By MAHMOUD O. IDERAABDULLAH | PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Welcome, welcome, come on in. This report is our first opportunity to give an update on our Adult Educational Project for 2024. With your support and God's grace, we are off and running in this new year after several interruptions since the start of the project year in September. The 2023-24 school year was interrupted by the presidential elections after classes started in September. This interruption was the first postponement of courses in October. Again, during the presidential runoff that took place in November. Our class didn't resume until mid-January after the country's new President was inaugurated. Learning to read and write is difficult without interruption, but our adult students face many other hardships. (poverty, rising inflation, and the need to tend their markets). Once our free classes started, students struggled to make their daily bread through the various markets they visited throughout the week.
On a typical day, students arrive at 6 p.m. to start their class. But sometimes, no students can be seen until almost 7 p.m. During a recent visit by Mr. James, the Literacy Coordinator, the late arrival of students was evident.
Students started trickling after 7 pm, and classes began at 7:15 pm. The sound of the generator, the school's only source of electricity, today does not sound good. The Literacy Coordinator brought a mechanic to service the generator at the end of Jan 2024. The sound from the generator is calling for servicing gain. By 8:21 pm, the gas in the generator ran out during class, and we ended up once again. Classes continue to go on under lights from mobile phones. To work without electricity is a Success story in itself!
The coordinator spoke with students about their lateness. Many of them told me they are single parents. It's hard for mothers to juggle caring for their children, selling in the market, and getting to classes on time. Another student said she usually sells around (walks up and down) and sometimes forgets class time.
Getting to class soon was explained to the students so they could understand and see reasons to adjust their businesses and come to school on time. They have 2.5 hrs each class day. They all promised to do better, as did the other learners. (See photos of students under electricity and pictures of students under the phone lights.) The generator will be serviced, and an allotment of gas will be provided by the start of next week.
The last part of the update deals with IMANI HOUSE staff participation in two-day trainings set up by INTERWEAVE SOLUTI NS. Imani House sent six (6) participants. Representatives from the IMANI HOUSE clinic, the literacy program, and the administrative office attended both days of the workshops.
Introduction
The Interweave Training workshop took place at a local university in Central Monrovia, and the workshops ran from February 7 to 8. The purpose was to train trainers.
Dr. Lynn Curtis from INTERWEAVE facilitated the workshop. The doctor covered two distinct and vital topics.
Day 1 Topic Success In Business; English In Business Success Under the topic, we cove ed the 6's of Business, which include:
Others Points Include:
We make business Plans, Home Quality of Life Plans, Community involvement Plans,
Money management plan, Income and Expenses log, Income Statement and Business Budget
Every participant received the opportunity to present to the group. They learned the legal requirements. The group also knew how to decide when to make your Business legal and commit your Business.
Day – Two Topic: Counseling In The Streets (Wellness and Healing)
Under this topic, counseling skills (your tools- how you feel, how you listen, and how you speak
to people) were acquired.
Also, another significant skill was Overcoming Barriers to Wellness – How to deal with:
Also, Wellness in the community, Responding to crisis and substance abuse.
Divided into sessions, with assigned tasks and group presentations. Following the various
Presentations, participants were given the opportunity for remarks which were followed by
Presentation of certificates.
At the end of the training, some participants received 1- 2 certificates in Master of Business in
Street and others received 1 – 3 certificates in Master of Business In the Streets and Mental.
Counseling. Interweave Solution awarded each of Imani House's participants three certificates each.
At the end of the training, the facilitator asked each participant to commit to training a specific number of business people. Imani House is dedicated to training at least 50 street sellers.
Mental health counseling will be used in our clinic, and each participant must train their colleagues.
I conclude our report for this quarter. Thank you for reading the latest developments at IMANI HOUSE. I look forward to meeting you in the next report!
Thank you for being there for our Students and our tutors!
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