By Eleanor Milburn | Assistant Director
This fall, MindLeaps is running virtual and some in-person activities for youth at our Center in Guinea in accordance with guidelines from the local government.
In September, MindLeaps launched a new program for refugees in Conakry. The program serves 32 refugees, returnees, and young Guineans over 7 months. The youth are organized into 3 learning groups to study six subjects in MindLeaps Virtual Academy. So far, they have completed courses in Digital Literacy, Business Entrepreneurship and Project Management & Budgeting. Each group studies for 1 hour per day with Project Leader Salifou Camara online in WhatsApp "classrooms" (chat groups). Every Friday, beneficiaries meet on Zoom in their 3 groups for one hour each to review course content with the instructors. MindLeaps provides smart phones and wifi data packs so that the students can participate virtually. The students have been enthusiastic about learning the course material. In addition, bonds of friendship are being built. They are helping one another and commenting on each other’s work daily. Since the groups are on WhatsApp, the students are able to reach out to each other at any time to post a question about the course material or something personal and find that they will quickly have a response - and a friend to talk to at any time.
For women across the world, the pandemic worsened sexual violence, unwanted pregnancies and childhood marriage. At MindLeaps Guinea, we are running a sexual education program for the young women and girls at our center. The young women were taught in a four-week program by Madame Mariama and Madame Jenneh. The course covered contraception and how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, health sanitation practices, menstruation, a discussion on appropriate behavior from their peers, and how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases The girls came away from the program with a better overall sense of what resources are available to them and how to care for themselves. This will be an ongoing program for the girls at our center.
2020 has been a challenging year for all. MindLeaps continued to serve our students with food relief and learning opportunities, furthering our mission and continuing our connection with these wonderful youth.
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By Eleanor Milburn | Assistant Director
By Eleanor Milburn | Assistant Director
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