Do you know the feeling of being neither fish nor fowl, or of standing between worlds? During the Family Debriefing Week, we equip you and your children with tools to help you master life as modern nomads on the journey “from there to here”.
The week provides space to explore your own story and make sense of transitions. Where do I need to let go? What treasures do I want to keep? Past experiences are reflected upon and accompanied with professional support. Refreshed and strengthened in every way, you can look towards the future together. Through sharing within the family, in small groups, in pairs or alone before God, what has been heard is applied to your own situation and taken into personal reflection. Topics are explored creatively and interactively across all age groups. Fun and action are part of it too!
Family Debriefing is aimed at all families who are or have been involved in cross-cultural ministry. A competent team guides you through the week with great empathy, personal experience and professional debriefing expertise. Course content is handled in an age-appropriate way across all groups, so that children too can go through personal processes. Regular exchanges take place during shared family times. We therefore recommend that the oldest child in the family is at least 6 years old. Younger siblings are well cared for in the childcare programme.
Important: The course language is Swiss German. We assume that all family members understand Swiss German and can communicate in German or Swiss German. Please provide more details under “Comments” when registering if this is not the case.
Uta Widmer served with her husband and two sons in Costa Rica from 2006 to 2008. The qualified social educator is employed at AEM Switzerland in the area of member care. She is trained as an intercultural coach and also works independently in the field of member care. She is also responsible for the Member Care continuing education programme at AWM (Akademie.Welt.Mission) in Korntal. At Family Debriefing, she is part of the core team and bears primary responsibility for the children’s groups. Further information can be found at www.utawidmer.ch
Gertrud Dubach lived for 16 years in Mongolia with her husband and two children. Since 2009, she has been working at OMF Switzerland as Member Care Coordinator and supports her husband in mission leadership. Gertrud has training in pastoral accompaniment and is a certified facilitator of the SKES workshop. She has completed the Membercare continuing education programme at AWM Korntal and is in the certification process for LeRucher Debriefing with Member Care Partner in Germany. At Family Debriefing, she is part of the core team and contributes to the adults’ programme.
François Pinaton has been working since 2016 together with his wife at RE3 as a Member Care Consultant. Previously, he spent over 20 years in the areas of training, leadership and team development, travelling internationally as a field director. François supports cross-cultural workers in coaching, debriefing, re-entry, reorientation and conflict resolution. He is a trained coach, supervisor and mediator. At Family Debriefing, he contributes to the adults’ programme. Further information about him can be found at www.re3.ch
Priscilla and Stefan Eisenhut are TCKs who grew up in Kenya and Peru respectively. For many years they have been involved in the AEM Member Care Network, organising the TCK Weekend and co-leading the Family Debriefing as part of the core team. They are responsible for administration and contribute to the adults’ group. Stefan completed training as an intercultural coach and in resource-oriented family debriefing at Schuppener Global Transitions. Families and the debriefing of the youngest children are close to their hearts.
