Mini Seminar: Career Development

Hi folks! Sorry this post has been rather a long time coming. On Friday the 15th of July, Felicia Ashley spoke to our mentees about Career Development. It being the last Mini Seminar of the term, we had some Form 1s join us in order for them to get a taste of what they'd be doing next year.

Felicia's objectives were to help mentees:

• Get thinking a lot more about what they want in life.
• Clarify your values as individuals
• Begin a process of self exploration
• Find the right resources that will assist in career development.

First of all, we discussed what career development is, and found that a career is not necessarily something that's constructed on a one-time basis, but through a series of decisions we make throughout our lives.

Felicia focused a lot on finding ways to answer the question "Who are you?". This is the starting point as a fulfilling career must be based and developed taking into account an individual's interests, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, values, abilities, etc. Knowing who you are and what you stand for might automatically lead you to certain career paths or away from others.

Most importantly, remember to seek out the purpose for which you were made. The One who created us knows us best, and it's important that we keep praying to be led in the right direction. God is the greatest counsellor. Speak to Him first.

Remember: the world is your oyster. Experience as much as you can now while you're young with (relatively) few responsibilities. Don't be picky - don't limit yourself to certain activities, try your hand at as much as you can. Sometimes, you won't know you enjoy something until you've tried. Keep your options open and have fun exploring them!

Check out pictures of this Mini Seminar on our Facebook page (and don't forget to like us if you haven't already)!

Mini Seminar: Personal Finance

On Friday, Nana Gyesie gave a Mini Seminar on Personal Finance: A Student's Guide to Financial Independence.

He started off with a very brief introduction to Databank and our 'LEap HIgh' value system; Leadership, Excellence, Humility and Integrity, and what that means to individuals as part of the firm. He spoke about Databank's vision and how our resources can help build wealth, manage and track financial progress.

We then had a discussion about why it's important to invest and how it can be more beneficial to invest rather than save.

Most importantly, we talked about how it's possible for anyone, no matter how much money they have to begin with, to invest. Simple things like cutting down on things like soft drinks, mobile credit and leisure activities mean that we can all put aside a little money to invest.

As the saying goes, "look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves". The time is now!

Pictures of this Mini Seminar (and others) are up on our Facebook page... have a look at them here!

Mini Seminar: Gender & Development

Feels like a very long time since we last had a Mini Seminar. On Friday (17th June) Professor Ampofo led our session on Gender & Development. As you can probably imagine, it was a highly interactive seminar with lots of debate.

We were accompanied by Ofowaah Boateng of Databank Reasearch and Michael Opare-Darkwah from Databank Legal and Compliance Office. They were on hand to offer support to Professor Ampofo and answer any questions.

We started off by stating exactly what is meant by gender and development, and why when it is mentioned, people often (incorrectly) think it concerns only women's issues.

We discussed factors that create gender inequality across a range of different situations; religious views, society's expectations, roles within the home, etc. It was interesting how the views from males often differed from females... Joseph in particular said a few things that turned out to be controversial!

All in all it was a highly informative session that was enjoyed immensely by all. We'd like to say a big thank you to Professor Ampofo, Ofowaah and Michael for taking time out to attend the session.

Pictures of the seminar are up on our Facebook page, click here to check them out.

Mini Seminar: Sex Sense

On Friday, Ben Ahunu took our second Mini Seminar of the term. It was a highly interactive session that was not only informative but enjoyed by all. Mr. Ahunu structured his talk on the first five books of the Bible. I'll briefly run through the main points of each.

Genesis: It is not good for man to be alone
Man was created as a social being; relationships are not only important, they are necessary. There are two kinds of relationship each man is required to have - a relationship with God and a relationship with man. People (or things) can't replace the part God is meant to fill in our lives and vice versa. Relationships must be build and maintained.

