Bingwa issue 12

• POEMS • AMAZING FACTS! • PUZZLES • LIFE SKILLS • DIY • COMICS

ISSUE 12 2014

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRITY IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRICA

YOUNG, TALENTED AND GOING PLACES

INTEGRITY YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR A CLEAN FUTURE

COMPETITION WIN PRIZES FOR YOUR SCHOOL

CHILD AFRICA We Make a Difference

S OF CHAMPION G N U O Y E H T CHEERS TO CONTINENT G IN Z A M A AN

Inside

wow! look! it has a lot of money! do you know how much stuff we can buy ourselves with all this money?

just then, gloria sees something...

PAGE 40

yes, i agre should do right th

yes... the man riding the bicycle dropped his wallet, and he didn’t realise it at all!

did you see that?

STARS RISING

i think we should find the man and give it back to him.

MECHI KALI oh, no! we have a problem!

that big bad man saw the wallet and the money too! i think he wants to take it for himself!

i saw that! give me the wallet right now!

no! it’s not yours!

PAGE 28

run, gloria! run!

DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD PAGE 4

KNOW YOUR CONTINENT

AFRICA: Her children and voices PAGE 24

PAGE 8

COVER PHOTO BY: VICTOR PEACE

you ar just litt childre i will cat you!

www.bingwa.org THE TEAM Editorial Board Chairman Rino Solberg Finance Director Jean-Paul Deprins Email: jpd@bingwa.org Project Director Mundia Muchiri Email: mundia@bingwa.org Editorial Board Mundia Muchiri Eudiah Kamonjo Jean-Paul Deprins Julie Solberg Managing Editor Eudiah Kamonjo Email: editor@bingwa.org Partnerships Coordinator Claudiah Gachimbi Email: claudiah@bingwa.org

Dear Readers, When we started BINGWA in 2009, our dream was to create a magazine that would be read and enjoyed by children across Africa - entertaining, teaching, uniting, and cheering them on as they pursued their greatness as individuals and as communities.

We wanted them to discover the joy of reading even when they were not seeking answers to exam questions. This way, important attributes such as integrity and self-confidence would begin to grow in them and become their walking sticks in their long journey to becoming Africa’s inimitable champions.

We wished to create an exciting platform for those who, like us, cared deeply about the children of Africa; a platform through which they could talk to the children and share all manner of things with them, or simply celebrate important milestones with them.

It has been an exciting journey for us. In these six short years, we have made millions of friends with children in places as far as Kabale in Uganda and Kakamega in Kenya, friends with whom we engage ever so passionately.

Design and Layout Centrepress Media Ltd Email: info@centrepressmedia.com

Teachers, parents and the children themselves have oftentimes told us how invaluable an asset BINGWA has become to them.

Contributors Ian Arunga Solomon Atah Joseph Barasa Richard Byard Rachel Garuka Anna Hasper Yusuf Hasan Robert Kuhereza Festus Mateso Kabeeria M’mbogori Connie Mueni Christine Nderitu Maurice Odede Noella Oyugah AAR Beckmann Trust Straight Talk-Uganda Simegnish Yekoye

In one school in Kakamega, the head teacher once called us with great excitement soon after the announcement of KCPE results and told us his school had moved from the tail end of the district listing to the top ten, “thanks to a new reading culture that BINGWA has helped to build”.

Partner Contributors Ruth Koshal (SCI) Daisy Maima (SCI) Dr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur (ACERWC) Elizabeth Muiruri (SCI) BINGWA is published by Child Africa.

Opinions here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher or any other participating partner.

The publishers reserve the right to use photographs taken during our activities. Any person appearing in photographs we publish cannot claim any compensation whatsoever.

Editorial, Production and Advertising Child Africa.

P.O. BOX 823 - 00606 Nairobi, Kenya +254 20 434 268/020 232 4374 +254 719 619 006 email: info@bingwa.org Uganda Office Email:julie@childafrica.org Tel: +256 752 896 205

In other places, students went ahead and formed BINGWA Clubs - completely unprompted by ourselves.

This celebration graphically captures the pain of the past, the thrills of the present, and the promise of the future.

But even with all these successes, one dream remained unfulfilled - our aim of reaching children in many corners of Africa. Even though we continued to enjoy very generous support from Child Africa, who met the full cost of production and distribution of the magazine, we could only reach children in Kenya and Uganda.

That is, until this issue.

A collaboration with Save the Children International has not only expanded the reach of the magazine to cover eight countries - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia - it has also helped us to generate content with the participation of children from the greater East Africa region.

Besides, we have been able to participate in one of Africa’s greatest celebrations, marking the Day of the African Child. This celebration graphically captures the pain of the past, the thrills of the present, and the promise of the future.

Our sincere gratitude to Save the Children and Child Africa for turning this dream into a reality.

Welcome, and enjoy.

Mundia Muchiri, Project Director.

Norway Office Email: rino@childafrica.org Tel: +47 46 44 76 06

THIS EDITION OF BINGWA HAS BEEN PUBLISHED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (EARO) AND CHILD AFRIC A ISSUE 12

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SONG: I AM A BINGWA CHAMPION! Lyrics by Rino Solberg I am a BINGWA Champion, and I will learn as long as I live, and the greater I become in life, the more I am able to give.

I will always be BINGWA honest, so people I meet trust me, this is my greatest value, and makes me the best I can be.

I am positive even with negative people, regardless of what they say, I will make them think positive thoughts too, they can never change my way.

Every BINGWA Champion has integrity, and is trustworthy to all, It does not matter, if they look different, or big or small.

A BINGWA Champion is always strong, with honest selfconfidence, when things go wrong sometimes, a BINGWA will just be enhanced.

As a champion, I know I can help many people much weaker than me, I can show them the better way to become, as strong as they can be.

The BINGWA champion is never jealous, or envies anyone else, BINGWAs always support each other, that is just common sense. I am always polite to other people, when I meet them in my life, this is the way a champion treats others, it is never a sacrifice.

All BINGWA champions are clean and healthy, and always looking smart, BINGWA’s are good examples, and will stand up to their part.

The BINGWA champion is always fair, to every person in their school, to be fair to all they meet is good, even if some behave like fools.

Chorus: I am a BINGWA champion and make a difference wherever I am, A BINGWA never gives up, fighting the corruption monster man. I am a BINGWA champion, always proud as I can be. A BINGWA always stands out, as a child with – INTEGRITY!

THE BINGWA LEGEND Just like any other morning, the sun rose majestically over the Nguvu Hills, which were the source of River Uzima. This river was so sacred that only a high priest was allowed to drink from it. The people of Nguvu believed it was the meeting place of the gods. In fact, the five elements of the world - earth, heart, wind, water and fire - occasionally met there

to discuss matters involving the universe.

That morning was one of those days. The five elements were troubled about the current degradation of the universe.

They agreed that the only way they could save the universe was through the children, who were pure at heart and capable of the task. The elements had a problem though. They needed a leader to rally the children

THE 10 ATTRIBUTES OF A BINGWA CHAMPION 1. A champion is a learner 2. A champion is honest 3. A champion has a positive attitude 4. A champion is trustworthy 5. A champion is selfconfident

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

6. A champion is helpful 7. A champion supports champions 8. A champion is polite 9. A champion loves hygiene and good health 10. A champion is fair to everyone

for this mission. “This leader must be balanced in all ways possible,” they all agreed. They then created BINGWA! BINGWA is a careful blend of the earth’s nobility, the heart’s purity, the wind’s strength, the water’s tranquility and finally, the fire’s intensity. With this, BINGWA was sent forth to build integrity in the children of Africa and guide them in the fight against corruption.

The Hinde’s Babbler is a bird species endemic to Central Kenya. Owing to the reduction of the thickets they so love, their population is dwindling and they are now listed among other vulnerable species.

In Africa, some of the most endangered species are the Ethiopian Wolf, the Mountain Gorilla, the African Wild Dog, the Black Rhino, the Lion and the Elephant.

Because of their strong jaws and beaklike mouth, snapping turtles can give you very serious bites.

Sea Otters hold hands when they sleep so they don’t drift apart.

The heart of a blue whale weighs 600 kilograms and is the largest known in any animal. A blue whale’s aorta (the main blood vessel) is large enough for a human to crawl into.

Wolf eels have molarlike teeth in the back of their mouths for crushing hard-shelled prey like sea-urchins, crabs and clams.

Stingrays are one of the most dangerous sea creatures. To avoid stepping on them, and getting stung, slide your feet up through the sand instead of stepping –that way a sting ray can detect you and ran away.

A species is declared extinct after many years of not being spotted.

Since it takes this long, we might be unaware of the species that are already extinct.

They might be cute, but dolphins have been known to attack people.

