10 day training of trainers on Common Threads

A 10 day training of trainers on Common Threads Project was conducted at TPO Nepal from 12 December 2017 to 22 December 2017. The main objective of this training was to provide training about Common Threads Project and build the capacity of local level counselors. Altogether 15 women from different backgrounds participated in the training.

Common Threads Project is a unique and effective group recovery program, inspired by ancient cultural practices, and validated by current neuro-scientific understandings of trauma. It takes its inspiration from the ancient art of making story cloths. Common Threads Project infuses this practice with evidence-based trauma therapy, psycho-education, and mind-body work. It is currently being implemented in four countries- Ecuador, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rachel A. Cohen, the founder and executive director of Common Threads Project, Ms. Jamuna Maharjan, Clinical Manager and Ms. Indira Pradhan, Project Coordinator from TPO Nepal were the facilitators of this training.The participants were WCO counselors from Nuwakot, Bhaktapur and Sindhupalchowk districts as well as psychosocial counselors from Kathmandu.

The 10 day training session covered topics like psycho-education, trauma management, art therapy, breathing and relaxation exercises, stabilization, grounding, guided imagery, sewing patterns, preparation of story cloths etc.

On the final day of the training, topics covered throughout the training were reviewed. An exhibition was also organized at TPO Nepal premises, where all of the participants displayed their story cloths prepared during the training sessions.

In the end, certificate was distributed to all the participants. One of the participants of the training remarked that this training had helped her to understand herself and she was very happy to be a part of the training. She also added that there was a lot of background story in her story cloth, which she was able to express with her group during the training. She felt confident about going back to her community and training the trauma survivors after the training sessions.

Mr. Suraj Koirala, Executive Manager of TPO Nepal concluded the session by thanking Rachel Cohen for introducing the program in Nepal in 2014. He also thanked UNICEF for their support to TPO Nepal. He remarked that the output of the training displayed in the form of story cloths was remarkable. In the end, he thanked all the participants and facilitators for their participation.