Annual Report 2020
| SELL ANNUAL REPORT 2020 |
MID-YEAR REPORT JANUARY TO JUNE 2020
Warm greetings from all of us here on the SELL Resource Team, Ghana. We trust that the grace of God is keeping you well in this very unusual time. COVID-19 has hit the world so hard that the realities we face are unimaginable. We pray for God’s intervention and we hope things will be better soon.
It is always an honour for us to share with you what we have been doing in our work with young adults in Northern Ghana. We are grateful to you for all your support in diverse ways; your support makes it possible to do so much in our work.
In the early part of the year, SELL Programme Ghana went through a major transitioning from a ministry of the Presentation Brothers to be registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation. Following the restructuring, the SELL Resource Room has been relocated to the Village Water Reservoir Yard in Tamale. Although the Programme is in a new phase now, the ethos of the Programme remains the same; building and empowering vulnerable young people to become key actors in the development of their communities through our integrated human development, peace building and justice approaches. The interest of the young adult is still at the heart of the Programme and we remain committed to our mission; “to reach out to young adults as agents of change, inviting them to share their experiences towards making life-giving choices; deepening their respect for the earth and building families and communities of justice, freedom and peace”.
In January, Hagar and Fr Leo visited Yendi Diocese in the Savannah region of Ghana for an official SELL introductory meeting. The team met with the Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Fr. Abraham and an assembly of Priests, Religious and other community leaders on the 17th of January and introduced the programme to them. On the 18th of January, the team also met 32 young adults (from different communities in the Diocese) at the Pastoral Centre in Yendi and introduced the Programme to them. Both elders and young people were open and excited about having the programme run in their communities.
The SELL Team has since made follow-ups with the Diocesan Youth Chaplain to get the programme started in the Yendi Zone and plans are already in place for the commencement of the training sessions. The Programme in Yendi is supported by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
From the 20th – 23rd February 2020, the Team was in Wa for the 3rd Volunteer Facilitators Training. The focus of the Training was on the Peace Building Unit of the SELL Programme. The Peace Building Unit aims to help the young adults to come to live at peace with themselves, to look at ways of analysing situations of conflict in their communities, learn to do away with stereotypes, prejudice, assumption and become agents of peace. During the Training, together with the volunteers, we looked at ways we could reach other faith communities to deepen the interfaith and ecumenic aspect of building peaceful communities as it is the dream of SELL. In participants sharing in our Closing Circle and evaluation, many shared that the training experience on Peace Building was a healing session for them.
In responding to an invitation received from the Leadership of the Religious Formators in Northern Sector of Ghana, from the 28th February – 1st March 2020 the Resource Team visited the Nazareth Community of the FMM in Tamale to facilitate a Leadership and Self Awareness workshop for the formandees. About 60 participants were present for the workshop (participants were from different Religious Societies).
The Participants were taken through different sessions which included; Know Myself, JOHARI'S Window, My Personal History, Leadership Styles, Role of Leaders in Caring for the Earth. The workshop was a success.
On the 18th of March, we had a short workshop on Care for the Earth with emphasis on recycling. The workshop was facilitated by Jeremiah Bassey a student of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. Jeremiah worked for a while with the SELL Resource Team back in Bolgatanga and supported the Team with Awareness Raising Exercises on Care for the Earth. He is also very gifted with skills on recycling material such as used plastic bottles, plastic bags into beautiful items such as flowers and other items for aesthetic purposes. The capacity building was part of our preparation towards commemorating the celebration of World Earth Day which falls on the 22nd of April. The plan was to have the awareness-raising exercise in different schools and communities. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID -19 and with schools closing down, we had to put the Programme for the World Earth Day on hold. The team learnt new recycling ideas with the help of Jeremiah and we hope to transfer these skills and ideas to our volunteers.
In March 2020 when Ghana recorded her 1st cases of COVID-19, our values of service, integrity, solidarity and respect for the dignity of each person in our hearts and mind guided us in making little efforts in the best interest of our communities. Our programmes were put on hold and we channelled all our energy and resources towards creating awareness through our social media handles and other media platforms. Keeping an eye on the situation in the country and how it affects our work, the Team decided to close the Resource Room and work from home. With support from our volunteers, through Word on the Street Campaign (Awareness Raising Campaign), we tried to make people aware of the recommended safety precautions and the need to adhere to the protocols.
