JCTEF Transformation Program Cohort 1: Mental Fitness, Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience

Session date: 12 September 2026

The JCTEF Transformation Program Cohort 1 continued on 12 September 2026 with a session on Mental Fitness, Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience.

Facilitated by UN Ambassador Nurse Olivia Tochi, the session took Fellows through practical conversations around mental fitness, stress management, emotional wellbeing, healthy boundaries and the importance of having safe spaces.

It was one of those sessions that stays with you because the conversations went beyond theory. Fellows were encouraged to reflect on their own experiences, ask questions and consider how they can better navigate their emotions, relationships and personal challenges.

When It Is Difficult to Open Up

One question particularly stood out during the session:

“How do I deal with the fact that I find it difficult to open up? I stay in my shell because I am afraid that people may use what I share against me or judge me.”

The response brought a perspective that was deeply valuable:

Sometimes the problem is not that we should not talk. The problem is that we may be talking to the wrong audience.

Not every space is designed to receive every part of you.

As Nurse Olivia explained, there is a place for professional conversations and a place for personal conversations. Your workplace may not necessarily be the right space to discuss your family challenges or deeply personal struggles. Likewise, not every personal relationship automatically provides the emotional safety required for certain conversations.

She put it simply:

“Be professional in your engagement.”

The office receives office conversations.

The church receives church conversations.

And personal struggles should be shared with people and communities equipped to receive them with understanding, confidentiality and care.

This does not mean we should live closed off or refuse to seek help.

It means we need to develop discernment — knowing who to speak to, what to share, when to share it, and what kind of support we need.

Finding the Right Community

Another important point from the session was the value of communities of like-minded people.

Sometimes, people find it easier to speak openly in a community where others have experienced similar challenges and where they do not feel constantly judged or misunderstood.

The right community can provide a sense of belonging and create room for honest conversations, shared experiences and mutual support.

This reinforced something we are intentionally building through JCTEF:

Transformation is not only about acquiring knowledge. It is also about creating environments where people can grow, connect, reflect and become better versions of themselves.

For us, development is not simply about what a person knows. It is also about the environment in which that person is learning, growing and applying what they have learned.

Mental Fitness Is Not Simply About “Being Strong”

The session also challenged the idea that mental fitness is simply about being strong enough to handle everything alone.

Sometimes, strength is knowing when you need help.

Sometimes, it is setting a healthy boundary.

Sometimes, it is finding the right person to talk to.

And sometimes, it is finding the right community.

Knowing when and how to seek support is also part of personal development.

So is recognising when a situation requires professional help, rather than trying to carry everything alone.

A Practical Conversation With Our Fellows

What made the session particularly meaningful was the openness of the conversation.

The Fellows were not simply listening to a presentation. They were reflecting, asking questions and engaging with issues that people encounter in their everyday lives.

Conversations around emotional wellbeing can sometimes feel difficult because people may be afraid of being judged, misunderstood or perceived as weak.

Creating spaces where people can ask questions and reflect without unnecessary judgment is therefore an important part of development.

The session reminded us that people do not always need another instruction to “be strong.”

Sometimes, they need the knowledge to understand what they are experiencing, the discernment to know who they can speak to, and the courage to seek appropriate support.

Continuing the Journey

The Mental Fitness, Emotional Wellbeing & Resilience session was another important step in the JCTEF Transformation Program Cohort 1 journey.

From the earlier conversations around Self-Discovery and Identity to Emotional Intelligence and now Mental Fitness and Emotional Wellbeing, the Fellows are being encouraged to look at development from different dimensions.

The goal is not perfection.

It is intentional growth.

We want our Fellows to take what they learn beyond the classroom and allow it to influence how they live, work, lead, communicate, build relationships and navigate challenges.

A very insightful session with the JCTEF Fellows.

Thank you, Nurse Olivia, for such a practical and honest conversation.

We continue to learn.

We continue to reflect.

And most importantly, we continue to put what we learn into practice.

Transformation precedes empowerment.