Exodus: It was not so from the beginning
This part of the discussion addressed certain paradigms that need to be set right. Remember; paradigms are the beliefs, viewpoints, ways of thinking etc we hold that shape the way we see the world. Some inaccurate paradigms are:

1. Some men were made for men and some women for women
2. Relationships with the opposite sex must be sexual
3. Love=Sex
4. Young people cannot abstain from pre-marital sex
5. Using a condom makes pre-marital sex ok

As Sean Covey said, "When you have incomplete [or inaccurate] perceptions about yourself or life in general, it's like wearing glasses with the wrong perception. That lens will affect how you see everything else".

Leviticus: A Kingdom of Priests
Here, Mr. Ahunu outlined ways for 'Kingdom people' to form healthy relationships with people of the opposite sex. He mentioned that there are three levels of relating to other people. First we have those who mentor you (role models) - learn from them. Next we have friends - enjoy their companionship and share with them. Finally we have protégés, or those who learn from you - teach them but don't take advantage!

Numbers: When shall I?
Here we disused the ideal age - when is the best time in to 'zoom in' on a particular person for a relationship? Mr. Ahunu suggested that you're most likely to make the right choice in our late teens/tweens. That said, a more important factor than age is maturity. Are you physically, spiritually, mentally, socially and economically mature? These things are important especially considering that relationships are for the long term. Mr. Ahunu suggests that you don't engage in a relationship unless you're thinking about gettina married within the next 2 to 3 years.

Deuteronomy: What are the commandments?
This was the concluding section of our seminar, which was summed up with 10 rules - the 10 commandments of relationships if you like.

1. Find Your God-given purpose
2. Improve yourself
3. Have a clear mental sketch of the kind of person you want (negotiables vs non-negotiables)
4. Set S-M-A-R-T goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound)
5. Pray into the future
6. Decide to court and not just date
7. Resolve to abstain from pre-marital sex
8. Watch what you watch (& listen to)
9. Watch where you go
10. Watch what you touch and with what (declare boundaries & remember - hormones are not believers!!)
    

On behalf of everyone at the Foundation and indeed all involved in the YLMP, I'd like to say a huge thank you to Mr Ahunu for all his insights!

Mini Seminar: Overcoming negative peer pressure

On Friday we kicked off the term with a Mini Seminar about overcoming negative peer pressure. The session was aptly led by Terry Mante; CEO of PEDNET (Personal Development Network), author and social entrepreneur. Terry has written three books; Winning with Confidence, Attitude is Everything and most recently, It's a Big Deal.

The session began with an open question: What is peer pressure? We got a few responses; it was interesting to hear people's different takes on the issue. Terry's advice on dealing with negative peer pressure revolved around three main points:

1. Refuse to conform
2. Recognise the consequences [of your actions]
3. Realise your contribution

He pointed out that for the most part, the problems that arise from negative peer pressure do not stem from the pressure itself, but because of the person being pressured. If you know who you are and are confident within that, it becomes difficult for anyone to pressure you into doing something you wouldn't normally do. Don't be afraid to stay true to who you are, and always remember that you were created with a purpose!

If you'd like to know more about Terry Mante, you can follow him on Twitter or visit his blog.

Mini Seminar: Study Skills

On Friday we had our last Mini Seminar for the term - how time has flown! Hayford Ayerakwa spoke about study skills and how to make the most out of our learning/revision time. He based his presentation on Yaw Perbi's book A++, a copy of which he donated after he was done. We'll be adding that (and hopefully a few more) to your library once it's done. Here are some of the main points he raised (as usual, pictures can be found after the jump):

• You are responsible for your learning; be in charge!
• Plan your studies
  
• Thinking, planning and preparation are fundamental; they are worth all the time you can put into them
• The brain works on principles
• Learners do best in environments which are psychically and psychologically comfortable
• A series oh short study sessions is more beneficial than one long session
• Learners become better with practice. Adults learn best through practice and participation
• The more senses one uses in learning, they higher the probability of recall
• People learn best what they read, see, hear, say and do
• The brain must have time for things to soak in. Rest, review, note.
  
