On May 12th and 13th, Unite hosted a unique workshop for our teammates, scholars, and club members both at the Unite Food Program HQ and Kibaha Boys Secondary School in Dar es Salaam. The workshop, entitled Managing Stress, Anger, Burnout, Grief & Anxiety, was the first of its kind for the 70 combined participants and led by Unite Advisor Dr. Raymond Mgeni (formerly a Unite Scholar and Unite Scholar Mentor), a mental health advocate and medical officer with Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital in Tanzania, and his assistant Unite Scholar Stella Calista Mosha, a university student studying psychology in Tanzania.
Unite University Scholar Stella Calista Mosha (front left) and Dr. Raymond Mgeni (front sign right) with the faculty advisor of the Kibaha Boys Unite Club Mr Evance (far right), and club leaders at Kibaha Boys Secondary School.
“Here in Tanzania, many people face issues of low self-esteem and difficulties handling stress. We know that Resilience and a strong sense of self are required for one to live a happy, successful life; however, there is a widespread lack of seminars and trainings in these areas. Our workshops focused on how to identify and address early warning signs of emotional distress. everything starts in the mind, which is why cultivating a healthy mindset is critical to building and maintaining healthy habits, especially through the most difficult times.”
—Dr. Raymond Mgeni
Dr. Raymond Mgeni addresses the spectrum of mental health at Kibaha Boys Secondary School. Workshop participants said they were grateful for this opportunity to speak openly and honestly about a subject matter rarely addressed in their schools and communities.
“I learned about effective communication skills and how to give and receive constructive feedback to avoid conflicts. I also learned how to handle anxiety and stress, which is so important to me in my life, especially right now when I am living so far from my home and family.”
-Workshop participant
Unite Scholar Stella Calista Moshi, a university scholar studying psychology, discusses how unchecked stress, fear, and anxiety can lead to negative outcomes in the classroom and in one’s personal life.
“I learned that everyone has a unique experience regardless of whether or not they have experienced the same challenges. Also, sometimes people just need to be heard in order to calm down, And when there is no one there to listen, journaling one’s story into a diary can work too.”
- Unite Scholar Stella Calista Mosha
Unite Club members at Kibaha Boys School practice relaxation techniques, including meditation and deep breathing.
“Through this workshop, I have learned how to build positive feelings about myself so that I can better cope with life’s difficult situations and be more productive in the things I do.”
~Workshop participant
The Kibaha Boys Unite Club members fully embraced the challenges posed by participating fully in this workshop.
“I learned how not to allow stress to overwhelm me, which in the past has led to my mental malfunctioning. I am grateful for these new tools to help my mental health.”
~Workshop participant
Workshop participants at Unite Food Program headquarters in Dar es Salaam.