As part of our core mandate to promote ecology and care for the Earth, Sharing Education and Learning for Life Foundation embarked on tree planting campaigns in Miya Local Government area of Bauchi State and Bauchi State metropolis on the importance of planting and protecting the trees for the good of the environment.

 The project came as a need to combat climate change by planting of trees to reduce the effect of global warming on human, provision of fresh air and to preserve the environment. It is also a need to create awareness on the environmental problems facing humanity.
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In the course of our discussion with the residents in Miya, some of them pointed out how difficult it has been for them to survive, especially in the wake of calls by heads of government, International organisations and other regional organisations to be environmentally friendly; that they too feel pity for the Earth, but do not have alternatives as their only source of energy is woods which are majorly sourced from fallen trees, cutting down of matured trees and sometimes, young trees that even provide them shades; or kerosene which is usually scarce and expensive.

Speaking at the event in Bauchi, Hajiaya Mairo Ahmad Alhasan pointed out that all her life and family have lived and survived through tree planting as source of their livelihoods. She added that tree planting has aid her and her children through education and other means of livelihoods which today she has no regrets over it.
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Miss Nancy Bitrus also emphasized that most of the trees serve as medicinal; Nancy who is battling with diabetes reiterated how mango tree has helped to remedy her ailment. She encouraged the people at the event to embrace tree planting not just as a result of climate challenge but also as medicine to some diseases.

​On the other hand, Mr. Jinjiri Garba applauded SELL Foundation for the good work and also made a clarion call to all the Civil Society Organizations present at the event to imbibe same spirit so as to combat climate change.
The campaign /tree planting brought together some selected households, Civil Society Organization and SELL Volunteers in Bauchi and Miya Local Government.


RAPHAEL OKUSAGA ON OVERSIGHT/MONITORING VISIT TO SELL FOUNDATION, NIGERIA
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 Mr. Raphael Okusaga, the Child Safeguarding  officer of St Patrick’s Missionary Society was at the SELL office for an oversight/monitoring visit on Child Safeguarding and Protection from the 20th to 21st  September, 2021.  

 During the visit, Mr. Raphael had an interactive session with the SELL Resource team and some selected SELL volunteers in Tafawa Balewa (Godwin Joseph and Matthew Solomon) on issues surrounding child/adult safeguarding and also reviewed and evaluated the progress of the implementation of the child safeguarding/protection project.
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In the course of the discussions, Mr. Raphael asked the team to share their experiences around child/vulnerable adult safeguarding as well as state areas in which SELL can incorporate in the next phase of the project.

 The team members stated that most of the abuses on children sometimes are as a result of ignorance by the parents or guardians, and lack of knowledge on the law of child safeguarding and protection. Therefore, the team agreed to explore more on Child safeguarding and protection as well as increase awareness to villages and in the metropolis.

The following report contains activities carried out by the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme Ghana in the month of August 2021. It includes work of Commissioned Volunteers in the Tamale and Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zones.
 

• On 25th August, 2021, a radio discussion took place on Navrongo-based community radio station – Nabiina FM in the Upper East Region.

 
A similar discussion also occurred on URA Radio in Bolgatanga (Upper East Region) and Dasuma FM in Yendi (Northern Region) on the 26th and 29th August, 2021 respectively.
 
The separate discussions centered on the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI).
 

• A Peace Forum was organized in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on 26th August, 2021.

 
It was on the theme: "Peaceful Coexistence for Inclusive Development."
 
It brought together various stakeholders including: representatives of the National Peace Council, Regional Chief Imam, Police Commander, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Anglicans, Presbyterians, National Youth Authority, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
 
Assembly Members, Justice & Peace Commission members, Youth and Opinion Leaders also attended.
 
It was aimed at consolidating peace in Ghana.
 
Fifty-six (56) people participated.
 

• A Rising from Resilient Roots (RRR) workshop was organized in Navrongo, 27th to 28th August as part of the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) activities.

 
Participants were drawn from Navrongo township, Doba, Vugaja, Pungu, Naaga, Nayagenia, Namolo, Nangalikinia and Muslim communities.
 
