Reuniting Families
2 residents Chima and Chioma from Abia State were recently reunited with their families following a stay at Amaudo’s residential centre. Bothe families were delighted to have their relative home.
As part of the repatriation process both families received training about mental health issues and information about the support available. Their fears and doubts were addressed to ensure that they were willing and confident to accept and support their family member. They were put in touch with their local psychiatric nurse who will provide follow up services and be on hand if needed .
Chioma's family members were extremely happy to see her again alive because they had been searching for her for many months and reported as missing to the police because of her disappearance from home.
5 September 2024
Autumn Newsletter
You can download a copy of our lates newsletter here. If you would like to subscribe to receive our newsletters by email please contact the office.
29th November 2023
Going Home
Amaudo’s 2023 Amaudo discharge service will take place on 2nd December. 19 residents will be returning home to their families and communities in time for Christmas. All of them were living on the streets and experiencing chronic mental health conditions. They came to Amaudo where they underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation process, their families were found and they are all well enough to go home with support from their local mental health nurses.
We wish them well on their journey.
12th November 2023
World Mental Health Day
Amaudo celebrated World Mental Health Day with people with lived experience, especially those with mental health needs undergoing rehabilitation at Amaudo. They were assured that they were not alone in their struggles.
“We commend the Mental Health Department, Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, for collaborating with Amaudo to mark the 2023 World Mental Health Day with the theme ‘Mental Health is a Human Right’”. (Rev Kenneth)
10 October 2023
Happy Birthday Ros
Today marks the 70th birthday of our founder Ros ‘Nkechi’ Colwill. To celebrate this milestone Ros has launched a birthday fundraiser for Amaudo. We wish her a very happy birthday with many more to come.
18th April 2023
Our Spring Newsletter is here
Our second newsletter of 2023 is now out.
You can download a copy here. If you would like to subscribe to receive our newsletters by email please contact the office
April 2023
Do it for Amaudo 2023
Our 2023 funderaising kicks off with trustee Liuna undertaking a Patagonia hike. In January Liuna will be flying out with friends for her week long hiking expedition. We wish her the very best of luck.
If you’re in the UK you can support Liuna via justgiving
If you’re outside of the UK please use Liuna’s gofundme page
If you are a UK taxpayer and would like to Gift Aid your donation please complete a gift aid declaration
January 2023
Christmas at Amaudo
It was a joyful day at Amaudo as residents, staff, and children from the local community all celebrated Christmas together. There was music, entertainment, food and drinks. The annual Christmas event is sponsored by Amaudo UK in recognition of the amazing work all involved with Amaudo Itumbauzo do throughout the year.
25th December 2022
Update: Education Hostel Block
The nurses hostel is nearly finished!
Thousands of student nurses have visited Amaudo over the years to learn about mental health. Up until now many of them have had to sleep on the floor but soon they will have a dedicated space to stay. Looking forward to the new year when the first group will come and visit.
9th December 2022
Education Hostel Block at Amaudo1
Amaudo Itumbauzo hosts student nurses learning about mental health as part of their training. Currently, up to 50 nurses at a time come to Amaudo at least 3 times per year to learn about mental health. The nurses sleep in rows on the floor of various building around the compound. For many years Amaudo UK and Amaudo Itumbauzo have been trying to raise the funds necessary to build a new hostel block at Amaudo 1.
Recently, the Very Rev Kenneth heard that Amaudo Itumbauzo’s bid to the Bloom Foundation USA has been successful for full funding. They have already drawn up the plans and this week have signed a contract for the work to begin. It should be complete by February 2023.
The building will primarily be used to provide accommodation for the student nurses who come to Amaudo but it will also be used for other guests and groups visiting us.
We look forward to sharing more photos of this exciting project when we can.
September 2022
Mental Health Seminar for CPNs from Imo and Abia State
Amaudo just concluded a mental health training (25 August) for psychiatric nurses from Imo and Abia States.
The Training was on "the Atypical Psychotropic drugs" and Dr Obayi Okwudili a Consultant Psychiatrist from Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital was the main speaker. Dr Okwudili was very detailed in the training and many of the nurses asked questions and shared their experiences in the field. The nurse said after the training they felt motivated and empowered with new knowledge and skills in their work.
