Students, Teachers Trained To Manage Depression

By Ritah Mukasa

Over 90 students have been trained to manage depression and stress, create better relationships with peers, families and communities all while conserving the environment.

This is under the well-being model project, which is run by Africa Education and Leadership Initiative (Africa ELI) a not-for-profit organization in Uganda. It collaborates with the University of California San Diego in the United States.

The beneficiaries who include refugees and nationals were chosen from Central and West Nile regions.

Zaharah Namanda, Executive Director of Africa ELI and co-facilitator of this project says they started with 27 youth from Kamwokya slum in Kampala before rolling out to Excel International Academy in Arua, West Nile. There, they trained 40 refugees and 2 locals between 12-22 years. They also trained 22 teachers.

Namanda says COVID-19 pandemic came along with adverse challenges that threw many young people into depression.

It is against that background that the well-being project was started to help them navigate through the pressing situations. 

On how they work, Namanda says, they identify schools that need this service and partner with them. After taking the students through the eleven well-being modules, a club is launched.

Participants are tasked to identify and work on a community problem through groups.

For example, one group planted trees and created awareness about environmental conservation. The other was hosted on radio talk show and they discussed the need to promote girls’ education.

How Students Are Trained

Once a participant masters the art of self, they get a peace of mind and feel safe to interact with others. They also manage their feelings, emotions and are able to make critical decisions.

 “We also have dimensions called petals within the model,” Dr Peninah Beinomugisha, an educator and lead facilitator says.

These include basic needs, human connection, care for the environment, growth and flourishing, belonging and engagement.

Others are; mutual care, personal safety, fair and just community among others and these are all interconnected.

A petal can help one during hard times hence reducing vulnerability especially sexual violence and stress among the young females.

Rebecca Relevine, a PhD student and co-lead of the Wellbeing club project in USA and Africa says, the training empowers participants to speak and refer to their life purposes. 

They also become good listeners and communicators.

Amy Bintliff, a professor at the University of California and head of the Wellbeing Club Training in the United States and Africa adds that, the training is therapeutic and help to mitigate traumatization of learners. It applies mindfulness activities and trauma informed care.

Relatedly, Viola Nawangi, the education officer at Africa ELI says they encourage the students to use positive affirmations such as; “I am strong, I am enough, I can make it, I am courageous, I am beautiful or handsome and I am intelligent.” These words boost their confidence.