The Lived Experience of Novice Helpers as First Responders in a Shared War Reality

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to explore the lived experience of trained social work students as first responders in a shared war reality. Method: Data were gathered from three focus groups conducted with social work students following their professional intervention during a period of protracted warfare. Results: The main theme depicts a movement from an experience of uncertainty to certainty, as the students shifted from being subjects under threat to being object-helpers on duty. Discussion: The findings highlight the interactive nature of individual and environmental aspects of resilience as a dynamic process in the face of adversity. Practical implications are discussed in the context of first responders’ resilience in a shared war reality. Conclusion: First responders must experience certainty in order to function effectively. To provide more support to novice helpers, a first responders training program should be implemented as part of the mandatory curriculum of social work studies.

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