lisova Zastava» (Forest Gate) in the Kyiv oblast
• Information flyer for all those who are interested in participating in the forum-theater project «Points to stand inside changes» in Odessa
• A manual on anti-discrimination work on the film «Transit Point» created within the framework of the sub-giant «History Spiral»
• A study guide for teachers on the topic «A practical guide for school psychologists, social workers, community aid center workers, coaches-beginners, public activists» based on the experience of the small project «Nonviolent communication at school» in Kharkiv

On the page «Video of Small Projects», you can get access to the following video materials:

• Video clips and TV reports on two interregional information campaigns «I trust a psychologist» and «Traumatic therapy – a way to a complete life» aimed at reducing the stigmatization of psychotherapeutic services in Ukraine.
• Video clips and TV reports about six information campaigns on the prevention of domestic violence as a consequence of the war: «Men against violence» in Dnipro, «World without war is a house without violence» in Severodonetsk, «A man is a winner in his family» in Odessa, «Men do not batter» in Kharkiv, «PUD – against family violence» in Kyiv, and «ATO veteran is a defender of his family» in Cherkassy.
• The videotape of the forum-theater plays on the following 4 subgrant projects, the purpose of which was the processing and resolution of war-related conflicts in the Ukrainian society: «Points to stand inside changes», «Agents of changes», «I can hear you» and «How to find a common language?»
• Documentary film «Transit Point», which was shot as part of a small project “History Spiral” for use in anti-discrimination work in Ukraine.
• Videos from two interregional information campaigns: «NgoBiz» and «Do what you love, help others!». Both campaigns were aimed at popularization of the idea of social entrepreneurship as an effective tool of post-conflict rehabilitation for Ukrainian civil society.

All publications can be not only viewed, but also downloaded as PDFs.

The author of the study guide is Edgar Khachatryan, Managing Director of Armenian NGO “Peace Dialogue”, an expert and coach in (international) peace work, violence prevention, initiation of dialogue and gender issues in conflict regions.

Edgar Khachatryan is one of the three coaches of our training series “Work on achieving dialogue and peaceful settlement of conflicts with the help of Forum theater”, which was held from November 206 to February 208 as part of our project “Overcoming the consequences of war together” in Ukraine and included implementation of 6 small projects by training participants.

The head of the series of trainings was Inna Ayrapetyan, a specialized partner of our project from Russia (Chechnya) and an expert in dialogic work and mediation with the help of forum-theater method, prevention of domestic violence caused by the war, and traumatological post-conflict rehabilitation.

The selected exercises on Forum Theatre collected in the appendix were compiled by Vladislava Kryschnaja. Vladislava Kryschnaja, activist and trainer for Forum Theatre from Ukraine (Gorlovka, Saporoshije) is the third trainer of our training series.

Three coaches from Ukraine, Russia and Armenia, having experience in conflict-affected countries, taught Ukrainian civil society activists who were already involved in peaceful work, various strategies of using forum theater as a means of dialogue between conflicting parties and preventing subsequent conflicts. Besides, participants learned additional techniques, such as performances of street theaters and forum theaters through video stories.

Immediately after the first module, participants were able to apply their knowledge in six small projects and work on various social post-war conflicts in Ukrainian society.

In total, 996 people took part in these 6 projects of our participants, including internally displaced persons, former and present participants of the war, representatives of host communities, children and young people from different regions of Ukraine and battle area: 30 of them took direct part in workshops on the forum theatre and staged plays on topical conflict issues of Ukrainian society. These performances were shown to a total of 866 people, who then, together with non-professional actors, participants in small-scale project workshops, discussed the presented conflicts and jointly searched for their solution.

The following 6 small projects, which are also briefly presented in the study guide, received financial support within our project and had coaches present: “I hear you” in Zaporizhia oblast, “Agents of changes” in Kyiv oblast, “Informing about rights and opportunities through the forum theatre method” in Berdiansk, “City Theater” in Bakhmut, as well as the projects “Strongholds during changes” in Odessa and “How can we find a common language?”, which took place in Ivano-Frankivsk.

