Gede Foundation is delighted to inform our readers that the 6-month research contract that Gede signed with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nigeria/ Sustainable Mechanisms for Improved Livelihoods and Household Empowerment (SMILE) project in May 2016 has now moved to the community.

The project is focused on delivering an approach to community based detection, treatment and referral services for vulnerable children with mental health and psychosocial problems and their caregivers. As our regular readers will know, there was a 3-day training on Data Validation conducted by Dr. Brandon Kohrt in July. Sequel to this, Gede’s team met with CRS-SMILE’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on August 2, 2016 to discuss an important milestone which is the move to the community.

The aims of the meeting were, (i) to present the project to the CSO representatives; (ii) to secure their support for the project in line with their commitment to the SMILE programme; and (iii) to discuss logistics for recruitment of respondents and preparations in the community.

Present in the meeting were Dr. Cynthia Ticao, Mr. Godwin Etim, Ms. Jeremy Boglosa from Gede Foundation; Mr. Joseph Inyang (Senior Programme Manager for CRS-SMILE) and representatives from the following CSOs: Elohim Foundation, Catholic Action Committee Against Aids (CACA), Justice Development and Peace Commission, and Society for Community Development.