November concluded with a small highlight for IBC: the workshop “Self-help in Africa”. Blue Cross representatives from various African countries came together in Johannesburg, South Africa, to further improve their work in the field of self-help and community work. In the five-day workshop, General Secretary Anne and program coordinator Sophie worked with the participants using role-plays, case studies and practical exercises to make their programs even more effective. In an open exchange, participants discussed various cases they were confronted with and spoke about typical difficulties in their community and self-help work.
In this way, the IBC self-help program in Africa is gradually being placed on an increasingly solid footing. In African countries in particular, self-help programs are a very important factor in letting people with addiction problems and their families receive support, orientation and the chance to lead a healthy life. In their societies it is usually not possible for them to gain access to appropriate health services within the the national health system.