The study guide on the topic “Forum theater as a method of recovery and preventing future conflicts” is intended for  peacekeeping activists in conflict regions who are already familiar with the forum theater and now want to use it in dialogic and mediation work. In addition, it is intended for all civil society actors who are looking for suitable tools for post-conflict rehabilitation and mediation and who would like to learn more about the forum theater method and its suitability for peaceful work.

Here you can download the study guide in Russian (and later also in English) in PDF format.

In addition to this publication, you will also find all other materials and videos created as part of our project “Overcoming the consequences of war together” and the previous project of the same name on our project website: they are sorted into two separate sub-pages according to the relevant areas of our project’s work.

All materials created in our project “Overcoming the consequences of war together” can be found here.

You can find all the videos created by the project here.

The methodological guidebook has now been published and is available for download in three languages on our project website.

The author of this methodological handbook is Marina Chernivsky – an expert on combating discrimination issues from Germany, an invited specialist to support our project, director of the Berlin “Strategies for preventing and overcoming discrimination caused by military conflict” and the head of the project “Change of Perspective Plus” implemented by the Central charitable organization of Jews of Germany (ZWST, Germany).

In addition, Marina Chernivsky took up the internal conceptual leadership of our training program “Strategies for preventing and overcoming discrimination caused by military conflict”, which included four modules (5 days in total) and the implementation of 5 mini projects by trainees.  The program was carried out in two stages. During the first two modules, which took place in the framework of the previous project of the same name in 205–206, Ukrainian influencers dealt with the origin of prejudices, stereotyped thinking and the ability to recognize various manifestations of discrimination.Then, within the framework of the current project (206–209), they were trained on the basis of the data obtained regarding strategies for moving away from discriminatory behavioral models and various tools for preventing and resolving conflict situations. In addition, they were given the opportunity to directly apply the newly acquired skills in the framework of 5 mini projects. Thanks to the latter, they managed to call various social groups in Ukrainian society (such as, for example, schoolchildren, anti-terrorist operation (ATO) participants, teachers and psychologists in schools, social workers, regional government bodies and public organizations) to awareness of the discrimination caused by the conflict, as well as to influence to reconsider and change by many of them habitual behavior patterns.

In addition to this publication, you will also find all the other materials and videos created as part of our project “Overcoming the Consequences of War together” and the project of the same name on our website: these are sorted on two separate sub-pages according to the respective working directions, in which each one was created.

All publications and videos that were created in the context of our project are not only for viewing, but can also be downloaded as PDF files and used in your own work (with corresponding source reference).

The training was carried out by Ton Haans, from the National Centre for Trauma Therapy ‘Centrum ‘45’ in Oegstgeest (Netherlands) and Nora Balke from the Berlin centre ‘Survive’ (formerly the ‘Centre for the Assistance of Victims of Torture’), one of the project’s partners.

During the supervisions, participants engaged in depth with various team dynamics, the specific particularities and challenges of team supervision, as well as possible working strategies for various team types.

In multiple simulation games, each participant also had the opportunity to try out the role of supervisor, as well as that of the supervisee, and to familiarise themselves with the process of team supervision and the effects of interventions from different points of view.

As usual, on the fifth day of the training, the trainers carried out practice supervisions in small groups for the participants in their role as supervisors.

The sixth and final supervision training module will take place in June 208. At the end of this module, the participants’ final papers will be presented and certificates issued.

Until then, the participants of our training course will continue to carry out free supervisions for psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers who are actively working with those parts of the population suffering from the war. Each participant’s compulsory quota of 20 free sessions is almost completed. In total, 9 socially engaged trauma therapists have carried out more than 300 free supervisions in the following towns and regions of Ukraine: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk oblast, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Luhansk oblast, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Sievierodonetsk, Slovyansk, Kharkiv and Cherkasy. Around 00 free supervisions remain, which can be requested on our project’s website.

