Psychosocial Aid Coordination Meeting

PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKING GROUP
October 16th, 2001


Participants:

Ms. Mayke Huijbregts,UNICEF (Chair)
Mr. Turgaj Mazlami, CARE
Ms. Silvana Boskovska, UNICEF
Ms. Nadica Gjozeva, UNHCR
Mr. Kerry Neal, ARC
Mr. Ioannis Diangelakis, European Perspective
Mr. Antoni Novotni, Safe Childhood
Ms. Suzana Peseva, CPCA
Ms. Vladanka Andreeva, OCHA
Mr. Radomir Gelevski, SOS Kumanovo
Ms. Jasmina Belcovska, Happy Childhood
Ms. Maja Suslevska, Safe the Children UK
Mr. John Gelissen, ICRC
Ms. Silvana Onceva, MRC
Ms. Gjane Kresova, Forum of Albanian Women


AGENDA

  1. Introduction by participants/adoption of minutes.
  2. IDP and Host family survey outcome
  3. Update on rapid psychosocial response
  4. Winterisation
  5. Training of NGO field staff: indication of participants/ deadline
  6. AOB


1. Introduction of new participants/adoption of minutes.

Minutes of the last meeting were adopted; participants introduced themselves.

2. IDP & Host Family Surveys

The host family survey outcome is ready. UNICEF presented an overview of the conclusions of the host family survey.

At the meeting next week the psychosocial section of the Host Family survey and the entire IDP survey, as analyzed by UNICEF, will be available and presented.

UNICEF will share the soft versions with other agencies upon request.

ARC and OCHA shared information on the provision of cash assistance to host families: SDR will cover retroactively the period from May to August 2001 and will initially target 4,200 host families with the monthly assistance of 70 DEM per family.

EU Agency for Reconstruction and Development will cover the period from October 2001 to March 2002 with monthly assistance of 100 DEM per family. The payment for October, November and December will be made in January 2001 and the payment for January, February and March will be made in April 2002. Based on the presented information the payment of monthly assistance for September still needs to be clarified.

3. Update on Rapid Psychosocial Response

Representatives from Happy Childhood, Safe Childhood, and MRC gave an update on their ongoing psychosocial support projects with emphasis on undertaken activities, target groups and places. UNICEF will share the updated psychosocial matrix with all participants to facilitate better coordination of psychosocial projects.

The representative from the MRC still reported concern that IDP children living in collective centers are deprived of education and are reluctant to join local schools.

With regard to providing transportation assistance to IDPs who need to reach schools/university and work places, OCHA reported that the Ministry of Labor and Social policy had sent requests to the International Organisation for Migration to either subsidize the costs for transportation or establish bus shuttles where regular bus lines are not operational.

4. Winterisation

Winterisation and distribution plan will be finalised Friday, 19 October during the Host Family Working Group hosted by OCHA. ICRC, IFRC, MRC, MCIC, OCHA, and EL Hilal are requested to attend the host family working group this Friday to discuss the updated database on IDPs, registration and re-registration of IDPS. this will be necessary in order to finalise the distribution network and needs assessment for winterisation. UNICEF will provide winter clothes for all IDP children (0-18) in collective centres, IDP children in host families, and for refugee children in refugee collective centres and for children living in institutions.

ARC will provide a matrix at this week's host family meeting based on information provided by 19 NGOs about their ongoing and future activities for IDPs to better coordinate winterisation.

5. Training of NGO field staff: Participant Selection/Deadlines

UNICEF reiterated the invitation to field staff from NGOs working in the framework of the PWG to attend a training on indirect traumatisation and burnout prevention the first weekend of November in Hotel Molika in Bitola. Two representatives per NGO can participate. So far only 2 NGOs have indicated their participation. Deadline for registration is 23 October.

6. AOB

Safe Childhood invited all participants to attend the presentation of Manual for promotion of mental health and prevention of school children abuse, which is to be held in the premises of the Municipality of Skopje (Small Hall) on 17 October 2001, at 13:00 hrs.

UNICEF invited participants to the Second Round Table on domestic violence and child abuse, which is being held in the premises of Town Skopje (Small Hall) on Thursday, 18/10/2001,at 14:00 hrs. All organisations that work in the area of domestic violence and child abuse may attend.

Next Psychosocial Working Group Meeting will be held on Tuesday 23 October, 13:00 at the UNICEF Conference Room.

Please contact Mayke Huijbregts, Child Protection Project Officer or Silvana Boskovska, Child Protection Programme Assistant for any further information.

UNICEF Skopje; III Makedonska Udarna Bridaga bb; 1000 Skopje
Tel: 464-911

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