We were warmly welcomed by the staff at Gefersa Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre who were ready with confidence to begin the second week of training. It was so exciting to see a progression in confidence from trainee’s returning this week, who led a busy and lively session after we had shared some new techniques with them. Staff encouraged all patients to get up and lead in music making, some using the call and response technique, other’s dancing and playing along to a steady beat. The hello and goodbye song which had been selected worked so well, with an impromptu second round of the hello song being sung by patients in the middle of the session!

FENAID greeted us once again with welcome arms this week! Our training covered the foundation to our music therapy practice – free improvisation. We worked with staff to ensure they understood the reasoning behind improvising with clients, thinking about how to communicate with each other within the music. After running a large group with the young people, the staff were amazed at the way the improvisation was received by the clients. Many of the group were non-verbal, but communicated through dance, eye contact, appropriate body language and laughter throughout the session. It truly was a fantastic experience working on the project.

Our enthusiastic day service group at Hospice Ethiopia was led solely by Palliative care nurses Wengi and Filagot with such confidence and grace. Patients took part in musical activities, traditional dancing, relaxation techniques and music to art. This week we have been discussing pain management through music, which was explored in our support call with Director of Music as Therapy International, Alexia. We are once again truly grateful for the continued support provided by the charity.

The training at Lebeza Psychiatry Clinic was extremely successful this week. The staff were able to lead without any support, delivering the hello song, musical activities, traditional dance, free improvisation and the goodbye song confidently to 18 patients and 14 staff! We are extremely proud of their hard work, determination and enthusiasm for the effect music has on the patients. It is evident that the patients are looking forward to the session, standing ready in a circle before even all of the musical instruments have been taken out of their bags.

With our final week approaching, we are busy preparing certificates, project evaluation documents and handbooks to give out next week. It’s been a fantastic experience and we are so proud of all of the training participants and individuals who have taken part in the project.

Until next week…

Erin and Emma