This has been a soul- inspiring and uplifting experience.
Sarah talks about the huge impact the Core programme has had on mentees and participants and how she was filled with so much joy and fulfilment because of that. She shares why she is confident that the programme has achieved its goal.
My name is Sarah Getahun Woldeamanuel, a counsellor. I served as e-Counsellor on the CoRe Programme with the CoRe Wonderful group. When I received a message from the Ghana Psychological Association (GPA) office asking me if I was ready to work as a front-liner for COVID-19, although I gladly said yes, thinking that it was one of the face-to-face assignments that I did earlier, little did I know that I was going to become ‘omnipresent’; traveling to every region, entering every room, and simultaneously speaking to everyone in the comfort of their space.
After working for a while, I realized that although the programme is targeted at bringing resilience to the youth of Ghana who have been affected by the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can confidently say that as one of the e-counsellors, I have also benefited from the programme in various ways.
First and foremost, was the joy and the fulfilment that I got when I understood the positive transformation that was taking place in the lives of the targeted population. As I observed their migration from hopelessness to optimism, from fear and anxiety to resilience, from joblessness to productivity and earning incomes, each day became exciting because of all these transformational experiences being expressed on the platform and through phone communications with the beneficiaries.
Secondly, it was a blessing hearing the testimonies of the individually counselled youth concerning their victories over suicidal ideation, substance abuse, depression, and other psychosocial-related issues. Furthermore, it was uplifting to observe our professional intervention being appreciated by the new generation and their in-depth understanding of the importance of the role that counselling psychology is playing in aiding mankind’s total well-being. It was heart-warming to observe their readiness to serve as ambassadors of counselling psychology wherever they found themselves.
Here are some of the expressions that have been taken from some of the beneficiaries’ posts and phone conversations:
Annati Christian, who became very enthusiastic about the role of professional counselling said: “…I think there should be a professional counsellor in every organization.” He also said during another discussion: “Now I know that I have to get a professional counsellor in a company that I am trying to set up” In another session, he asked the following question in despair: “How many young people are aware of professional pre-marital counselling?”
Another group member, Joseph Bukwe, expressed his disappointment towards some of his friends’ ignorance revealed in their response to another friend who had lost both parents in an accident on the same day. “When I wanted to connect him to a counsellor, his friends said they could handle him. You see, how society doesn’t even know the value of experts?”
During a screening session, another lady also said in appreciation “I know that a counselling service is very expensive. We are grateful for the opportunity given to us to get it for free; and we intend to make full use of it.”.
Consequently, while they were benefiting more and more, they did not want to keep it only to themselves but started sharing and seeking help and interventions for their friends and family members who were not part of the CoRe programme, and counselling services were provided for them. We can all now confidently say ‘change is inevitable but bouncing back is possible.’
Initially, beneficiaries were not ready to share and discuss their issues on the platform. But as we moved on, they developed trust and confidence not just in their counsellor but in themselves as well. Subsequently, I was no-longer a counsellor alone but a significant other and a source of social support.
I remember during one of our sessions when I asked the group to write the names and contact numbers of at least 3-5 people to serve as their social supports, some of the members said my name and contact number would be among their list, which I also gladly replied saying “Sure!” and I have become one. They do call or send me messages any time the need arises.
We have enjoyed each other’s company during our sessions; although the programme was designed to last for one-hour (7:00-8:00pm), it has never been so in the CoRe Wonderful group. The meetings kept going on and on even as late as 9:30 pm. My group members were not bothered about checking their time, and I didn’t want to remind them either. When duty is calling, time becomes irrelevant.
In general, I can confidently say that the programme has achieved its goal successfully. However, I would also like to give some suggestions that could help in preventing the reoccurrence of some of the challenges experienced during this programme.
In my opinion, the responsibilities of screening beneficiaries, forming the groups, and procedures of joining the groups should have been given to the e-counsellors from the onset of the programme so that the following challenges would not have been faced:
- The issues of having uneven numbers in each group especially during the time we were on Telegram.
- The challenges of starting with Telegram and moving to WhatsApp that drew us back in our services leading to the missing of extra days.
- The issue of having an open group that contributed to members being in multiple groups (group shopping). This had the effect of drawing back the groups any time new members were joining.
- The challenges of unqualified individuals joining groups since there wasn’t adequate pre- screening.
Finally, I would like to express my enormous gratitude to the brilliant minds behind the planning and designing of this programme, and to the commitment and hard work of everyone in turning the simple social media into making ways and changing lives and for bringing mental health service to every doorstep and making it reachable.
Thank you, Ghana Psychological Association (GPA), the CoRe team, Springboard Road Show Foundation, Solidaridad, and Mastercard foundation.
I say Ayekoo! God bless you all!