The Executive Secretary Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency attended the training together with a media team. In total there were 22 participants including 5 staff from Amaudo.
All the participants were thankful to Amaudo UK for funding the training
August 2022
Mental Health Seminar
The one-day retreat and Mental Health Training Seminar for Ministers of Methodist Church Nigeria in Uzuakoli Diocese was conducted from 29th to 30th July 2022. The retreat was themed "The role of the pastoral staff of the church in community mental health". The retreat training focused on engaging the pastoral staff of the church in identifying and referring their members who have mental health problems to the community mental health clinics or to Amaudo for treatment and rehabilitation. Forty-four participants including the new bishop, Rt Rev Dr James Alozie Anyawu, participated in the training. All the ministers slept at Amaudo in the night of 29th July and departed on 30th July. It was great achievement to bring the ministers many who have been newly posted to Uzuakoli Diocese to see Amaudo for the first time. Most of the ministers confessed that they were amazed at the residents who participated in community work like processing of garri.
The ministers ate in the newly refurbished dining hall (funded by Amaudo UK)
July 2022
Rev Kenneth and Dr Nwakanma a psychiatric doctor at Federal Medical Centre Umuahia during Amaudo’s regular radio program on mental health.
Radio Show
I am so excited today because an elderly woman visited me in the office at Umuahia and told me that she listened to the "Amaudo radio programme on mental health". Yesterday, we discussed the topic of "Supporting families and caregivers of people with mental health problems". The woman said that she had stopped giving her daughter, who had mental illness, her medication when she when she became stable after her treatment in a hospital. After some time her daughter relapsed and has been unwell for many years. But through the radio program yesterday she learned that it is wrong to stop giving medication to someone who has become mentally stable after treatment unless advised by the doctor, the drug has to be taken for a long time.
She got the address of Amaudo Liaison office and visited me this morning for further instructions and referral.
She has been booked to see the psychiatric nurse at Umuahia North clinic with her daughter on Thursday at 9.30 am.
I am so excited about the impact of the radio awareness and the boldness of the woman to look for Amaudo for assistance.
Very Rev Kenneth
June 2022
Mr Ndukwe and his family
Volunteering at Amaudo
Mr Ndukwe and his wife volunteered at Amaudo for 3 months ending on 30th May 2022. They are pictured with their children whom they brought to church at Amaudo and 2 residents (one male and one female) from the houses where they provided care. Mr and Mrs Ndukwe said that volunteering at Amaudo has changed their lives and changed their beliefs about mental illness and people who have mental health problems have changed.
June 2022
Stuck in the mud! The terrible roads around Amaudo.
Help Amaudo stay on the Road
Our fundraising drive this year is to replace the main centre vehicle. Every day Amaudo staff travel out to some of the remotest areas of Abia State and beyond. They work alongside local communities and medical facilities to promote mental health awareness and deliver services to thousands of people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as liaising with government departments. At eight years old, with a heavy workload and extremely bad roads the vehicle is now beyond its economic life.
A new vehicle will cost in excess of N26,000,000 which is close to £50,000! By part-exchanging the current vehicle and applying for different grants we have achieved three quarters of our target, but we still have some way to go.
We are aiming to raise £12,500 for the balance of the vehicle but we need your help. You can donate here.
June 2022
New mattresses for resident’s beds
Amaudo UK funding
We are so excited to have been able to fund new bed foams for all of the residents in Amaudo 1 and 2.
Residents arrive at Amaudo in the clothes they are wearing and nothing else. Many have been living on the streets for many months and have not been able to wash, eat regularly or have a good night’s sleep. Amaudo gives each one a room, fresh food, clean clothes and a bed. Thanks to your generosity we have been able to buy new mattresses for all the beds at Amaudo.
May 2022
Hearing resident’s stories
Student Nurses
2022 has been extremely busy at Amaudo with many cohorts of student nurses spending time with us. For many years Amaudo has been hosting nursing students as part of their course. Providing training in mental health skills and giving student nurses the opportunity to observe our projects. Here you can see one of our most recent events when nurses listened to residents share their stories.