The purpose of the workshop is to help young people find internal balance, strengthen their identity and learn new coping skills in order to increase hope and well-being in themselves and their communities.
 
Seventy-two (72) youth, including five (5) Muslim brothers participated in the workshop.
 

• From 27th to 28th August, a step-down workshop was conducted for the Jirapa community in the Upper West Region.

 
It was on the Community Building unit of the SELL Programme. Participants explored various ways of building and sustaining genuine community life.
 
Forty-one (41) young people participated.
 

• Commissioned Volunteers of the Leo-Northern Cluster Team in the Tamale Zone organized a workshop for some executives of the Catholic Organization for Social and Religious Advancement (COSRA).

 
It took place in Tamale in the Northern Region on 28th August and focused on the Leadership unit of the SELL Programme.
 
Sixteen (16) leaders participated.
 
The same day in Walewale in the North-East Region, Commissioned Volunteers of the Bolga Cluster Team in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone also conducted a Leadership workshop.
 
Eight (8) youth participated.
 

• On the 29th August, an introductory meeting took place in the Yendi Zone on the SPI Mentorship Programme.

 
The meeting afforded mentors who were orientated for the roll out of the programme, to create groups based on similarities and matching of individuals.
 
Following applications for recruitment, the youth were grouped and paired with seasoned mentors (identified entrepreneurs, business professionals, service providers etc) in their area of interest.
 
Sixty-eight (68) young adults from various faith backgrounds participated in the meeting.
 
The purpose of the programme is to provide the youth with mentorship and coaching support towards achieving their aspirations and dreams.
 
The Mentorship Programme is part of the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) of the Catholic Relief Services with SELL Ghana and other stakeholders as partners in its implementation.
 
 

   

• The Resource Team conducted a first Zonal Meeting for commissioned volunteers of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone, July 9-11.

 
The purpose of the meeting which took place in Bolgatanga was to get the volunteers to reconnect and put together action plans for the zone as SELL volunteers.
 
Among other issues discussed, was for the cluster teams to visualize success stories they hope to achieve through sharing with other young adults what they have learned through the SELL programme.
 
The respective teams put together various activity plan they intend to undertake for the benefit of the wider community in the Upper East Region.
 

• Step-down workshops were conducted for four (4) communities in the Damongo Zone of the Savannah Region, July 16-18.

 
They focused on the Leadership unit of the SELL Programme.
 
In Lingbinsi, thirty-three (33) young adults participated, including six (6) Muslim brothers.
 
Twenty-seven (27) participated in Canteen community, twenty-two (22) in Tuna and sixteen (16) in Sawla.
 
In the Wa Zone, a workshop was held for the Jirapa community of the Upper West Region, July 23-24.
 
It took place at the McCoy College of Education and centered on the Community Building unit.
 
Participants used the opportunity to explore various ways of building and sustaining genuine community life.
Fifty-three (53) young adults, including students of the college participated.
 

• As part of activities being carried out under the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI), a Rising from Resilient Roots (RRR) workshop was organized in Bunkpurugu under the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone, July 16-17.

 
It brought together young adults from Bawku, Zebilla, Binduri, Garu, Bunkpurugu and Nakpanduri communities.
 
Thirty-eight (38) participated.
 
In Sawla under the Damongo Zone, it took place July 23-24.
 
Fifty-three (53) young adults, including six (6) Muslim brothers and sisters participated.
 
The RRR workshop is part of the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) project of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with SELL Ghana as partners, and is being implemented in five (5) regions of Northern Ghana.
 
The purpose is to help participants find internal balance, strengthen their identity and learn new coping skills in order to increase hope and well-being in themselves and their communities geared towards peace building.
 

• A one-day Peace Forum took place in Sawla in the Savannah Region of Ghana, Friday July 23.

 
The purpose was to deliberate on various ways of curbing violence and sustaining peace.
 
In Lawra in the Upper West Region, the Peace Forum was held on Friday July 30.
 
The events brought together some chiefs, queen mothers, imams, priests, security agencies, assembly members, women groups, youth leaders and opinion leaders.
 