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FEATURE

THE DAY OF THE

AFRICAN CHILD BACKGROUND It is June 16th 1976. Thousands of black South African children have boycotted school and are holding a peaceful demonstration on the streets of Soweto, South Africa. They are unhappy about the apartheid-inspired education system forcing them to learn in Afrikaans, preferring to learn in their own language. They also want a better quality education, just like their fellow white students. Holding placards, they ran, sing and chant about freedom; attracting even more people who join them in the protest. The police use teargas to try and disperse them. In retaliation, the protesting children start throwing stones at the police. Within no time, the police respond by unleashing dogs and firing live bullets at the protesting youngsters.

The first and youngest student to die is 13-year-old Hector Pieterson. One of the best known photographs was taken that day by photographer Sam Nzima.

The photograph shows 18-yearold school-boy Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying the bleeding Hector after he was shot by the police. Running and crying hysterically beside them is Hector’s 17-year-old sister, Antoinette Sithole. With the help of the photographer, they put Hector inside a press car and rush him to the nearest clinic where he is pronounced dead upon arrival.

The shootings spark-off days of protests, which come to be known as the Soweto Uprisings. Hundreds more people were shot and killed and thousands injured as the revolt spread across the country. 16-yearold student Hastings Ndlovu is also said to be among the first to die.

Hector though, became the symbol of the uprising.

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IN MEMORY OF‌ Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, was opened in Soweto on June 16 2002, very close to where Hector was shot. Here, you will find photographs, news footage and eye-witness accounts from that time. Some of the tour guides here also participated in the protests and give visitors their own testimonies.

All this to honour Hector and those who died during the uprising. In South Africa, June 16 is today a national holiday.

In 1991, the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) designated June 16 as the International Day of the African Child (DAC). Besides honouring the memory of the young protestors, the celebrations also seek to draw attention to the lives of African children today. The African Union and partners such as the African Committee of Experts on the

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), who are mandated to monitor the implementation of the rights in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), select a theme for the Day of the African Child commemoration every year.

Sarafina is one of the movies that depicts the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa.

2014 DAC THEME: A

What do you know about the Day of the African Child?

child-friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa.

CELEBRATIONS CONTINENT

AROUND

THE

The Day of the African Child has been celebrated in different ways and countries over the years.

These include the expression of children’s opinions through presentations of songs, poems, dances and plays by the children — mostly calling for their rights to be respected. Films and other kinds of presentations are also given by adults or organisations to motivate the children or explain the importance and origin of this day.

The day also involves lots of play and popular sports competitions, especially football matches, fun quizzes, writing competitions and exciting prizes. Interactive sessions to gather information (from the different stakeholders on how to improve the lives of Africa’s children today), huge marches that attract the communities attention and press conferences among other activities also take place on this day.

In Kenya, Storymoja Publishers have an ambitious plan for this day that involves children. The plan is for Kenya’s children to hold the Guinness World Record in 2015 for ‘the most number of people reading aloud from the same text at the same time.’ This plan will also involve braille reading by the visually-impaired. The same organisers already set a national record for ‘the most number of people reading the same text aloud in different locations’ on the 2011 Day of the African Child. Thousands of school children read aloud ‘Lydia’s Gift’ — a story that was written and inspired by two street boys in line with that year’s theme.

It is the day that all African children come together to fight for their rights such as stopping FGM and early marriages. MIlicent Sebatia, Class 7, Uasin Gishu Primary School, Kenya.

This is the day that children dance, sing and express themselves. It is special for all children because that is the day we celebrate ourselves.

As an African child, this day is all about me. Shabani Ngaboniye, 10, Groupe Schalaire Gisozi, Rwanda.

I don’t really know much about the day but I have heard my teacher mention it in class as a day when children are given an opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities. Haruna Hamis, 9, Kombo Primary School, Tanzania.

It is the day that you go and help people that cannot afford to go to school, especially those in the orphanages. Adna Adbihakim Mohamed, 13, Young Muslim Academy, Somaliland.

Because of this day, I learnt about the rights of every child.

Before children were given these rights, many of them suffered.

Today, children can fight against all these abuses. The Day is a blessing for our voices to be heard. Arinda Ashley, 10, Kabale Universal Primary School, Uganda.

I have never heard of Day of the African Child. It would be great if I had the chance to celebrate this day so that I can show that African children are good at many things too. Michael Teshome, Grade 5, Andinet International School, Ethiopia.

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Children Speak

Oh! African child

MAKING MUSIC

Oh! African child Born of black woman, of African heritage Is here to fight for you Child labour, abuse, rape, defilement Signs of backwardness Oh! African child Born of poverty, Is here to fight bad leadership, corruption, dictatorship Signs of bad governance Oh! African child Born of over-burdened woman Rise up! Celebrate the Day of the African child Defend your rights like education, food, care and gender equality Thumbs up! We are the leaders of tomorrow!

MUTONI ATWNYAH, p.7, Taufiq Primary School, Uganda

GIRIMBABAZI EMMANUEL, P6, Home Care Preparatory School, Uganda

SUPER QUOTES

MY DREAMS

Coins always make a sound but currency notes are always silent. So, when your value increases, stay quiet!

Laughing faces do not mean there is absence of sorrow; it means they have the ability to deal with them.

The world suffers a lot, not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.

TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More Submitted by Maureen Nyambura, Sacred Heart Girls Boarding School, Kenya

JOHN MUTUMA, Class 4, Kenya

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

BUBBLES ARE FUN

CONSERVE OUR WILDLIFE

GIRIMBABAZI EMMANUEL, P6, Home Care Preparatory School, Uganda

THE POWER OF THE PEN The pen, Very small, but leads you everywhere Once you handle it with care, it will never let you down But lead you wherever you want Its nib is small and needle-like But more powerful than a sword Become ambitious and let it lead you Never abandon the pen It is a faithful friend TAREMWA ADRINE, Kabale Integrated Primary School, Uganda.

WATER DROP

BENARD WAWERU Moi Primary School, Nakuru, Kenya

Education Education makes one a good person Education gives value to a person Education answers the questions Who am I? What is my purpose on earth?

Where am I going?

Real education The kind worth investing in Is that which develops and cultivates your mind That which develops how well we think Malcom Muriuki, Abba Juniour Primary School, Nairobi, Kenya.

REBECCA ANTONETTI, 5CB, Rainbow International School, Uganda

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readers A W G IN B d We aske reams for what their d ir countries e h t in n io t educa heir words;t e r a e r e H . were I would like us to continue learning, be good citizens and help our motherland Kenya. I’d like Kenyans educated about peace and unity. In Africa, children’s rights to education are not respected as not all parents take their children to school.

I would like the government to help those who cannot afford to take children to school.

Faith Ntayia, Class 8, Ole Sankale Boarding Primary School, Narok, Kenya.

My school has adopted the French education system. When I finish high school, I would like to join a university in France so I can study management then come back and manage the culture and tourism of my country. This is because France has a great education system. I wish my country would have that great education system too so that we all don’t have to go anywhere for better education.

Meriyam Anteneh,Grade 8, Licé G/Mariam, Ethiopia.

All children have the right to education without discrimination. Teachers and staff also have the duty to ensure a holistic education is provided. In most parts of Africa, this is not observed. In rural areas, many children do not go to school. This should be fought against with help from the government. When this happens, Africa will have strongminded people and will develop.

Fadhili Manyasa, Class 8, St. John’s Mahiakalo Primary School, Kakamega, Kenya.

I would like education to be affordable for everyone and equal distribution of resources such as books.

The Government should also help disadvantaged children go to school so they can rise and shine in the country.

Latifah Hamisi Dawa, Vuga Primary School, Kwale, Kenya.

I would like all children to go to school, pass exams, have enough food, books and other basic needs.

More schools also need to be built and parents need to fully pay school fees for their children.

Faith Kanini, 6 Yellow, Kasina Primary School, Kitui, Kenya.

I would like to see more practical education and less theory. I would also like all children to be provided with computers since the world has changed and everybody uses computers.

Adam Kassim, 12, Buguruni Primary School, Tanzania.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

I would like the Government to build more schools in rural areas where learning is a problem.

Security should also be tightened in places where insecurity is high because pupils fear going to school.

Collins Kinoti, Class 7, St. Joseph Hermann Marx Primary school, Mombasa, Kenya.

Children should be enthusiastic about social science and its related topics, for instance, politics. We are the future generation; therefore, we must take interest in learning about the politics of our country.

Angel Uwayezu, 10, St Familie Primary School, Rwanda.

It is said that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. Yet so many children are still not going to school because they have been abandoned. It is upon the government to help these children go to school.

Jackson Kabithi, 7 East, Uasin Gishu Primary School, Kenya.

All pupils should get a good education where they can learn leadership skills through practice, have qualified understanding teachers and head-teachers, good meals, and great healthcare so they can excel in school and in their future careers.

Apio Sheila, P. 3, Kitante Primary School, Uganda

That people stay in the country after completing their studies to help in its development.

It really surprises me when I see people leave for Europe when they can stay and help Somaliland build its education, economy and culture, as well as help the poor in terms of housing, electricity and food.

Luqman Osman Yusuf, 13, Young Muslim Academy, Somaliland.

I want to be able to build a good school for both the wealthy and the poor to be able to go to school and get a good education.

