In the month of February, the SELL team Malawi was involved in the following activities: -
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Strategic Planning at Ungweru
On the 14th to 16th February, the Ungweru team had a strategic planning to define the organization’s vision for the future and identify the goals and objectives. In attendance were all the Ungweru staff from all departments and it was facilitated by Noel McGeeney. The strategic planning helped each department and team understand the organization’s larger strategy and that each team’s progress impacts directly to the success of the organization.

SELL Conducts First Leadership Workshops
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On the 17th to 19th February SELL conducted the first leadership stepdown workshops in Bowe and Nkhamenya communities. The workshops followed three weeks after the leadership training, providing an opportunity for the trainees in both communities to facilitate and also be mentored. The SELL personnels accompanying in both communities were Isaac and Leo. The young adults in both communities were excited with the unit as it helped them recognize their leadership styles.

SELL Meets Seminarians at St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba
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The SELL team Malawi had the opportunity of conducting the first unit (Self-Awareness) of our programme with the entire student body of St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba from 27th February to 2nd of March. This followed the invitation that Fr. Dan sent to the SELL team and the team was offered four full days so as to do the unit itself and also to be able to present other material that is helpful in introducing participants to the methodology. The SELL team personnel that went to facilitate the training were Isaac, Leo, Noel and Tommy. The team was very much heartened by the willingness of all the students to take part, their excellent time-keeping, their active involvement and their high level of participation and commitment.

Once the Christmas break came to an end, the SELL Resource team swung into action for the new year. The first major work to prepare for was the second training on the Leadership Unit. Many of the Trainees from the first training had followed up with successful step-down workshops in their local communities and were anxious to come back for further training. They were to be joined by a number of new people. The hope, once again, was to have representatives from all parishes of the Catholic diocese of Mzuzu, as well as those from some other church communities.

Preparation for the Training

The team prepared kits for the training and made sure they were checked and laminated. New manuals and files for trainees were packed for the team to carry. Using the Facilitators Guide for the training, the Team shared out the roles for the training, so that each one could do their own preparation work. Contact was made with all the trainees from the different communities informing them about the dates for the training, time of arrival and also making sure of their availability. Trainees whose numbers were not reachable were contacted through their colleagues in their communities. Once contact was established, the trainees were able to make known any logistical challenges that had arisen. Having solved most of these, the majority of trainees were able to confirm that they would be able to attend.

Meeting with the Youth Chaplains of Mzuzu Diocese.
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As SELL works hand in hand with the Diocesan Youth Chaplain of Mzuzu, the Resource Team was invited to attend the youth chaplains meeting on the 26th of January 2023 at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Nkhatabay. Leo and Isaac took part in this meeting, where they also had an opportunity to present an overview of the Programme and to communicate to all in attendance the successes and challenges the programme encountered last year.

​Figure 1 SELL presentation at the youth chaplains meeting

The Training
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On the evening of the same day – and at the same venue - 41 participants arrived to take part. From 4 pm onwards they were registered, given their accommodation and immediately began the programme. The bishop of Mzuzu Diocese, John Ryan, was a visitor to the training and he shared words of encouragement with the participants. Both they and the Team, were very happy to see him, as his visit showed how the Programme has the backing of the diocese.

Fr Benjamin Banda, Mzuzu Diocesan youth chaplain, also visited the training venue to show solidarity with the Programme and the Team. The participants were very happy also with his presence, his support and his challenge to the young adults of the diocese to take the training seriously and to be willing to give generously of their time and energy so that the Programme should be a success.
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During the training all new participants received their individual copy of the SELL Manual for Facilitators and on the 28th of January, each team of trainees was given a kit containing the materials needed to facilitate the workshop on leadership. They were also given the SELL program calendar containing dates for step down workshops in their communities. The training programme ended with a Eucharist on Sunday, January 29.

Figure 2 participants pose for a picture with bishop Ryan

Figure 3 Figure 2 some of the participants with the appreciation banner

​The SELL Resource team alongside SELL volunteers in Jalingo on Tuesday 31st January, 2023 paid an advocacy visit to Taraba State Task Force Against Human Trafficking,  Network of Civil Society Organization Against Child Trafficking, abused and labour  (NACTAL), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking Against Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP), 100 Women Lobby Group in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The aim of the visit is to seek areas of collaborations with the above named Organization on the areas of Safeguarding and Protection, Violence Against Person’s Prohibition and other related issues.

