Local situation

The sport development worker thrives on support. He or she must be able to fall back on someone. It is not done to drop people somewhere and then leave in the lurch, or worse, leave them to negotiate a gauntlet or even a minefield. A social structure is need, local points of orientation. These do not need to be psychologists or trauma experts, although it is of course useful to have their contacts and those of institutions if they work in this field. But it is important that the members of your social structure know a lot about the local situation and have a good relationship with the sportspersons. Teachers, for instance, could be important in this regard. Many problems can be prevented from happening by having such a relevant local network.

From the field

'We did not really need a psychologist or a trauma counsellor. But in order to have felt better we would probably have been helped by the presence of a little more guidance and feedback. That was missing, not a trauma counsellor'. (Jo Verhaegen)

'While I was working in the field, I rented a room in a family house, which had been organised by the agency that had sent me there. There were some women there who neglected their children and beat them with sticks. It stressed me out quite a bit. At a certain point I told the agency that if I had to endure this for another one or two weeks I would probably wrestle one of those sticks from one of these women and I would not be responsible for what happened next. Their first reaction was: "It's their culture, people get beaten up in situations like that." Now that, to me, is the wrong reaction, because if I indicate a limit to what I am prepared to take then it should be acted upon. "Alright", I told them, "either I go home next week, or you allow me time to look for accommodation where I can have some peace". Because, really, I did not want to have to be constantly stressed out because a child gets beaten to a pulp again next door.' (Mark Bulthuis)