by Anna Schwaller | Nov 15, 2024 | news
NGO management is a rewarding but challenging endeavor, no matter where you are in the world. This truth became even more vivid to me during my recent visit to Blue Cross Chad, which this year celebrates its 35th anniversary. From its beginnings as a small organization driven by a Christian calling to help those struggling with alcohol and other drug problems, Blue Cross Chad has evolved into a professionalized organization that offers evidence-based alcohol prevention and self help programs.
At its core, Blue Cross Chad has always had one simple, profound mission: to leave no one behind in their struggles. This motivation continues to guide their work, even as it has expanded from a grassroots initiative to an established, multifaceted organisation. Today, they work not only with individuals in need but also on larger policy initiatives that impact the nation.
Leadership in an organization like Blue Cross Chad, which relies heavily on volunteer service, requires resilience and adaptability. Even though the core leadership is not salaried, the organization is held to high standards and operates international development projects staffed by paid professionals as projects have funding. This is no small feat in a country where funding for social and health-related NGOs is extremely limited, and government finace is nearly non-existent. In many ways, the ongoing success of Blue Cross Chad is a testament to the dedication and miracle of committed civil society members coming together for the common good.
Over the years, Blue Cross Chad has achieved remarkable accomplishments. They have successfully influenced national policies by advocating for a ban on alcohol sachets, played an active role in anti-tobacco initiatives, and provided essential services across various areas. Their impact spans preventive activities in schools, after-school programs, and alcohol and other drug prevention for moto-taxi drivers. They’re also engaged in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention, offering referral support, and facilitating self-help groups on critical topics.
The importance of NGO management is clear: it enables ordinary citizens to contribute their time and skills to a purpose larger than themselves. The impact of Blue Cross Chad’s programs extends far beyond isolated projects, creating a network of support and advocacy for those in need. Their commitment to change shows that even in challenging contexts, dedicated people can build a program of high quality and lasting influence.
As we celebrate Blue Cross Chad’s 35 years of service, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to them for their unwavering dedication. May they continue to inspire and make a difference for many years to come. If you are interested in partnering with or supporting a truly impactful program, don’t hesitate to reach out—together, we can amplify their incredible work and reach even more lives.
by Anna Schwaller | Sep 5, 2024 | news
Empowering Communities Through Life Skills and Drug Prevention: A Successful Field Visit to Arusha, Tanzania
From July 16th to 23rd, 2024, the International Blue Cross (IBC) conducted a field visit to Arusha, Tanzania, to assess and support the ongoing efforts of the Blue Cross Society of Tanzania (BCST) in tackling alcohol and other drug use among the youth. The visit was filled with productive meetings and insightful discussions and highlighted the progress and challenges of the BCST’s initiatives. Together, we were further able to lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
Strengthening Educational Ties
Our journey began with a series of courtesy visits to key educational and health officials in Arusha. During the meeting with the City Council’s Education Office, we discussed scaling up teacher training programs and integrating sports as a preventive measure against substance use—a strategy that has shown promise in reaching both schools and the broader community.
Collaboration with Health and Enforcement Agencies
The visit to the City Medical Officer, Dr. Maduhu, reaffirmed the significance of community peer education and the role of sports in prevention efforts. Dr. Maduhu emphasized the importance of creating a friendly environment for preventive education, particularly in non-violent interventions. His insights into local policies and the challenges of addressing both illegal and legal substance use provided valuable context for the BCST’s work.
Our meeting with the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) further strengthened the collaboration between IBC, BCST, and drug control agencies. The DCEA highlighted the need for greater political will to address the pervasive issue of drug use. The DCEA program operates along four strategic pillars, of which the program shows natural synergies with the demand reduction pillar. This discussion underscored the complex landscape in which BCST operates, balancing individual prevention with structure prevention through evidence-based policies.
Impactful Engagement with Schools and Peer Educators
Throughout the week, we visited several schools where BCST has implemented its life skills (LS) education sessions. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with reports of significant reductions in drug use among students. School principals and teachers shared their experiences of how the “Proud to Be Drug-Free” campaign by BCST and life skills training have transformed their schools. Notably, in some schools, no students were found with drugs this year so far, a marked improvement from previous years. Additionally, improved academic scores turned out to be a welcome side effect of the Life Skill education, a result much appreciated by the school administration.
We also engaged with peer educators who play a crucial role in the BCST’s outreach efforts. These young leaders shared powerful testimonies of personal growth and community impact, demonstrating the far-reaching effects of the program. The peer educators emphasized the importance of ongoing training to stay updated with recent facilitation methods and enhance their effectiveness in the field.
Engaging Parents and the Broader Community
In our discussions with parents, we learned about the significant challenges they face in communities where drug and alcohol production are prevalent. Parents expressed gratitude for the BCST’s efforts, noting how the project has not only improved their children’s behavior but also influenced their own lives. Many parents have adopted healthier lifestyles and have become advocates for the program within their communities.
