preparing participants to work creatively in an OS

[Raffi Aftandelian]

Dear listers,

In about 10 days I will be conducting a 4 hour OS in a tent camp with
Chechen refugees in Ingushetia. I have been here for a month now, and
will be here for a minimum of 5 more months.

The OS will be with women who are
trying to figure out ways of providing for themselves, self-employment
possibilities. There is definite interest in the group in OS and yet
at the same time I think it is too early to jump into OS.

These women (a group of about 10) like many (if not most other)
Chechens have experienced lots of pain (loved
ones have been wrongly prisoned, or friends/relatives -- including
boys as young as 10-12 and men as old as 70 have been rounded up in the middle of the
night, tortured, shot, then the corpse is blown up). They attend a
regular psychosocial rehabilitation group to deal with the pain,
sorrow they carry.

They clearly want to do something about their lives, but this constant
pain has dulled them. It's like they're asleep.

I am wondering what kind of prep work (aside from presenting OS,
developing a theme) would be good to do so that they can get the most
out of it. For example, we are looking to invite not just refugees but others, too.
NGO directors, tent camp director, maybe small businesspeople. The
idea being that the variety of energy may set a more energetic tone to
the OS.

I was thinking that presenting the grief cycle might be helpful. To do
more storytelling might also be good. What else might I do? Might some
work at developing our creative faculties be appropriate? If so, what
exactly?

What else might I keep in mind? What other prep work might I do?

Thanks,
Raffi

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