March 2022
Christmas party time!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from Rev Kenneth, Director of Amaudo, Itumbauzo
“Christmas activities at Amaudo concluded on 26th December. Residents and staff enjoyed good food and Christmas gifts both at Amaudo 1 and 2. Our goat farm provided us with a wonderful Christmas meal and we were blessed with the additions of 2 male goats born during Christmas.
Children from the community also came to Amaudo for the Christmas party and they were presented with Christmas gifts. The Christmas day service was glorious as we sang the Christmas hymns and worshiped together. It is very commendable that staff stay with residents during Christmas and make the Amaudo Community lively and happy.”
January 2022
Going home for Christmas
Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and all the additional impacts of lockdown, we are delighted to report that this year's discharge ceremony at Amaudo Itumbauzo was still able to go ahead.
Twenty residents who have completed the rehabilitation process were reunited with their families in time for Christmas. This would not have been possible without the dedication of the very Rev Kenneth and his wonderful team and the support that you have all given. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
December 2021
Amaudo - Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation
We are delighted to announce that Amaudo Itumbauzo is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Nigeria which is similar to the Charity Commission in the UK. We are hopeful that this process will open up new funding streams within Nigeria and increase the opportunities to collaborate with others. The Board agreed that the name should be altered to "Amaudo - Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation". The name change reflects the continuing commitment to work on mental health needs but also to consider the wider context of mental health and to for community solutions
November 2021
Helping Hands Graduation
The Helping Hands school was set up in 1996 in the local village of in Mbukwa, very close to Amaudo Okopedi. It provides free primary education for around 100 children from surrounding villages.
Many schools in Nigeria expect parents to pay in order for their children to attend school however, in this poor area, it lead to uncertainty for the children and the teachers: if the class sizes drop so to does school income, which in turn impacts on the ability of the school to pay the teachers’ salaries. Five years ago Amaudo committed to funding the teachers’ salaries and provide free education for the children. With your support we have been able to pay the salaries and provide a level of financial security to our wonderful teachers and continuity to our young students.
These pictures show 8 lovey pupils from the Helping Hands School who graduated from primary school today.
August 2021
Eke’s Journey
During the community mental health outreach programme at Arochukwu, Eke was seen by Amaudo team wandering around the market place. He wore clothes he had made with sack bags and he was very disorientated. The community knew him well and were able to tell us where his family lived. We visited his relatives and gained their approval to take him to Amaudo’s centre for some support and rehabilitation.
He is one of many examples of people who have mental health problem who are abandoned because of misinformation and stigmatisation.
Amazingly, Eke is now at Amaudo sitting outside and viewing the peaceful and caring community where he is loved and cared for. His mental health has improved and he is participating in the every day life at the Centre. We hope to be able to resettle him home soon.
13th July 2021
Our new Cassava Processing Plant
Amaudo continues to be a community where we work together.
Once residents become mentally stable they join in the daily activities which contribute to the running of Amaudo such as cassava processing. Contributing to community life, and being supported to do this, is an essential part of recovery at Amaudo. Learning these new skills is something they take back to their families and communities upon discharge and enables them to fully participate in every day life once they return home.
At the beginning of the year Amaudo UK was able to fund a new Cassava processing machine. Thank you to everyone who participated in the virtual quiz and other fundraising activities.
5th July 2021
The Very Rev Kenneth and Kate Lumley
Our host at BCA
Amaudo Radio Show II
There have now been 15 episodes of the weekly Amaudo Radio show. Yesterday our very own CEO Kate Lumley was a special guest on Very Rev Kenneth’s weekly radio show on mental health issues. Together with local government representatives they discussed the importance of collaboration in mental health delivery. Kenneth shared how Amaudo supports people experiencing mental health challenges in the community. Kate went on to talk about how and why people should support Amaudo and their vital mental health work.
On a previous episode the Very Rev Kenneth’s special guest was a member of a self-help support group at Amaudo. Mental Health in Nigeria is still hugely stigmatized, yet this brave young woman
was willing to discuss her personal experiences.
The Very Kenneth has our deep admiration for creating opportunities for people to, both privately and publicly, stand up and speak about their experiences in a safe and welcoming space.
There are 9 more episodes scheduled in this radio series.