Musa’ab Abdifatah Aideed, Class 8, Young Muslim Academy, Somaliland.

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Your Words

POEMS

Sneaky & Tricky

Corruption vs. Education classes.

Corrupt people cheat in their exams At the end of it all, we get quack engineers Who construct collapsing buildings

Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!

What a deadly disease!

What a pity, Because you are sneaky and very tricky.

Corruption Versus Education Where is the integrity of the learned?

They attain their degrees, masters and PhDs Through bribing their lecturers Corrupt people do not attend

Personnel who embezzle money for the AIDs drugs Like Nevirapine How cunning you are, You shameless corrupt people!

By Kisakye Marion, P.6 G, Greenhill Academy, Uganda.

Art by Nalutaaya Catherine, Nakasero Primary School, Uganda

Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!

Why would you choose our nation?

To spoil this generation, To ruin our celebrations Bringing destruction, Causing interruption Oh! Corruption! Why our nation?

Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!

What a master of disguise And yet all you do is bring disgust.

Corruption! Oh Corruption!

Being with you is like a flood Which takes away all our lives You bring deception to all You are like a pest; very hard to test.

Oh! Corruption, why our nation?

Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!

One day we shall defeat you One day you will stop your evil ways When we are done with you, You will be no more.

Oh Corruption! Why our nation?

By Kunihira Denise, P.7K, Kampala Parents School, Uganda.

Art by Redan Daniel Murigu, Gateway Primary School, Kenya

BAD HABIT Corruption! Corruption!

Bad habit within us Police are bribed for freedom Not fair! Not fair! Not fair!

Corruption! Corruption!

Money is wasted on numerous things Poverty increases Services are not properly provided Corruption! Corruption!

Let us all refuse bribes Arrest and send to prison We want peace, we want services Goodbye bankruptcy, goodbye insecurity

By Abraham Mukunua, P.6 Red, Green Hill Academy, Uganda Art by James Dranyuma, Kingsway Primary School, Uganda

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Recommendation

Reaching Out to the Children The development of BINGWA Magazine comes as a response to the public outcry on the rampant corruption, persistent degeneration of moral behaviour, and unprofessional conduct in both public and private affairs in the African society.

Besides being a corrosive as well as debilitating social phenomenon, corruption retards development of a nation, increases material mortality rate, impoverishes the citizens, reduces the lifespan of the citizens by diverting public resources that could be channeled to social development, to benefit a few individuals in the society.

The Government of Uganda stands side-by-side with Child

Africa in the fight against this vice of corruption. In this regard, Uganda has joined other countries in the continent and adopted proactive initiatives to fight the fundamental causes of corruption which is a result of moral decadence in the society, by developing National Ethical Values that are to be mainstreamed in all spheres of social life.

BINGWA Magazine is a multifaceted tool to fight corruption by; educating the children on the dangers of corruption at an early age so as to inculcate into them the African Values System, in order to mould them into morally upright citizens and future leaders of this great continent.

Therefore, the development of BINGWA Magazine for children in the fight against corruption will certainly go a long way in complementing efforts of Governments, CommunityBased Organisations, NonGovernmental Organisations and Faith-Based Organisations in the fight against corruption in Africa as a whole. I therefore implore everybody to fully support Child Africa in its quest to reach out to the children of Africa through BINGWA Magazine.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY. Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo MINISTER OF STATE FOR ETHICS AND INTEGRITY, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UGANDA.

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Fiction

BY CHRISTINE NDERITU

THE PLAY GROUND

I

n the land of Kazimingi the parents, teachers and children were gathered at Werevu School; the only school in the land. So large was this meeting that even the President was in attendance.

There was one major problem in the land; the children had over the years ceased to behave like children and it was getting worse by the day. They did not jump, run around, climb trees or even hide from each other in the cheeky manner that little children do. They had lost their magical ability to be creative and full of life. All day, they just stayed indoors and played with their silly little contraptions.

This caused the trees, flowers and the sun such sadness that they couldn’t help but tell the rest of the elements about this tragedy. The trees and flowers whispered the sad news to the wind, who in turn rushed through the forests, savannah, deserts and even the seven seas to spread the news. None of them could understand the existence of a land that no longer allowed its children to play. They actually wept for the land of Kazimingi.

THIEF discussions to establish what could be done to change this situation.

They decided that they would engage in a ‘go slow’ so that the people of Kazimingi would realize their mistake and correct it. The sun was dull, the flowers stayed at half bloom, the animals were sluggish; the trees hung down in sadness and the stars refused to dazzle.

As the days went by, the people of Kazimingi were so busy working or hiding from the sun and all of nature inside the walls they had built that they did not even notice that their food crops were not growing as they should. The children begun to get really ill-mannered, lazy, sad and unhealthy. In turn, their parents and teachers were so unhappy that they had to get together and chart a way forward at the Werevu School meeting.

The adults gave all sorts of solutions.

Some suggested giving more homework so that the children were busy all day. “More punishment for the children to tame their laziness!” another exclaimed. Others said that they needed more hospitals to cater for their unhealthy children.

Consequently, they all engaged in

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

They came up with such astonishing ideas — until one of the elders finally said something worthwhile. “Do you remember the days when children had playgrounds and spent time in the sun playing all sorts of games?

You could hear their cheer from long distances as they ran around in joy and laughter. Back then, they were rarely ill and the weather was usually nice and bright. It was paradise!” Mr. Maneno Chache said.

The only solution, he continued, was as simple as the richest man in the village — Mr. Mlafi. “He should give back the children’s vast play grounds he grabbed so he could build more offices for us adults.”

Everyone seemed to remember those days. It was then that they realized what horror had befallen them; they had slowly but surely trampled on the rights of their children. The parents demanded that Mr. Mlafi immediately give back the children’s playground. On hearing this, Mr. Mlafi sprung up to his defense, insisting that he had acquired the land fair and square and would not give it up!

Upon hearing this, the President stood up and demanded that Mr.

Mlafi give the playground back to the children or risk being jailed for grabbing public property. Everyone was happy with this decision.

The next day, the children’s playground was officially opened.

They all rushed in to run around the grass, through the flower gardens; up the trees and even under the bushes. You could hear their laughter from afar. Soon, the flowers were fresher, the sun shone brighter and the birds sung more melodiously.

Even the parents joined in once in a while.

The children, without a thought, got some of their pocket money and paid. They got in and played, loving every moment. It did not occur to them that their playground had been successfully grabbed by Mr. Mlafi again and in a very conniving manner. This went on for a while.

news. Mr. Mlafi quickly stood up and explained that he had used his own money to create the park hence he had a right to charge for he facilities’ use. The now infuriated President said he had never heard of such a shameful act in his life; a grown man extorting money from children?!

One day, when some of the children’s pocket-money had ran out, they went and told one of their teachers how sad they were because they could not access

“Mr. Mlafi, you have really crossed the line this time. Bullying helpless children and threatening

the park. “We are not even supposed to tell anyone because the park could be shut down,” they offered.

A very shocked teacher rushed to the principal’s office to report the matter. The principal requested all parents to come to the school the very next day.

them? Arrest this man and put him in jail right now,” the President ordered. Additionally, he declared that from that day on ‘The Mlafi Park’ would be known as ‘The Michezo Park’ and would be open to all and sundry at no cost. All the maintenance would be done by the President’s funds and fines paid by the greedy Mr. Mlafi.

In the shadows, Mr. Mlafi was busy scheming on how to re-acquire the children’s playground. All day, he sat on his balcony overlooking the playground, always eating something. You should have seen the grim look on his face. Mr. Mlafi had over the years acquired so much wealth illegally that he had become so rich and yet so greedy. It was no wonder that he was so obese and unhappy.

He soon realized that it would be next to impossible to just grab the playground again. He decided to publicly declare that he was going to renovate the playground.

He had a huge swimming pool with water slides and diving boards constructed, brought in clowns and magicians, toy stores, swings and rides, even a rollercoaster! He had turned the playground into a theme park, which he called ‘The Mlafi Park’. On opening day, all the children rushed in to play. They had so much fun they did not want to go home.

That night, the parents expressed their surprise at the wonderful park Mr. Mlafi had created. The next day, all the children of Werevu School were counting down to the end of the day; longing to get back into the park to play. When the bell finally rung, they burst through the school gates and rushed straight to the park. To their surprise, there stood a huge man demanding that the children pay a small fee to gain access to the fun inside. The man also cautioned the children from telling their parents as this would cause the park to be shut down!

Both the President and Mr. Mlafi were present. The only agenda was to discuss Mr. Mlafi’s disgusting behavior. They all listened as the children retold the horror story.

Everyone was appalled by this

Within no time, all the people, plants, animals and elements of Kazimingi lived a life full of play-time, joy, good health and laughter.

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“The fight against CORRUPTION must begin with the children” Tell us about Child Africa International…

Child Africa is a small NGO first founded in Norway by my husband Rino Solberg and I. Today, the organisation is registered in Norway, Uganda and Kenya. Rino is a voluntary Chairman and I am the Managing Director. We have been helping thousands of children go through school since 1991. We have also built and run two schools in Uganda and helped refurbish two dilapidated schools in Kenya over the years.

