Humanitarian Training in Emergency Management

The Training and Development (T&D) Subcommittee of the Fraternity –International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) carried out Humanitarian Training in the Management of Emergencies, Humanitarian Crises, Environmental Disasters, Prevention and Self-care for members of the Grace Mercy Order Monasteries, the Light-Communities, the Light-Nuclei and the Light-Network, during the period from September 2021 to January 2022.

The training was received by some 590 members of the Fraternity – InternationalHumanitarian Federation (FIHF) and its affiliates, and was transmitted online through the organization’s platform.

Marisa Gatti, 54 years old, member of the Southern Argentina Light-Network, was one of the participants in the training, and highlights that “all the topics in the training were very important. Even though the subjects may be very broad and one has to continue learning, in some aspects, a world opened up before me, because many details were new or I hadn’t thought of them.” And she adds: “we don’t know what situation we may have to face in these times, where climate changes are affecting all environments. It’s important that we prepare, know how to help and deal with an unexpected situation.”

Marisa, who has already worked as a volunteer in the Chaco Mission, became interested in participating in the training to gain new knowledge and keep up-to-date on actions to be carried out in emergency situations. This member of the Light-Network also said that the information acquired in the course can also be applied in daily life and in the service tasks that are implemented in local communities.

The co-coordinator of the Minas Gerais Light-Network and co-coordinator of the Sagrado Céu Light-Nucleus in Belo Horizonte, Renata Falci, also emphasized the relevance of the training for current times: “understanding the high degrees of complexity in each situation, understanding the flow of actions/responsibilities, the importance of individual and group balance in the teamwork, and the level of commitment, respect, solidarity among individuals and groups are all very basic.”

Diversity of the participating public

There was a great participation of people who were able to follow the training in three simultaneous languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English.

“As there was a very broad spectrum of people attending this training, mainly from the Light-Communities and the Light-Nuclei, the subjects addressed contributed to bringing awareness about concerns for the way of preparing places for the most difficult times. Most especially because the Light-Communities and Light-Nuclei can be centers for providing shelter for people being impacted by the adverse situations the planet is going through,” added Ricardo Baumgartner, regional director of the Roraima Humanitarian Mission and instructor of modules 1, 2 & 3, with the subjects on Emergency Management, Shelter Management, and Humanitarian Principles and Standards.

Getting prepared to fulfill the needs of a constantly changing planet

The humanitarian worker, Jorge Aldaroso, taught the classes for modules 4 & 5, addressing the subjects on First Aid and Self-care during disasters generated by the Elements of Air and Fire, Water and Earth.

Martín Aldaroso provides training services in the Area of Emergencies (Fires, Rescue and Radio Communications) in the Fraternidad deAurora Light-Community and the Hermandad Light-Community, and the HumanitarianFraternity (FIHF), and he pointed out that in the current planetary situation, the population as a whole and people in particular need to properly prepare for the changes and emergencies that come forward and which constantly go beyond forecasts and available resources that could provide support.

“Concerning this, both the beings that suffer in the various situations, as well as the people who want to help them, have need of a minimum amount of training in concrete prevention actions and self-care which will allow them to face the problems that arise,” assesses the humanitarian worker.

Gratitude for sharing the knowledge

Among all the participants, there was a great feeling of gratitude for the shared information, going beyond cultural and linguistic differences.

As a humanitarian trainer and worker, “I feel extremely grateful for having had the opportunity and the honor of contributing my small bit to the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions. I feel extremely hopeful on seeing that many people with ‘the spirit of being ready to help’ in situations that occur are able to first become aware of the risks that we face. What is most valuable to me is that: Each day there are more and more people ready to love,” summarizes Aldaroso.