Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum

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Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum joins Nabuur

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Phil Costa

Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum director Nduka Ozor and online volunteer Phil Costa joined Nabuur.com, the “online volunteering network”.

Nduka joined in August of 2005 while Phil came on board in March of 2006. Nduka and Phil have made many friends through NABUUR, and are currently trying to recruit “neighbours” to help them develop a Voluntary Counseling and Confidential Testing center in the village, as well as try to apply to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Currently, Nduka and Phil are having some difficulty attracting and retaining committed volunteers. If you would like to join Mgbala Agwa on Nabuur, please register on Nabuur.com and post a message at the Mgbala Agwa ‘village’ at http://www.nabuur.com/en/village/mgbala-agwa to get started.

NABUUR is a Dutch organization, based in the Netherlands.

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MAYF HIV/AIDS Library featured in the US National Commission Report on Library and Information Needs

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Stephan Bren, MAYF
October 2006

WASHINGTON: Earlier this year, the US National Commission on Libraries and Information Science released a report,The Role of Libraries in HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa, that describes how the current crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa can be an occasion for libraries to become more involved in education of the people in regard to prevention, treatment, and care, and how the current situation in Sub-Saharan Africa is also an opportunity for growth of the library and information science profession in that part of the world. The report identifies the best practices of HIV/AIDS education activities in order to encourage replication in other environments.

The findings in this report were based upon literature reviews and materials collected from library sources in Sub-Saharan Africa, including MAYF.

The report was made possible by a UNESCO grant from the U.S. Department of State and is associated with the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) iniative.

Posted in iku, volunteering | No Comments »

MAYF Surveyed for Successful Online Volunteer Practices

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Stephan Bren, MAYF
July 2006

WASHINGTON: Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum (MAYF) participated in a survey conducted by Jayne Cravens, who was director of the United Nations (UN) Online Volunteer and manager of the Information Technology Service Service initiatives.

Her research was undertaken to assess current common practices among organizations successfully involving international online volunteers; to explore the role online volunteering may play in building a more cohesive global community; and to assess the relationship between involving online volunteers and building organizational capacities.

This research sought to shed some light on what factors may have contributed to the success of involving international online volunteers and to identify how these volunteers were thought of in relation to an organization’s onsite staff.

In performing this research, Cravens surveyed organizations that involved online volunteers named as “Outstanding” in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 by the United Nations Volunteers program (UNV), part of the UN Development Program (UNDP).

Her research work was presented at the Institute for Volunteering Research November 2005 conference, Volunteering Research: Frontiers and Horizons, and recently published in the July 2006 issue of the International Journal of Volunteer Administration.

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MAYF Hosts Special Guest from South Africa

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Nduka Ozor
February 13, 2006

LAGOS NIGERIA: MAYF recently hosted a special guest from South Africa, Daryn Liddle, 22, a conflict resolution and management advocate. Liddle visited Mgbala Agwa Community for a two week stay, from December 24, 2005 – Janurary 7, 2006, to assist with a HIV/AIDS peer health educators training conference.

Liddle participated in the two day HIV/AIDS peer health educators training conference, held January 3rd – 4th 2006, organized by Internationellt KulturUtbyte (IKU) and Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum (MAYF) for teachers and MAYF members who will be educators in the ongoing HIV /AIDS Catch Them Young program. Specifically, Liddle conducted two workshops given daily at the conference: Introduction to Conflict Resolutions and Conflict Resolution Strategies.

Darren Liddle presenting a workshop on conflict resolution to members of the community

Darren Liddle presenting a workshop on conflict resolution to members of the community

Mgbala Agwa is located in the Oguta Local government area of Imo State, Nigeria.

During his two-week visit, Liddle explored the gamut of rural Mgbala Agwa community life. He began his stay in Mgbala Agwa with a celebration of Christmas Eve according to Mgbala Agwa custom, usually marked by visits to friends and relatives. He attended mass at the local Catholic church both on Christmas day and then also on New Years day, celebrating both after the traditions and customs of Mgbala Agwa; and he had the opportunity to observe traditional marriage ceremonies organized in Mgbala Community.

Liddle visited the palace of the traditional ruler of the Mgbala Agwa community, meeting with Eze Charles A Ukwu, his cabinet members, and other religious and political leaders of the community. He also met with senior members of MAYF and the MAYF coordinator, Nduka Ozor, commending them on the good work they were doing to save lives.

2005-peereducatorsworkshop-01

Liddle also became acquainted with the Mgbala Agwa community, visiting community markets, talking with market visitors, and watching local football competitions – even participating as a player in several practice football sessions.

He also visited the local health centre in the community and met with the nursing sister to discuss HIV/AIDS and other issues. Schools were not in session, during his stay, and thus Liddle was not able to observe class sessions. However, he was able to tour community school facilities.

