COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING

TPO and HealthNet International in Bosnia and Herzegovina developed a questionnaire and an interview protocol for the purposes of study of returnees' social inclusion level. Partner NGO members were given training in communication skills in order to conduct interviews and collect data in communication with the target group of women returnees.
NGOs members conducted structured interviews and filled in questionnaires in order to collect relevant data, both qualitative and quantitative.

The training sessions were conducted during mid July - on July 14th in Sanski Most with "Krajiška Suza" and CIM; with "Srcem do mira" in Kozarac on July 15th; and with "Lara" in Bijeljina on July 21st. The filled-in questionnaires were collected during the second half of August.

TRAINING IN PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD

An original training package in psychosocial support for partner organizations in the field was designed for partner NGOs, and intended to assist in capacity building, i.e. strengthening and preparing the staff of NGOs for work with vulnerable population of returnees. Bearing in mind the differences in human resources (both experience and education-wise) and scarce financial resources, this training package, structure and activities, is deliberately developed for those who had no, or only limited experience in conducting workshops. Considering the structure, the training has two main parts: theoretical background and practical activities. Theoretical part covers issues such as Form and structure of workshops, Group work rules, Communication skills, whilst the practical part provides an overview of activities that could be further divided into Introductory/Icebreaking activities, Energizers, central activities and Evaluation/Closing activities.

Central activities such as Conflict resolution, Stereotypes and prejudices, Stress, etc. are the most important ones, aiming to improve interpersonal relations, promote culture of tolerance and build capacities  to cope with everyday adversities.