English Lessons
One of our consultants, Sarah Hale, who joined us this year, has began teaching English to members of our partner organisations. Sarah is a native English speaker and did her degree in English Language & Linguistics so has a wealth of tips and guidance for both spoken and written English. The sessions are held at least once a week, often twice, via a virtual online platform so everyone can still benefit from the lessons even whilst we are in coronavirus lockdown. The sessions consist of Sarah presenting a topic, for example elements of grammar or punctuation, followed by tasks she sets for smaller groups of attendees to complete in virtual breakout rooms, the answers to which are then discussed back in the main session. The aim of the classes is to improve English as a second language and to build attendees’ confidence in speaking and writing in English.
Capacity Building Programme – Sharjah (UAE)
One of our consultants, Dr Dung Jidong, attended a learning programme in Sharjah UAE hosted by PILL in 2018 and had the following comments: “The 2018 annual research capacity and capability building conference and training in Sharjah UAE was enlightening and inspiring. The conference was particularly beneficial for networking with other researchers from deferent countries. For example, an outcome from the Sharjah event facilitated a collaborative grant submission for a treatment intervention called Learning Through Play plus Culturally adapted Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy for depressed mothers in Kenya“.
DentMan GOHF
DentMan GOHF (Global Oral Health Forum) It is a platform for the Oral Health Practitioners (students and staff) to share and reflect their global health volunteering experiences with others and to inspire future volunteers. MGF is closely associated with these activities. Rupal Shah has continued to be an adviser for the students on volunteering matters.
DentMan GOLF (Global Online Learning Forum): An educational online platform where our academics and clinicians from Manchester share their knowledge and skills voluntarily with global partners particularly from low- and middle-income countries. Initially, it started with Sri Lanka but now four other countries have joined our programme. MGF as a supporting partner for GOLF project by providing input and expertise.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis, our Foundation has been awarded £15k from Kathleen Hannay Memorial Charity to provide emotional/mental wellbeing support to vulnerable mothers with complex needs in North East London. We are focusing on BAME mothers given our earlier work and experience with this particular demographic, as well as evidence from the latest review by Public Health England which has reported BAME groups to be at ‘much greater risk’ of dying from Coronavirus compared to white British groups.
Through the “Maternal Health and Wellbeing Support” project in England, we would like to achieve the following: (1) work with BAME mothers during their pregnancy and early motherhood to improve their confidence, assertiveness and self-esteem; (2) explore aspects of their lifestyle which may be adapted or changed in order to achieve improved sense of well-being e.g. social support, goal setting, physical activity and diet – highlighting the importance of self-care; (3) improve mother-baby bonding and break the cycle of poor emotional development in infants; and (4) address the increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness reported as a result of the pandemic.