Liddle had the enjoyable experience of travelling rough and bumpy roads that join Mgbala to neighboring communities. He also visited Owerri, (the capital city of Imo State) on several occasions to contact associates and friends in South Africa via the internet, as Mgbala Agwa lacks all such basic amenities.

What Mgbala Agwa lacked in basic amenities was more then compensated by the warm hospitality and camaraderie of the Mgbala Agwa community. Liddle was accepted by every member of the community, and was even honored with a new Igbo cultural identity by Nze Ozor Anyadioha, 98, the head of his family host (Nduka Ozor).

Nze Ozor Anyadioha christened him ‘Azubuike,’ meaning, “There is strength in the back.” In Mgbala Community it is believed that the number and quality of the people that an individual has around him in life reinforces his strength and vigour. Liddle was also honored with a new name by MAYF members, “Uzoma,” during their host day, providing him with a chieftaincy cap and beads. “Uzoma” means “good sojourn – good road” and reflects the belief among Mgbala Agwa people that when a road or sojourn is favourable there is the likelihood of embarking on a similar sojourn in the future. Mgbala Agwa community members warmly greeted Liddle using his new names, during his stay with the community.

Liddle sharing a traditional meal with Mgbala Agwa community members.

Liddle sharing a traditional meal with Mgbala Agwa community members.

MAYF continually welcomes visitors from all parts of the world to participate in the rich cultural heritage of the Mgbala Agwa community and to help collaborate on strengthening Mgbala Agwa values and beliefs.

Through such participation and collaboration, MAYF hopes someday to change the world.

Posted in village life, volunteering | No Comments »

Internationellt KulturUtbyte Participates in MAYF’s ‘Catch Them Young’ program

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Stephan Bren, MAYF
Tuesday, November 15, 2005

LAGOS NIGERIA: Representatives of the Swedish youth organization, Internationellt KulturUtbyte (IKU), traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, to participate in MAYF’s Catch Them Young, a program for educating Nigerian youth with regard to HIV/AIDS.

IKU Östersund is a non-governmental youth organization working to address international issues and to establish relationships with other non-governmental organizations around the world. IKU began collaborative efforts with MYAF earlier this year, by observing and assisting with MAYF educational programs, and meeting with MAYF and local government leaders.

MAYF and IKU Ostersund members during the pilot CTY planning

IKU representatives returned to Lagos on June 6, working with MAYF and local government to further develop MAYF’s Catch Them Young program. During this period, MAYF and IKU representatives visited primary and secondary schools throughout the Mgbala Agwa region to introduce the program to school children.

IKU also helped organize local activities, including a street walk and football tournament in the town of Mgbala Agwa. The street walk provided interested townspeople with information and counseling on HIV/AIDS. IKU representatives concluded their visit by touring the region’s health care facilities.

Emma and Turid of IKU Ostersund presenting a discussion on HIV/AIDS awareness at a school, while members of ICYE Nigeria listen. The discussion was a part of the CTY pilot program.

IKU noted the challenges that MAYF faces with regard to HIV/AIDS, identifying lack of education on HIV/AIDS as one of the most signficant challenges. For example, some children that IKU interviewed thought that HIV/AIDS was contracted through toilet use, while another disliked using contraceptives and believed that God would protect her.

Another challenge was cultural and involved the varying status of men and women, were young women are not encouraged to educate themselves on such matters. Such challenges underscored the need to “catch them young,” in order to install early education and awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to protect oneself from these dangers.

Female soccer teams compete as a part of the CTY program, HIV/AIDS awareness strategy.

Such challenges also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in MAYF organization and educational activities, in order to help women make more informed choices regarding sexual activity. In general, IKU found considerable enthusiasm among the youth that participated in MAYF events.

Posted in catch them young (cty), iku, village life, volunteering | No Comments »

MAYF Wins Online Volunteer of the Year for 2005

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

BONN, Switzerland

Stephan Bren, MAYF Volunteer

Awarded for Contribution to achieving MDG6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and MDG8: Develop a global partnership for development

Millennium Campaign: “No Excuses, Promises Must be Kept”

Stephan has provided the Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum (MAYF) with a professional website, that the organization is very happy with, and that has been favourably commended by several visitors. MAYF operates a resource center on prevention, control, and management of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in rural Nigeria.

Stephan approached his website development assignment just as he would have dealt with any business project. As a starting point, he took the basic ideas of the already existing MAYF website, that had also been developed by online volunteers. Stephan re-designed its structure from the ground up, applying standard design guidelines and instituting a typical development and testing process, to arrive at significant improvements with regard to site usability, scalability, and maintainability. During all development stages, Stephan has made sure that the new website truly represents a team effort. He closely involved MAYF staff in every step, ensuring that the site would perfectly meet their needs and expectations, and included contributions from fellow MAYF online volunteers.

