Once again, Jean Piaget University in Angola hosted a transformative event: the second Course in Education Oriented to Overcoming Trauma, offered by the Fraternity – International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) team.
For five days, more than 50 fourth-year Psychology students immersed themselves in an enriching process of learning, sharing experiences and reflection. A course with the potential to not only strengthen their professional skills, but also to offer a deeper understanding of trauma and resilience, representing a significant milestone in their academic and personal trajectories.
Perspectives and learnings:
Anderson Santiago, a volunteer humanitarian actor with the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM), highlighted the importance of this course as an opportunity to learn and share knowledge. For him, as for the students, this course was a unique opportunity to acquire new tools and skills.
Dr. Mauro Matias, coordinator of the Psychology Student Support Office, highlighted the importance of this training to enrich the students’ scientific knowledge. According to him, this will enable them to approach the daily challenges of their future clinical practice more effectively.
Personal transformation as a starting point:
The students themselves also shared their experiences and reflections.
Jeremias Emanuel André highlighted how this training helps them to heal themselves so that they can help other people. Lurdes Samba Muacatongue expressed how the course allowed them to get in touch with parts of themselves that had been forgotten, and how this experience is leaving a positive mark on their lives.
The dynamics of the course, according to Cassimiro Celina, were fundamental. In addition to the theory, the practices and dynamics taught them not to be afraid of making mistakes and to express their thoughts and feelings freely.
Impact and continuity
Fátima Cavalcante, a humanitarian actor from the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM), noted that this course offers a unique synthesis of knowledge and experiences, providing students with an overview of the process of overcoming trauma.
For the organizers and participants, this course is more than academic training; it is a path to personal and social transformation. Dr. Mauro Matias expressed his desire to continue with these initiatives, aware of the positive impact they have on the community.
Together for a resilient future
Definitely, the training in Education Oriented to Overcoming Trauma is bringing new perspectives on vital issues, providing students with tools to face the challenges of the future with resilience and compassion. This course represents a fruitful collaboration between academia and civil society, where knowledge is linked with practice to face the challenges of the Angolan society.
