The Ungweru Organisation's Youth Development Unit achieved significant progress in January 2025, conducting impactful workshops and training sessions. Here's a detailed overview:

The Youth Development Unit, represented by Resource Persons Taonga and Samson, facilitated a crucial step-down workshop in Mpherembe from January 17th to 19th, 2025. This workshop focused on the Community Building Unit within the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme. Step-down workshops are vital for disseminating knowledge and skills gained from previous training, ensuring wider community benefit and sustainable impact. They allow participants to then train others, creating a ripple effect.

Building capacity within the SELL Programme, the Youth Development Unit successfully delivered the sixth Justice Unit training for volunteers in Nkhata Bay. Held from January 23rd to 26th, 2025, the training engaged 29 enthusiastic volunteers. This intensive program equipped participants with the skills and knowledge to address critical societal issues. The Justice Unit component empowers young adults to analyze cross-cutting challenges, including those related to political, economic, and religious spheres. This training fosters critical thinking, promotes active citizenship, and prepares volunteers to become agents of positive change within their communities. The training emphasized collaboration, interactive learning, and the exploration of potential solutions to community challenges. This ongoing investment in volunteer development underscores Ungweru's commitment to long-term community empowerment.

As the year comes to an end, SELL Programme Malawi conducted the following activities in the month of November and December.

Workshops in Mzimba boma and Katete communities
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On 1st to 3rd November 2024, the SELL programme Malawi was at Mzimba boma and Katete for community building workshops. Isaac and Taonga were the two Resource Persons that represented Sell Programme Malawi at Katete community, while Samson was at a Mzimba boma.

UNGWERU 20 YEARS CELEBRATION
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The year 2024, marks a special moment for Ungweru Organisation. Indeed 2024 marks the organisation's 20 years of existence.
Ungweru organisation was founded in 2004. It started as a Community Based Organisation and was based in the township of Luwinga, in the city of Mzuzu. The organisation was formally registered as an NGO in 2009. In 2010, the organisation moved from Luwinga to a place adjacent to Mzuzu University behind Tahit filling station.
From 2004 to 2024, the organisation has been at the forefront at improving the living standards and resilience of communities. This has been done by furthering their human and material development, offering skill strengthening opportunities, enhancing their livelihoods capacities and supporting young adults negotiate their ever changing world through the SELL programme run by the Youth Development Unit of Ungweru.
In celebrating the organisation's 20 years’ anniversary, team members and students from the organisation had a big walk from the organisation's premises to Mzuzu Shorpite on Wednesday, the 6th. Then followed by a Tree planting and cleaning exercise on Thursday the 7th. Friday the 8th with the final celebrations.

Third Mentors Training
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The Youth Development Unit of Ungweru held the third mentors’ training of the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme from the 14th to the 17th of November 2024. The training was attended by 14 SELL volunteer trainees and aimed to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively guide and support their fellow young people. The trainee mentors have been selected from among our volunteers. The selected showed a deeper understanding of the Programme and good facilitation ability during the step-down workshops in their communities. The mentoring training is to offer them some additional capacity and skills to take on the role of support to their fellow facilitators in the field. The team also taught mentors how to make briquettes as a sustainable alternative to charcoal. This initiative aims to reduce environmental damage and minimize waste.

Youth Development Unit Champions Gender Equality
The Youth Development Unit joined the international community in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from the 25th of November to 10th December 2024. As part of this campaign, the unit produced soundbites online and engaged with students at Mzuzu University. Students were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the university's gender policies and to report any instances of abuse. Together, we can build safer campuses for all. The unit remains dedicated to raising awareness about gender-based violence.

CHRISTMAS GREETING
The SELL team Malawi extends warmest holiday greetings to you and your loved ones. We hope this season brings you joy, peace, and an abundance of blessings. May the coming year be filled with happiness and success. CHRISTMAS GREETING
The SELL team Malawi extends warmest holiday greetings to you and your loved ones. We hope this season brings you joy, peace, and an abundance of blessings. May the coming year be filled with happiness and success.

In October 2024, the SELL Programme Malawi team engaged in a variety of activities aimed at fostering community development and personal growth.

​Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
On October 1st, the Ungweru team visited the Mzuzu Diocese Ecology Center to participate in a capacity-building session on innovative farming techniques. This training equipped the team with knowledge on accelerating manure maturation, which they intend to disseminate to communities across Malawi.

SELL Malawi Introduces Life Choice Programme
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The SELL team conducted a Life Choice Programme workshop on October 5th at St. Patrick’s Minor Seminary in Rumphi, engaging 42 students in discussions on making informed life choices. Simultaneously, the team facilitated a community-building workshop in the Vongo community within the Rumphi district.

Step-down workshop at Luwinga
On October 12th, 2024, the SELL Programme conducted a community-building workshop in Luwinga. Participants actively engaged in the session and expressed satisfaction with the enhanced capacity to foster peaceful coexistence, environmental stewardship, and address challenges related to addiction.

