Life Long Learning Webinar Series, with Will Thomas

Our focus as an organisation is providing access to education for all children everywhere. The partners and teachers we work with are doing amazing work across the globe. We are trialling ways to share some of this learning so it’s available to an ever-widening audience. Introducing the Life Long Learning Webinar Series.

Our Life Long Learning Webinar Series starts on the 9th September with

A short introduction to Trauma-informed Practice with Will Thomas

We are living in the strangest of times, some of our coping mechanisms have been tested to the limits over the last few months. As educators, parents, students and just human beings, we have adjusted, mostly we have found our own rhythm and a new way of embracing life but what about the trauma brought about by COVID19?

How do we feel? Who do we talk to?

What is trauma?
Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences. It does not discriminate and it is pervasive throughout the world. 

While there are no objective criteria to evaluate which events will cause post-trauma symptoms, circumstances typically involve the loss of control, betrayal, abuse of power, helplessness, pain, confusion and/or loss. The event need not rise to the level of war, natural disaster, nor personal assault to affect a person profoundly and alter their experiences. Traumatic situations that cause post-trauma symptoms vary quite dramatically from person to person. Indeed, it is very subjective and it is important to bear in mind that it is defined more by its response than its trigger.

During this time of the COVID19 pandemic one thing that we can be certain of is that trauma is affecting many people across the globe. Will Thomas with his experience of working in the UK and Internationally has put together some tips that may help us all to cope with these challenging times.

A short introduction to Trauma-informed Practice


Aimed primarily at practitioners who work with people who have experienced emotional trauma, this short introduction covers some of the basics and may also be of benefit to those dealing with personal trauma.


There has been a groundswell of understanding about how the human nervous system responds to abuse, neglect and traumatising experiences, in recent years. The result is a very strong evidence base for understanding how trauma is created and how it can be treated and supported. This short webinar will help you understand something of the nature of trauma, how it can be treated using somatic-psychotherapeutic approaches and what can practically be done in non-clinical settings to support people with trauma.


Register Here:


https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trauma-informed-coaching-life-long-learning-webinar-series-tickets-118660754511


At the Foundation we have been talking about ways in which we can support each other to cope with this everchanging environment and we have been sharing ideas with our colleagues, partners, parents and students too.


We think this is a timely and important webinar to start off our Life Long Learning Webinar Series and we hope you do too.


In the meantime, here are some articles we hope maybe of interest to you:


Eight ways to help children prepare


https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/28/how-parents-can-prepare-their-children-for-going-back-to-school


Listening grandmothers



I recently followed up a BBC World Service programmme that a friend heard in the middle of the night on 'Listening grandmothers' - very interesting. A bit on the model of the Chinese 'Barefoot Doctor' but less medical, this is a means developed in Zimbabwe to help people with depression who have few alternative sources of help. Amid successive traumas, Zimbabwe's 16m people have only 12 psychiatrists. The scheme is called 'The Friendship Bench', is free, and involves some 400 grandmothers in talk therapy with depressed people. The therapy is 'rooted in evidence-based therapy but equally rooted in indigenous concepts'. Proved to be effective though a randomised controlled trial, the concept is translatable to other settings, and there are Friendship Benches in deprived areas of New York. If you are interested, here is an account of it:


https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181015-how-one-bench-and-a-team-of-grandmothers-can-beat-depression


Cultivating Girls resilience by Dr Kathy Weston

Read the article on page 8 of the latest edition of Engage.


https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/engage

The Steve Sinnott Foundation • September 3, 2020

Empowering Student Voices: Young Ambassadors Champion Inclusive Education for All

By Ann Beatty • October 13, 2025
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner. 

Seeds of Hope 2025: Young People Planting Peace and Sustainability Around the World

By Ann Beatty • October 3, 2025
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025

Teachers Advance in Guidance and Counselling Training in The Gambia

By Ann Beatty • August 18, 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.