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Progress Report for TPO Consultancy Service
to DC-CAM
Reporting period Jan-June 2004
Project
title “Victim of Torture-Helping the victims of the Khmer Rouges”
I.
Introduction
The Khmer Rouge regime has ended a long time ago but the legacy of
its regime still affects all Cambodians today. Mental health professionals
predicted that the psychological wounds of many Cambodian survivors may
resurface during the upcoming international tribunal for the surviving Khmer
Rouge leaders which will take place in the near future.
For this reason, setting up a programmed to support those who
suffered the most from the Khmer Rouge regime will begin to help us to cure the
old wounds and also to understand the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge
regime. The scope of the project involves Peace Building and Trauma Services to
the people living in the areas of Kandal and Kampot province.
Three TPO staff involved in this projects, Mr Leang Lo Training
Coordinator, Ms Korm Sok Andeth Counseling Supervisor and Dr Sotheara Managing
director.
II.
Main
activities
The activities in this semester include the following
components:
1.
Training:
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Curriculum development: Tailor made curriculum was designed for
DC-Cam staff member in order to understand mental health and psychosocial
issues.
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Training preparation: TPO trainers develop lesson plan and
handouts for this training.
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Training activities: ( Please see training report in attachment)
2.
Involvement in adapting core trauma questionnaires
As a request from DC-Cam
project staff, TPO trainers help DC-Cam project staff to comment and edit the
questionnaires which will be used to administer in the field.
3.
Field visit:
After the completion of the training, the project staff went to
the field to administer the above questionnaires to the target beneficiaries.
TPO staff has the duty to assist the DC-Cam project staff in administering the
questionnaires properly and help them in finding way of asking sensitive
questions.
During this period, two staff from TPO went to the field with
DC-CAM staff in Kandal Stung district, Kandal province. The first field visit
conducted by Dr Sotheara, TPO manager on 25 of May 2004 in Trapang Sva village,
Trea commune. Dr. Sotheara observed the interview between DC-Cam project staff
interviewed one victim whose close sibling was killed during the KR time. Dr
Sotheara recommended the project staff to cut out the time spent for each
questions by not to elaborate so much in each question and also provide some
sort of explanation to the project staff about some of the things they have
learnt. Second visit was conducted by Mrs. Korm Sok Andeth, TPO counseling
supervisor on 31 of May at Koh Snor village, Prek Rokar commune. A whole morning
was spent for each field visit.
During the field visit TPO staff found the strength and weak
points that staff doing interview with the Victims of Khmer Rough as following
below:
Strength
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The project staff are able to use more interviewing skills
properly, they have a good way of greeting interviewees before starting
interview.
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They ask the consent from the interviewees before starting the
interview
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They provide clear instruction to the interviewees and clarify
the point that they may not understand
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Leave sometime for interviewee to relax during asking
questions
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Allow interviewees to ask questions if they have doubts
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Good use of Nonverbal interaction
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Be friendly and socialized: e.g. they drink the water that the
interviewees (local people) drink every day.
Area needed to be
improved:
Interviewer should use more probing questions or refresh the
questions for exploring in dept related history.
The overall interview process is very good, the smoothness of the
interview (using the standardized questionnaires) will improve as time goes.
Written by Mrs. Korm Sok Andeth,
Counseling Supervisor
Team
Leader: Sophearith Chuong,
truthsophearith@dccam.org
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