Black Sheep Peer Support Group

Black Sheep Peer Support Group is a non-political, non-profitable, voluntary self-help group of individual peers who had problems with their drug use and are trying to find ways to control their drug use or abstain from it. The name was chosen by the members themselves, since the black sheep is the strange one among the white ones. The drug users have similar experiences in their lives as they are mostly discriminated by family and community because of their drug use. The members perceived that this name was applicable to them and they also believe that mainly self help initiatives can support in their recovery processes and behaviour changes.

The Black Sheep Peer Support Group was set up in 2006 and is currently in the process of registration under the existing non-governmental organization registration act. The group has gained the trust and confidence of their peers in greater Lashio. It has been part, although as a separate entity, of the ongoing activities of the AHRN DIC/ORP in Lashio, Norhern Shan State, and other project sites.

The overall management of the group is facilitated by an executive board consisting of three representatives: President, Vice President and Secretary. One member is also the Myanmar focal point for the International Network of People Using Drugs (INPUD).

Peer Support initiatives are a new concept in Myanmar, more so when it is a peer support group of (ex-) drug users, therefore many challenges were faced by the Black Sheep Peer Support Group. A major question was to identify the kinds of support drug users need to assist them in handling their drug dependency and other related difficulties the best they can.

Vision

Through greater involvement and participation of the drug users? community we embrace a collective vision to help those who are willing to be helped.?

Mission statement

We, recovered or recovering drug users, have a mission to make every attempt to educate, support and guide others for the long road of attaining a drug free life style.

The Black Sheep Peer Support Group has following aims and objectives

         Providing support to those drug users and former drug users with the aim of maintaining as much as possible a drug free life-style, through group activities

         Reducing drug related stigma and discrimination at family and community level;

         Demonstrating the fact that drug users can also change their lives provided equal opportunities are ensured and offered to them without judging them;

         Exploring job opportunities, and sustainable income generation for former drug users;

The following ongoing activities brought more clarity on the nature and the extent of peer support needed by/to (former) drug users.

         Weekly meetings to discuss problems, possibilities and opportunities;

         Monthly dinners at AHRN drop-in-centre;

         Provide support to ongoing AHRN project activities on different levels including referral care for drug users to the General Hospital;

         Quarterly Newsletters (with contributions from Black Sheep members and project staff members);

         Exploring income generation through periodic Fund Fairs;

         Exploring job opportunities (i.e. general cleaning work, white-washing, supplying mineral drinking water to families and the community; food catering services and renting mass cooking utensils) to GOs, UN System organizations, INGOs, LNGOs and CBOs through Black Sheep Placement attempts);

Apart from the regular activities of the Black Sheep Peer Support Group mentioned above, many members have extensive experience in providing care and support to all the referrals made by AHRN to the Government Hospital in Lashio. Day and night duties are arranged by placing volunteers to be on a shift for 8 hours with the patient. Most of the volunteers offering their services have demonstrated a strong commitment and care to their own medical schedules (including Methadone Maintenance Treatment) as well as to their hospital assignments. It also is beneficial for their personal recovery and they find support in it to address their own dependency related issues. This entire process is supervised by the coordinator of the AHRN Treatment Support Unit jointly with the executive board members of the Black Sheep Peer Support group.

AHRN representatives have been instrumental to provide guidance and technical input for its sustainability.

Black Sheep Peer Support provides equal opportunities, which means that all can be board members and members regardless of race, color, nationality, caste, creed, HIV status and sex. The selection of board members is decided according to the consensus of members with an anonymous voting system on a yearly basis. The people who regularly visit and access AHRN DIC/OPO and are willing to help others in recovery, drug using problems, family problems and problems with employment, are mostly members of Black Sheep Peer Support Group.

Since its inception Black Sheep Peer Support Group has been supported by personal contributions made by senior management of AHRN~Myanmar and donations of the AHRN Main Office. In the last year BSPSG income generation activities have been instrumental in terms of motivating the associated members and generating further funds.

AHRN has been providing assistance to Black Sheep Peer Support Group in setting up the structure including:

         Operating Guidelines for various activities;

         Identification of Board of Directors and defining their roles and responsibilities;

         Setting up systems for members and their specific roles and responsibilities;

         Black Sheep Peer Support Group members data base recording their available skills and knowledge and keen interests such as educational and working experiences for vocational training, income generation etc.

Involvement of Methadone clients and (treated) drug users has assisted AHRN to demonstrate a peer-led model at the Lashio field level, linked with ongoing outreach and NSEP. Capacity building training and coaching on outreach including peers have also given a strong foundation to the mutual collaboration at field operational level.

Black Sheep Official Source