The objective:

From 14 to 18 September 2019, a team of 6 hypnotherapists will embark for Greece, heading to the refugee camps of Lesbos, Samos, and Chios to support those who take care of others: the HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS.

THEY, YOU, US - We are all part of the chain of support, directed to the most in need: the victims of conflicts and natural disasters.

Who we are:

Based on various studies showing that 70 to 89% of humanitarian workers worldwide are suffering from various mental health issues related to their work, ranging from high levels of stress to Post Traumatic Stress Disorders and depression, we have decided to "take care of those who take care".

We are experienced professional hypnotherapists (with different backgrounds: clinic, hospital emergency, firefighter, humanitarian, corporate, etc.). We give of our time to humanitarian/social workers on a voluntary basis for the actions of our association, to help them prevent and overcome stress-related problems with a variety of effective tools from the practice of hypnosis.

ASBB, A.R.C.H.E. SUISSE BEYOND BORDERS, is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 2018 by Vincent Hürner, CEO of A.R.C.H.E. Switzerland and Kevin Finel, founder and CEO of A.R.C.H.E.*

*A.R.C.H.E., in English, Academy for Research and Knowledge in Ericksonian Hypnosis, is one of the leading hypnosis schools in Europe.

ASBB Team

ASBB is now composed of 10 members, and the family is constantly growing!

We are all hypnotherapists trained at A.R.C.H.E., and share a true passion for human beings and a desire to help. On a voluntary basis, we make our expertise and time available to support those who take care of others.

We are all equally different in our life paths, both professional and personal, and our diversity is our strength!

The team of our forthcoming mission in Greece, all passionate hypnologists:

Vincent & Gentiane

Béatrice & Emilie

Mathieu & Ella

Laure, Geneva back up

Why Greece?

At the request of METAdrasi, we return to Greece for our 2nd mission. METAdrasi, Action for Migration & Development, is a Greek NGO founded in 2010. It facilitates the reception and integration of refugees and migrants in Greece. Its actions are focused on services that are not covered by public authorities and other NGOs in Greece. METAdrasi operates mainly in the following two sectors: interpretation services and protection of unaccompanied minors.
Since 2014, Greece has been the main country of first arrival and transit for refugees from the Middle East.
In 2015 alone, almost one million people crossed the Turkish coast to the Greek Aegean islands to seek international protection in Europe.
The combined effect of the 2016 EU-Turkey deal and the closure of the borders in Eastern European countries have caused a significant decrease in arrivals. Still, as of April 2019, an estimated 54,600 refugees and migrants were still in Greece, including 7,097 newcomers since the beginning of the year, 25% of them living on the islands and 75% on the mainland.
Most of the newcomers come from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.
In 2019, the majority of refugees and migrants arrived on Lesbos (39%), the Dodecanese Archipelago (28%), Samos (22%), and Chios (11%).

*Main countries of departure in Orange // Areas of intervention in blue: Lesbos, Samos, Chios

The choice to assist:

To handle the reception, care, and registration of these human beings, many of whom arrived by rubber and other makeshift boats, hundreds of small hands keep themselves busy on a daily basis, working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other Greek and international NGOs.
Humanitarian Aid Workers are men and women from different countries, different backgrounds. They are nurses, logisticians, interpreters, shelter experts, coordinators, etc. They all made this choice to be at the side of victims to provide them with assistance, comfort, and protection.
Humanitarian workers operate in tough conditions. They are exposed to extreme suffering and stress, degraded sanitary conditions, high emotional load... but who takes care of them?

The mission:

The story behind... in November 2018, ASBB was approached by a local Greek NGO whose main mission in the camps is to provide interpretation services and protection of unaccompanied children. Many of its staff members are migrants or refugees themselves.
In order to ensure the psychological well-being of its staff, this NGO called upon ASBB's hypnotherapists to accompany them.
Building on the success of this mission (video back from mission, here in French) and the benefits on the accompanied staff, the partnership is being strengthened and the ASBB team is looking forward to repeating the experience.

How do we support them?

That's a good question! Here is some practical information:

► 6 hypnotherapists will intervene directly in the migrants & refugee camps on the islands of Lesbos, Samos, and Chios.

► 4 days in the field x 3 pairs of hypnotherapists x 3 islands

► On each island, the staff will participate in a workshop on stress and emotion management. In particular, issues of cumulative stress, burn-out, post-traumatic stress disorder will be addressed.► Various tools derived from the practice of hypnosis will be transmitted so that humanitarian workers can be as autonomous as possible in managing their stress and emotions.

► Individual hypnosis sessions will be organised, where everyone will, with complete respect to confidentiality and intimacy, be accompanied by a hypnotherapist; an opportunity to empty the emotional bucket and avoid overflow.

During this 4-day mission and, THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, it is:

► 3 workshops facilitated by ASBB volunteers

► 90 people individually accompanied

But in the end...what is it for?

The ultimate objective is to increase humanitarian aid workers' resilience so that they can continue to assist vulnerable people, victims of conflicts and natural disasters while preserving their own mental health and psychological integrity.

WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE!

Supporting Humanitarian Aid Workers in Greece