In addition to dealing with the disasters themselves, ZAKA volunteers have to
deal with the difficult problems of keeping up their emotional strength. The very
nature of their work exposes the volunteers to such traumatic scenes that only a
select few can cope with. However, this does not stop them from carrying out their
work in a responsible and professional manner.
The volunteers require great emotional strength and powers as they deal with
the intensive work associated with disaster, including informing the families whose
dear ones have been killed or wounded, identifying the bodies and accompanying the
families in their difficult hours.
ZAKA offers volunteers a unique series of courses and workshops that provide
them with the skills required to let go of difficult emotional baggage, as well
as locating and engaging inner strength to be able to continuously deal with stressful
situations, tragedies and emergencies.
In a unique project initiated by ZAKA and the Mishabim organization, ZAKA volunteers
have been trained to identify the first signs of stress among their colleagues who
are in need of therapy and to give an appropriate and professional response.
ZAKA has also developed a unique series of defenses to protect the volunteers’
emotional strength that has become a model for research and copied by other professional
bodies around the world. |
