The work of Brighter Tomorrow is expanding in new directions as we continue to share with other NGOs in our community the lessons we have learned from our children.
On November 9, 2024, the Focusing Initiatives International team in Peshawar, Pakistan, conducted a training workshop on psychosocial first aid, with support from our local partner Fortified Services For Reforms and Transformation, and from the district government. The Social Welfare District Office provided a conference room and the manager of the government shelter home attended the training along with 20 community-based organizations.
Psychosocial first aid is a critical tool for self-care in conditions of stress—a tool that can help community workers and the children and families they serve. The training builds resilience by offering immediate help to calm frayed nerves and to prevent long term burnout, breakdowns, and other emotional and mental health issues. This is particularly important in communities that are unable to provide psychological and psychiatric treatments. Healthy individuals build healthy communities and healthy communities support healthy individuals.
Participants engaged in group activities where they listened to and were listened to by their group members empathetically—free from judgment, suggestions, and probing questions. Instead the listeners learned how to simply give their full attention to the speakers and reflect their comments when appropriate. This exercise introduced them to the concept of “focusing” and created a safe environment where individuals felt comfortable sharing only what they were ready to. Focusing allowed them to practice checking in with themselves and sharing selectively, providing a meaningful first encounter with supportive, non-intrusive communication. Through these exercises, they also gained insights into their own responses to prolonged stress as well as into others’ responses.Since the training workshop was offered free of cost, a “sunshine money box” was placed in a corner of the room, allowing each participant to contribute what they could as a gesture of goodwill. Participants were told that their offering, in line with the eastern tradition known as Nazrana in Urdu and Persian, and Guru Dakshina in Hindi, was intended to fund a picnic for the children of Brighter Tomorrow. The participants embraced this tradition, showing appreciation for the training by giving in support of a joyful experience for the children, embodying the spirit of generosity and community care that the workshop itself promoted.