• Memory is increased when facts are associated with familiar things
  
• Learners learn best when they enjoy the learning experience
• Each learner is unique and has a unique learning style
• managing time means making good use of ever passing moment

Thanks so much to Hayford for all the insight he shared with us! Continue reading to see pictures of the session

Mini Seminar: The Pursuit of Happyness

On Friday we had our first ever Mini Seminar film show (pictures after the jump). We watched The Pursuit of Happyness, a film starring Will Smith and his son Jayden. It is inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who successfully established himself as a stockbroker despite being a single father battling homelessness. He later went on to set up his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner Rick & Co. Despite numerous preparations, we were still unable to shake of the technical issues bug - this time relating to very quiet speakers. We will get there! After obtaining a different set of speakers from the head office, we were finally able to continue. Because of time issues however, we were unable to spend much time on the discussion at the end. The film spoke volumes on its own though - the value of having a tenacious, determined spirit; of holding onto your dreams; of never giving up. As Chris said, "Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. Not even me. Alright? ... You got a dream... you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. You want something, go get it. Period."

Mini Seminar: Discovering and fulfilling your life mission

Last Friday (the 12^th of November), we had our first Mini Seminar of the year. It was, as you know, hosted by Harry McNinson who spoke on 'Discovering and Fulfilling your Life Mission'. Here's a sort clip (Note - the video will not show unless you have the latest version of Flash installed. Download it here):

Harry emphasised that although there are books that aim to help you discover your role/purpose/mission in life, these serve as only pointers. The only one who can really give you an insight as to why you are here on earth is the One who crated you. There is no real way around it. Like Harry said; the only way you'll know what a new invention is supposed to be used for is to hear from its inventor.

As he rightly pointed out, there are things you can do that will help you identify your life mission. Most important (after seeking spiritual answers) is to be open to opportunities. Never pass us the opportunity to try or learn something new because you never know where it will take you.

Finally, after having discovered your life mission, the next step is to fulfill it. Live it out. This, Harry explained, should not be difficult. Of course in life there are challenges and nothing is ever going to be simple from start to finish. But in fulfilling your life mission, you should find that things generally come easy. You are able to overcome challenges and you are filled with joy. If this is not the case, you might want to go back and ensure you're still on the right path. For more information, see the Discovering and Fulfilling Your Life Mission Cheat Sheet (your mentors should have a copy). Hit continue to see pictures. And don't forget to check out our Twitter page!

Mini Seminar: Career Development

Today, we had our last Mini Seminar for the 09/10 Programme. Albert Ankrah of Regent University and Hope Coalition International - a company he set up with his brother - lead the seminar. It was an exciting and interactive session that had all mentees involved at every stage.

The seminar was titled 'Fixing the Puzzle: Your career and you'. Mr Ankrah started off by asking various mentees what their parents did for a living. He followed by asking why they were in that profession, and whether they enjoyed it or not. He explained that although many people view finding the right career as a process that 'just happens' or that happens after some time in the workforce, it does not have to happen that way. Finding a career that is right for you is something we all have to take an active part in, and Mr Ankrah wanted to set each mentee on the path to finding theirs.

Mr Ankrah also stressed the importance of knowing oneself, and gave tips on how to discover 'hidden' talents. He ended with two - exercises the True Colour System, and the Successful Life Cycle. You can take the True Colour System (a tool designed to help you find a career suited to your personality traits) here.

Mini Seminar: The Power of Positive Thinking Pt. 2

On Friday we had our second to last Mini Seminar, The Power of Positive Thinking Part 2. Mr K. B. Nyantekyi Owusu led the Seminar again, opening with a brief run-through of what he had discussed in his previous session. He spoke of the importance of joy, hope, courage... of thoughts that make us feel good. Again he stressed the fact that it's not our circumstances or background that will determine our level of success, but the way we choose to see and think about certain things.

He then went to speak on ways to 'toughen up' mentally; on how to train your brain, as it were. It was a very practical talk that I'm sure all who attended benefited from in one way or another. He also spoke on memory, and how you can do simple everyday exercises to improve it. Thanks a lot Mr Nyantekyi for all your support of the Programme.