​Speaking during the visit, Barrister Ifeoma Ohanyido A. State Coordinator 100 Women Lobby Group spoke extensively on the current situation in Jalingo as regard to the policies on Child Protection and Violence Against Persons Prohibition. Ifeoma made it clear to the team that the laws have been passed; however, implementation still remains a concern. She added that laws cannot function if structures are not put in place for effective implementation.    
Mr. Kennedy Maza the State Commander NAPTIP, commend SELL for the visit to their state office and stated that NAPTIP is doing everything possible to have an umbrella body that will help in the supervision of laws and policies in Taraba State, he reiterated that NAPTIP will be willing to collaborate with SELL Foundation to achieve the set common goals.
On his part, Mr. Babe Celestine NACTAL State Coordinator also appreciated the SELL team for the visit and stated that NAPTIP and NACTAL are working together to see to the implementation of Child Rights law and Violence Against Persons Prohibition laws in the State. He called on SELL Foundation to partner with NACTAL/NAPTIP across their project areas.
Similarly, the team visited the Permanent Secretary Ministry of the Social Welfare department in Jalingo, Taraba State.

The Sharing Education and Learning for Life Foundation Nigeria, on Wednesday 1st February, 2023 conducted a review and analysis on the present situation as regard to the laws on Child Safeguarding and Violence Against Persons Prohibition.
The review was to check with the SELL team, groups and relevant institutions on the progress of the laws and policies in Taraba State and strategize on the way forward.

​ Similarly, on the 2nd of February, 2023 the team trained selected Women of Mayo Dasa Jalingo and SELL Volunteers on the production of briquette as a means of alternative source of cooking and economic empowerment.
The training aimed at empowering the Women and SELL volunteers with the skills on alternative cooking energy and means of livelihood.
The training/review which took place at two different locations, Mayo Dasa and Catholic Pastoral Centre, Mile Six Jalingo brought together participants from different religious groups, institutions and agencies.

​As a way of empowering SELL volunteers and promoting care for the environment, SELL Foundation Nigeria through the support of its donors supported selected SELL volunteers with pairs of livestock (Goats) as a means of helping to improve their livelihood opportunities.

Correspondingly, in line with our efforts to maintain a safe environment for all, SELL distributed some economic trees, waste bins and solar lamps to selected SELL beneficiaries, Institutions, religious/traditional bodies in Jalingo, Taraba State.
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​As the year comes to an end, SELL Programme Malawi conducted the following activities in the month of November.

​On 3RD of November 2022, the SELL programme Malawi was presented with an opportunity to present the self-awareness unit to the youths at Lusekelo school of computing at the Ungweru compound. Two Resource Persons from Sell Programme Malawi Isaac and Mary were there to help the two facilitators at Ungweru to present the unit. The youths enjoyed the programme as they had a chance to share their life experiences.

Two Resource Persons from Sell Programme Malawi Isaac and Leo visited Mzimba district for a step down workshop on self-awareness which was also a platform to mentor four SELL facilitators in Mzimba.
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The workshop was conducted from 4th to 6th November 2022 and was hosted at St Paul’s hall. The workshop attracted 29 young adults from the district and four SELL facilitators based in Mzimba facilitated it while two Sell resource persons mentored them.

SELL resource team is busy with the preparations for the next training in January 2023.This involves the purchasing of materials needed, getting all resources ready for the training, especially the leadership facilitating materials laminated so that full kits would be available for all trainees.

The SELL team Malawi would like to wish you all a happy and fun-filled christmas celebration. May you be content at heart surrounded by love, enjoyment, and humor.

In the month of October, SELL Programme Malawi conducted the following activities.
 
TEAM BULDING AT UNGWERU
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On Tuesday the 11th of October 2022, Ungweru organization had a team building session at the Laudato Si hall. All the staff of the organization were in attendance and it was led by Tommy Hayden. Some of the aims of the session were to enhance social relations, build collaboration and define roles within departments.

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MZUNI COMMUNITY TAKES PART IN SELL PROGRAMME
A group of Mzuzu University (MZUNI) students took part in the Self Awareness Unit of the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme workshop at Ungweru Youth Development Unit, Laudato Si Hall. The workshop ran from Friday evening, 14th October, to Sunday 16th October and was facilitated by Leo Traynor and Emmanuel Moyo.

​On the same weekend, another SELL team - Tommy Hayden and Isaac Thindwa - was in Rumphi, at St. Dennis for the same Unit.  The programme was well received by the young people there, who participated well and expressed their satisfaction with what they experienced.

 
FIELD VISIT
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Following the team building session on 11 October, the Ungweru team went for a field visit on 26 October. This visit took place to the Khamba and Doroba communities, who are among the beneficiaries of an irrigation project under the livelihood department at Ungweru. 

​SELL OVERVIEW PRESENTATION AT KASITU
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On 29 October, Isaac and Leo from the Resource Team presented an overview of the SELL Programme to the youths of Kasitu community during their youth rally. This took place at Nkhotankhota. The youths were lovely, easy to work with, very enthusiastic about the Programme and are looking forward to future step down workshops.