2015-2017 through a lens...
Circle Kubatana Tose
Avondale!
"If you want to go far go together"
January 2016 CKT set up
Sarah and Lillian start hosting a weekly 'Circle Kubatana Tose' at Avondale clinic for those clients who have have finished their individual sessions on the bench. Circle Kubatana Tose is translated into English as 'together holding hands'.
The idea of CKT is to encourage like minds to get together and create a support network on the ground for a sustainable post therapy check in. During CKT the group sings, then each individual gets a talking piece and time to share on how their week has been. Most often the stress of people was financial, and so ZEEbags (the creation of bags, hats, mats and much more crocheted out of recycled plastic) was introduced to create a source of income as well as a form of behavioural activation to quieten the mind through times of unrest.
Circle Kubatana Tose
Glenview Poly Clinic
and Mbare!
"SHARING IS CARING"
2016 Circle Kubatana Tose set up
Farai started hosting a weekly 'Circle Kubatana Tose' at Glenview Poly Clinic for those clients who have have finished their individual sessions on the bench. Circle Kubatana Tose is translated into English as 'together holding hands'.
All particiapants were given a crochet hook and reels of the ribbon from old abandoned VHS tapes!
Another ZEEbag woman hosted CKT at Mbare clinic and despite there not being enough crochet hooks to go around people still came and met and talked and shared about how their kufungisisa was.
We found that groups formed subgroups which were closer and those women who found each other helped each other.
GRADUATION!
MAKOROKOTO! CONGRATULATIONS!
2016 graduation ceremonies
All training sites had a graduation ceremony. where Professor Simbarashe Rusakaniko gave a speech of congratulations and future well wishes to the LHW who attended and participated in the intervention training.
Every graduate received a certificate and then networked over lunch.
Joy was expressed through singing and dancing, the lay health workers may be described as Grandmothers but they aren't scared of exercise in the form of dance.
Lay Health Workers with Aquilla at Wilkins Hospital training!
2015 LHW training sessions
Wilkins Hospital was the primary training site for Lay Health Workers, it was a brilliant venue.
The women that gathered here for training were highly motivated and eager to learn and grow. The discussions about the communities they were coming from created common bonds as there were mutual nods of agreements that all the district clinics were facing similar issues around mental health crisis's and the lay health workers could see a solution in the problem solving skills they were learning.
These women were so full of life, the resilience in them inspirational.
Lay Health Workers being walked and talked through the Friendhsip Bench training manual!
2015 LHW training sessions
Lay Health Workers gathered at 3 sites for daily training in problem solving therapy.
Friendship Bench facilitators delivered the material with the use of our manual and the ladies participated in role plays, group discussion, check in and check outs, as well as lots of talk around the tea and lunch table.
PREPARATIONS
2015 Setting up
The Friendship Benches have arrived! Solid wooden seats where lives will be changed hopefully.
Team meetings to discuss data collection, learn to use the tablets, and establish protocols.
The Friendship Bench team gathering for brain storming sessions and team building days!
2016 Team workshops and team building during facilitation training
The Friendship Bench team gets together regularly to do mini workshops, this one on social media, reaching people through various communication lines, and campaign ideas for the future of the Friendship Bench as we think about moving towards an adolescent demographic.