Child Africa has been supporting BINGWA Magazine every school term since 2009 as a free ‘Magazine for the children of Africa’. Beginning 2014, it will be printed at least once a year with the goal of ‘Fighting corruption by building Integrity in the children of

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Africa’, why this change of focus?

Initially, Child Africa’s vision was to build as many schools in Africa as possible. However, after all these years, we have realized that what is lacking in Africa is not really schools; what is missing is the right type of education. Thousands of students complete their university studies every year but have no jobs after graduation. We tried to establish the reasons behind this. We asked, “Why is Africa not as prosperous as other countries?” One of the main reasons is CORRUPTION, which is rampant in all African countries and is therefore hindering development.

This means less industries and less work for the people. We therefore decided to launch our new Child Africa vision; “To help millions of children get quality education and teach Honesty and Integrity as a tool to fight corruption in Africa”.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

And how are you going to do that through Child Africa?

This will be done in a number of ways. First, we know that there is no way we can do anything about the corrupt people and leaders in Africa today. This can only be done when African governments work together to fight it, with support systems from even larger NGOs and even developed countries. We believe this is a long-term undertaking, which will take several generations.

The only way is to start with the young children. Infact, Proverbs 22:6 says it well; “Train the child the way that he should go and he will never depart from it when he grows old.”

That is our starting point and we will use BINGWA children’s magazine to do that. By distributing it FREE to the school libraries so the children

Q & A WITH JULIE SOLBERG CHILD AFRICA FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

can read it and learn how to become ‘Champions’ in order to stand up for integrity in the fight against corruption as they grow up.

What are your plans for getting BINGWA to schools in Africa?

Our plan is to print 50,000 copies in 2014 and distribute them free in five selected countries to start with. We hope that next year, we will get even more financial support from other NGOs and companies worldwide so that we can increase the print run every year moving forward. Experience has taught us that each copy of BINGWA is read by approximately 100 children.

Our long-term goal is to be able to print ONE million copies and thereby reach 100 million children within five to ten years. BINGWA has a very long shelf life and will be read for many years by millions of children. We will have a ‘BINGWA Agent’ in each country to take care of the distribution.

What kind of content will BINGWA have to motivate the children in the fight against corruption?

BINGWA aims to ‘build champions out of the children of Africa’. The children must become champions in order to be strong enough to make a difference in their own lives. We therefore have to build their self-confidence, self-respect and their integrity. We will do that by using stories, comics, puzzles, competitions, interactions on our website and other tools with lessons on honesty and integrity with the goal of fighting corruption.

You could just build more schools and educate children like everybody else, why did you choose to publish BINGWA Magazine and use it to fight corruption - an endeavour that could take years?

We believe that the fight against corruption is even more important than the fight against AIDS, Malaria, TB and many other diseases, because too much of the money given to curb these diseases never reaches the people who need it most BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION. We strongly believe that prevention is cheaper than cure. And if we can stop corruption, a bigger percentage of the money for cure will reach the needy people, hence help more of them.

Are the different countries and governments supportive in this fight against corruption?

Absolutely. We have talked to the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity in Uganda and the Ministry of Education in Kenya and they are both supportive. We have the same goals, but our focus is just different because they have to work on the corruption which is there today and we are focusing on the next generations’ whom we call ‘the BINGWA generation.

However, we are now working to get the topic of ‘Honesty and Integrity’ into the school curriculum in the different countries. We believe this is necessary in order to fully impact the children, their parents and teachers.

Don’t you think the corrupt people today will be against this initiative and fight you?

Absolutely not! You see, even if you were the most corrupt person in Africa, you would not want your children to be dishonest and corrupt too. Moreover, we are of no threat to the people in charge today; we are working with the generation who will be running Africa 20-30 years from now. Most of the corrupt people of today will probably have passed on by then. In fact, we believe that we will get plenty of support from such people because not all of them have become corrupt

by choice. Some were forced into it because everyone else around them was corrupt. If they had a choice today, we think that most people would like to live in a corrupt-free environment.

Do you seek any help or partnership with other NGOs and companies for your mission and how do you see this help?

Yes we do. Alone, we would be very limited with such a huge goal, yet we need all the help we can get. Clearly, we need monetary help from NGOs, governments and even companies in order to print and distribute more free BINGWA magazines to schools in even more countries. We hope that companies all over the world can sponsor this project so that each school can get 5 to 10 free copies of the magazine.

To sponsor one school is only 20 euros. For companies, it is a great idea to regularly sponsor specific schools as a way of their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. This is one great way for a company to get results in one generation. Sponsorship is very easy, just go to our website www.childafrica.org and click on ‘BINGWA Magazine’ in the menu.

The fight against CORRUPTION must begin with the children, we therefore need all the help we can get to fight this evil. Join us today in making a difference!

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Environment

COMPETITIVELY DEVELOPING THE BEST WOODLOTS IN SCHOOLS Thanks to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the KenGen Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Better Globe Forestry, an exciting afforestation programme dubbed the ‘Green Initiative Challenge’ (GIC) is going on in primary and secondary schools in Embu and Machakos Counties in Kenya.

GIC aims to create environmental awareness by encouraging and enabling schools to actively participate and compete in developing small forests and woodlots for multiple benefits. For easier monitoring, GIC will focus on schools around the seven-forks power stations.

Since it kicked-off in October 2013, 82 schools have so far registered for the competition. The idea is to involve up-to 200 schools so as to plant 60,000 seedlings.

To develop the woodlots, the schools are provided with between 300-600 seedlings of Cassia siamea and Melia volkensi (Mukau), both of which can survive these arid and semi-arid areas. Better Globe Forestry, Child Africa’s sister company (the publishers of BINGWA Magazine), have so far donated 17,000 Mukau seedlings).

Help clean your environment and secure the well-being of future generations by planting a tree today

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

The woodlots are monitored every four months, with a final evaluation expected in two years. The winning woodlots will be determined by effort and creativity applied as well as the growth rate. According to one of the evaluators, some of the interesting undertakings in the challenge include mulching, weeding and even bottle-feeding. To serve as an example to the students, some teachers have even taken-up their own trees to tend-to.

For schools not within these areas, remember that ‘environmental conservation has no boundaries’. Go ahead and develop your own woodlots today!

AWARDS • • •

1st Prize: 20,000 litres water tank, a trip to a KenGen facility and Kshs. 40,000 in cash.

2nd Prize: 15,000 litres water tank and Kshs.

30,000 in cash.

3rd Prize: 10,000 litres water tank and Kshs.

20,000 in cash.

SUBMITTED BY STRAIGHT TALK, UGANDA

w o r g o How t n sacks. i s e l b g et a

ve

Growing vegetables is one section of agriculture that anyone can easily do irrespective of the size of land available. People in towns and those with small pieces of land always have this excuse; that they do not to have enough land to plant anything. With today’s development and applied technologies, growing crops no longer requires you to have a big piece of land. Even those staying in high-rise buildings can at least grow simple vegetables.

Young boys and girls should especially be encouraged to practice growing vegetables in sacks. It is very easy and is a great way to learn about recycling.

HOW TO DO IT:•

• • •

• •

•

Fill a sack with black soil mixed with organic manure and gravel or small stones put in the middle to form a column of stones from the base of the sack up to the top.

Place a sack in an open space where some sunlight can reach.

Cut small holes on the sack.

In the small holes, plant seedlings or seeds of vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, cabbages, egg plants or even onions.

Mulch with dry grass or leaves.

Because of plants’ response to sunlight, vegetables will grow upwards and anchor firmly on the sack without falling.

Water your seedling every day, but not to the point of sogginess.

If the sack is placed on the ground, you can still grow vegetables around it because the water flowing around will help the other crops to grow.

Now your parents do not have to buy vegetables everyday as you can feed on these vegetables throughout the year. Go out and try it.

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Children Speak OTTER POSTCARD

ROBOTS THE FUTURE

CARLA IGLESIAS, 5CB, Rainbow International School, Uganda.

Poverty in Africa Poverty in Africa Has led to school drop-outs, Child-labour and early marriage The suffering of young and old

SAID ABDI, St. John’s Catholic Primary School, Kenya.

KILL TRIBALISM

Poverty at home Has led to parents’ death Children lack education when poverty takes place Atuheire Edina, Kabale Primary School, Uganda.

THREE THINGS THAT DESTROY 1

ARROGANCE

2

PRIDE

3

ANGER

FAITH WAHU, Moi Primary School, Nakuru, Kenya

DENIS KIKUVI, Shalom Academy, Machakos, Kenya

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

MAtch the picture of dugong the sea cow with it’s correct outline.

MATCH OUTLINE

A

B

If a doctor falls sick, and another doctor doctors the doctor, will the doctor doctoring the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor wanted to be doctored?

Santana Mwango, Chogoria Complex Primary School, Meru, Kenya.

