Psychological First Aid Training – Gezira State

Psychological First Aid Training – Gezira State

Under the Emergency Response Project for First and Second Lines in Sudan, CAFA for Development – Gezira State, in partnership with Triangle Génération Humanitaire (TGH – France), and in coordination with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development, the Humanitarian Aid Commission, and the Child Welfare Council, implemented a training activity on Psychological First Aid (PFA). The project was supported by the European Union under project code ECHO_TGH_106 S.

The training workshop was held from Tuesday, December 9 to December 11, 2025, at the Humanitarian Aid Commission Hall in Madani Al-Kubra locality. The opening session was addressed by the State Commissioner of the Humanitarian Aid Commission, Mr. Asaad Al-Sir, who praised the state of security and highlighted the violence and crises experienced by Gezira State due to the war and their impact on citizens. He commended CAFA for its significant role in providing psychosocial support and psychological first aid through child-friendly spaces and safe spaces for women and girls, both during and after the war. He encouraged participants to benefit from the expertise of Dr. Moaz Sharafi, a mental health specialist.

Mr. Ibrahim Radwan, CAFA’s State Director, also addressed the participants, thanking them for their patience and engagement, and urging them to apply the workshop outcomes to support themselves and their communities during the post-war recovery phase.

Dr. Moaz Sharafi presented comprehensive sessions on Psychological First Aid, covering definitions, principles, identification of psychological impacts of crises and disasters, and appropriate response mechanisms. He also explained how to determine when, where, how, and to whom services should be provided, supported by real-life case studies. In addition, Mr. Moataz Ahmed discussed mental health concepts, the relationship between mental and public health, the role of socialization, family, and community in psychosocial support, and individual differences in coping with trauma.

Participants engaged actively through role-playing, group discussions, and brainstorming exercises. Many expressed that the training provided new and valuable knowledge. The workshop was attended by 25 participants (16 females and 9 males) from diverse professional backgrounds.

The training concluded with participant feedback, certificate distribution, and group photos.