Our next (and last) Mini Seminar will be held on the 9th of July, when Albert Ankrah will be talking about career development. Hope to see you there!

Well done Black Stars!!!

Mini Seminar: The Road to Greatness

On Friday, Harry McNinson gave a highly motivating Mini Seminar on 'The Road to Greatness'. We'd like to commend our mentees for forgoing their Entertainment and our mentors (and speaker) for missing the opening game of the World Cup to be there.

Harry introduced his talk with a brief outline of his journey from a student at Kinbu to being the first student in his class (and possibly school) to go to university, to where he is now at Databank. He had no qualms about being real, sharing his struggles and mistakes as plainly as his joys and successes.

After this introduction, Harry launched into the meat of the seminar, detailing the steps one must take to get onto (and indeed to stay on) the Road to Greatness. He related a lot of this talk to his experiences at Kinbu (including a cheeky remark about an old teacher, much to the amusement of the students), making it especially relateable to all mentees present.

Go Black Stars!!

Mini Seminar coming up

Another quick message for all mentors! We have another Mini Seminar coming up on the 4th of June (now confirmed). This is the same day the Appraisal Forms are due. If you need to use the seminar to talk to your mentes, you may do so at the end. I will have copies with me on the day, so you don't need to worry about printing them out. As usual the seminar will take place in the assembly hall at Kinbu at 3pm. Harry McNinson, a Databank employee and former Kinbu student will be talking to the mentees to encourage and motivate them.

See you all next Friday!

Mini Seminar: The Power of Positive Thinking

As you might know, we had a mini seminar for mentees today (Friday 7th May) on the Power of Positive Thinking. The seminar was led by Mr K. B. Nyantekyi Owusu, a business consultant with a passion for the youth and youth development.

Unfortunately, we were unable to start at the allocated time, and many mentees left before we had a chance to speak with them. It was nonetheless a great seminar. Mr Owusu spoke with enthusiasm and purpose, first engaging the mentees by asking for their take on the words 'power', 'positive', and 'thinking'. From the answers he was given, you could tell Mr Owusu had already set his audience thinking. He went on to give an enlightening overview of how the power of thought affects our lives. The heart of the message was based around the idea "as a man thinketh, so is he".

After the seminar was over, we had a brief session for mentors to have a chat with their mentees.

As promised, you can find a short clip from the seminar below. For photos, see the previous post (or click here).

Mini Seminar: Personal Finance (Photos)

We're getting closer and closer to knowing what the budget will be for renovating the library (see here for information on where we're at so far). In the meantime, these are photos from a Mini Seminar on Personal Finance, which was held on the 12th of February by Asana Pegobelgo.

Mini Seminar: STIs, HIV/AIDS, & Sexual Abstinence

On the 12th of March, all mentees participated in a 'mini seminar' on STIS, HIV/AIDS, and sexual abstinence. Although we started off with a few glitches including technical problems, once we got going everything ran smoothly.

The seminar was led by Abyna
Ansaa-Adjei (better known to many as Madam), a lady with a special interest in seeing youth make the absolute most of their potential. She started off with an interactive demonstration, dividing mentees into three groups. Each mentee in group one was given four different pieces of coloured paper. They were asked to exchange these among themselves. Group two were asked to go around asking people their names, and to write them down. Group three were asked to write down where they would like to be in 10 years.

After this was done and everyone was settled back in their seats, representatives from each group explained what they had done to the rest of the group. Madam then explained the purpose of each exercise. For group one, the different colours represented different sexual partners. For group two, she illustrated how names written down showed how STIs can spread from person to person. Finally for group three, Madam asked various mentees to explain how contracting HIV/AIDS can prevent them from becoming the person they had described themselves as being in ten years.










After a lively start that engaged all present, it was time to get down to some serious business. From definitions to the social attitudes that allow sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS to run rife, Madam gave an informative talk that addressed it all.