Let’s look for the lock and rock that’s rolled down the rolled robot made by Robot Roller.

I saw a lorry rolling down Valley Road ferrying loads of lollipops.

Ann Wayness, Chesternel Schools, Embu, Kenya.

C

D

MATCH THE PICTURE OF DUGONG (THE SEA COW) WITH IT’S CORRECT OUTLINE.

Can you spot ten words related to the events that took place on the Day of the African Child in 1976?

ANSWERS ON PG 45

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ISSUE ISSUE 12 12

Life Skills

BY RINO SOLBERG

UNDERSTANDING Integrity is not a skill, it is not an education or some knowledge you have. Integrity is not a physical attribute you are born with, it is not about being rich or poor or being young or old. Integrity is not about being black or white and is definitely not something you suddenly get. It is not just about being honest; just being you and hoping for the best. It is not being ‘super boy’ or ‘super girl’.

I

ntegrity is your mental possession and has something to do with your ATTITUDE towards MORALS and ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. The word ‘integrity’ comes from the Latin word integer, which freely translated means ‘wholeness’ or a whole person. This means that a person with integrity is not a divided person but is more like a total and great person in every way.

You see, integrity is a way of thinking, a way of living and of being (whole).

Integrity is hardest when it seems like

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you are the only one practising it. It means doing the right thing because you know it is right. Many people know they are doing wrong and still argue and try to justify with no intention of changing for the better. They simply do not understand the consequences of what they are doing or even that they have a choice. The good news is, Everybody can change his or her attitude and start living by high morals and ethical principles if they want to.

However, the best time is to learn this early in life, at home or at school.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

The first thing you have to do is to make a decision that you want to change your attitude. To live a life of integrity is better in so many ways.

The way we humans use our thoughts can be likened to what a farmer does on his farm. If he plants tomatoes, tomatoes are what he will harvest.

If he plants coffee, coffee is what he will harvest, and if he plants trees, trees will grow. We can plant our own thought-seeds, good or bad, or they can be planted by someone else-with

or without our conscious knowledge.

Unfortunately, this happens to too many people. If wrong thought-seeds grow, the people have to live with the consequences. The thoughts that you have built into your character will remain there until you change your character by changing your thoughts.

Most people believe that they are a product of their environment and circumstances, which is very wrong.

We MAKE our own environment and circumstances, when we understand that we can.

By changing your thoughts, you can change your destiny I know that, for some, it takes time to change an attitude, because they simply do not know what it means or how to do it. Your attitude is however based on your total beliefs, which depend on what has been fed into your brain; through everything you have seen, heard, experienced or read throughout your life. It also depends on how much integrity your parents, guardians or teachers taught you as you grew up as well as what kind of friends and jobs you have had.

Every living person has probably at least once in their life lied, cheated someone, stolen something or done something wrong. Depending on what happened, when they did it the first time, were they caught? Did they stop it or continue? If they were punished and an explanation for the punishment given, they might never have repeated it again. However, if nobody cared about it, or if they got encouraged instead, it is possible that they continued with these bad habits and developed an attitude of dishonesty and no integrity.

Integrity is being able to separate right from wrong and being willing to act, speak and behave according to this finding whenever you have to make a choice. It is also to have the courage to live by your conviction.

In schools, you have many ways of showing integrity. First, it is important that you are trustworthy and honest in school. Avoid lying to your friends or your teachers and live up to your promises. This means that if you say that you are going to do your homework, you will do it and not look for excuses for not doing it. When you say you are going to improve in any subject, you will do whatever is

needed in order to make it, because you have promised it, and because you have integrity, you will live up to your promise. When you are trustworthy, you will get many more friends also, because friends like to be with someone they can trust, that is what friendship is all about. Dishonest people have few friends because nobody wants to be with them. As an example, if you told someone a secret and she went and told that secret to many more people, how would you feel? I am sure you will not tell her any more secrets, since she could not be trusted to keep the secret between you. Therefore, if you want to have many friends, you must be trustworthy and honest.

You can start building your selfconfidence today by simply doing something you are proud of every day. That can be helping a friend, doing your homework well, learning something new or anything else that makes you feel good about yourself.

That is the best and quickest way to build your self-confidence every day. When you FIRST build your selfconfidence, your self-confidence thereafter will build you too. You will dare to speak up about everything more often, since you are not afraid of the consequences because you know you are strong enough to make it anyway. People with great selfconfidence are not easy to scare. They are the ones who become leaders in every field of life, whatever they take on; sports, politics, businesses or any other areas. Moreover, the greater your self-confidence, the greater the challenges you can take on in life.

To have integrity also means you are strong enough to have your own opinions and to tell the truth. Even as a child, you have your own rights and people cannot treat you the way they want or abuse you. If you see something wrong happen at home, Do you want to become school or anywhere else, you will a leader in your life? If speak up and say that you do not you do, start building accept it. A person with integrity will your self-confidence always have great self-confidence (*1).

TODAY and believing He or she is not afraid to speak up. The you can do it. more you speak up, the greater your self-confidence will become. Selfconfidence and integrity always come together. You need self-confidence in order It is important that people to have integrity and know what you stand for, but it if you want integrity, is equally important that they you have to build your know what you won’t stand for. self-confidence first.

Therefore, learn to speak up for So, how do you build yourself. your self-confidence?

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t readers wha A W G IN B d e hat We ask them and w o t t n a e m . corruption t it right now h g fi o t o d they could t they said‌ Here is wha

Corruption is the unfair and illegal way of treating people. In Kenya, for example, corruption is very common in offices. It is the worst thing as it can lead to war. As an individual, I will fight corruption by telling people the importance of not judging others based on the way they are.

Mercy Tula, 8A, St.John’s Mahiakalo Primary School, Kakamega, Kenya

Corruption is when a person is given money or something valuable to favour someone. If I see anyone giving or receiving a bribe in exchange for a favour, I will take action and report it to the necessary person-like the police.

Melvin Salaon, 7 East, Ole Sarakale Boarding Primary School, Narok, Kenya.

Corruption is an act of doing things illegally in-order to get or earn something. I can fight corruption by holding discussions or debates about its disadvantages, believing in God, being a person of integrity and also by equally distributing resources whenever I have the chance.

Hemedi Ramadhani, Class 7, Vuga Primary School, Kwale County, Kenya.

Corruption is the dishonest or illegal behaviour especially of people in authority. In Uganda, corruption is very common in schools as parents pay to get their children into the best schools.

I would avoid paying a bribe at all costs.

Joana Nomwesigwe, Lohana Academy, Uganda.

Corruption is the dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in authority such as teachers, cooks or even prefects.

Corrupt prefects can cause people to be punished for no good reason.

Corrupt teachers can give some children higher marks as favours. We should not tolerate this.

Marcellino More, Lohana Academy, Uganda.

Corruption is the dishonest behavior by people in authority. It hinders development of a particular area.

Because of heavy borrowing and aid, some countries meddle in the affairs of a country. We can fight corruption in Uganda by talking about it at all times, isolating the corrupt and singing songs about them. BINGWA champions can write about corrupt officials, draw pictures and display them on our notice boards, streets and magazines.

Eric Mutunga, Class 6 Red, Green Hill Academy, Uganda

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

BY ROBERT MUHEREZA

CHILD AFRICA INTERNATIONAL BREAKS NEW GROUND

“The breaking of ground on this project is a dream come true for me and my husband Mr. Rino Solberg. When I was ten years old, I dreamt that I had built a big house, hosting children from different countries without discrimination,” said Child Africa International Founder and Managing Director Ms. Julie Solberg. She was speaking during the new Child Africa Kabale School Complex ground-breaking ceremony in March this year.

The world-class school complex will sit on 20 acres of land on a hill adjacent to Kabale Town. The facility will expand the organisations’ capacity to provide quality education and care for disadvantaged children. It will house a nursery, primary, secondary, multi-purpose hall, clinic and vocational skills training sections. The total projected capacity is 2,500 children.

With the building architectural plans that are to become the new school complex behind her, Ms. Julie Solberg addressed about 300 guests including the Kabale District chairman Patrick Keihwa (also the guest of honour), She thanked Rosemary Soyland who initially joined Child Africa as a volunteer in 2009 and has now become a pillar in mobilizing sponsor parents and partners to donate to Child Africa and Wilson Wanyama-Child Africa National Program Director for relieving her of some of the managerial roles since joining the organisation. She also thanked all the Child Africa staff, partners, sponsor parents and local leaders for standing with the organisation and helping it achieve its goal of helping millions of children get quality education and teach honesty and integrity as a tool to fight poverty and corruption in Africa. “It’s a great celebration of where we are today as Child Africa, and where we are going into the future.” Julie said amidst deafening applause from the audience. Ms. Solberg also conveyed greetings from the Chairman of the Child Africa

International board Mr. Rino Solberg, who unfortunately could not be present at the event.

“Our future plan is to have a Child Africa University so that more children can complete university education,” she said.

