First Step Training for the This Life Beyond Bars team

TLBB staff members Kimchhean and Sam are taking part in the first steps towards better case management for male victims of sexual abuse in Cambodia. They have been participating in training offered by First Step Cambodia for social workers and other practitioners working with boys and men.

The TLBB program supports children incarcerated in adult prisons as well as children who are left vulnerable when a parent or caregiver is in prison. To Sam, the training is an opportunity “to learn about how to prevent abuse of boys in prison and in the communities that we work with”. The course is a chance to share experiences and expertise with other practitioners and to discuss the challenges faced. Kimchhean explains that the practical tools such as Family Trees and Life Maps will be valuable to the TLBB program’s work with children and families.

The training spans 7 months, running for a full week each month. Taking the time out for a full week is an important part of the process. Sam says that “the training helps us understand the signs of someone’s feelings, for example when they are worried or sad”. For Sam, the most valuable part so far has been that “that the tools help us to know ourselves first. If we know ourselves first by studying our feelings, we can work well with our clients”.