Christmas is just a couple of days away and, as always, I can’t believe the year is almost over. Looking back over the year’s blogs highlights all the many varied and incredible things that have happened in 2016.
At the end of last year, I said that I felt 2015 was a year that made us, Beyond Ourselves, feel established, that amongst other things we felt settled in the right position. And I think this year has proven what can happen when you have that strong foundation and are poised for what is ahead (and make a great plan with some focused strategic goals – oh and have some blessing and favour from God too!).
So much has happened this year but here are some of the things (in blogs) that make me smile the most (in no particular order!):
It has been both a heartache and a joy to be able to deliver some much needed sexual health education at all the schools this year and to know that this could truly empower the pupils to make wise, informed and bold choices now and in to their future. Alongside this it was exciting, after almost two years of researching, planning and crafting, to distribute the re-usable sanitary packs to the girls and women in our communities. It’s incredible such a small thing will make such a huge difference in someone’s life!
At the end of last year, I said that I felt 2015 was a year that made us, Beyond Ourselves, feel established, that amongst other things we felt settled in the right position. And I think this year has proven what can happen when you have that strong foundation and are poised for what is ahead (and make a great plan with some focused strategic goals – oh and have some blessing and favour from God too!).
So much has happened this year but here are some of the things (in blogs) that make me smile the most (in no particular order!):
It has been both a heartache and a joy to be able to deliver some much needed sexual health education at all the schools this year and to know that this could truly empower the pupils to make wise, informed and bold choices now and in to their future. Alongside this it was exciting, after almost two years of researching, planning and crafting, to distribute the re-usable sanitary packs to the girls and women in our communities. It’s incredible such a small thing will make such a huge difference in someone’s life!
Another joy this year has been seeing the teachers and head teachers at each of our partner schools become more confident in their skills and roles. As we keep the goal of the schools being professionally and educationally sustainable at the forefront of our minds, this encourages us to keep investing in the teachers through mentoring, training and workshops, so that we work ourselves out of a job!
The fruit of this investment was highlighted at the recent Grade 7 days when the schools took full responsibility for organising and delivering the days at each of the schools, something we as a Beyond Ourselves team have always done in previous years.
We have also had the opportunity to invest in the very wonderful kitchen staff at the schools as well, by running a kitchen workshop sharing best practice, ideas and nutrition training. (Check out Joyce’s smile in the background of this picture!)
The final smile is when I think of the partnerships we are making for developing social enterprises and businesses in the communities so that they are impacted economically and the schools journey towards financial sustainability. By exploring Mama Mimis and working closely with our friend Oscar Mwila we are investigating various business opportunities which we hope to see succeed over this coming year.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible support from so many people. Thank you for journeying with us through 2016. These successes are as much yours as they are ours. I hope they made you smile too.
Merry Christmas!
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