By Ahmed Ali, Kafanchan
Stakeholders from various sectors have been trained on the use of a Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) to better understand and respond to people experiencing distress in Kaduna State.
The training workshop, organised by Carefronting Nigeria with support from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, was held in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area in southern Kaduna.
SPRiNG is an initiative of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), implemented by Tetra Tech International Development.
The training brought together representatives of youth and women organisations, security agencies, local government authorities, religious institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
The facilitators took participants through key areas including understanding trauma, principles of trauma-informed approaches, trauma responses, reactions to traumatic events and self-care.
Speaking on the objective of the training, the Country Coordinator of Carefronting Nigeria, Maji Peterx, said the initiative was aimed at equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and skills required to respond appropriately to people experiencing distress.
He said the idea was to bring stakeholders together to strengthen their capacity to work with affected individuals and communities, particularly during difficult situations.
According to him, understanding how trauma affects individuals is important in ensuring that interventions do not unintentionally worsen their experiences.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the training, saying it had provided them with a better understanding of trauma and appropriate ways of responding to people in distress.
They also pledged to apply the knowledge gained in their respective organisations and communities and promote approaches that prioritise safety, dignity and the wellbeing of people affected by traumatic experiences.
