The following report contains activities carried out by the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme Ghana’s Resource Team and Commissioned Volunteers in October and November 2021.

TRAINING:
The Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme Ghana conducted its 3rd training for volunteer facilitators in the Damongo Zone.
It took place, Nov 4-7, at the Unity Centre and focused on the Peace Building Unit, which is immanent of the Programme.


In the 4-day program, plenary and group discussions invoked streams of consciousness on the effects of violence and invited them to choose to be peacemakers in all of life’s situations.

​WHAT VOLUNTEERS SAID
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Some of the volunteers shared the impact of the training on their lives.
Sayibu Maruf Muhaz, Leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Lingbinsi averred that, “This training will help me to communicate wisely to my community people, most especially on child abuse and forgiveness stories. I will try to put this in my sermons.”
“It will help me on how to manage anger and live in peace with everyone in society. It will also help me to stop assuming and predicting some causes of problems but rather find out the rationale behind every problem,” said Peter Bavug from Lingbinsi.
Yiriyele Winifred from Sawla posited that, “it will help me contribute well to my community by letting them understand that, peace building is not about religion or tribe.”
“Having been well equipped with methods, ways, and strategies of dealing with conflicts and building peace in the society, applying them in real life in the community will be a bonus and a plus,” Kponkpori Sulemana Solomon opined.
Forty-five (45) young adults participated in the training, including three members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.

​WHAT NEXT?
Having undergone the training, the eight teams in the zone are expected to run step-down workshops in Damongo, Bole, Busunu, Bamboi, Buipei, Sawla, and Tuna communities of the Savannah Region, for the benefit of other young people. The SELL Resource Team members will attend the respective workshops as support persons.

WORK OF COMMISSIONED VOLUNTEERS
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Commissioned Volunteers of the Bawku Cluster Team in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone organized a workshop for the youth in Zebilla, Saturday, October 6.
Drawn from various communities in the Bawku West District, the youth were taken through various sessions under the Self Awareness unit of the SELL Programme. They were assisted to discover numerous potential they possess through self-introspection and the responsibility that comes with it. They were also encouraged to cherish their various gifts and broaden their interests which will open them up to growth.
Twenty-six (26) persons participated in the workshop.
 
Commissioned Volunteers of the Bunkpurugu Cluster Team under the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone organized a step-down workshop in Bunkpurugu. It took place, October 23 and focused on the Leadership Unit of the SELL Programme.
Participants were drawn from Gbetmunpaak, Kinkarigu, Kurgona, Bunbuna, Gbankoni, Yunyoo-Nalik, Guangbiang, and Bunkpurugu communities of the North-East Region. Facilitators assisted them to understand leadership and how to become better leaders in their lives.
Twenty-one (21) young adults participated.
 
As part of their activities, commissioned volunteers of the Navrongo Cluster Team in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Zone organized a workshop in Sirigu, Saturday, November 13.
Participants were taken through sessions on the Peace Building Unit of the SELL Programme that helped them look at the impact and effect of violence on their lives and called on them to choose to be peacemakers in society. The youth were drawn from Mirigu, Nabango, Kandiga, Natugnia, Azaasi, and Sirigu communities of the Kassena-Nankana West Municipality of the Upper East Region.
Thirty-three (33) youth participated in the workshop.

ADVOCACY
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The Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Resource Team conducted an introductory workshop at St. Augustine’s Millenium Major Seminary (SAMS) in Tamale.
The event which took place on Saturday, October 23, was to give the seminarians undergoing their priestly formation first-hand knowledge of SELL as a programme for young adults on life-shaping issues. They were taken through some sessions that enabled them to recognize what they think about in relation to some issues of concern in society.
Having deepened their awareness of the need to sustain all life forms, Nyaaba Batetekem Achagwe Amos, in his fourth year at the seminary said, “the workshop has helped me to know that, in my own little way I can do something to sustain my environment rather than putting blame on my traditional or political leaders … it has also helped me to know myself better; my weaknesses and strengths have been made very clear to me.”
Cancheon Anselm who is in his third year said, “It has helped me in my relationship with other people who do not share the same opinions or faith with me. I have been enlightened to know the care of the environment is a collective responsibility and not only for people in authority.”
“… it will enable me to reflect deeply about myself, thereby making me accept the way I am,” he added.
Fifty-five (55) seminarians participated in the workshop.

​SELL IN IBADAN, NIGERIA
Emily and John from SELL Foundation Nigeria were in Ibadan where they conducted workshop for Religious Novices and postulants from fourteen (14th) different congregations. The workshop took place over the period of five days from 4th to 8th October, 2021 at Society of Missionaries of Africa (SMA) Ibadan.

​The workshop aimed at providing participants with the ability to gain better understanding of self, identify issues they are facing in their journey in the religious life and how best they can tackle as leaders.  Sessions explored during the workshops were Self awareness, Leadership, Community development and conflict management.
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During the workshop, participants came to understand that knowing oneself is the most difficult task human faces in life and is a foundation to developing emotional intelligence.
Participants came to a resolution that as a leader and in order to build a healthy community, one is expected to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses as well recognize the characteristics of other personality both in the religious life and the outside world. 

​At the end of the workshop facilitators encouraged the aspirant to align their personal goal with the congregational goal for a balance life.
The workshop had eighty six (86) participants in attendance.

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.
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.
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GRACE OSANG ON OVERSIGHT/MONITORING VISIT TO SELL FOUNDATION BAUCHI, NIGERIA

Miss Grace Osang, Accountant/Secretary St Patrick’s Missionary Society of West Africa District was at the SELL Resource Centre, Bauchi from the 12th to 14th October, 2021 for an oversight/monitoring visit.
During the visit, Grace met with the SELL Resource Team to ensure adherence to the terms and conditions of Misean Cara as implementing Organization.

CARE BEST INITIATIVE PAID AN ADVOCACY VISIT TO SELL FOUNDATION IN BAUCHI, NIGERIA

Care Best Initiative is a non Governmental Organization founded in 2019, their actions is to save lives, alleviate the suffering of children, women and young people to maintain human dignity.
The Organization whose vision and mission is in line with SELL programme paid an advocacy visit to SELL Foundation on the 11th October, 2021. The purpose of the visit was to seek areas of collaborations in relation to Child safeguarding and Protection in the Society.

​Beji Jibe SELL team leader who spoke on behalf of the SELL Resource team assured them of SELL willingness to partner with them for a great impact.

SELL FACILITATORS IN JOS, YOBE STATES CONDUCTED WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH GROUPS ON TRAUMA CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESILIENCE
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SELL Volunteers in the above mentioned States had a step down workshops to youths of their community on trauma Consciousness and Resilience. SELL volunteers who are already trained on the area of Trauma were given all the necessary skills to help those undergoing traumatic situation with the ability to cope with the situation as they undergo healing processes.

The workshops which took place at Gashua community of Yobe State and St. Joseph Catholic Church Jos, Plateau State aimed at creating awareness among the young people of the above communities on the things that traumatize them and how to identify uniqueness of problems and to also build resilience to the things that traumatize them.
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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
​
 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.
​
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.