On 4th April, our volunteers in Tamale started the campaign in Tamale Township and the market. They were provided with nose masks, they had placards with the safety precautions posted on them. Some of the volunteers went into the market whiles others stood by major streets with their placards reminding people of the safety precautions. Volunteers were urged to adhere to the safety precautions as they did the campaign. The Tamale Exercise was reviewed and the learnings were used for the other awareness-raising campaigns that followed. Below is a table of communities where our volunteers carried out the COVID -19 Awareness Raising Exercise.
It is always an honour for us to share with you what we have been doing in our work with young adults in Northern Ghana. We are grateful to you for all your support in diverse ways; your support makes it possible to do so much in our work.
In the early part of the year, SELL Programme Ghana went through a major transitioning from a ministry of the Presentation Brothers to be registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation. Following the restructuring, the SELL Resource Room has been relocated to the Village Water Reservoir Yard in Tamale. Although the Programme is in a new phase now, the ethos of the Programme remains the same; building and empowering vulnerable young people to become key actors in the development of their communities through our integrated human development, peace building and justice approaches. The interest of the young adult is still at the heart of the Programme and we remain committed to our mission; “to reach out to young adults as agents of change, inviting them to share their experiences towards making life-giving choices; deepening their respect for the earth and building families and communities of justice, freedom and peace”.
In January, Hagar and Fr Leo visited Yendi Diocese in the Savannah region of Ghana for an official SELL introductory meeting. The team met with the Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Fr. Abraham and an assembly of Priests, Religious and other community leaders on the 17th of January and introduced the programme to them. On the 18th of January, the team also met 32 young adults (from different communities in the Diocese) at the Pastoral Centre in Yendi and introduced the Programme to them. Both elders and young people were open and excited about having the programme run in their communities.
The SELL Team has since made follow-ups with the Diocesan Youth Chaplain to get the programme started in the Yendi Zone and plans are already in place for the commencement of the training sessions. The Programme in Yendi is supported by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
From the 20th – 23rd February 2020, the Team was in Wa for the 3rd Volunteer Facilitators Training. The focus of the Training was on the Peace Building Unit of the SELL Programme. The Peace Building Unit aims to help the young adults to come to live at peace with themselves, to look at ways of analysing situations of conflict in their communities, learn to do away with stereotypes, prejudice, assumption and become agents of peace. During the Training, together with the volunteers, we looked at ways we could reach other faith communities to deepen the interfaith and ecumenic aspect of building peaceful communities as it is the dream of SELL. In participants sharing in our Closing Circle and evaluation, many shared that the training experience on Peace Building was a healing session for them.
In responding to an invitation received from the Leadership of the Religious Formators in Northern Sector of Ghana, from the 28th February – 1st March 2020 the Resource Team visited the Nazareth Community of the FMM in Tamale to facilitate a Leadership and Self Awareness workshop for the formandees. About 60 participants were present for the workshop (participants were from different Religious Societies).
The Participants were taken through different sessions which included; Know Myself, JOHARI'S Window, My Personal History, Leadership Styles, Role of Leaders in Caring for the Earth. The workshop was a success.
On the 18th of March, we had a short workshop on Care for the Earth with emphasis on recycling. The workshop was facilitated by Jeremiah Bassey a student of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. Jeremiah worked for a while with the SELL Resource Team back in Bolgatanga and supported the Team with Awareness Raising Exercises on Care for the Earth. He is also very gifted with skills on recycling material such as used plastic bottles, plastic bags into beautiful items such as flowers and other items for aesthetic purposes. The capacity building was part of our preparation towards commemorating the celebration of World Earth Day which falls on the 22nd of April. The plan was to have the awareness-raising exercise in different schools and communities. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID -19 and with schools closing down, we had to put the Programme for the World Earth Day on hold. The team learnt new recycling ideas with the help of Jeremiah and we hope to transfer these skills and ideas to our volunteers.
In March 2020 when Ghana recorded her 1st cases of COVID-19, our values of service, integrity, solidarity and respect for the dignity of each person in our hearts and mind guided us in making little efforts in the best interest of our communities. Our programmes were put on hold and we channelled all our energy and resources towards creating awareness through our social media handles and other media platforms. Keeping an eye on the situation in the country and how it affects our work, the Team decided to close the Resource Room and work from home. With support from our volunteers, through Word on the Street Campaign (Awareness Raising Campaign), we tried to make people aware of the recommended safety precautions and the need to adhere to the protocols.
