In the summer we were delighted to receive a large unexpected donation, so at their September meeting our Trustees were able to allocate funds to some additional training projects for the Autumn. In October senior trainers Elias and Syson ran a 3-day anxiety and resilience course for 23 teachers of the Hope Nursery and Primary School in Mbarara, designed to equip teachers with knowledge and skills to help them identify and manage children who present with anxiety, deal with their own anxiety and ensure that the school environment builds emotional resilience in its pupils. Closing remarks were made by the Head teacher, Mr. Caleb Amwesiga who promised to give every possible support to this programme in the school. Guest of Honour was Dr. Godfrey Rukundo, Head of the Psychiatry Department at Mbarara Referral Hospital and Mbarara University, who pointed out that anxiety is common among young people but usually goes unrecognized in Uganda.
Just a few days later Dr Ghalia and Fahed delivered similar training to 15 child care workers of Altakaful Charitable Association in Irbid, Jordan. After two years of online training, they said how wonderful it was to be able to train face-to-face once again! They did a really wonderful job and got fantastic feedback from all 15 participants! Fahed Al Oqaili is Altakaful's Assistant Director & Projects Coordinator as well as our Middle East Operations Manager, and he is increasing interest in our training among many agencies working with children across the Middle East.
Also firmly planned for the remainder of 2022 is a CATT course in Lira, Uganda and more anxiety and resilience training for people in the Yemeni province of Mareb, in partnership with Bridges to Peace and Solidarity and funded by British Yemeni Society and IMET2000. You can read a lovely account of previous training for Aden and Hadramout on the BPS website.
On behalf of all ACT International’s Trustees and volunteers, we wish you a joyful, peaceful and healthy New Year 2023!