By Dogga Luwo
Three-week Follow-up workshop on psychosocial support and counselling concluded in Juba on November 28, 2024, marking a significant milestone for women leaders in South Sudan.
The initiative, organized by PAX for Peace Organization under their Women Influence Project and supported by the German government, brought together over 100 participants comprising of female parliamentarians, civil society advocates, and community leaders.
The workshop, which ran from November 12 to November 28, focused on equipping participants with essential skills to provide psychosocial support within their communities.
Emmanuel Ira, Country Director for PAX for Peace, explained that it was important to transfer the skills learned during the training to their colleagues.
“I was deeply touched by the testimonies from some of you,” he said, highlighting the emotional impact of the sessions.
The program aims to run until 2026, with ongoing training sessions planned to ensure sustained support for women leaders.
Ira encouraged participants to extend the knowledge gained to their teams, fostering a culture of healing and empowerment.
Martina Kani, who oversees the Women Influence Project, noted the positive changes observed among the lawmakers since the initial psychosocial training held in August.
She said this follow-up workshop aims to assess how the previous training has impacted their lives and communities.
Martina Kani, PAX Project Officer in charge of the Empowered Women Influence Initiative, speaking during one of the Psychosocial Follow-up Training Sessions in Juba/ Photo Credit: Silvano Yokwe
“This psychosocial support is very important for the people of South Sudan and for this particular group because we have had a lot of feedback from them. A lot of testimonies how it has helped them personally, how it has helped them to help other people outside there. Their families, neighbours and also at the parliament level, and also among the women-led organizations and equally women advocacy,” she said.
Reverend Alice Muse, an international consultant from Kenya facilitating the sessions, urged participants to practice mindfulness as a tool for managing trauma and anxiety.
She encouraged the lawmakers to ground themselves in the present moment, reiterating the need for self-care in their demanding roles.
“You’re no longer living in there that time. You have come out, you have grown, you are now today. So for people who have experienced trauma, practicing mindfulness can help reduce anxiety and bring a sense of calm especially if you practice being blessed in the core, in the current moment you are experiencing,” she said.
Participants shared their personal experiences and the transformative effects of the training.
Adieng, a lawmaker expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn how to handle personal conflicts and help others in distress.
She said through this workshop, “I learned the importance of forgiveness and supporting one another.”
Another participant, Victoria Nasra Augustino, a member of parliament at the Council of States highlighted the impact of the training on her ability to mediate conflicts within her community.
She said after the training she was able to coil herself and also a neighbor.
Nancy Ikedu, an advocate working with Action 54, explained how the training enabled her to support a family member struggling with mental health issues:
“I really learned a lot, mostly on the counselling aspect on trauma healing. I was able to use these skills to help my uncle who had stopped taking his medication. I talked to him a lot, and eventually, he decided to start taking his medication again,” she stated.
Meanwhile, advocate Nalina Aluel shared a personal story of overcoming trauma and learning to manage emotions:
“I grew up in a violent family and it really affected me as a person. I used to fight with everyone. But after the training, I’ve learned to control my emotions and I’m now able to handle difficult situations calmly,” she explained.
Zita Angel, described how the training helped her overcome trauma and build resilience.
“It was really not easy for me to come out of that trauma. But I was so excited that through this training… I’ve learned a lot and it also helped me on how I can overcome it.”
The Psychosocial support training, program aims to foster unity and resilience in a country still grappling with the effects of conflict.
Participants left with renewed commitment to their roles as advocates for peace and development in South Sudan, ready to implement the skills they acquired and uplift their communities.