Mr. Patrick Keihwa, hailed the administration of Child Africa for implementing their work plans and proper service delivery. He promised to continually support the organisation. “How can we not help an organisation like Child Africa? We are on the ground and we see the results of your work”.

The Regional Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Maate in his speech urged the local community and leaders to support the project because Child Africa is a very “responsible, accountable and transparent organisation, which does all its projects in a very transparent manner and without discrimination”.

The school children and guests braved the early morning downpour and later the scathing sun to attend, speak and even perform at the event. Ms. Solberg was later on accompanied by some of the guests to a one-hour live radio broadcast at Voice of Kigezi to further promote the project and sensitize the local community about the organisations’ work. Listeners expressed their support for Child Africa.

Dreams do come true if you believe and work towards them

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Know Your Continent 2

1

Despite the fact that all children have the right to education, many children in Africa still do not go to school.

The Turkana of Kenya roast their meat by burying it in a hole in the ground and putting logs of fire on top.

Although the meat looks raw, it is very soft and tasty. Owing to their nomad lifestyle, they encounter many wild animals and this is a safer option.

4

5

Milk and honey have different colours, but they share the same house peacefullyAfrican proverb

3 WE MUST USE TIME WISELY AND FOREVER REALIZE THAT THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIPE TO DO RIGHT NELSON MANDELA

6

African children have given stellar performances in films such as Africa United (Rwanda), Sarafina (South Africa), First Grader (Kenya), Mwansa the Great (Zambia) among others.

SUDAN actually has double the number of PYRAMIDS found in Egypt. Smaller and steeper than their Egyptian counterparts, the pyramids of Sudan are not nearly as famous.

AFRICA: 8

9

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7 During the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, militants recruited children to contribute to the destruction and murder of entire communities and ethnic groups. Many countries in Africa still use child-soldiers in their control wars and conflicts.

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A large chair does not make a king — Sudanese proverb

The ‘khanga’ or ‘leso’ (a popular African wrap with bold patterns), had numerous uses. It is believed to have played a big role in the emancipation of slaves and their integration back into the communities who turned to the ‘khanga’ from the pure white cloth they used to wear seeking a new identity.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

One falsehood spoils a thousand truths — Ashanti Proverb

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Sticks in a bundle are unbreakableBondei Proverb

When I was in class four, I learnt how to use discarded plastic bags to make unique bags and toilet-holders from Madam Fausitn Odaba and her women’s groupNaylee Nagda, Kenyan environmentalist.

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Luol Deng, one of the greatest professional basketball players Africa has produced, was born in what is now South Sudan.

When he was young, his family moved to Egypt to escape the Sudanese Civil War and later onto London.

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15 A BIRD THAT DOES NOT FLY, CANNOT KNOW THE VALLEY WHERE MILLET GROWS — AFRICAN PROVERB

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Uganda’s Proscovia Alengot Oromait became Africa’s youngest and first female teenage Member of Parliament at the age of 19 in the year 2012.

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In traditional African society, grandmothers were the main tellers of oral tales.

18 In 2012, fourteen-year-old whizzkid MAUD CHIFAMBA of Zimbabwe became the youngest ever university student in Africa thanks to her intellectual prowess and hard work.

An orphan, Maud wants to be an accountant when she completes her studies at the University of Zimbabwe where she has earned a four-year scholarship.

I am an African, not because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in meKwame Nkrumah

HER CHILDREN AND VOICES 19

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A wise person will always find a way — Tanzanian Proverb

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No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid — LUPITA NYONG’O Kenyan Actress

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MAJORITY OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA ARE EXCLUDED FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION BECAUSE OF POVERTY, LACK OF APPROPRIATE SKILLED TEACHERS, SCHOOL FACILITIES AND NEGATIVE SOCIAL ATTITUDES.

To live is to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there — Kofi Annan

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Personal Safety

MY EXPERIENCE… was and that we should head back.

M

y name is Thai Silvera, I am fourteen years old and live in Doha, the capital of Qatar in the Middle East. I enjoy sports and hanging out with my friends.

One afternoon, my fifteen-year old neighbour’s parents were out. He came to me and offered me a seat in his father’s car, saying it would be fun to go for a drive. I accepted it not wanting to look weak or mean but knowing that it was wrong.

We were out for around thirty minutes before I mustered the courage to say how wrong it

When we returned, my Aunt was standing at the balcony looking out, I thought nothing of it at the time and my day continued normally. When I got home much later, I found my Mother and Aunt standing at the doorway waiting for me.

They confronted me about the earlier incident, which I denied.

After about ten minutes, I asked myself, “Why bother lying?” I decided to admit to what was obvious; the fact that I had done something not only silly but life-threatening.

After the incident, I had a discussion with the said friend about what had happened. He promised that nothing of the sort would happen again.

offered me a ride in his father’s car. This time I declined. An hour later, our doorbell rang.

There was his sister asking whether I had seen her brother.

“My parents are back at home and my father’s car and my brother are not, “ she explained, clearly worried. When he did finally arrive, he faced the consequence of taking his father’s car without permission.

He was lucky it wasn’t his life.

I hope some of you reading this will learn from my experience because it’s really important that you communicate with your parents or teachers about what is right and what is not.

Do not get into a vehicle with an under-age or inexperienced driver, it may cost you your life.

A few weeks later, it was obvious that my neighbor had still not learnt from the previous experiences; once again, he

Synonyms Crossword

A synonym is a word or phrase that means exactly the same or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

Can you figure out the synonyms of the following words and fill them in the crossword puzzle?

Across 1. Cocoon 3. Tragedy 8. Produce 9. Oft 10. Kingdom

By Mateso

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Down 2. Invent 4. Rattle 5. Splendid 6. Repetition 7. Wide-view

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

ANSWERS ON PG 45

Health COURTESY: AAR BECKMANN TRUST

FACTS ON

WORM INFESTATION Intestinal worm infections are a silent epidemic that destroy the health, well-being and learning potential of millions of school-going children in many developing countries today.

Roundworms, hookworms and whipworms consume nutrients from the bodies of children resulting in malnutrition, diarrhoea, anaemia, ulcers, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, stunted growth, among other issues.

Prevention & Treatment • Regularly deworm (every three to six months) to ensure you never miss class because of illness.

• Always wash your hands with soap and water at the four critical times, ie. after using toilet, before cooking, before eating and after cleaning baby or changing nappy.

• Always wear shoes or slippers when outside (to prevent hookworm infection).

• Wash all fruits and vegetables in clean water before eating them.

• Avoid watering vegetables using water from septic tanks or other potentially contaminated sources.

• Defecate in a toilet or latrine, rather than in the open bush.

• Ensure you drink boiled or treated water.

Absenteeism is more frequent among infected children.

World of Numbers You are wrong if you think mathematics is not fun

BY CONNIE MUENI

MATH PUZZLES NUMBER MAZE Go from Start to End, using only horizontal or vertical steps, visiting each square at most once so that the total adds up to 50.

BRAIN BINDERS RECTIFY EQUATION Rectify the following equation by moving just one digit 101-102=1 HOUR-GLASS You have 2 sand hourglasses; one 7-minute and one 4-minute hourglass. How can you correctly time 9 minutes?

ANSWERS ON PG 45

ISSUE 12

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hey, let’s try over there, those ones look delicious!

moses and gloria got hungry, so they went out to the market to buy some fruits...

wow! look! it has a lot of money! do you know how much stuff we can buy ourselves with all this money?

just then, gloria sees something...

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yes, i agree. we should do the right thing!

yes... the man riding the bicycle dropped his wallet, and he didn’t realise it at all!

did you see that?

oh, no! we have a problem!

i think we should find the man and give it back to him.

that big bad man saw the wallet and the money too! i think he wants to take it for himself!

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

i saw that! give me the wallet right now!

no! it’s not yours!

run, gloria! run!

you are just little children! i will catch you!

get out of my way!

out of my way!

look! there is the owner of the wallet!

there was a bad man chasing us, he wanted the money!

hey! here is your wallet!

but we ran!

you are such good children!

oh! thank you so much! i came back to look for that!

hey! are you the bad man chasing these children?

shame on you!

these children have more integrity than you! you should not take things that don’t belong to you!

the end.

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Success Story

BY LIV ANDREA MELTVEIT

WONDERFUL MEMORIES FROM MY VISIT TO CHILD AFRICA IN UGANDA

R

ecently, I saw the work of Child Africa with my own eyes. I was one of two lucky pupils from Strand videreg책ende skole (Strand College of Further Education/ A level College) in Tau, Norway ,who were chosen to represent our school. The reason for myself, another pupil Nathalie and two teachers to spend one week with Child Africa in Uganda was because, the school I go to helps Child Africa.

Child Africa is an organisation which helps disadvantaged children in East Africa get an education and other basic needs.

