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From 13-17 November 2024, 16 RENATE members gathered at Deurne, a small suburb of Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, to learn about Trauma and Mental health of practitioners working in the field of anti-human trafficking.
The event opened with a presentation by Ivonne van de Kar, RENATE Co-President on the RENATE Europe Network, its Mission, Vision, Values, structures etc. Ivonne then presented on the nature & scope of human trafficking & sexual violence in the Netherlands and the systems & practices observed in the Netherlands when addressing human trafficking and also when trying to care for the carers.
Professor Antoaneta Mateeva, Associate Professor, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria drew upon her experience and wisdom, to help us understand trauma –its definition, types and systemic factors.
Over the days together, Professor Mateeva helped participants realise the depth of impact of life -experiences on each and every one, and how these experiences shape and fashion reactions and decisions in later life, both personal & professional.
Participants gently explored personal reactions to traumatic situations. They examined early childhood trauma and its effects in the later life.
Throughout, participants considered theories to understand and support people victims of violence and more specifically, those with the lived experience of human trafficking.
The concept of resilience and the strengths-based model of support was considered as the participants looked at approaches such as Trauma-oriented care and the Mentalization-based model of care.
With a focus on trauma prevention, policies and practice, Professor Mateeva emphasised the importance of the context of community, culture and work with the local attitudes to people with the lived experience of violence and human trafficking.
There was an opportunity to explore the notion of structural discrimination as well as an exploration of local service structures and cultures of help in mobilizing the community around the beneficiary.
Throughout, there was an emphasis on ‘’Caring for the carer,’’ as the discussions centred on acknowledging and understanding how a beneficiary’s trauma actually affects the carer. Specifically, the AMBIT model of Mentalisation-based work informed the discussions.
Sharing of trainees’ personal experience from their professional roles played a central and invaluable part of the time together.
At the end of the day, it was agreed that the most important component of recovery and resilience is ‘’forgiveness.’’
Great gratitude was expressed to Professor Mateeva, for not only sharing her expertise but also for the gentle and sensitive approach she employed throughout the days together.
Comments from the participants:
Thanks for the methodology where you included our own individual perspectives and these in turn brought attention to the wider context in which we work.
Like the combination of theory, knowledge & practical exercises.
Valuable opportunities for us to learn from one another and note the occasional differences between east & west, in terms of approaches & perspectives.
I am grateful for the information on Mentalisation, which I am going to implement in my working life once I go back to my own country.
Good to have government representatives present on these trainings as we are not working in a vacuum, they need to know what we do and how we work.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences & perspectives.
Eye-opening to hear some of the problems and realities others around the room experience.
Thank you to each & everyone for our sharing, I felt like I was with family.