Personal and everyday coping skills – CSI

Story-telling, sharing of stories & personal experiences; provision of practical, country-specific information

The sessions under Module 1 were deliberately delivered in a very informal environment, since it was the first sessions that took place with the participants and the aim was to make them feel comfortable to interact during the online sessions. Also, it was a way to give the opportunity to the women to understand that changes and difficult situations are inevitable in life and that all people at some point in their life have these difficulties, which they must learn to deal with, and this was the focus of this Module. This methodology was very successful in opening up a conversation and discussing about resilience and changes in a very healthy way, relating it mostly with the change of being in a foreign country and learning to adjust to the culture while adhering also to the values that they bring from where they come from. The participants had the opportunity to share their own stories about how they are dealing with having to live in a foreign country, how they experienced a culture shock and share with others useful tips.

Another methodology that worked well during Module 1 – Personal and Everyday Coping Skills was giving a brief overview of the legal framework surrounding the employment of migrants in Cyprus, according to their status (refugee status, asylum seeker status etc.) in a very practical and informative way. The trainer also shared specific organisations in Cyprus and their contacts that focus on migrants and human rights, so as to give the opportunity to the participants to connect with them for relevant issues that may concern them. This seemed to be very helpful for all participants as the information delivered was accurate, on-point, useful and practical and this supported them in their further integration in the country.

Feedback from participant(s) or trainer:

What’s the most important thing you have learned during the workshop?

Perhaps the greater lesson learned from the sessions that took place under Module 1 was the importance to maintain a safe and comfortable environment as a trainer, so as to allow the participants to share their views and concerns and actively engage in the discussions. In addition, another aspect of the methodology that really helped in the success of the online sessions was the provision of practical, country-specific information regarding several aspects of being a migrant in Cyprus: legal framework for employment for different migrant statuses, available free services to migrants, support organisations that focus on migration issues, and availability of Greek language classes among others. It is important to note that the trainer shared various opportunities like launching new Greek language lessons from different organisations, or practical information like free vaccination for migrants, with the participants via email, even after the training was completed. This was done so that the participants would know that the support does not end after the training but is constant and sustainable.