Training for impact in disaster-affected communities

Community Works produced a publication for BasicNeeds entitled ‘Training for Impact’, which tells the story of a training program on mental health and development that was conducted in Sri Lanka during the weeks after the Asian Tsunami and subsequently replicated within the country and extended to Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The publication coincided with the fifth anniversary of the disaster. Through its work, BasicNeeds helped build a network of practitioners to meet the mental health needs of affected people. With support from the Northern Rock Foundation and the One Foundation, participants from 75 organisations in 11 countries completed the program.

‘Training for Impact’ describes the model developed for the program and the results achieved for people whose lives were so dramatically affected. This approach to short case studies is a valuable way to document the experience and enable wider reflection and learning. It is available here as a download and can also be found on the BasicNeeds website: BasicNeeds.org