Hi Raffi, you have a privileged opportunity to do such important assistance in healing. It is good to know you are there. My recommendation is to go ahead and hold the OST meeting without thinking too much about what you can do to ease the pain. The pain will not ease with anything but the opportunity to talk about it and the gift of time. It is critical that the OST be one of at least two days and preferably even longer---this creates both the space and the time for the people to say what needs to be said and to shift a little from the pain and to the solutions. The multi-days should include the diversity of people that you have noted.
Blessings, Birgitt -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Raffi Aftandelian Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 4:33 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: preparing participants to work creatively in an OS Dear listers, In about 10 days I will be conducting a 4 hour OS in a tent camp with Chechen refugees in Ingushetia. I have been here for a month now, and will be here for a minimum of 5 more months. The OS will be with women who are trying to figure out ways of providing for themselves, self-employment possibilities. There is definite interest in the group in OS and yet at the same time I think it is too early to jump into OS. These women (a group of about 10) like many (if not most other) Chechens have experienced lots of pain (loved ones have been wrongly prisoned, or friends/relatives -- including boys as young as 10-12 and men as old as 70 have been rounded up in the middle of the night, tortured, shot, then the corpse is blown up). They attend a regular psychosocial rehabilitation group to deal with the pain, sorrow they carry. They clearly want to do something about their lives, but this constant pain has dulled them. It's like they're asleep. I am wondering what kind of prep work (aside from presenting OS, developing a theme) would be good to do so that they can get the most out of it. For example, we are looking to invite not just refugees but others, too. NGO directors, tent camp director, maybe small businesspeople. The idea being that the variety of energy may set a more energetic tone to the OS. I was thinking that presenting the grief cycle might be helpful. To do more storytelling might also be good. What else might I do? Might some work at developing our creative faculties be appropriate? If so, what exactly? What else might I keep in mind? What other prep work might I do? Thanks, Raffi * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
