Hello All,

It’s a great privilege being with you and writing the blog for this week. It is another sad moment in Nigeria again where Jos town in Plateau state, one of the areas we work was rocked with twin bomb blast on 20th May, 2014. As at the time of writing this blog more than 118 people were recorded death over 45 were injured and hospitalized (www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27493940). This is so inhuman of the perpetrators! We pray that this act of wickedness will come to an end and peace will be restored to our dear country Nigeria.

Following last week update on this blog, the Resource Team life check-in is supposed to hold on 21st May, 2014 but have been postpone due to the trauma effect following the Jos bomb blast, as Bauchi is the neighboring state to Plateau and some members of our team are from Jos. Although we have not heard of any one we know that is directly affected by the blast, but as young Nigerians, we are all casualties. In view of this, the Resource Team decided to pray for peace for Nigeria and the world at large.   

Coming up this weekend 23th to 24th May, 2014 is Workshop at Rafin Zurfi by Bauchi (Yelwa) Team and workshop with Leaders of Hwolshe community in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Update on these workshops will be coming to you next week, remain blessed. Wish you all a beautiful weekend ahead.

Thanks 

Berlyn Boniface

For the Resource Team

Hello All, It’s my privilege to write the blog this week. From your comments over last few blogs, it shows you are always interested in what we do. Thanks for such heartwarming encouragements. We wish all of you the blessings you desire. Come with me now on the happenings at the SELL Foundation. 

The Youth Formation Centre played host to the Jos Community team for their third facilitators training. The team of Mary and Beji were at hand to facilitate the training. Like it is with the SELL training this stood out too as facilitators in training were carefully taken through the leadership Unit of the programme. Grace one of the Mentors of the programme in Jos equally supported the team of facilitators.

Hear it from the participants themselves:

Joseph Ovey Kuje “The session in the leadership Unit on Sexual Health has opened my eye to the need that despite the knowledge, actions should be taken to and intensified in my community to assist the various victims of rape and HIV/AIDs to create a safe environment and a community that embraces everyone no matter their conditions”. 

Gideon Chomo “The Leadership Unit was so encouraging and educative as it allows one to discover his or her strength and weaknesses in terms of leadership. I learned that when one listens carefully, it makes one a better leader”.

The training recorded 13 participants 5 females and 8 males.

While the training was on, Moses and Berlyn travelled to Kaduna, North west Nigeria for SELL workshop with Youth of Ungwuan Boro community. It held on 9th and 10th May, 2014. According to Berlyn, 18 participants were in attendance, 9 were female and 9 were male. The workshop was on Wisdom of Tradition Unit of the SELL programme. By this workshop which was facilitated by Moses and assisted by Berlyn, the community has completed the six units of the SELL programme. However, due to some challenges like relocation, travelling and schooling, it was only three of the participants that were consistent in attendance since 2009 when the SELL team was first invited to the community. The present participants however enjoyed the whole processes and sessions of the programme and expressed the desire to participate in other units of the SELL programme. We hope that the team will keep in touch with them and strengthen the relationship. 

Also last week, Bauchi community trainees, Isaac, Maria and Lucy held a workshop at Guru with young people in the community. This was on the Leadership unit that they have been trained on. A total of 24 participants attended the workshop. 8 of them were female while 14 were male. According to Isaac, it was a great experience for himself and his colleague to practically be in the field as facilitators. For the young people, discovering that everyone has his or her own Leadership style is a learning that will stay with them for life. Also the important of Listening and effective communication in Leadership cannot just be overemphasized. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Team life check in by the Resource Team on 22nd May, 2014

24th – 25th May, 2014: Workshop at Rafin Zurfi by Bauchi (Yelwa) Team

Also on the same date there shall be workshop with Leaders of Hwolshe community in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Thanks,

Beji Benjamin Jibe.

Hello All, many thanks for keying up to our website today. Three weeks ago on this blog, I reported that over 200 young girls who were writing their final exams in the High schools were abducted in Chibok, Borno state, North-East Nigeria. As the effort for the search of these girls is being intensified, many Individuals, groups, organizations and indeed the International community is adding its voice to the call for the release of the Innocent girls by the abductors. SELL is a Peace building programme for young adults and so we cannot be left out of this call. This is the reason, the resource team mobilized the young people that attended the 3rd training at Yola last week to also call for peace and the release of the innocent girls, arguing that those who are aggrieved should always choose dialogue in resolving their grievances. So as you read this blog update, kindly forward it to friends and invite them to join SELL in calling for peace. 

It was another round of training for the SELL Community facilitators in Yola. The team of Mary, Beji and Berlyn  from the Resource team travelled to Yola to facilitate the training. According to Beji, the team explored the Community Building Unit. Each session was kindly followed with great enthusiasm and wonderful sharing and learning harvested in the process. The session on the Role of Women and Identity was particularly catchy as it brought about  very robust contributions and learning during the training and as beautifully captured by the  end of training evaluations; Nathan Thomas, one of the trainees said, “I was able to discover so many important that women play in the society as most of them were unknown to me before now”. For  Moses Bakari Paul, he said “I wish to sincerely state again that the SELL programme is not only timely but necessary in building a peaceful society that is egalitarian and accommodating to all irrespective of race, culture and religious background, social and political placement”. Having this training in Yola Adamawa State which is one of the states presently under the state of emergency as a result of the insurgency presently experienced in Nigeria, our heart sincerely go out to those who are mourning over the killings in Nigeria and the North east in particular at the moment.  The training recorded 17 participants, (5 female and 12 Male). Thanks to all our benefactors for supporting us to do this work. May your Jars never run dry.

Also last week Tommy Hayden; a resource person to SELL and another ally, Mr Clement Mallam held workshop with community leaders in Nabordo on the Hausa version of SELL, called Ilmin Kowa. According to Tommy, it was another great experience and opportunity for them to work with the group who showed serious commitment despite the rains came, and most of them as farmers were supposed to be working in their farms. He said 30 participants (14 female and 16 male) attended the workshop and promised to step it down in their various groups during the dry season.

This week, on 5th May, 2014 Beji and I travelled to Abuja and held a meeting with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nigeria. It is an International NGO working in Nigeria. The Country Representative (Mr Christopher Bassey) and the Program Manager (Michael Hatch) were at the meeting. They were able to indentified from our presentation areas of overlap and expressed the willingness to work in partnership with SELL in the near future. 

Lastly, today 8th May, 2014 our youngest SELL programme facilitator, Master Rinna’an Victor Dagogot, the baby to our colleague Maria is one month old. We congratulate Victor and pray that God blessings be upon him and all the Dagogots.   

UP COMING EVENTS

7th – 11th May, 2014: Third training of SELL programme facilitators in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

9th – 10th May, 2014: SELL Workshop on the Wisdom of Traditions Unit @ Ungwan Boro Community in Kaduna State, Nigeria. 

Once again, we call for peace in Nigeria and the World at Large. Till we meet here again. Thanks.

Moses F. Alokpa