Since the completion of the website, Stephan dedicates about an hour per week on maintenance tasks, a time commitment that is more than sufficient because of the stability of the site. With this arrangement, he is happy to still stay involved with MAYF, while he can dedicate more time to his newborn baby daughter, who he often carried on his lap while developing the MAYF site.

A Swedish development organization recently found the Mgbala Agwa website via a search engine. Its professional design caught their attention, so that they investigated further the activities of the organization. As a result, MAYF is now developing a joint programme with this Swedish organization in their local community in rural Nigeria.

“It still amazes me to think, that through the Internet, I have had a positive impact on an organization half way across the world! … The Online Volunteering service has provided me an opportunity to volunteer my skillset, computer information technology development, in ways I couldn’t have imagined previously. It has enabled me to accomplish a desire to contribute to meaningful causes while still being able to meet my own family and professional obligations by working from home.”

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Internationellt KulturUtbyte Visits Mgbala Agwa Youth Organization

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Stephan Bren, MAYF
Wednesday, June 6, 2005

LAGOS NIGERIA: A representative from the Swedish youth organization, Internationellt KulturUtbyte (IKU), recently traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, to meet with Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum (MAYF) and community leaders, to explore ways to improve AIDS education and other health issues through collaborative projects and workshops.

IKU Östersund is a non-governmental youth organization working to address international issues and to establish relationships with other non-governmental organizations around the world.

For many years, IKU Östersund has searched for an organizations in Nigeria with which to collaborate in addressing such challenging social issues as HIV/AIDS. After learning about MAYF through its website, IKU Östersund contacted MAYF to explore possible collaborative projects together.

MAYF then invited representatives from IKU Östersund to learn more about MAYF and its community first hand. Marielle Paulove was sent by IKU Östersund to meet with MAYF and community leaders and initiate a partnership between IKU Östersund and MAYF. Marielle has been to Lagos before, while working as a volunteer over a six month period the previous year.

MAYF is a community-based organization (CBO) registered with the local authority as a Youth Forum. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria to function as a resource centre for in-depth research into history, prevention, control and management of HIV/AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Diseases. It targets an estimated population of about 450,000 Nigerians in rural extensions and is focused on HIV/AIDS, Educational Awareness, Environmental Technology, Youths empowerment in Mgbala Agwa, a rural community in Imo State, Nigeria.

Over an event-filled four day period, Marielle met with MAYF and community leaders and youth, observed community health practices and education programs, and worked with MAYF staff to develop two projects: one involving the development of an awareness campaign on community health issues and the second focusing on teacher training in HIV/AIDS at government schools in the surrounding area.

Mgbala Agwa Nigeria Health Center - Staffed by only 1 Nurse

Marielle noted the significant challenges facing the MAYF with regard to community health issues. One challenge involves healthcare. The Mgbala Agwa region has a rural population of approximately 100,000, but is served by a single government subsidized health center, which is staffed by a single nurse, and having few medical supplies.

Another challenge involves funding for development of the new MAYF library, as the local government is not able to fully provide due to limited resources. Lastly, one of the greatest challenges that the community faces is simply inadequate education. the Mgbala Agwa region has just three small schools serving over 600 children. So small are the school facilities that not all children can fit into a classroom at once, during instruction.

school in mgbala agwa nigeria

Additionally, some classrooms are not adequately equipped with tables and chairs and only feature a blackboard and a stone floor. Community families cannot send all their children to school at once, since they are needed to assist with farming, which is the primary means of livelihood in the region. Despite such challenges, Marielle was impressed by the commitment and dedication of MAYF and community leaders to address these challenges and find solutions to them.

The lack of adequate education in the community is one of the primary challenges that MAYF faces in its efforts to fight AIDS. The importance of education in addressing AIDS was clearly noted by Marielle in her many conversations with community members. For example, one young girl that Marielle interviewed thought that AIDS was a disease transmitted through dirty toilets.

marielle paulov with mgbala agwa children

The importance of education is well-understood by the MAYF coordinator, Nduka Ozor, who considers education the principle and most effective means by which he can address the painful impact of AIDS within his community. Nduka is particularly interested in educating the young, since “If no one teaches them, sooner or later someone will teach them the wrong thing, and that is why we have to catch them young.”

Currently, IKU Östersund is working to obtain financial support for a future project with MAYF, planned for 2005.

Posted in catch them young (cty), iku, village life, volunteering | No Comments »

MAYF Volunteer wins UNV Online Volunteering Award!

