CATT training for Northwest Syria
We are proud that thanks to our organisational partnerships, we are able to get trauma and anxiety training to people in some of the most challenging places to work with children, like the Yemen and Syria. The Syria conflict is now out of the news, but has been going on for thirteen years and the country is divided between the government controlled south and northern areas which are very hard to access, with limited crossing points from Turkey. Many children live here in terrible conditions, with medical and humanitarian services provided by international NGOs. Thanks to the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), CATT training was held here last July, and over the past year 22 of its staff have been using the technique to treat children with some of the most complex traumatic problems to be found anywhere in the world. Their work has been supervised by our wonderful online trainer and experienced psychologist, Dr Ghalia Al Asha. Two UOSSM counsellors now supporting here to deliver another course, organised by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). This will be the second CATT training programme delivered partially online, in order to overcome the challenges of such a remote and insecure location. We want to recognise and applaud the hard work, courage and commitment of everyone making this happen!