24/07/2025
Training of community counselors are a heart beat of Fomcam Community & Mental Health Organization and Fomcam Institute for Professional Development . in partnership with Hadassah Foundation trained humanitarian actors and students on basic counseling skills as a means to increase the number persons coming in contact with the vulnerable populations in the conflict regions of the NWSW of Cameroon. This training brought together 30 participant's in the South West Regions of Cameroon.
Certainly! Below is a structured write-up highlighting how the training of community counselors by FOMCAM and the Hadassah Foundation benefited the participants and how it will help them assist vulnerable populations in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon:
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Impact of Community Counselor Training in the South West Region of Cameroon
FOMCAM Community & Mental Health Organization and the FOMCAM Institute for Professional Development (FOMIPD), in collaboration with the Hadassah Foundation, organized a vital training workshop on basic counseling skills for humanitarian actors and students. The training brought together 30 participants from across the South West Region of Cameroon, equipping them with foundational knowledge and tools to respond to the psychosocial needs of communities affected by the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West (NWSW) Regions.
How the Training Benefited the Participants
1. Acquisition of Basic Counseling Skills
Participants received hands-on training on active listening, empathy, confidentiality, and non-judgmental support — essential skills for anyone engaging with traumatized or vulnerable individuals.
2. Improved Understanding of Mental Health and Trauma
The training deepened their understanding of the psychological impact of conflict, displacement, and loss, allowing participants to identify signs of distress and provide initial psychosocial support or referrals.
3. Enhanced Confidence and Readiness
Many participants reported increased confidence in their ability to engage with survivors of violence, internally displaced persons (IDPs), orphaned children, and others affected by the crisis.
4. Community-Based Intervention Capacity
The training built the participants’ capacity to offer support within their own communities, thus decentralizing mental health services and making support more accessible at grassroots levels.
5. Networking and Peer Learning
The diverse mix of students and humanitarian actors encouraged experience sharing and collaboration, fostering a network of emerging community counselors across the South West Region.
How It Will Help Trainees Assist Vulnerable Populations
1. Increased Access to Psychosocial Support
With more trained individuals in the field, communities now have greater access to basic psychosocial first aid and mental health awareness, especially in remote or underserved areas.
2. Early Identification and Referral of At-Risk Individuals
Trained counselors will be able to identify individuals in distress and refer them to appropriate services for further psychological, medical, or social support.
3. Building Resilience and Community Healing
Through their work, trained community counselors can help restore hope, encourage emotional recovery, and promote resilience among people facing trauma, displacement, and grief.
4. Contribution to Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion
By offering listening ears and emotional support, these counselors will help reduce tensions, prevent breakdowns in social relationships, and contribute to community healing and peacebuilding.
5. Support for Education and Youth Reintegration
Students trained in basic counseling skills can play a critical role in supporting the psychosocial reintegration of peers affected by conflict, thus promoting retention in schools and educational success.
Everyone Matters Mental Health Movement UNICEF Cameroon Plan International Cameroon High Commission of Canada to Cameroon US Embassy Yaoundé _cameroon Followers Nche Sam Takoh Veracity Higher Institute of Business, Biomedical Science and Technology Sparks of Change Initiative Youth Actions for Development Foundation - YADEF Highlights Highlights for Children Tasi Keshia School Education Department, Government of the Punjab World Health Organization (WHO) UNFPA Cameroon UNICEF UNOCA United Nations OCHA
