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!
by Anna Schwaller | Feb 29, 2024 | news
IBC is looking for new volunteers to support our team. Are you motivated to gain work experience within an international NGO?
We are looking forward to receiving your electronic application at s.poenisch@internationalbluecross.org. You can find more info below:
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by Anna Schwaller | Dec 5, 2023 | news
IBC Secretary General, Anne Babb and IBC Programme Officer, Flavia Ganarin, recently visited our project partner Génération 5S (CTPAD) in Congo Brazzaville. Together, IBC and CTPAD have been implementing a comprehensive substance use prevention project for the last 10 years and have committed to collaborating for the next years as well. Anne and Flavia visited multiple schools in vulnerable neighbourhoods in Brazzaville, where Génération 5S staff is facilitating Life Skills Sessions for youth at risk of addiction. The numerous testimonies of positive change by students, peer educators, parents, teachers and school principals have been very empowering, showcasing the strong positive impact the project has on the lives of thousands of youth who have in the past been exposed to addiction, violence or other forms of discrimination (see below). Anne and Flavia also met with the Congolese Minister of Health, Mr. Gilbert Mokoki, to talk about prevention through alcohol policy. Topics of common interest were the dissociation of alcohol sponsorship during sports events in Congo and the ban of alcohol marketing. During a subsequent visit to the WHO Afro and Congo offices, it was decided to create a joint working group, including the Congolese government (different concerned ministries), WHO and civil society (amongst others CTPAD and Blue Cross Congo), to bring the alcohol policy agenda forward. On the whole, the appreciated work with the local team was very enriching. In addition, the multiple testimonials illustrate the powerful impact of our projects:
“I used to have a hard time dealing with my own emotions and when I was angry I became violent. I would often start fights at school and was at risk of being expelled. It was difficult for me and my whole family. The life skills club really helped my self-esteem and I learned how to share my feelings and my problems with others.”
“I had to repeat my final exams three times. With each failure I felt more and more pressure from myself, my family, and my community. Everyone thought I was not intelligent enough to finish school and go to university, except my peer educator at the life skills club. She told me that it was all up to me and that if I truly tried I would be capable of reaching my goals. She helped me find confidence in my skills and take charge of my life. With each success I learned to believe in myself again. Today, I am at university and in my free time I will also become a peer educator to motivate other girls not to abandon their studies.”
“I was trained as a peer educator by the project Génération 5S. One day I went to a private school in my neighbourhood to facilitate a Life Skills session on alcohol and other drug use. The headmaster was so impressed with both the message and my skills that he created the new position of a life skills teacher and offered it to me.”
by Sonja_IBC | Jul 31, 2023 | news
Naya Suruwat Nepal is a totally volunteer based NGO. It was created as there is a great concern of alcohol and other drug related harm in Tansen region. Their board consists of doctors, teachers, social and pastoral care professionals and people with history of addiction and recovery. Each member of Naya Suruwat gives 1-4 hours of their time as a volunteer for the work. This excellent team has been a great comfort to many people struggling with addiction. The work continues to reach the most vulnerable and excluded people. Naya Suruwat is starting new peer support groups that are open to people struggling with their addiction. Nepal is a multi faith society and as Christians we can express love in action through opening doors to people from all backgrounds. It is love that covers all understanding and gives people opportunity to experience forgiveness and grace in their recovery process. The groups will appreciate participants multiple faith backgrounds and aim is to create a loving and listening atmosphere.
by Sonja_IBC | Feb 9, 2023 | news
Anne Babb and Anja Tuchtenhagen, the General Secretary and fundraiser at IBC, are back from their recent field trip to Lomé. They really appreciated the first-hand impressions of the projects, especially after Corona. The work at Blue Cross Togo is inspiring and bringing positive results in schools and the wider community. Through the close collaboration with various Government departments, municipalities, churches and NGO’s Blue Cross Togo is leading developments for new legislation to better regulate the sale of alcohol in general and around schools in particular. The Life Skills prevention and education programme foster healthy behavior and enable the youth to practice wise choices in various situations in their life. Blue Cross Togo also reaches out to help people of all ages through a wide range of projects. These include girls at the local hairdressing academy, women through community action and male taxi drivers. Anne and Anja saw how the Blue Cross Togo have worked hard to open Togo’s first ever rehabilitation centre to help people with addiction issues. This is a big step forward and helps bring positive change in the lives of many more people. The appreciated work with the local team was inspiring, fruitful and very constructive!
If you want to read more about our project in Togo, you will find some info in the programmes section.
by Sabra_TXT | Dec 8, 2022 | news
November concluded with a small highlight for IBC: the workshop “Self-help in Africa”. Blue Cross representatives from various African countries came together in Johannesburg, South Africa, to further improve their work in the field of self-help and community work. In the five-day workshop, General Secretary Anne and program coordinator Sophie worked with the participants using role-plays, case studies and practical exercises to make their programs even more effective. In an open exchange, participants discussed various cases they were confronted with and spoke about typical difficulties in their community and self-help work.
In this way, the IBC self-help program in Africa is gradually being placed on an increasingly solid footing. In African countries in particular, self-help programs are a very important factor in letting people with addiction problems and their families receive support, orientation and the chance to lead a healthy life. In their societies it is usually not possible for them to gain access to appropriate health services within the the national health system.
