My involvement in the “EDGE UP” project as an emotional support person, coach, and consultant was both an immensely valuable experience and a significant professional challenge.
Firstly, it was important to consider that a major part of the project’s target group in Latvia consisted of individuals who had arrived after evacuating from war zones or fleeing regions where they faced violence or threats to their lives due to dominant religious and/or political groups. As a result, it was necessary to account for manifestations of PTSD and associated risks to participants’ well-being. Secondly, the project participants represented various world regions, meaning we had to consider a broad range of religious, cultural, linguistic, and other differences. Language was a particularly significant factor, as some groups required up to two interpreters for rare languages simultaneously. The time required for interpretation also had to be factored into activity planning.
To better understand the specifics and potential “hidden pitfalls” of working with the project’s target groups, I consulted early on with experts from the MARTA Centre, representatives of the NGO “Tavi draugi,” and specialists from other organizations with extensive experience in this field. A surprising insight from colleagues was that traditional psychological support methods often had limited effectiveness when working with Ukrainian refugee groups, occasionally leading to clients withdrawing from further cooperation.
Based on the collected insights, as well as my own personal and professional experience, I developed a strategy for the two-day collaboration with EDGE UP participants. It consisted of four consecutive blocks:
- Introduction and “ice-breaking” activities aimed at creating an emotionally safe environment for all group members. Depending on the group’s mood, methods included metaphorical associative cards, association games, team-building activities, and others that fostered an open and relaxed atmosphere. Each participant set personal goals for their involvement in the project.
- Identifying and evaluating participants’ competencies, internal and external resources, strengths, and areas for development, with guidance on how to improve weak points and align with the Latvian labor market and economy in preparation for job interviews. Key topics included first impressions, communication with potential employers and colleagues, asking and answering questions, and showing interest without appearing tense. This block also included self-exploration methods (e.g., the Wheel of Life, SWOT analysis) and familiarization with online tools for labor market research and skill enhancement (e.g., ss.lv, gotaprofy.lv). Participants were also introduced to local business culture and etiquette compared to their own backgrounds. Special attention was given to participants’ entrepreneurial potential and private business development, encouraging economic independence and self-sufficiency. At the end of this block, participants set personal, professional, and project-related goals.
- Practical training to build awareness of the unity and importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health in ensuring life quality. To reinforce understanding, participants worked in groups, pairs, and individually with coaching and NLP-based exercises for creating emotional and physical comfort and overcoming anxiety—tools they can use in everyday life.
- Reflection and feedback on what was learned and experienced. Each day concluded with evaluation and feedback sessions, during which participants reviewed their previously set goals and compared them to what they had learned. Clarifying questions were encouraged as needed. Finally, participants provided feedback and evaluation of the expert’s work.
These blocks were adapted as needed to suit the specific group’s mood, responsiveness, mentality, emotional intelligence, and other influencing factors, as well as the particularities of adult learning. The sessions were not structured as lectures or lessons; instead, they took place in the form of conversations, open discussions, and playful interactions. Throughout the activities, participants were encouraged to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and to express their opinions. Everyone had the freedom to participate as much as they felt comfortable and could return to their “comfort zone” at any time. The only rule was to show respect toward others, as all participants were treated as equals. As a result, participants felt emotionally more open and engaged willingly in the activities.
Working with participants from the Middle East was more concise, as the groups were predominantly male and mainly focused on income opportunities and business development. However, once they realized that the consultant was familiar with their culture, traditions, religious principles, and history, communication became more open. They started asking questions and shared their thoughts on various economic and political processes. Some methods surprised them, as they had never encountered such approaches before, but they became engaged and participated actively—with curiosity and even humor—in creative writing, drawing, and using associative cards.
Participants from Ukrainian groups were mostly women—intelligent and well-educated. Work with these groups was deeper and more emotional, with some moments of strong emotional expression, but always took place in a warm, supportive atmosphere. As these participants gradually opened up and shared their experiences and feelings, they showed deep interest in self-exploration methods, emotional balance, and related topics. They were eager to try various techniques and methods and worked freely both individually and in pairs or groups.
At the end of the group sessions, participants were also offered individual consultations. This option was used actively by representatives of the Ukrainian groups, especially women.
It must be acknowledged that two days is not enough to resolve the deep emotional challenges that many of these individuals have accumulated over years. However, it did offer them a chance to feel part of a community, to relax for a moment, and to engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded people.
