After three years of learning, reflection and personal growth, 17 volunteers from the Anglican Northern Region Diocese have been commissioned as facilitators under the Sharing Education and Learning for Life (SELL) Programme, taking on a renewed responsibility to use their knowledge and experience to inspire positive change among young people and in their communities.
The volunteers, who have successfully completed training in all six SELL units, were commissioned on 23 August 2026 at St. Andrew’s Church in Mzuzu City following a four-day pre-commissioning training conducted at Ungweru Organisation. The milestone marked more than the completion of a training programme; it represented a transition from learners to facilitators, mentors and role models equipped to share knowledge, guide young people and contribute to community transformation.
Speaking during the pre-commissioning training, Isaac, a SELL facilitator and Team Leader for the Youth Development Unit at Ungweru Organisation, said the commissioning demonstrates the importance of investing in people who can take knowledge beyond the training room and into communities.
“Today marks an important milestone in your journey, but remember that commissioning is not the end, it is the beginning of a greater responsibility. You have been equipped with knowledge and skills through all six SELL units, and now it is your turn to take that knowledge to others. Go into your communities with confidence, humility and commitment. Listen to young people, walk with them, encourage them and be the positive role models they need. The impact of SELL will not only be measured by what you have learned, but by the lives you will touch and the positive changes you will help create,” said Isaac.
Isaac calling on volunteers to be positive role models for young people in their communities
The four-day pre-commissioning training provided the volunteers with an opportunity to revisit the lessons covered throughout their three-year journey while reflecting on how the programme has influenced their lives and interactions with others. Through group discussions and experience-sharing, the volunteers shared practical experiences, challenges and lessons from their engagement with young people. They also explored Care for the Earth, stewardship and caring for others, helping them understand that their role extends beyond facilitating sessions to becoming responsible members of their communities.
Volunteers engaging in group discussions during pre-commissioning training
For Lilian Mungulu, one of the commissioned SELL volunteers, completing all six units has been a journey of personal growth that has changed how she understands her role in supporting young people.
“SELL has changed the way I look at young people and the way I engage with them. I have gained knowledge, but more importantly, I have learned how to listen, guide and encourage others. Being commissioned gives me a greater responsibility because I now have to take what I have learned and make a difference in the lives of other young people,” said Mungulu.
Lilian speaks of how SELL programme has changed the way she looks at young people and engage with them
The volunteers also reflected on the importance of mentorship and positive role modelling. They were encouraged to see themselves not merely as people who deliver programme content, but as individuals who can walk alongside young people, listen to their concerns, help them make informed decisions and create environments where they feel supported to learn and grow.
The commissioning ceremony, presided over by Father Anthony Chimphanda, formally recognised the volunteers’ completion of the six SELL units and their readiness to take on greater responsibility. Father Chimphanda has played an important role in promoting and supporting the introduction of the SELL Programme within the Anglican Church, making his presence at the commissioning an important reflection of the growing partnership between the Anglican Northern Region Diocese and Ungweru Organisation.
Addressing the newly commissioned volunteers, Father Anthony Chimphanda reminded them that completing the SELL training was not simply an achievement to celebrate, but a call to serve and make a difference in the lives of others.
“The commissioning of these volunteers is a testimony that when we invest in people, we invest in the future of our communities. You have been equipped with knowledge and skills through all six SELL units, and the responsibility now rests with you to take this knowledge beyond this ceremony and into your communities. Go out there and be a source of hope, guidance and positive change for the young people you serve,” said Father Anthony Chimphanda.
Fr. Anthony Chimphanda posing with the commissioned SELL volunteers as he reminds them to serve and make a difference in their various communities
For Ungweru Organisation, the commissioning demonstrates how sustained investment in community volunteers can create a ripple effect. When individuals are equipped with knowledge, confidence and practical skills, they can transfer those gains to others, allowing the impact of the programme to extend beyond the people who directly participate in the training.
The 17 newly commissioned volunteers now have an opportunity to put their learning into action by facilitating SELL sessions, mentoring young people and promoting positive values within their communities. Their three-year journey has equipped them with a foundation, their continued service will determine how far that knowledge travels.
The commissioning therefore marks a new beginning rather than an ending, one in which 17 trained volunteers move forward as ambassadors of learning, mentorship and positive change.
Through its continued partnership with the Anglican Northern Region Diocese, Ungweru Organisation remains committed to strengthening young people and communities by building the capacity of individuals who can inspire others and sustain positive change from within their own communities.