21st June 2021
Student Nurses at their Amaudo placement
Student Nurse Training
This month Amaudo hosted a group of Student Nurses from the Federal School of Psychiatric Nursing in Calabar. They came to stay at Amaudo for two weeks to learn about mental health issues. They lived alongside residents and staff and participated in daily life at Amaudo 1.
16th May 2021
The Amaudo Radio Show
The radio has proved to be an excellent means of sharing information about mental health issues in Abia State. The Very Reverend Kenneth, Amaudo’s Director, has a long history of promoting mental wellbeing and Amaudo’s work with the help of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State in Umuahia (BCA).
At the beginning of 2021, Amaudo UK provided a grant to enable Very Reverend Kenneth to broadcast a dedicated radio show every Monday to discuss different aspects of mental health.
The series was launched on March 15th with a show covering the Origin, Vision and Mission of Amaudo. Subsequent shows have covered Amaudo’s work in more depth as well as discussing the stigma and discrimination experienced by facing people with mental health needs.
The initial grant funded 24 one-hour radio shows. Our goal is to extend the series to the end of the year and hopefully beyond.
7th May 2021
Delivering Mental Health Awareness Training
The first training event in our newly refurbished conference centre took place in March 2021. The training was delivered by Dr Chijioke Nwakanma, a Consultant Psychiatrist, with the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia on the theme “The role of the church in mental health care and Advocacy”. There were 86 participants including Rt Rev O C Chiemeka and his wife.
Some ministers expressed their happiness for attending the event and confirmed that the training has changed their mind-set about mental illness. Before the training they believed mental illness was only for the destitute on the street. Other ministers reported that they felt empowered by the training to support those members of their churches who may have a mental health issue and to refer them to the nearest community mental health clinic for proper treatment.
24th March 2021
Keeping Amaudo Safe in Covid Times
In June 2020 the Joffe Foundation were generous enough to award Amaudo a grant to help with the unexpected costs of the Covid-19 pandemic
The grant covered the cost of PPE for Amaudo staff. Facemasks, hand sanitiser, gloves, thermometers and detergents were all purchased and used by Amaudo staff as part of the Covid-19 Safety Policy to ensure that staff and vulnerable services users were protected as much as possible.
Full lockdown with restricted movement made working out in rural communities almost impossible and service users have continued to find it challenging to engage with services due to continued curfews and expensive transport costs. Once restrictions were lifted, escalating costs left many people struggling to buy basic necessities such as food
With the Joffe Foundation grant, Amaudo was also able to distribute food items (rice, beans and noodles) to members of the local community and project users such as members of Amaudo’s Self Help Groups and families whose children are clients of Project Comfort.
The final part of the grant was used to ensure that Amaudo’s water system was running well so that all staff and residents at the centres would have access to water for handwashing. Taps were fixed, buckets purchased, and fuel was brought in to keep the water pumps running.
13 January 2021
LEGO Fun
In December 2019, our CEO of Amaudo UK, was able to deliver a LEGO ‘Six Bricks’ session with the Headteacher, staff and children from the Helping Hands School. Kate said, “It was fascinating to see that the adults had no idea what to do with the pile of LEGO bricks. However they learnt quickly from the kids who had no reservations about having a go. Once everyone was comfortable with how the bricks connected we carried out some exercises to demonstrate how the teachers could use it to develop skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving”. Thank you LEGO Foundation for providing all the LEGO!
17 January 2020
Free Mobile Mental Health Clinics
2018 saw the launch of Amaudo’s free mobile mental health clinic. During the year three areas benefited from the one-off clinic which was staffed by community psychiatric nurses, a psychiatrist, a pharmacist, a counsellor, general nurses and Amaudo’s team of experienced mental health-workers.
In the run up to each event it was publicised on the radio and throughout local communities by traditional leaders and church groups. A month before the event a team of fieldworkers were recruited and tasked with identifying families that would benefit from the service and, once identified, they worked with these families in the run up and on the day to support them in accessing the services they required.
Across the three events almost 200 people received care and most people we referred on to their local Community Mental Health Clinic for further treatment and support. Wider messages about mental health were distributed across communities and Government Health officials, local leaders and the press all gave their support on the day. Amaudo aims to hold six of these in events in 2019.
15 January 2019