SELL Programme Conducts Community Building Workshops
The SELL Programme Malawi successfully conducted step-down workshops on community building in three key communities: Lusangazi, Nkhamenya, and Bowe, from October 18-20, 2024. Young participants actively engaged in discussions and shared valuable insights on fostering and sustaining vibrant communities.
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Peacebuilding Workshops in Chibavi, Kaning’ina, and Rumphi
On October 26, 2024, the SELL Programme delved deep into the roots of conflict and resolution, equipping the next generation with essential peacebuilding tools. Workshops in Chibavi, Kaning’ina, and Rumphi communities explored critical topics such as trauma, forgiveness, and the analysis of conflict dynamics. Additionally, participants engaged in discussions on sensitive issues like sexual abuse and anger management. By fostering understanding and resilience, SELL aims to cultivate a more peaceful future for these communities.

Ungweru Organization Conducts A Clean Up Exercise
Team members from Ungweru Organization including students from its Lusekelo School of Computing and tailoring collected and properly disposed of waste plastics littered around Mzuzu university on the 11th of October 2024. This clean up exercise continually takes place on the second Friday of each and every month.  The exercise follows the organization’s initiative to address waste disposal and management in Mzuzu.

In our strive to cultivate a generation of socially responsible and environmentally conscious young minds,  SELL Foundation Nigeria through the support of its sponsors conducted the second phase of the transformative school programme in selected schools in Yola, Adamawa State.
The school project is a peer-led initiative that is aimed at promoting positive behavior, social responsibility and environmental consciousness among students in Adamawa state.

The workshop which took place in the month of June through the first week of July featured series of interactive sessions and insightful discussions among the students and the SELL Facilitators in Yola, Adamawa State.


The workshop took place in selected schools in Mayo Belwa, Numan and Yola.

On the 12th of July, 2024 the SELL team in Yobe conducted a step down training on Child Safeguarding and Protection for the staff of St Mary's School, Damaturu, Yobe State.


The training aimed to provide the staff with the comprehensive understanding of safeguarding and creating safe environments, as well as procedures for responding to abuse.

The training also set out some objectives which include:
* enhancing understanding of a child
* safeguarding among the school staff
*Equip the staff with knowledge about creating and maintaining safe environments for students and
*Educating the staff on the procedures for responding to cases of child abuse.

The following topics were also covered during the workshop:
Definition of a Child, Perceptions of Children & Childhood, Safeguarding, Child Protection, Safeguarding/Protection, Who is a Vulnerable Person? Why Safeguarding Policies are Necessary
Creating & Maintaining Safe Environments, Child Abuse and examples of Abuse, Effects of Abuse Cycle of Abuse, Bullying, and Corporal Punishment among others.


WORKSHOPS/ADVOCACY IN THE SELL COMMUNITIES: The SELL Communities in Yola, Yobe and Tafawa Balewa also conducted workshops to members of the Catholic Youth Organization, Mass Servers, Catholic Cadet on the following thematic areas: Self awareness, Leadership, Trauma Consciousness and resilience and hands on skills.

Similarly, the SELL facilitators in Jalingo on the 26th July, 2024 conducted an advocacy visit to Federal Science and Technical College, Jalingo where they donated and planted some tree seedlings at the school premises. They also conducted sensitization to the staff and students on climate change and how to take proactive measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of desertification in the school and their local communities.
The SELL facilitators in Yola also had an engagement with the Catholic Youths Organization of Nigeria during their Diocesan celebration of the feast of their African Patron St Charles L’Wanga and companions held at St. Garvans Catholic Church, Mayo Belwa.

During the said programme, the team created awareness on "Care for the Earth" and donated some trees of different varieties of local and improved hybrid.
The said trees were officially handed over to the chaplains and diocesan leaders of the youth body, followed by a planting ceremony where one specie each, of zetun, mango and guava were planted by the three chaplains who expressed gratitude to SELL for the gesture.


The facilitators also joined the "Match for Life" meant to support the sanctity of life and the need to dignify it.

Overview

In September 2024, the SELL Programme Malawi team engaged in a variety of activities aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods and community development. Key activities included:
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Outreach to Ungweru’s Skills Acquisition Unit

On September 6th, 2024, the SELL Programme conducted an informative session for students at Ungweru Organization's Skills Acquisition Unit. The session provided valuable insights into the SELL Programme and facilitated interactive discussions and presentations.

Community Building Workshops
From September 13th to 15th, 2024, SELL Programme representatives visited Chasefu and Chibavi communities in Mzuzu City. Workshops were conducted on community building, focusing on empowering community members to address local challenges and opportunities. Isaac, Hagar, and Deborah served as resource persons for these workshops.

Training with the Northern Anglican Diocese of Nkhata Bay
The SELL Programme successfully conducted a four-day training for volunteers from the Northern Anglican Diocese in Nkhata Bay District. Held from September 19th to 22nd at the Pastoral Center, the training engaged 27 participants who actively participated in sessions and presented their work.

The SELL Programme Malawi team remains committed to its mission of fostering sustainable livelihoods and community development. Through targeted outreach, capacity-building workshops, and training programs, the team continues to make a positive impact in Malawi.