Liberia: VEFIL’s volunteers participate in Walt’s Waltz mental health training

Five volunteers of the Vulnerable Empowerment Foundation International Liberia (VEFIL), a non-governmental organization, are participating in a 4-day online mental health training. Walt’s Waltz, an international organization based in the United States, is conducting the training. Walt’s Waltz was founded by Susan Crooks.

The volunteers including Project Supervisor, Fredrick P. W. Gaye, Treasurer, Amelia, IT Specialist Zawu Y. Duyann, Web Master Elijah Neh Bowyah, Jr. and Eric Howard. They all registered for the training through the instrumentality of VEFIL’s CEO, Mr. John Duco.

During the first day of the training on Thursday, May 20, 2021, the volunteers were introduced as the first international partners for Walt’s Waltz.

Presenters of Thursday’s session included: Chip Meyer and Pamelia Wolf, who taught on exploring wellness strategies in Mental Health. Some of the topics covered include: Role of the Immune System, How Stress Can activate immune system, How to control stress and diet as well as exercise that help to control stress.

The objectives of the training include: to review the immune system and understand how it affects physical and mental health, share wellness tips to improve physical and mental health, and explore ways to practice wellness.

Following the training, Zawu Duyann thanked the CEO and other organizers of the training. Zawu expressed how important was the training to them and appealed for more.

The training continues on May 21, 24, and 28, 2021

Profile of Fredrick P. W. Gaye,

Project Supervisor

BA, Mass Communication and Sociology, Mr. Gaye is passionate of working with humanitarian groups. For many years, he has been with NGOs providing services to vulnerable people in Liberia and neighboring countries. He worked with Global Call to Action Against Poverty (G-CAP-Liberia) and other organizations that pushed for 25% of the national budget to health, in accordance with MDGs.

In February 2014, he participated in the Africa Water Association (AfWA) 17th Congress in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as a member of the Liberia WASH Reporters & Editors Network (WASH).

In September 2011, Mr. Gaye was invited by MTN in South Africa to cover a Highway Africa Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.