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Cohesion (Attraction of members among themselves and within the
group) |
(…) I really like to be part of the group, I like the environment (..)
It’s like our second family, because when you go there, someone knows you and
shows sympathy. When someone dies, the group is sharply affected; it is an
extremely sad moment, it leaves a empty space in our heart and memories
forever—you know, people won’t come back. So, the group is something very
good, very satisfying.
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It is friendships that we create. I think it really is just like a
family. Come rain or come shine, people are respectful, very friendly, lovely,
and very dedicated. Even on days that you are not feeling well, when you get
there you feel better.
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Introduction to hope (Belief and trust in group efficacy) |
(…) All the stress and nervousness had just gone. The problems with our
joints that are due to lack of movement, all of that is resolved. I am very
happy with the benefits I achieved with the meetings. It’s great for us; it
helps a lot.
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People who participated in the group had depression and many were in
pain. Now, they have a totally different life (...). So, the group is
different, and the members will tell you how good it is to be part of the
group.
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Socialization (Development of basic social skills) |
Because you just stay at home, you feel as if your life has come to an
end, and you notice that. When you get old, you spend more time quietly at
home, don’t go out for walks, don’t go to parties. So, you begin to think
about sad and bad things, all the things just get you down. But here with
coordinators you play, laugh, shout, sing, and talk. They really make you feel
good. This group is a blessing of the Lord.
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There is a place for gathering together, where people meet each other,
gossip, talk, talk about others life, fight [LOL], and play.
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Information sharing (Didactic instruction or direct
counseling) |
(…) If one doesn’t know something, there is always someone to help you,
and everyone becomes aware of things (....) People who have knowledge teach
things to us, and the health agencies help us with physical activity because
without them we could not do anything. We do many things, but we want to learn
more and more things.
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We perceived that they don’t like lectures. (...) We talk about smoking,
about their civil rights. Each of us talks about something very briefly so
that people don’t become bored. We talk about dengue, we educate them on
health and nutrition.
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Existence factors (Help to deal with facts of the human
condition) |
To be with this team is purely positive. They teach us how to live, how
to love; they teach me to be more patient with my life and job. I’m not
feeling the heavy things I used to; now things are lighter.
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We see the group members helping each other. In my point of view, this
is shown in people’s testimonials; most of them talk about how things have
changed in their life.
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Altruism (Satisfaction in helping others) |
(…) We help to animate things, give people support. (...) For example, a
friend of mine in the group wanted to go on our trip, but she did not have
cash, so I helped her (...). I paid for her trip ticket, and I ended up buying
her a swimsuit (...). We feel happy when we can help someone to become part of
the group.
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(…) To be part of the group is not only a issue of earning a salary; it
is personal satisfaction.
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Interpesonal learning (Learn by interaction with other people) |
(…) I learned to be happy, to be more dedicated, and I left that
sadness.
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I use to say that if my job were only the group, everything would be
great. There, you learn with them. You teach things and you learn things as
well. That life lessons you learn from the group are astonishing.
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Universality (Other persons sharing the same dilemmas in life) |
I thought I was the only one who suffered in the world. I believed that
nobody suffered more than me. In the group I learned that there are people in
very bad situations, and I could help them, so I became more comforted about
with own situation.
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