The BCST board members also provided valuable recommendations for expanding the program’s reach, particularly in rural areas where substance use remains a critical issue. The board emphasized the need for more life skills education in primary schools and suggested leveraging sports and community campaigns to engage a broader audience.
Looking Ahead
The field visit to Arusha was a testament to the incredible work being done by our partner BCST and the strong partnerships they have forged with local stakeholders. The recommendations and insights gathered during this visit will be instrumental in shaping the future direction of the program. By continuing to focus on prevention, education, and community engagement, we are confident that the BCST will further strengthen its impact and continue to build healthier, drug-free communities across Tanzania.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the BCST team, local officials, educators, and parents for their unwavering commitment to this vital cause. Together, we are making a difference!
by Anna Schwaller | Aug 13, 2024 | news
Martyna Horecka from Blue Cross Poland shares her impressions from a day at the Life Skills summer camp
As part of our IBC prevention through Life Skills education programme in Poland and Romania, the local project teams are currently organizing various summer activities for young refugees from Ukraine. In this blog post, our Project Coordinator Martyna shares some insights into the summer camps Blue Cross Poland is running in Pszczyna.
7:45 We all gather at the train station in Bielsko-Biała, a mid-sized city in Southern Poland, and together take the train to much smaller Pszczyna, where our summer camp activities will take place. The kids are happy and excited to spend another day with their friends.
8:45 We get off the train and take a leisurely walk through a beautiful park in Pszczyna, a charming place filled with lots of green trees, bushes and ponds. During our walk, the children always look out for the animals living in the park. Today, we are greeted by a family of ducks with ducklings. The kids are delighted.
9:30 Having arrived at the Blue Cross Center in Pszczyna, we start off with our Life Skills session. The topic covered today is emotions, and ways to cope with difficult emotions. First, the children share their thoughts on what emotions are and what different emotions they know. They then draw emotion cards, with their task being to pantomime the emotions on the cards using gestures, body posture and facial expressions. After a pair activity, it’s time for some physical exercise: we scatter emotion cards around the room and create a “human train”. For our train to reach each station (selected emotion card), the children, acting as train cars, have to express the given emotion using their whole body while moving towards the station. Next, in groups, the children discuss their methods of dealing with difficult emotions. They then perform skits in which the characters experience difficult emotions. The others watching are tasked with identifying the emotions and coming up with possible solutions and coping strategies. During the exercise, I learn that we have quite some acting talents in the group!
11:00 After a break and a quick workout, it’s time foooooooor – art therapy! For many of our artistically gifted children, this is the favorite type of activity. Continuing the theme of emotions, the children draw difficult emotions and then tear the paper into pieces, symbolizing ridding oneself of that emotion. Next, we fill the sheets with visualizations of all the emotions we know, each with its own color, shape, character. Finally, we make “positive energy amulets” from beads: the children choose beads that symbolize positive emotions for them and create colorful personalized necklaces. I assure you, you won’t find combinations as beautiful as the ones our children create in any store.
13:00 After a long-awaited lunch, there is time for a moment of relaxation during which the children can choose to pursue any activity they want. And here we have some real diversity – some lie on blankets and treat themselves to a blissful nap under the shade of a tree, while others play football on the sunny field. There’s even a trampoline for those who didn’t overeat at lunch and need to burn off energy.
13:30 The last activity is sports and recreational activities, and here we have (almost) all Olympic disciplines available: obstacle course racing, swimming, trampolining, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, gymnastics on the playground. Those who prefer something less active play board games.
15:00 A small snack before it’s time to go home! While we walk back to the train station, the children teach me some interesting facts. For example, I learn that in Ukraine, in addition to schooling, great value is placed on discovering and developing artistic talent among children from an early age. This includes singing, dancing, painting and acting – now I know why the kids enjoy sessions that include role plays and singing so much.
15:40 We’re going home!!! I observe the children’s faces on the train – some are tired, almost falling asleep, others are still full of energy and chatty. The most important thing, however, is that all seem happy and satisfied.
16:15 The parents eagerly await their children on the platform; the children run out to meet them. Endless kisses and hugs. While I take it all in, and my only thought is that it has been a good day … and I can’t wait for the next one to come!
by Anna Schwaller | Jul 2, 2024 | news
IBC General Secretary Anne Babb and IBC Programme Officer Mirjam Schmitz’s second field visit as part of the new IBC prevention through Life Skills education programme led them to Sibiu, where Blue Cross Romania has been active since 1990. Alongside the national Blue Cross organisation in Poland, BC Romania is IBC’s second partner in the prevention programme aimed at teenaged refugees from Ukraine and their local peers in Poland and Romania that started at the beginning of the year. Just as in Poland, focusing on prevention rather than treatment, the project adds a new element to the existing range of activities of the Romanian national Blue Cross society.
