Connecting Trust and the Just Being Center is organising Mindfulness Based Active Listening- Volunteer Training 2024.

About the Program

Mindfulness-Based Active Listening (MBAL) is a training program for those who want to volunteer with Connecting Trust. It’s a 100+-hour training offered in a hybrid mode (online and in-person sessions).

Our volunteers provide non-judgmental, non-advisory and empathetic listening spaces to people in emotional distress and/or feeling suicidal on our distress helpline, peer educator programs, suicide survivor programs, awareness programs and student mental health projects.

The training will help you to hold space for someone feeling suicidal or in distress. It teaches you how to listen to someone in distress and/or feeling suicidal and understand suicide and the experience of someone thinking of suicide or self-harm. It also brings you in touch with your attitudes and feelings so we can hold a space for others in a non-judgmental, non-advisory and empathetic way.

We look at loss, grief and other related aspects and how to support through listening. Mindfulness and self-care are two other important training components that aid us in holding space. (Please note: This training is in English. Another training in the Marathi language will be held in 2025)

Duration

The training will last three months and include supervised hands-on practice. Then, you will volunteer for a year in your choice of programme at Connecting Trust. The dates are 16 September to 24 November. (Note: the next training will be held in February 2025.)

Days & Timings

The training is offered in a hybrid mode.

They have weekday evening classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 to 9.30 pm online.

On Saturday, there will be a 1.5-hour online session (choice of 2 batches—between 11 to 12.30 am or 4 to 5.30 pm). On Sunday, there will be a 10 am to 5 pm session (onsite for residents of Pune, the venue being in Camp, and online for everyone else).

Fee

The contribution is Rs. 3500. In case of an unforeseen situation requiring you to drop from the course midway, you can attend the next round of training free of cost, which will be held next year in 2025.

How to register?

Interested candidates can register via this link.

Selection Process

It is a 6-step process

  • You fill an Interest Form
  • There after you will personally receive a longer form
  • An interview on selection
  • A group Orientation meeting
  • Attending the 100+hour training
  • Completion of supervision support post-training

Certification

A certificate will be provided on completing the 3 month training + Supervision + 1 year volunteering.

Contact

For any queries, connect with the team on  +91 9834406033.

Click here to view the official notification for the Mindfulness-Based Active Listening—Volunteer Training 2024 by Connecting Trust.