The forum is part of a series of activities under the Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI) of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
 
With the increasing rate of violent extremism in the troubled Sahel region, the SPI intervention in partnership with SELL Ghana and other key stakeholders seeks to champion the need to coexist in harmony with one another.
 

The Sharing Education and Learning for Life Foundation has recorded yet another milestone with the training of young people on Trauma Consciousness and resilience and on Gender Reconciliation.
The training provided the platforms for young people to explore the effects of Gender Based Violence and the process of Gender Reconciliation so that both male and female will be treated with respect and dignity.

Similarly, the sessions on Trauma Consciousness and Resilience helps participants to understand the uniqueness of problems with consciousness and work with memories of grief to build resilience to trauma.
 
The training was conducted in all the States in the Northern Nigeria which includes: Taraba, Adamawa, Jos, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi as well as some Local Governments in the Plateau, Shendam and Pankshin respectively.
The training were conducted from the months of June to July, 2021.

WORKSHOP WITH RELIGIOUS NOVICES AND POSTULANTS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA
 
Beji and Mary from SELL Foundation facilitated the workshop for 67 religious Novices and Postulants of the (SPS, MMM, SSL, OLA, Dominicans, OSJ, OSF, OP, DHS, DCPB and MSJM) The program held from 31st May to 4th June, 2021.
The participants viewed the process as a journey to self discovery. Some of the sessions explored were: Goal and vision setting, effective communication, group dynamics, essentials of Community and Cultural living and leadership.

​The match began with a press briefing at the CAN secretariat, preceded by a road match to the Adamawa State Government House Yola, they were received by the chief of staff to the Governor Prof. Maxwell Gidado in company of Hon. Steven Madua who has continued to play a vital role in the fight against drug abuse and  misuse in the state.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Maxwell appreciated the SELL volunteers and other youth groups for their efforts in ensuring they reach out to other youth groups through their awareness campaign on the effects of drugs misuse and abuse. He wished the team a successful campaign.

  

• A step-down workshop was conducted for the Yendi community in the Northern Region of Ghana, June 11-13.

 
It concentrated on the Self Awareness unit of the SELL Programme.
 
The participatory processes helped participants deepen knowledge of themselves by reflecting on the past, present and future.
 
Trained volunteer facilitators led different sessions. Resource Team member attended as a support person.
 
Nineteen (19) young adults participated, including seven (7) from the Muslim fraternity.
 

• From 11th to 13th June, a workshop was organized for the Wa Central community in the Upper West Region.

 
Focused on the Community Building unit, it afforded participants the opportunity to explore various ways of building and sustaining genuine community life.
 
Trained volunteer facilitators led the sessions.
 
Thirty-five (35) young people participated. They shared and learned.
 

• The Resource Team organized a maiden Zonal Meeting for commissioned volunteers of the Tamale zone.

 
The meeting which took place on June 18-19 at the Youth Centre in Tamale was to get the volunteers - commissioned in August 2020 - to reconnect and make concrete plans of activities for the zone as SELL volunteers.
 
Key among other issues discussed, was for the respective cluster teams to visualize success stories they intend to achieve by imparting positively on other young adults what they have learned through the SELL programme.
 
New names of cluster teams were created for the zone; Tommy Central, Leo Northern, Maureen Southern and Pauline Eastern - named after pioneers of the SELL Programme.
 
Most importantly, the respective teams put together various activity plan they hope to undertake for the benefit of the wider community in the Northern Region.
 

• From 25th to 27th June, a workshop was organized for the Gushegu community under the Yendi zone of the Northern Region.

 
It focused on the Self Awareness unit of the SELL Programme.
 
Forty (40) young people participated in the workshop.

• As part of their plan of activities, SELL Programme Ghana’s commissioned volunteers of the Leo Northern Cluster Team of the Tamale Zone embarked on a tree planting exercise on June 23.

The trees were planted at St. Paul’s Primary School and Bishop’s R/C Junior High School in the Northern Region.
The aim of the exercise is to raise awareness on the importance of planting and saving trees, as well as, express genuine concern for the environment and help reduce the unfavorable effects of climate change.