In November last year we were asked by Ceu Federer, CEO of Timor Aid to run a trauma recovery programme for some of the staff there. This need had been expressed in a strategic planning workshop held a few months earlier.

Timor Aid, started by Juan and Ceu Federer amongst others in the 1990's to improve the lot of the East Timorese, currently employs over eighty people, mostly Timorese, in Dili and several provinces of Timor Lorosae. There are some 35 programmes in aid distribution, health education, civic education, Tetum literacy, capacity development, women's groups, microcredit programmes, trauma work, weaving development amongst others.

Using our experience with trauma, stress management, group work and training in the cross-cultural field, we devised an innovative two week package around family trauma storytelling in a group setting, with an educational component on post traumatic stress disorder and stress management. Our idea was to start with what was still disturbing the participants in the here and now, then trace back to where the feeling started, developing trust, using therapeutic interventions and the group process for support and for suggestions as to how participants could best cope with their difficulties. At the same time, we also trained seven people from several NGO's working in the trauma field-- "Catholic Migration", "Pradet Women's Group", "Movement for Peace and Democracy", "Timor Aid" itself-- in the form of a "train the trainer" program, so that this technique could be continued after our departure.

We worked through interpreters, using Tetum and Bahasa Indonesia, which the participants were all familiar and comfortable with. Our anchor person who handled all our administrative requirements was Sister Eileen, the head of Timor Aid's own trauma unit.

After the first educational day, we divided participants into male and female groups, and spent some time on confidence building measures. Each session commenced with a candle ritual for the success of the workshop, for people to care for each other and for harmony, closeness and good feelings to prevail between participants. Role playing and icebreakers were used when appropriate.

Over the next 5 days Family Trauma Storytelling groups were held, separately for men and women. Educational sessions with our trainees were conducted daily. All the participants who wanted to tell their story were able to do so. Some participants' stories were quite horrific. Nearly all had lost family members during the last 30 years and had witnessed atrocities of one sort or another, such as seeing people killed, their towns burned down etc, and these experiences still haunted them. The groups were very supportive of all the storytelling, giving supportive, culturally appropriate suggestions on how to resolve their difficulties.

A stress management workshop followed for all the Timor Aid staff. Instruction was given in some basic relaxation techniques, easy to practise at work and at home.

We began the last day with a closing ceremony. Participants selected a place by the sea, near the venerated statue of Christo Re. Photos of murdered family members were displayed. All of us, participants trainees and facilitators, made a circle around a bonfire. Songs of love, peace and forgiveness were sung and poetry was recited. People threw writings or drawings into the fire, either burning past experiences they wanted to be rid of, or expressing hopes for the future. The ceremony ended with singing and dancing which expressed the relief and release attained.

We were very impressed by the Timorese people we met. They were so resilient and courageous, determined to deal with their past and move on to build a better future for themselves and their country. It was a privilege to contribute, in a small way, to the development of this new country.

Before we ended, both participants and trainees provided verbal and written feedback in Tetum. Most of them reported being helped with their feelings in significant ways. The trainees expressed confidence that they would now use this family trauma group stoytelling approach in their work. Nearly all of the participants and trainees felt they had benefited greatly from the workshop, and indicated that their lives would be more positive as a result.

The CEO, Ceu Federer, was very pleased with the outcome of the workshop. Her email is buibere@ozemail.com.au. The website of Timor Aid is www.TimorAid.org

We want to carry out further work in Family Trauma Group Storytelling work in other countries. The approach is especially suited to assisting people in an organisation or community whose members who have suffered past trauma. At the same time we will train local people to continue this work. Then we have "helped helpers and trainedtrainers".
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