Whoever we are, working on any issue and in any sector, no one works in all-round ideal situation and without any issues. There are those who earn enough, but are bored with works that are in routine and lack of challenges. There are those who are happy with their job’s field, but feel uncomfortable with its competitive environments. There are those who are comfortable with their work environment, but they do not receive much pay in their sectors.

Humanitarian Workers’ Special Vulnerabilities

There are special challenges facing humanitarian workers, let it be field workers, advocacy workers, healthcare workers, or post-disaster emergency workers who are in the frontlines. It can be said that humanitarian workers face greater risks than those who work in other sectors. Humanitarian workers almost always face humanitarian problems: attending to the unfortunates who do not have access to healthcare, people who dropout of school, abuse victims, people who witness pain, death, loss, or frustration within their communities. Witnessing these concerning incidents can give rise to feelings of anger and helplessness.

Humanitarian work can also give rise to negative feelings due to parties not showing care or even abusing their powers. Other than that, organizations’ resources can be limited, resulting in low pay despite large workload. Moreover, negative feelings can come from stress from disputes with other institutions or other workers from one’s own organization. For special cases, humanitarian workers’ safeties are at risks if the issues that they are fighting for  threatens those who are afraid to lose their powers.

 

Humanitarian Workers’ Psychological Welfare Needs Attention

With the pictures outlined above, there is a need to provide humanitarian workers with care and empowerment. Humanitarian workers’ psychological welfare is important. It is as important as the responsibilities that these workers have. Through care and empowerment of these workers, we can hope that they are able to assist and advocate for the empowerment of the community.

Through ensuring the importance of psychological worker’s welfare, Yayasan Pulih supports institutions that work in the humanitarian field through the development of the “CARE

FOR CAREGIVERS: MENDAMPINGI, MERAWAT DAN MENGUATKAN PEKERJA KEMANUSIAAN” program. The program can be run in different forms according to the needs of the humanitarian institutions and workers.

Programs:

• Support group for humanitarian workers
• Consultation and technical assistance for organizations that need them
• Training and skill introductions called “penguatan psikososial untuk merawat dan menguatkan pekerja kemanusiaan” (psychological support to treat of and to empower humanitarian workers)
• Empowerment meetings for individuals and groups
• Clinical counseling and/or therapy for special cases
• Other forms of help
• Programs comprises of sessions that uses methods include: group discussions, brainstorming sessions, sharing sessions, artwork activities, role play, case studies, self-reflection sessions, movies/photo viewing sessions, short talks, and personal reflection sessions. These sessions aim at bettering oneself in personal reflection, understanding one’s work and coworkers, managing emotions, and getting insights into steps to take care of and strengthening oneself and coworkers.

These methods aims at making it easier for humanitarian workers to hone practical skills in taking care and bettering oneself, coworkers, and institutions.

Examples of Yayasan Pulih clients for “Care for Caregivers” Program:

Komnas Perempuan

Peace Brigade International

Terre des Hommes Netherland, a partner institution

Institutions that handles violence against women and children

Institutions that support migrant workers

Institutions that handles gross human rights violations

For further information for this program, please contact: 

021-78842580 

or via Whatsapp 08118436633 (during office time).