Celebrating a successful year-end milestone in reshaping wellness at sea for cadets in Africa<\/p>\n
Global maritime welfare charity\u00a0Sailors\u2019 Society\u00a0and\u00a0ITF Seafarers\u2019 Trust\u00a0are celebrating the successful completion of their year-long transformative\u00a0partnership in Africa.<\/p>\n
Together, they have equipped more than 1,000 cadets and marine engineering students\u00a0through leading maritime institutions in Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Liberia,\u00a0Kenya\u00a0and South Africa with the tools they need to thrive at sea.<\/p>\n
The bespoke initiative, based on the Society\u2019s acclaimed and established Wellness at Sea programme, helps the next generation of African maritime prepare for their future careers by focusing on mental health, resilience, relationships, conflict management, piracy\u00a0awareness\u00a0and overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n
Sara Baade, CEO of Sailors\u2019 Society, said: \u201cWith Africa\u2019s maritime expansion, it is even more important that the continent\u2019s cadets have access to this addition to their curriculum. They are the future lifeblood of our industry and by investing in their wellbeing before they ever step on board, we are helping build safer,\u00a0stronger\u00a0and more resilient crews for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly grateful to ITF Seafarers\u2019 Trust for their shared commitment to supporting us in this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Independent survey responses from the cadets who have taken part in the training reveal this is making an immediate and measurable difference, with 81 per cent saying the training gave new insight into the realities of life at sea and\u00a0100 per cent saying the training would help them better handle situations on board.<\/p>\n
One cadet said: \u201cEvery student in maritime must go through this Wellness at Sea; it is very helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another said: \u201cWe have learnt all the\u00a0different kinds\u00a0of wellness important on board. Not only physical wellness, but mental,\u00a0social\u00a0and intellectual as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some 98 per cent of attendees said they were now confident they could apply mental health lessons on board their vessel, and 97 per cent said they felt confident they could apply the learning around managing conflict at sea.<\/p>\n
Participating colleges and academies have also praised the training. Michael David Morgan, Commandant, Liberia Maritime Training Institute, said: \u201cThe online Wellness at Sea trainers were excellent and provided very important information and insight from the maritime industry to our cadets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Jethro W Brooks Jr., Vice Chancellor, Regional Maritime University Ghana, added: \u201cWe commend the professionalism and commitment demonstrated throughout the training sessions. We are confident that the impact of this will resonate positively within our academic community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abdulgani Serang, Programme Development Manager at ITF Seafarers\u2019 Trust, said: \u201cWe are proud to support this pioneering initiative, which gives cadets practical tools to navigate both the opportunities and challenges of a life at sea. Supporting wellbeing early in a seafarer\u2019s journey creates lasting benefits for individuals,\u00a0ships\u00a0and the wider maritime sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
The programme forms part of Sailors\u2019 Society\u2019s wider\u00a0Circle of Care, combining practical training throughout a seafarer\u2019s career with ongoing support, including a 24\/7 helpline, peer-to-peer groups, e-learning\u00a0resources\u00a0and access to welfare specialists.<\/p>\n
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