Free University of Berlin and Palestinian Counseling Center Launch Second Phase of the Project “Kicking the Ball”
Ramallah – The Palestinian Counseling Center, in partnership with the Free University of Berlin and in collaboration with the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, has recently launched the second phase of its “Kicking the Ball” project. This week, a 3-day training will engage 40 professionals from both the public and private sectors as well as UNWRA staff, and will be accompanied by 2 years of fieldwork that will culminate in a certificate of professional supervision from the Free University of Berlin. Training sessions will take place in both Ramallah and Bethlehem.
The second phase of “Kicking the Ball” will also include a supervision program for 9 psychologists and social workers from the PCC and the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation. These participants previously earned a diploma in the project’s first phase, and will now carry on to oversee the training of other mental health professionals until 2015. The professionals will receive a Training of Trainers certificate at the end of the project.
The third component of the program focuses on training a group of 40 teachers and athletic coaches on the integration of mental health concepts with sport and recreational activity. The coaches will be trained in the role that football may play in promoting children’s mental health in schools. Participants will come from schools throughout the city of Jenin.