The plan for the 2014 Annual General Reflection (AGR) of the SELL Foundation started shortly after the team returned from Jalingo, venue of the same event in April 2013. The team followed up issues raised by members of  SELL family and came up with points which were presented to the Board of Trustees (BOT) and to the other stakeholders last year. Therefore, the success of this year’s programme didn’t come to us as a surprise. Thanks to the participants, Tommy Hayden; the Resource person present at the programme, the host (management and staff of the pastoral centre, Jos) and my colleagues at the Resource team, not forgetting our benefactors. YOU ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS.

This year’s AGR was unique in many respect. First, with the aim “To learn from our shared experience of the SELL programme on the journey so far and reflect on the new dynamics on the  future of the Foundation” it was the coming together of the Initially trained SELL programme facilitators and the present facilitators in training. Last year, Leo Traynor gave an input on the Human model, which challenged especially the Initially trained facilitators to break their ego and friendly accommodate the facilitators in training into their various communities as EQUALS. This was evident at the just concluded AGR, such that it was difficult to say who was attending the AGR for the first time. Kudos to all the participants!

Also at the just concluded AGR, the issue of translating the programme into one of the local languages; Hausa was laid to rest. Tommy in conjunction with the resource team reported that the translation is now fully completed and the Hausa training manual is now at the stage of production. This news gladdened all present, as many of them said it was a pressing need from their communities. They all agreed to send in names of those who wish to be trained to deliver the SELL program in Hausa language. It was also agreed that a date for the training be fixed as soon as the manuals are ready or after the next Community Leaders meeting. The successes and challenges of the community trainings and workshops were then presented and reviewed.

Tommy gave an Input on the “Six Thinking Hat” as postulated by Edward de Bono. He said Six Thinking Hats is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people to be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved in a situation. He said team members can learn how to separate thinking into six clear functions and roles. By mentally wearing and switching "hats," one can easily focus or redirect thoughts, conversation, or meeting. The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts." The Yellow Hat symbolizes brightness and optimism. Under this hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit. The Black Hat is judgment - the devil's advocate or why something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers; where things might go wrong. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if overused. The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat one can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates. The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities, alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new concepts and new perceptions. Lastly, the Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the control mechanism; the facilitator.

Other matters that came up include the issuing of membership card, Internship to the Resource team and presentation of certificates of facilitation to some of the Initially trained facilitators. There was also a social night where members showcased their dancing steps. It was fun filled. A total of 36 participants;21 male, 15 female came from the various community teams. Sadly but expectedly, members of the Maiduguri community team could not come due to the security challenges in Borno state. We pray for a quick return of peace in that area of the North east of Nigeria. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

28th April – 2nd May 2014: Workshop at Nabordo community in Bauchi on the SELL programme in Hausa Language by Tommy Hayden and Clement Mallam.

30th April – 4th May, 2014: Third training of SELL programme facilitators in Yola, Adamawa state, North East, Nigeria.

5th May, 2014: Moses and Beji will be visiting Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a US based International NGO in Abuja Nigeria to discuss on future partnership.

Tomorrow is Workers day in Nigeria and all over the world. On behalf of the SELL Foundation, I wish all the workers a sweet celebration.

Thanks, 

Moses F. Alokpa

It was a sad week in Nigeria as many people, numbering seventy five died as a result of a bomb blast in Nyanya motor park, a suburb of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. Over one hundred and fifty are still being hospitalized. As if it was not enough, 200 young girls who were writing their final High School exams in Chibok town in Borno State, North East, Nigeria were abducted by the Boko Haram Insurgents. Just this morning, 15 people were killed in Wukari, still in the North East where we work. This is a very black week for all of us in Nigeria and especially the families of those directly affected. We pray for a total end to these dastardly inhuman act. 

