Working with the Government

It was a busy but fruitful day today. I met with the wife of the Executive Governor of Abia State, two Commissioners and the Special advisor to the Governor on Project Implementation at an event organised by the Government to give food to some rehabilitation centres in Abia State.

I was able to appeal to the wife of the Governor to improve the terrible condition of the road to Amaudo. I was delighted to have been assured that the Governor will award the construction contract for a new road soon. We look forward to work beginning!

The Wife of the Governor also gave Amaudo 30 bags of 25kg rice, 10 tins of tomatoes and 1 bag of beans. This is a great relief to me considering the cost of food stuffs in Nigeria at the moment.

Moreover, the Government acknowledged the work of Amaudo in the State and pledged their support. We keep placing Amaudo on the table of the Government for attention.

Kenneth update: 17 October 2024

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

Staff Training

The Amaudo Staff training on mental health was successfully conducted yesterday 31st July 2024. The topic was "Understanding common mental health problems and skills for rehabilitation". 37 staff participated. 10 new staff who have not attended any previous mental health training participated. By the end of the day the new staff had a better understanding of different mental illnesses, their symptoms and how to support the residents.

The older staff improved their knowledge of mental health issues and rehabilitation skills. All the staff were motivated by the training. They were thankful to Amaudo UK for funding the staff training.

Kenneth update: 1 August 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

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

Newsletters 2023

Our first newsletter of 2023 is out now. You can download it now as we look back on all you helped us to achieve in 2022 and all we are working towards in 2023.

If you would like to subscribe and receive newsletters by email please contact the office

January 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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