Over the past couple of weeks Fountain of Life has been training volunteers from Mzuzu and Lilongwe in trauma counseling. UNICEF partnered with FOL to replicate the Blantyre One Stop Center (OSC) model in three other OSCs namely Zomba, Mzuzu and Lilongwe OSCs. Part of the model is having trauma counselors at the OSCs provided by FOL.

Zomba volunteer counselors received training at the beginning of the year and over the past couple of weeks Mzuzu and Lilongwe counselors also received training. Open invitations were sent to anyone willing to become a volunteer counselor and FOL received a promising response from volunteers.

The training included basic trauma counseling skills, information on defilement, rape and sexual assault, effects of rape in general and psychologically, importance of trauma counselling, practical lessons, role playing and many more. The training took two (2) days and was very intense and effective.

In Mzuzu, twenty-five (25) volunteers received training and out of the 25, there are eight (8) core counselors on call. In Lilongwe fifteen (15) volunteers received training and there are also eight (8) core counselors. Mzuzu One Stop Center is fully constructed and victims have access to medical services and they will have access to trauma counselling services. Lilongwe OSC is still under construction but counselors are contacted whenever there is a client.

Zomba, Mzuzu and Lilongwe OSCs are on the right track to becoming fully functional OSCs.