Why did I found Sa Suudad NGO?
I have worked for years as a service manager in a closed childcare facility. These years have been very eye-opening, but at the same time have been full of very sad and complicated stories. It has been very difficult to see that so much unnatural and traumatic has happened in the lives of children and young people. These young people and their stories have taught me even more about understanding, caring and how important it is to give and create opportunities for young people.
Both work experience and learning within it have led to a deep conviction that the only way to help young people whose behavior is dangerous to themselves or others is to do so in cooperation with both the young people and their loved ones. In order for a young person to be intrinsically motivated to change their behavior, they need autonomy (i.e. the ability to make their own decisions in their own life), a sense of belonging (belonging somewhere where they are truly valued), and competence (the feeling and perception that the young person is good at something they do).
In addition to my work experience, I also have experience with a very close young person who for years expressed his inner pain through risky behavior: constant self-harm and several suicide attempts. I can confidently say that this period has been the most difficult time in my life so far – worrying about a dear young soul every day and “waiting” for that call saying that he is no longer there. It was a difficult time for me, his loved ones, and above all for him. At the same time, this difficult experience taught and showed that consistency, constant support for both the young person and his loved ones, non-judgmental listening to the young person, supportive specialists, and the belief that this behavior would change, led at one point to what the young person himself expressed: “I became a damper and decided to start listening to others.”.
So, both through personal experience and my work as a service manager in a closed childcare facility, I truly believe that every young person can be helped if we really listen to them, identify their needs, address the root causes of their behavior, offer support, and at the same time support the adults around them. That's why I'm currently studying to become a family therapist.
If you would like to come to my (practicing family therapy student) appointment and discover yourself and explore the relationships around you, please feel free to contact: julgusejoud@gmail.com
Read more: www.julgusejoud.ee
Why the name Sa Suudad?
This phrase has supported me in many difficult moments – when I've run out of energy, my self-confidence has been low, then by reading this sentence I have somehow found the strength to move forward. I hope that those who reach us will also gain a little strength from the name.
#SaSuudad #TogetherWeCanMore