“In the Native American tradition, one member of the tribe assumes the role of "Faithkeeper”. This person's role is to remain at peace, centered in spiritual vision, no matter what events befall the tribe. Even if everyone else in the tribe slips into pain, fear, or dissension, the Faithkeeper is the one person the tribe can rely on as a lifeline to the Presence. This is our role now.” Suzanne Sullivan.
As COVID-19 crisis unfolds, an epidemic of fear is building up, creating risk for mental health. This epidemic of fear will cause much more risk and damage to well-being of nations. Brain is not all used to such barrage of negative emotions for prolonged period. If feeling of fear and anxiety persists, it can turn into depression, leading to many more challenges at family and health system level. Prevention is better than cure!
Purpose of project FaithKeepers
1. To mitigate impending mental health crisis in light of COVID-19
2. To address it at household level, so that we do not increase patient load (stress related illnesses like cardiac problem etc.) in an over-burdened health system.
Strategic Choice: Build capacity of a select group of volunteers, so that they can teach effective easy to do practices to individuals (at household level), to manage anxiety and panic attacks.
Strategy of Project FaithKeepers: Form groups of volunteers who are residents of the housing complex they live in. We envisage three phases of the project. The first phase is emergency response and focused on urban housing societies in modern gated communities in cities. Selected volunteers will be trained (online) by our team in skills to manage anxiety and stress. The entire project will be executed using online means like zoom, Skype, etc., hence the focus is only on urban areas in the first phase.
Leadership and Values of Project FaithKeepers: The project will be led by Vibha and the values are:
1. Self-care (by project team members) 2. Speed 3. Collaboration 4. Honouring the spirit of volunteering
Vision of Project FaithKeepers by 30th May 2020:
All the trained volunteers are providing need based tools/practices for emotional well-being, to vulnerable people in their housing societies of All 101 Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs).
Requests
Here are needs for supporting this project:
Documenting the process and its results, including testimonials of trained volunteers & people from household level
Database management (app to track volunteers and outreach)
Digital geographic pan India map of volunteers
Social media management to publicise the project
Financial support
Invitation
Please contact Vibha if you wish to support this project: vibha100@yahoo.com
Coming soon: Zoom call to experience the process that will be used in this project