On 4th April, our volunteers in Tamale started the campaign in Tamale Township and the market. They were provided with nose masks, they had placards with the safety precautions posted on them. Some of the volunteers went into the market whiles others stood by major streets with their placards reminding people of the safety precautions. Volunteers were urged to adhere to the safety precautions as they did the campaign. The Tamale Exercise was reviewed and the learnings were used for the other awareness-raising campaigns that followed. Below is a table of communities where our volunteers carried out the COVID -19 Awareness Raising Exercise.
As part of our hope to keep people well informed, we translated the safety precautions of the World Health Organisation and some Frequently Asked Questions about the virus into 8 local languages. This was done with the help of our volunteers. The translations were produced into jingles and have been airing in some radio stations in selected local communities.
Below are the different languages and the radio stations airing the SELL COVID - 19 message.
Below are the different languages and the radio stations airing the SELL COVID - 19 message.
After each exercise, volunteers shared feedback on their experiencesand observations. Volunteers in their feedback shared with us some of the needs they identified in the communities and some observations. The feedback informed the Resource Team to further look at how we could respond to some of the needs identified. With support from Friends of Africa (FOA), Ireland, we were able to provide 1,500 locally produced reusable nose masks, 22 veronica buckets with 22 gallons of liquid soap for 8 selected communities with the needs for the items. We also gave some support to 3 local health centres (Immaculate Conception Clinic in Kongo, Garu Presby Health Center in Garu and Agatuse CHIPS Compound in Zebilla).
Our volunteers continued with the 2nd phase of awareness-raising as they distributed the nose masks and other items. Our heartfelt gratitude to Friends of Africa (FOA), Ireland and St. Patrick Missionary Society (SPMS – West Africa) for the great support given to us. It is through their support we were able to reach our set targets for the Awareness Raising on COVID-19.
For us in Ghana and the West African Sub-Region as a whole, the number of infections compared to that of the Europe and other regions is minimal. The effect of COVID-19 on vulnerable young people has been disheartening and now, more than ever, young people need support to help them make informed choices.
On the 15th of June 2020 when the government of Ghana eased some restrictions that had been imposed as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, the resource Team Resumed work with safety protocols in place to continue our with our work to support young people. We ensure strict adherence to safety precautionary measures to prevent any likely infection.
Photographs from the COVID-19 Awareness Raising Campaign – Phase 1
Our volunteers continued with the 2nd phase of awareness-raising as they distributed the nose masks and other items. Our heartfelt gratitude to Friends of Africa (FOA), Ireland and St. Patrick Missionary Society (SPMS – West Africa) for the great support given to us. It is through their support we were able to reach our set targets for the Awareness Raising on COVID-19.
For us in Ghana and the West African Sub-Region as a whole, the number of infections compared to that of the Europe and other regions is minimal. The effect of COVID-19 on vulnerable young people has been disheartening and now, more than ever, young people need support to help them make informed choices.
On the 15th of June 2020 when the government of Ghana eased some restrictions that had been imposed as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, the resource Team Resumed work with safety protocols in place to continue our with our work to support young people. We ensure strict adherence to safety precautionary measures to prevent any likely infection.
Photographs from the COVID-19 Awareness Raising Campaign – Phase 1
Photos from Phase 2 of the Awareness Raising (Distribution of Items and follow up Campaigns) below:
We are grateful to all our stakeholders, Bishops in all the Dioceses we work in, Diocesan Youth Chaplains, and all who support the work of SELL in diverse ways. Our sincere gratitude to all our benefactors and partners, your selfless generosity and love have made it possible for us to continue to support our communities even in these challenging times. To our dedicated volunteers, we appreciate your commitment to our shared vision and the great effort you put into supporting your communities.
Thank you all for remaining a community of loving friends, a great support system.
We continue to keep you all in our prayers and we ask that you pray for us too. We are hopeful that there are better days ahead and we will all come out on the other side healthy and strong.
Continue to keep safe. Let us keep hearts of hope and positivity.
Remain Blessed.
Yours faithfully,
Vincent Agyei
Executive Team Leader.
Thank you all for remaining a community of loving friends, a great support system.
We continue to keep you all in our prayers and we ask that you pray for us too. We are hopeful that there are better days ahead and we will all come out on the other side healthy and strong.
Continue to keep safe. Let us keep hearts of hope and positivity.
Remain Blessed.
Yours faithfully,
Vincent Agyei
Executive Team Leader.