From 23 to 25 May, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) organised a seminar for the employees of the Mahalla Committees of the border districts of Uzbekistan on communication and provision of psychological support to the people.

The main purpose of the activity is to empower employees of the Mahalla Committees to provide better support to people of the border districts. The seminar will, therefore, focus on enhancing the communications and psychological skills of Mahalla Committee employees who directly work with the border regions’ population.

In particular, the BOMCA 10 experts introduced effective communication methods to the participants, used the potential of emotional intelligence methodology, as well as providing tools on the psychological first aid. The newly developed skills will further support the Mahalla Committees in supporting people residing in the regions they are responsible for.

It is worth noting that as a result of the seminar, the experts will develop a practical booklet on the 10 principles of interaction with the people for Mahalla Committee employees.  

This activity was organised in the framework of the Programme’s Component 4, “Improvement of Cross-Border Cooperation”, and is aimed at improving living conditions in border areas through local economic development, with a focus on human rights, gender equality and vulnerable groups.