Mediation Skills for Everyday Work: EAST SOS Team Takes Part in Training
On October 22–23 in Vinnytsia Oblast, the team from the EAST SOS Charity Foundation team participated in the training session “Mediation Skills: Working with Interests and Preventing Burnout.”
The training was led by Hanna Horina, a trainer at the Ukrainian Mediation Center. The foundation’s department and program coordinators, as well as regional team managers, joined the event.
Over the course of two days, participants worked through conflict scenarios, learning to identify different parties’ needs and interests and navigate difficult conversations when someone applies pressure, makes accusations, or responds aggressively. They also explored emotional triggers, stress, and burnout.
During a simulation exercise, participants put their mediation skills into practice by finding common ground, reaching agreements, and learning to honor agreements. Other exercises focused on building trust and strengthening teamwork.
“Regular training is an important part of team preparation at the EAST SOS Charity Foundation. Training in first aid, mine safety, psychological first aid, and emotional burnout prevention enables our specialists to act with confidence in different situations while taking care of themselves and the people around them. Mediation skills are essential to our daily work–whether we are reaching consensus, assigning tasks, or providing feedback. They help us better understand one another’s needs, discuss challenges without blaming one another, and reach clear agreements,” said Nataliia Zhdaniuk, Head of HR at the EAST SOS Charity Foundation.
The training was held as part of the project “Empowering Civil Society for the Nonviolent Transformation of Conflicts Involving State Actors,” funded by KURVE Wustrow.
