75
Day 3 . The good helper revisited
SAID ALOUD
Day 3 . The good helper revisited
Aim . To explore further the qualities of a good helper .
PART II : THE TRAINING
Grounding Exercise 3 . Progressive release of muscular tension . ( 15 minutes .)
GROUNDING EXERCISE
This exercise is very useful to helpers who need to release the tension that has accumulated in their bodies during a long working day !
Focus on the difference of feeling between when your muscles are tense and when they are relaxed . Tense and relax your head , face , neck , shoulders , back , stomach , buttocks , arms , hands , legs , and feet . Increase the tension , hold it for 5 seconds , then release it for 10 . Do each part of the body one by one . Find the tempo that suits you .
• Start with your hands . Make a fist , hold for 5 seconds , release for 10 seconds . Notice the difference between the tense and released state . Do it once more .
• Now focus on your arms ; pull you lower part of your arm towards your shoulder . Feel the tension in your upper arms . Five seconds , release . Notice the difference . Do it once more .
• Stretch your arm out , lock the elbow and feel the tension in the triceps . Hold for 5 seconds , release for 10 . Notice the difference . Repeat . When the arms are relaxed , let them rest in your lap . Continue with the rest of the body .
You can find the full grounding exercise in Appendix 2 .
Trainer . On Day 1 we discussed the qualities of the good helper . Now we ’ ll add some of the skills and qualities that you have become aware of during the training . Here is a new drawing , which adds new elements to the characteristics of the good helper .
The Helper from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• The Helper has a big heart to contain a survivor ’ s feelings and suffering .
• She has a small mouth , so she can keep secrets .
• She has a big handbag that be can be locked and in it she puts all the prejudice or bad words she might hear about survivors .
• Big feet keep her safely and steadily on the ground , and enable her to walk the long distances to where she is needed .
• Her ears must be large , to hear what a survivor tells her , and what a survivor does not say in words but through small sighs and other sounds . The survivor should not have to repeat herself .
• The eyes of the helper must be wide open , to read a survivor ’ s signals , her facial expressions , the movements of her body , the language of her hands .
• Her bladder must be large , as conversation can take a long time and should not be interrupted .
• Her nose must be small to protect her from smells , as the survivor can be injured and leak urine .
• The Helper also needs a strong head and a strong heart not to be traumatised by what she hears . She may even have a helmet to protect herself .