An Example Sample Project Proposal on ‘Psychosocial Support, Counseling and Community Sensitization Services for Flood Victims’

Psychosocial can be defined as the dynamic relationship of psychological and social impacts which continuously interact with each other. On the other hand, this term can be defined as a body of multi-disciplinary services provided at every phase of the disaster cycle and entailing disaster psycho-social support.

Disaster and emergency psycho-social support is to provide psychological support to those affected by building empathy, understanding and sensitivity, to identify those who need psychiatric services and provide guidance to them. To ensure that relief work is maintained in harmony with the demographic structure and social, cultural and ethnical conditions of the affected community; To support individuals, families and community in implementing projects and/or involving in projects for meeting their needs on their own and finding solutions to their problems and thus preparing them to probable future emergencies.

The basic principles for psycho-social interventions will enhance the capacities of the beneficiaries and ensure the sustainability of services. Interventions will be aimed at strengthening and solidifying the social structure, on one hand, and enhance existing capacities and skills to cope with the problems, on the other. The phase of intervention are Emergency Relief Phase, Rehabilitation and Recovery Phase, and Mitigation and Preparedness Phase.

About Organisation

XXXXX is a Non-Governmental organisation comprising of experienced professionals in teaching, research, counselling services and trainings. The organisation is created to provide Civic Education in the promotion and protection of children’s rights for essential growth and development

Project Overview

XXXXX seeks to provide specialise counselling, psychosocial support and community sensitization services to flood victims in Malawi.

Psychosocial can be defined as the dynamic relationship of psychological and social impacts that continuously interact. On the other hand, this term can be defined as a body of multi-disciplinary services provided at every phase of the disaster cycle and entailing disaster psycho-social support; the prevention of any likely post-disaster psychological disharmony/disorder; restoring and the rehabilitation of relationships both at the family and community levels; ensuring that those affected recognize their capacities and are strengthened in the normalizing process; the increase of communal coping/relief/recovery skills in the probable future disasters and emergencies; and the provision of support to relief workers.

Aims and Objectives

Disaster and emergency psycho-social support is;

- To provide psychological support to those affected by building empathy, understanding and sensitivity, to identify those who need psychiatric services and provide guidance to them.
- To ensure that relief work is maintained in harmony with the demographic structure and social, cultural and ethnical conditions of the affected community;
- To disseminate the information needed by individuals, community and organizations;
- To provide support to individuals, families and community by supporting community involvement and voluntarism in identifying their needs on their own, acting for solution and building self-help skills;
- To ensure that the services currently provided to the community serve the communal needs
- To support individuals, families and community in implementing projects and/or involving in projects for meeting their needs on their own and finding solutions to their problems and thus preparing them to probable future emergencies;
- To enhance co-operation among institutions and organizations which will undertake roles in disasters

For relief workers:

- To provide information concerning team relations, communication skills and relations with the people, those affected by disaster, and show self-help ways as well as provide for them psychological support services they need.

Instruments for Psycho-Social Intervention

- Assessment of Needs and Resources.
- Relief Workers
- Psychological First Aid.
- Referral and Direction.
- Establishment of an Information Centre.
- Support to Relief Workers.

Basic Principles for Psycho-Social Interventions

- The interventions stand on a viewpoint which is community centered and will be implemented by XXXXX professionals.
- XXXXX personnel (Psycho-social team) will work as part of relief team during disaster response (emergency relief), rehabilitation, recovery, mitigation/preparedness phases
- For interventions, those affected from disaster are not seen as passive victims, but as strong individuals survived the disaster.
- The interventions will enhance the capacities of the beneficiaries and ensure the sustainability of services.
- With the interventions, restoration and the protection of social bonds will be achieved considering cultural, political, religious and ethnical structures.
- Interventions will be aimed at strengthening and solidifying the social structure, on one hand, and enhance existing capacities and skills to cope with the problems, on the other.

Phases of Intervention