While in Sibiu, Anne and Mirjam gave a two-day practical training for the new Life Skills facilitators and introduced the project to the local education authorities. They also facilitated a stakeholder consultation, during which community members gathered to discuss problems specific to the local context and map risk factors and positive resources for young people.
A big thank you to BC Romania and the project team for having us! Now that the foundation for this new project has been laid, we look forward to a fruitful collaboration in the service of the Ukrainian and Romanian youth in Sibiu.
by Anna Schwaller | Jun 6, 2024 | news
IBC General Secretary Anne Babb and IBC Programme Officer Mirjam Schmitz recently visited our member organization and project partner Blue Cross Poland in Bielsko-Biała and Pszczyna. Blue Cross Poland is our partner in a new prevention through Life Skills education programme aimed at teenaged refugees from Ukraine and their local peers in Poland and Romania.
During their visit, Anne gave an intensive practical training for the new Life Skills facilitators. She also met with the Head of Education and Sport of Bielsko-Biała municipality to present the project and learn about the local specifics. Another item on the programme of the visit was a stakeholder consultation, which took place in a very warm and inclusive atmosphere highlighting the strong social integration component of the project. It was attended by a diverse range of local stakeholders, including Polish and Ukrainian organisations, local politicians, parents and youth. During the meeting, the participants discussed local problems and their causes and effects on communities and individuals and mapped risk factors for vulnerable youth as well as positive resources available to them.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the whole Blue Cross Poland team and to Roman Wojnar in particular for the warm welcome in Bielsko-Biała and Pszczyna and the smooth collaboration in this important starting phase of the project!
by Anna Schwaller | Apr 29, 2024 | news
In 2023, IBC published a call for proposals among our member organizations for the comprehensive prevention projects. Blue Cross Ghana Relief responded and completed a full organisational assesment process encompassing an evaluation of the team’s knowledge base and capacities in governance, current activities, resources, and project management. The initial assessment was satisfactory and the network committee approved the continuation of the process with local workshops held by the general secretary. Below is a short summary of the week with the Blue Cross Ghana Team.
We have set the ground for a successful project start!
During this intensive week we worked well together and completed a tightly packed itinerary, despite the hot temperatures. We were able to address open questions concerning project implementation and the board, staff, and volunteers underwent training in quality governance and best practices while managing development co-operation projects. The Blue Cross Team completed a community mapping exercise, identifying the most vulnerable areas in the city and the positive resources available to young people. Additionally, a full stakeholder consultation took place with teachers, police, nurses, religious leaders, youth, mothers, fathers, businesss owners etc. This helps us understand the local problems, their causes, and their effects on communities and individuals. Afterwards, the Blue Cross Ghanateam summarized the findings of the consultation into a problem tree, which informs the projects Theory of Change.
We reviewed the theory and evidence for the effectiveness of supporting the development of life skills for prevention of future harm related to addiction and substance use. The staff team was very encouraged, recognizing: “We have been mistaken in merely providing information. We now realize that the focus on an evidence based approach is crucial for accomplishing the intended behaviour change and skill development in youth.” To put the theory in perspective, we visited one of the prospective partner schools where the project will be implemented.
Additionally, BC Ghana is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and their wonderful support and structures make it possible to reach people throughout the country in the long run. We visited the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church who confirmed their commitment for continued support of the Blue Cross. So far, the Church has focused on strong principles of abstinence. Nonetheless, during our conversation the church showed it understood the need to reach the people with alcohol and other drug problems with love rather than judgement. They are excited that BC offers these opportunities to prevent harm and help those who need support.
We also took the opportunity for some joint networking. The Blue Cross Ghana are already part of Ghana Alcohol policy network. This body works to highlight the necessity for national structures that ultimately protect youth. Additionally, we had the opportunity to visit the minister of education who warmly welcomed the life skills approach to the Ghanaian schools. We will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the collaboration and continue the discussion. He had also visited Finland and observed the school system in place there. He has great commitment in furthering the development of schools in Ghana and showed us new buildings designed to enhance learning environments.
Finally, we visited a self help group whose participants were most thankful for the valuable support structure that helps them work towards a new beginning. “I want to thank you for training BC Ghana in the self-help approach, it has given me a new life. I invited my colleagues who are also struggeling with addiction and now we are sober and one of us is working as an electrician again”, one participant states. “Yes, when I was drunk, I had no work. Now people call me and I have work to do!”, shares another. BC Ghana started self help groups in 2020, and currently, they have an active group running that changes many peoples lives!
Thank you to the leadership team and their families for their wonderful preparations and unwavering commitment, which contributed to making this week a great success! Thank you to the amazing, skilled, and committed volunteers for attending every session! And this time, thank you to my beloved sister, who privately joined my trip as a volunteer and helped me so much during this week!