Strand vgs. Norway sponsors Child Africa Junior School in Kabale, Uganda. It was our first meeting with a school in Uganda and being with children in a totally different culture was eye-opening. We were really impressed with the teaching aids covering the walls and hanging across the classrooms; it meant that pupils here receive allround learning. During our short visit, we had time to play and have fun outside. The play equipment which Strand vgs. had donated two years earlier, was still in use

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

and was obviously used a lot. To our surprise, there were also rabbits and goats in the play grounds. These too were used for education. The football enthusiasts at the school had to make do with one small and worn-out football. As I played with the children, I could see they were having fun without complaining about the state of the ball. This in itself was an eye-opener for me.

One day a year, all the pupils at my school go out to work. The money the pupils earn that day is delivered to the school administration, who arrange for the money to be given to the organization the pupil committee have previously decided upon. Three years ago, the pupil’s committee at Strand vgs. voted to help Child Africa Junior School, Kabale build a play park for their pupils. The play park was given the name Strand Play Park — after my school.

We know that things take longer in Uganda than in Norway. So even as we left Norway in February, we thought that we would find a park that was well under the process of being built. Rosemary Søyland who lives in Strand and works for Child Africa was with us all the time during our visit in Uganda.

She surprised the four of us during the first evening of our visit when she said, ”You are going to the official opening of Strand Play Park this first coming Monday ”. We were practically speechless before bursting into screams of joy.

Strand Play Park was immediately put to use. After the grand opening on that morning, Nathalie and I cut the ribbon with the school’s head boy and head girl infront of all the pupils, staff and other important dignitaries. The atmosphere was electric. That same afternoon, Eirik, one of the teachers from Strand vgs. had football training with the P7 class. Being a well-known football player in our region, he had to test the football pitch.

sports at such a high altitude and in the strong sunshine was a new experience for us and we needed even more energy than usual.

After lunch, we played volleyball, basketball and football matches.

The pupils who did not play were enthusiastic sideline spectators and we enjoyed it as they cheered and called our names. The day was full of joy and laughter. There is no doubt in our minds that the Play Park was a good investment and it was fantastic to experience how much joy it brought to the school and the children.

It was the second time pupils and teachers from our school have visited Child Africa, Uganda, to see how our fund-raising efforts help less fortunate children. Even though there was very little space in the classrooms, the pupils made room for us to join in on their lessons.

Back home, we use individual desks and chairs, so it wasn’t easy for us to write and draw on the shared ones. Sports and dance with three nursery classes was a fun and unique experience and we were surprised at how quickly the children learned our dance. It was good to see all the desks that Strand vgs have given to the nursery section were in daily use

too. In the past Strand pupils have also donated cupboards, rhythm instruments, shelves and a water tower. It was a good feeling to see that all these things were needed and were helping others. During lessons, playtime, and mealtimes, we got to know lots of the pupils.

We had such a good time and shed tears when we had to say goodbye.

Child Africa does a fantastic job and I am very lucky to have had this once-in-a-life opportunity of visiting them to see the same with my own eyes. I now understand how hard people have to work to make a little difference. There are so many things that people in Uganda do not have access to, things that in Norway, my friends and I take for granted. When I reflect back on my week in Africa, I still hear birds singing and other noises of nature, I see welcoming, kind and happy faces and I smell the dry air and feel the warmth on my skin. My visit to Child Africa has given me memories that will follow me all the days of my life.

Liv is a pupil at Strand videregående skole, Norway

The following Wednesday, a school sports day, in which pupils, staff and visitors participated in, was organized.

Before lunch was athletics. Doing

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Education

A student reads a book from a cabinet filled with illustrated children’s books in Kinyarwanda language in a second grade classroom at the Groupe Scolair Ruhanga Primary School in Burera District of Rwanda.

Photo: Colin Crowley/Save the Children

Championing Quality Education in East Africa

BY RUTH KOSHAL, Senior Program Manager, Save the Children International, East Africa Regional Program Save the Children International (SCI) joins partners in celebrating the Day of the African Child on June 16th 2014.

This year, the theme is on education specifically, A Child Friendly, Quality, Free and Compulsory Education for all Children in Africa. The East Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, supports SCI’s work in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia.

The inspiration of the Regional Program based in Nairobi is that SCI will be the voice for children to increase the speed and spread of positive change for Child Rights. Six countries in the region have committed to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), which outlines that education is a right of every child. The ACRWC is the only document in the continent that specifically covers the rights and responsibilities of children.

These states have signed up to global development goals that include specific

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education targets. SCI’s education strategy is aligned with these collective principles and aims.

SCI’s Education Global Initiative seeks to collaborate and partner with government, civil society, children, teachers and others to ensure that by 2030, children everywhere receive quality education and have good learning outcomes. In order for this to happen, there are specific targets.

These include good learning results by the time a child is 12 years old, a reduced

SCI THEMATIC FOCUS AREAS • • • • • •

Child Protection Child Rights Governance Disaster Risk Reduction Education Health and Nutrition Hunger and Livelihoods.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

gap between the rich and poor and basic numeracy, literacy and life skills which will prepare children for fulfilling work and other opportunities. As a child, I remember asking my friends, “What do you want to become when you grow up?” I would get different answers like “a doctor, lawyer, pilot, policewoman” and so on. With good and quality education, each of us can fulfill our dreams, goals and aspirations.

There are good examples of quality education in the East African region.

SCI has an education breakthrough (what we want to achieve) that states: All children can read by the time they leave primary school; and children caught up in humanitarian crises have access to quality education. Different countries have already implemented activities that are likely to lead to this achievement.

Regional activities SCI in Ethiopia for instance, strengthened early childhood care and

education (ECCE) centers, carried out a literacy boost pilot and vocational training. In Kenya, SCI ensured that some children with disabilities were placed in regular schools with special units. Also, pilot cash transfers in primary schools are being implemented with a focus on girls, and subsidized school fees and school materials provided to children withdrawn from harmful work under an innovative project known as Children Lead the Way. They are also focusing on reaching marginalized children out of school, children and youth within the Dadaab refugee camps and host communities with quality basic education, literacy and vocational skills. The Adolescent Girls Initiative Program aims to reach at least 10,000 adolescent girls aged 1014 in two marginalized geographies in Kenya – Northern arid lands and Urban Slums – with a range of interventions in the health, prevention of violence, wealth creation, and education sectors.

The aim of working with these girls is to intervene at a time when girls are experiencing a myriad of challenges, but before those challenges result in irreversible outcomes.

An innovative program known as Advancing the Right to Read which focuses on promoting literacy and numeracy from ages 0-8 was set up in Rwanda as well as the Children’s Book Initiative which supports the publishing industry to develop more and better quality children’s books. A creative approach was set up by SCI Somalia known as the camel library and Interactive Radio Instruction to reach children of the pastoralist communities’ and improve literacy and numeracy skills. An Alternative Basic Education approach was also initiated to provide a flexible time to fit education into the lifestyle of the community. SCI in South Sudan actively participated in the development of a National Alternative Education Systems Policy as well as cattle camp learning centers.

Through SCI’s Child Rights Governance intervention, South Sudan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2013, which includes the right to education. SCI also works with the parliamentary Lobby Group for Children in advocating for increased budget allocation and spending on education. As a result, the government of South Sudan increased its education budget from 4% to 5.03% in 2013.

In Sudan, the focus was primarily on increasing access and improving quality of education by promoting activity-based and child-centered teaching, improving school physical environment, educating families and communities about the importance of education, as well as improving school health and hygiene through the provision of latrines, water sources and hand-washing as well as strengthening local capacity and community engagement in school management.

In Tanzania, SCI has participated in the development of National Guidelines for Establishment of Child Protection in Schools. SCI Uganda implemented a program on Education for Youth Empowerment which empowers vulnerable children and youth (aged 1225) through quality education, training and life skills. SCI Uganda entered into a partnership with Vision Group to work together on a Newspaper in Education (NiE) media project aimed at deepening the understanding of child rights among children, teachers, parents and administrators to bridge the information gap on child rights.

A child-friendly version of Advancing Child Rights, which is a guide for civil society to engage with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child has been developed by SCI East Africa Regional Program.

Children from South Sudan, Senegal, Egypt and Zambia actively participated in preparing this document. A short film (cartoon) will be made to accompany this document.

The Barriers Some of the barriers to free, quality

and child-friendly education include corporal punishment in schools where children are beaten. This resulting to hurting and demotivating them. SCI has done a lot of work in advocating for a total ban on corporal punishment as well as training teachers, government officials and civil society staff on positive discipline. Other challenges include the fact that the current curriculum is not always child-friendly and the low quality of education in schools owing to insufficient number of teachers, classrooms, text-books, literacy and numeracy materials. There is the challenge of high drop-out rates of marginalized children such as pastoralists, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

For life-long impact, education should equip children and young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be economically active and responsible citizens. To be truly sustainable, education requires widespread support and investment, underpinned by global and national policies. This is why SCI’s education strategy particularly focuses on Quality education (to support effective learning), ensuring access to education for marginalized and vulnerable children (including those in humanitarian emergencies), early childhood care and development, youth skills and empowerment and driving the global and national education policy.

There have been many achievements in the recent past. However, much more needs to be done. It is time to raise our voices for quality, free, compulsory and child friendly education.

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL US… • What activities have you been involved in, as far as education is concerned?