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

United Nations Online Volunteering Service, 2004

Blandina applied with the Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum to research donors that would fund the establishment of a library on HIV/AIDS in a small Nigerian city. Since then, the Nigerian organization has been on her mind, inspiring her creativity, and accompanying her throughout her daily life.

When choosing the assignment to search for donors for Mgbala Agwa, she thought it was a good fit, as she could make use of her network of contacts around the world that she had created by living in various places. Her application was accepted within two days, and she got started immediately.

Blandina started telling her friends about her new involvement with Mgbala Agwa – and was surprised to encounter a lot of prejudice. Why of all places had she picked to support Nigeria, they commented, where so many Email-scams have their origin, and where corruption is so prevalent? She realized that if people around her had their doubts about the value of investing time in a small Nigerian organization, it would be most difficult to convince donors to invest money.

A website would be a good place to refer donors to and would add credibility and transparency to the organization, Blandina thought. She started talking to anyone she knew about her website idea, until eventually, through a friend of a friend of a friend, she found an online volunteer to configure Mgbala Agwa’s website.

The website was soon followed by more projects that Blandina came up with in support of Mgbala Agwa. Currently, she is writing a self-help manual for new online volunteers to the organization, based on her own experience and that of the other online volunteers – who are in regular contact with each other via email and online forums.

“When I signed in, it was 5 hours a week, but with time I realized that you can’t really put time to anything but just do the work and try to make a difference.”

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Football 1 – HIV 0

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Emily Grogono, ActionAid
2004

Football matches provide an opportunity to teach people about prevention of HIV/AIDS in the town of Mgbala Agwa in South Eastern Nigeria.

Nduka Ozur is the founder and co-ordinator of Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum, a community-based organisation that uses football and books to tackle the problem of HIV/AIDS.

Nduka established MAYF because he was worried about the rising death rate in the town of Mgbala Agwa in South Eastern Nigeria. ‘I am attending a funeral this weekend for someone who died of AIDS-related disease,’ he tells me.

He decided to focus on educating young people because ‘they are the most active and the most vulnerable.’ He points out that if the youth is destroyed, the whole community will suffer.

Poverty is rife in Mgbala Agwa and access to basic facilities like health and education is limited. UNAIDS states that HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria currently stands at 5.8% but could increase rapidly. ‘Initially people did not understand what HIV/AIDS was about.

“Some people thought that I was trying to expose their extra-marital affairs! I wanted to abandon the idea, but I am talking about my own people, I have a social responsibility.” While Nduka admits that has been frustrating at times, it is never an option to quit.

MAYF initially set up a library with literature on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. “The Community Library is for youths and rural users. We have over 50,000 books and CDs. The library is an invaluable way for people to learn about AIDS and in turn share information with their peers. Unfortunately illiteracy means that the library is not accessible to all.”

This is where football comes in. “Through football, we address nearly all the community and reach people that would not otherwise have sought information.” MAYF members are on hand to talk about HIV/AIDS while people cheer on their teams.

Since the first event in 2001, the football match has become a successful annual event, pulling large crowds. “The winners of the competition don’t matter, but hopefully we’ll kick the virus out.”

football1

“MAYF is not a one man thing!” Nduka jokes. It has an executive body and over 150 members. Netaid online volunteers also support MAYF by collecting books for the library and researching funding for new programmes.

“Catch Them Young”, MAYF’s latest project, targets children aged 6-15. ‘Our aim is to educate children on the dangers of unprotected sex. We want to preach abstinence.’ There is no money for contraception and anti-retro viral drugs here.

We are talking online because I couldn’t get through to Nduka on the phone. His internet café is closing. I ask him what keeps him going? “‘To hear people discuss HIV/AIDS. To see my members become more productive young people with hopes, contributing to the community.”

“It is my dream to have every youth here participate”. Nduka is determined not to let HIV/AIDS win in Mgbala Agwa.

Posted in campaigns, football, village life, volunteering | No Comments »

Fundraiser at the Q Bar in London

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

By Fatima Kola, MAYF
2nd November 2004

The Q Bar in London is opening exclusively on Wednesday, 11th February 2004 for a fundraising party to benefit the development of the HIV/AIDS library in Nigeria.

The party is being hosted by a number of University of London intercollegiate societies, including the UCL Law and Economics Societies, UCLACS and the SOAS Law Society.

Julian Johnson has kindly donated his time and expertise to promote and organise the event, with the aid of the UCL/SOAS Fundraising Team for Mgbala Agwa.

Tickets are on sale in advance and at the door, with prices to be announced. All tickets will, however, be priced at under £10. To purchase tickets, please contact Fatima Kola.

Posted in fundraiser, volunteering | No Comments »

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