The former training was primarily aimed to motivate attendees to be engaged into in-depth analysis of their ideas and thematic self-reflection.

Special attention was given to the introduction of M. Chernivsky’s  reflex approach  and the methods used. The training was based on the reflection of personal biography, analysis of practical work and generation of specialized knowledge. Special attention was also given to the interactive forms of communication and group behavior. The training was delivered with account of needs and interests of the attendees as well as using such methods as M. Chernivsky’s reflex approach, role-playing games, thematic discussions, work in small groups, theatrical and pedagogical methods, as well as the results of the project “Perspectives Change” (ZWST, Germany).

In the process of training the following issues were carefully investigated:

• problems of ethnic, religious, social and political differences and conflicts;
• self-identification, collective memory;
• prejudices and factor reflections leading to the prejudices formation towards different groups, to isolation and discrimination.

At the end of the training the attendees noted that they were touched by personal emotions and reflex experiences. The feedback received indicates that all attendees are looking forward to continuing their studies.

Attendees:

The seminar is intended for the volunteers and corporate employees who:

• Face mental consequences of war, violence and relocation from the  zone of military operations at their job;
• Are engaged in the evacuation of people from the war zone;
• Have the first / direct contact with people who have experienced violence / traumatic situations; they receive them at the resettling locations, they are the first to hear their stories about their experiences in the zone of military operations.

This seminar is not intended for the professional psychologists, physicians.

Date held:

The ^st part of the training course: on 29.8.-3.8.205 from 0.00 am till 6.00 pm including lunch and coffee brakes.

The 2^nd part of the training course: on 03.0.-05.0.205 from 0.00 am till 6.00 pm including lunch and coffee brakes.

You are kindly requested to arrange your well timed arrival by the start of the training (in the evening on 28.8.) and departure after the end of the training (say, after 8.00 pm on 3.8. or in the morning on .9.).

Topics and intentions:

Many people from eastern Ukraine who are seeking security in other regions of the country have experienced severe violence and are traumatized. At the seminar we are going to investigate what trauma means for such people and how they can be supported. The range of topics covers the introduction to the trauma psychology, overcoming critical situations and preventing volunteer burnout. In addition, we are going to discuss which organizational structures are suitable / necessary to provide good support to traumatized people.

The agenda:

^st day, Saturday, 29.08.205:

On the st day a non-working meeting will take place for acquaintance and exchange of experience with psychologists / psychotherapists who participate in another training of this project and work with traumatized people. The meeting is modulated by the experts who conduct the seminar.

In addition within the meeting a working group will be founded to prepare booklet on trauma which helps:

• Victims and their relatives to get information about symptoms of the post traumatic diseases ;
• Victims can  be motivated to have a psychologist / psychotherapist consultation;
• To provide the long term counter actions to the prejudice associated with the psychotherapeutic treatment.

2nd day, Sunday, 30.08.205:

1. Introduction to the trauma psychology;
2. Treatment of traumatized people.

3rd day, Monday, 3.08.205:

1. Evaluation of critical situations and strategies to deal with them.
2. Burnout prevention:

• What does “burnout” mean?
• What does “indirect traumatization” mean?
• How to recognize overwork?
• Stress control.

2nd training program:

2^nd training program will be constructed according to the results and practice of the^st training.

Experts:

Gisela Scheef-Maier and Ph.D. Boris Friele have specialized for many years in psycho diagnostic examination and psycho therapeutic treatment of traumatized refugees. Both work in the Treatment Center for Victims of Torture in Berlin

The experts do not speak Russian so the seminar will be translated from German into Russian.

To take part in the training, please complete the application by August the 2th.

Competitive selection. The hosts pay for accommodation, meals and transportation. For all questions related to the training, please contact: ostrykov@krymsos.com.