Am not out this week to only report bad news, so amidst all of these mourning, the SELL family still made effort to work. Last weekend the 3rd training of facilitators took place in Jalingo. 18 participants were consistent at the training. We had 6 female and 12 male. The training was on the Self Awareness Unit of the SELL programme. The training was facilitated by Mary Jamea, Beji Jibe and Victor Kamai. Also present as participant and to assist with logistics were Berlyn Boniface and Stanley Mpah. From the report by the facilitators in training, their workshops after the second training were all successful, except that there is growing need for translation of the programme into Hausa language. Thankfully we are near conclusion in the production of the Hausa Manual.

Moses attended the town hall meeting for the formulation and implementation of the National Master Plan on Drug Control in Nigeria, organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), supported by the European Union. The aim was to look at how to continue to address the increase and proliferation of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. This gathering was very pertinent given that the level of drug related crimes in the North East of Nigeria is growing astronomically. All the stakeholders present made useful contribution. We hope that the Master plan shall begin to be operational soon. 

Yesterday, April 16th Pat Murphy, the West African Leader of the Society of St. Patricks visited the SELL Foundation’s office in Bauchi, where he gave us an input on the use of QuickBooks. It is an accounting software that helps in tracking income and expenditures with ease. This has helped to improve the team’s capacity on the use of the QuickBooks. Thanks to Pat. 

Upcoming events:

Next week, April  24th to 27th is the all important Annual General Reflection for the SELL Foundation members. The various community teams shall send representatives. It will hold in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria.

We wish all and sundry a happy and peaceful Easter celebration. Ciao.

Moses F. Alokpa                   For the Resource Team

Hello All, the last blog update closed with the information on the preparation for capacity building on Project, Monitoring and Evaluation (PM & E). What Maria, the SELL Resource Team member on communications desk did not tell you was that she was very close to her Expected Day of Delivery. Thankfully she delivered a baby boy on Tuesday, 8th April 2014. We received the news with great joy, more so as she said the labour lasted for only three hours and the delivery was safe and sound. We congratulate the Dagogot’s family for that great gift from God and we pray for sound health of mind and body for the baby and the family at large. 

Back to the story on the PM & E. The training held as expected and the trainer (Dr. Naomi Akpan Ita) from Impact for Change and Development, was simply great. Topics covered include Understanding PM & E, M&E cycle, couching indicators, data collection and analysis, result and decision making among others. The style was very participatory and we were challenged to bring PM & E into our daily learning process as an organisation. By this, PM & E becomes a process and not a one-off event. The whole essence is to improve our organisation rather than proving to our funding partners  that we are doing what we said we will do. We thank Apkan Ita for that sharing.

Also last week, a workshop on the Peace building unit of SELL programme took place at Kpanti Napo, a suburb community in Jalingo, North East Nigeria. It was run by the facilitators in training from that area; Jonathan Ezekiel, Mareke Bulus, Coker and Babba Elkanah. They were mentored by Victor Kamai. A total of 19 participants, made up of 16 male and 3 female attended the workshop. The participants were happy and wished that the SELL team visit them again soonest.

UPCOMING EVENTS

This week, 9th – 13th April, 2014 is the 3rd Training of facilitators in Jalingo. As at the time of writing this blog, Mary James, Beji Jibe and Berlyn Boniface from the Resource team had already arrived Jalingo for the training. We wished them success and update on this shall come your way next week.

Also this week end, precisely on 12th April, 2014 the SELL team in Kumasi, Ghana shall be having her meeting at Adukroum. At this meeting, they hope to finalize on the registration and other preparation towards the upcoming training of facilitators scheduled for 31st July – 8th August 2014. We wish the Kumasi team success in the meeting. 

On 15th April, Moses the Team Leader of SELL Foundation shall be attending a one day Town Hall meeting in Bauchi on “Response to Drugs and related crime in Nigeria”. This is organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)Bauchi State Command in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Lastly, next week the preparation for Easter shall come to its climax, the world over. We wish our Christian Sisters and brothers the best of its celebration. Thanks for visiting the blog section today, lets do it again next week. Till then, bye.

Moses F. Alokpa                   For the Resource Team