Training on “Strategies to countering prejudice and discrimination. Training for volunteers and NGO employees” will be the first stage of the educational course for those who want to be qualified as an anti-discrimination facilitator.

The training is dedicated to finding answers to such questions as: Which social groups are discriminated because of discrepancy grounds? How are we ourselves involved in maintaining and reproducing prejudice and inequality? What regulatory parameters, conditions and professional skills are necessary to prevent discrimination in our work? What is the place of the solution to prevent discrimination in our job?

The attendees will gain skills in project preparation, conceptual study of workshops and trainings, as well as in developing of other approaches aimed at countering discrimination at the interpersonal and structural levels on a long term horizon. At the end of the course the attendees receive a certificate. In 206 it is planned to continue training to get opportunity to complete training and be qualified as a trainer and a coach in order to conduct anti-discrimination trainings.

The event is held by the public association “German-Russian Exchange” and the public initiative “KrymsSOS” sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The training is designed for:

• NGO employees and volunteers;
• Specialists in the field of social activity and activity with the youth and education;
• Experts and volunteers working with internally displaced persons.

The training attention is given to: 

• The human rights understanding
• Discrimination countercapability;
• Ethnic, religious, social and political discords  and conflicts;
• Self-identification, collective memory;
• Prejudice and factor reflection leading to the formation of prejudices towards different groups, to isolation and discrimination;
• In-depth analysis of xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Arab prejudice;
• Development of tools to combat all forms of discrimination.

In addition to it:

The training provides a space for dialogue to analyze personal experience and practical examples. The training important factor is the development of effective strategies of anti-discrimination activity that take into account the current political, social and economic aspects of the conflict in Ukraine.

Approach, methods used in the training 

The training is based on the reflection of personal biography, analysis of practical work and generation of the specialized knowledge. Special attention is paid to interactive types of communication and group behavior which partially contain elements of coaching and supervision. The training is built on the needs and interests of the attendees. The seminar will provide an opportunity to share experiences and learn new skills.

The training method is based on the well-known repeatedly tested approach (“Transactional-Reflection-Approach”), which includes elements of political education and psychological counseling (Coaching) to develop historical, social and political identity, as well as anti-discrimination practices. Using the well-known anti-discrimination approach (“Anti-Bias-Approach”), we will analyze practical experience, our own vision of all kinds of groups and possible working tools in the current circumstances. Both approaches are aimed at critical treatment of power and discrimination. They offer the effective analytical and practical tools that involve all forms of isolation and discrimination.

The following methods are used within the training : self-reflection, role-playing games, thematic discussions, work in small groups, de-escalation technique, theatrical and pedagogical methods, collegial analysis and practical cases supervision.

Terms for participation: 

• You are ready to take part in all stages of the long-term training program:
  І stage: July 9-, 205,
  ІІ stage: October 6-8, 205 or October 23-25, 205 .
  ІІІ stage: 206, exact dates will be known later.
• You have experience in social work in the field of non-formal education and would like to be qualified as an anti-discrimination facilitator, trainer and coach;
• You are ready to the self-reflection;
• You work with the youth and/or the adults. Practical pedagogical experience is desired but not required for participation.

Trainers:

Marina Chernivsky  is a graduate psychologist, behavioral psychotherapist, leader of the project “Perspective Change ” that is aimed at prejudice and discrimination counteracting sponsored by the Central Charitable Organization of German Jews (ZWST).

Janna Keberlein  is a historian, culture expert and coordinator of the German-Ukrainian project NGO “The German-Russian Exchange”.

The event is held within the long-term Ukrainian-German project “Joint Overcoming the Consequences of War”, aimed at the adaptation of re-settlers and the stabilization of the Ukrainian society in the context of military conflict.

To take part in training, please fill in the application form until July 3, 205. In all matters related to the training, please contact: ostrykov@krymsos.com, +380992922367 (Andrey).