• As a child, what would you say about your education? Is it childfriendly, free and of good quality?

• In what ways can your government ensure lasting improvements in your education?

• In what ways can SCI and other international organisations support a free, quality and child-friendly education activity in your country?

SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO: The Editor, BINGWA Magazine, P.O. BOX 823-00606, Nairobi, Kenya. Or email: editor@bingwa.org

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PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN AFRICA On 16 June 2014, children across Africa will celebrate the Day of the African Child (DAC) under the theme “A Child Friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for All children in Africa”. Indeed, every year, a Committee of Experts known as the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), in consultation with children in Africa, identifies a theme for celebration on the DAC. In the Committee, we often say that children are the future of Africa, and children in Africa have made it clear in various occasions that they can achieve the hopes and aspirations for a brighter future. In order to achieve these, a child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education, for both boys and girls and everywhere on the continent, is very important.

We hope that you will have the chance to communicate this strong message to your various leaders and governments on this day. It is also our hope that you will organize events in your schools, religious centers, communities, families and other contexts in order to celebrate the Day and discuss the importance of education for all children- including children with disabilities, the girl child, children in rural areas, children affected by conflict, and children who come from poor backgrounds. Read all about the history of the DAC on Page 4.

permanent basis to ensure that children rights are promoted and respected in 47 countries in Africa. Your governments have agreed to recognize African children’s specific rights which are contained in a document called the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

These rights include the right to be protected from violence, the right to health, the right not to be married as a child, and the right not to be discriminated against.

Of course the right to education

The commitment of the African Committee to promote the rights and wellbeing of children is not limited to the DAC. The Committee works on a

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

is also included and is found in article 11 of the Charter.

But, not all African governments are bound by the Charter.

Unfortunately, children in seven African countries namely Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saharawi Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tunisia are not bound by the Charter. To remedy this situation, the Committee of Experts has launched a Campaign to push those states to Ratify and Report on the measures they are taking to allow those children to fully enjoy their rights by 2015. Why in 2015? Because the Campaign is scheduled to build towards the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Charter which is in 2015.

We wish you a good celebration of the Day of the African Child on 16 June 2014!

Quiz SUBMITTED BY ANNA HASPER & RICHARD BYARD

WHAT’S YOUR

LEARNING STYLE?

Find out a little more about your mind and how it works best…

Are you a visual, kinesthetic or an auditory learner? Circle one answer for each question below, then follow the instructions at the end to work out your learning preferences.

1. You want to plan a surprise party for a friend. You would: A talk about it to others B invite friends and just let it happen C imagine the party happening 2. After reading a story you need to do a project on it.

You would: A tell others about it B act it out C draw or sketch something that happened in the play 3. You are about to use the new computer at school.

You would: A ask a friend how to do it B start playing with and see what happens C follow the diagrams that show how it is done 4. Do you prefer a teacher who likes to use: A class discussions B field trips, case studies or experiments C a textbook, diagrams and/or charts 5. You have to present your ideas to your class. You would: A write a few key words and practice what to say again and again B gather examples and stories to make it real and practical C make diagrams or get graphs to help explain your ideas 6. You need to give directions to go to a house nearby.

You would:

RESULTS

A tell them the directions B walk with them C write down the directions as a list or draw a map on a piece of paper 7. You are going to make something special for your family. You would: A talk it over with your friends B make something you have made before and see how you go C look for ideas, plans and instructions in books and magazines

8. Remember when you learned how to play a new game. You learned best by: A listening to somebody explaining it and asking questions B watching others do it first C reading the instructions and diagrams in the instructions 9. You want some feedback about an event, competition or test. You would like to have feedback: A from somebody who discussed it with you B that used examples of what you have done C that used graphs showing what you achieved 10. You are not sure how a word should be spelt. You would: A hear them in your mind or out loud B write both words on paper and choose one C see the words in your mind and choose by how they look

Count the number of responses where you circled A, then count those where you circled B, and then count those where you circled C. The letter with the highest count suggests the primary learning style that helps you remember things best. Don’t worry, you will still remember a lot using other styles too. We are all different.

Test adapted from Neil Fleming at vark-learn.com.

ANSWERS ON PG. 45

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KNOW YOUR A child is every human being below the age of eighteen years.

Enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are some of the following (summarized) child rights. In Africa, the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights of the Child (ACERWC) has the mandate of monitoring the promotion and protection of these children’s rights.

✔︎ All children have the right to enjoy these rights regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, nationality and social origin. ✔︎ All children have the right to life. ✔︎ All children have the right to a name, identity and nationality. ✔︎ All children have the right to an education. ✔︎ All children have the right to special care if disabled ✔︎ All children have the right to good health care and proper nutrition. ✔︎ All children have the right to be protected from harm, neglect or exploitation. ✔︎ All children have the right to having their privacy protected. ✔︎ All children have the right to be raised or have a relationship with their parents. ✔︎ All children have the right to express their opinions and have these listened to and where appropriate, acted upon. ✔︎ All children have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. ✔︎ All children have the right to play and enjoy culture and art in safety.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

COMPETITION WHAT CHAMPIONS KNOW AND WANT Have you read and enjoyed this issue of BINGWA Magazine? Are you a champion who likes working in a team? Here is a chance for you and your classmates to work together to win amazing prizes for your school!

CHALLENGE 1 Using pictures, show BINGWA readers how you would like to celebrate the Day of the African Child.

CHALLENGE 2 Using words, tell BINGWA readers what you know about your rights as a child.

Use real life examples to explain.

SEND YOUR ENTRY TO: The Editor, BINGWA Magazine, ‘BINGWA Competition’ P.O. BOX 823-00606, Nairobi, Kenya.

Or email: editor@bingwa.org

PLEASE NOTE: • Your entry must reach us by August 15th 2014 • At the back of your entry, do not forget to include your class, school, and a telephone or mobile phone number (even your teachers’) we can reach you on • Winners will be chosen based on the creativity, good grammar and quality of artwork • This competition is open to pupils aged 9-13 in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.

• The winning entries will be published in the next issue.

ISSUE 12

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Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy, normally from the sun, into chemical energy...

...chlorophyll is very important for this process...

do you understand what he is teaching?

No I don't!

The last time I asked him to explain a point, he told me to read my notes more carefully.

It seems I'm not the only one!

we can’t just complain and whisper. we should do something! let me ask my parents what to do.

goodbye class! i have to leave early. read your notes carefully!

?

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

later at home, janet tells her parents about the -science class...

did you say he doesn’t even notice pupils sleeping?

later, janet’s parents are out shopping, and they meet with other parents...

the next day, the parents gather at the school and report to the headteacher what is happening...

our daughter says she doesn’t understand anything in the science class.

Thank you all for reporting the matter to me. I promise you that we will get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible!

Yes, we don't understand the lessons because all he does is read out notes for us to write.

yes! our son told us the same thing. he said the teacher just reads from a book without explaining!

We must find out what is happening with that teacher.

You are the fifth parent to tell us this. I think its time we reported the matter to the headteacher.

if you were the head teacher, what would you do?

the end.

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S R A T S G

N I S I R

These young champions are not afraid to follow their dreams, be people of integrity and speak their mind.

In July 2013, she was invited to perform her poems at The Legacy of Hope Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Hospital Campaign Launch, in New York. It was at this event that she was also named a ‘Legacy of Hope Youth Ambassador’ - a role that she has embraced whole-heartedly. Later in the same year, she was awarded the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) Best Praise Singer Award for her ‘Ke Motswana’ poem in praise of her culture.

Botlhale won the Mobile Science Lab Award at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists (National Levels) where she represented her school and province.

She is currently a grade eight student at St. Stithians Girl’s College in Johannesburg, South Africa.

by Solomon Atah, Johannesburg What I love most about performing poetry… With poetry, I can reach out to people and inspire them.

My way of overcoming challenges is… Sometimes writing a poem on a particular subject can be a challenge. So what I do is I write such a poem in stages, until it comes together. I also plan in advance so that I do not fall behind on my schoolwork. Because I do not know when I might be too busy with performances, I do my assignments and projects way ahead.

South Africa’s Bothale Boikanyo is a thirteen year-old awardwinning poet, actress and dancer.

She started performing at the age of six, but it wasn’t until the 2012 edition of South Africa’s Got Talent that she got her first big break. Her self-confidence and dynamic ability of writing and narrating her own poems, brought audiences at various stages of the competition to their feet, and saw her walk away with the grand prize of R250,000 cash. Little did we know that this was just the first beginning.

40

When do you write your poetry? I do it anytime; in the car, while doing the dishes, in front of my mirror, in the shower. All this helps because I am always ready.

We understand you are more than a poet… I am also a Hip-Hop, Latin and Ballroom dancer and do visual arts (crafts) as a hobby. You will soon see my acting skills in a new film.

What is your greatest dream?

To become an entrepreneur and expand on my poetic artistry and acting. For now, I am focusing on my school work, poetry and recording

FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

my new album. scheduled release in May 2014.

for

On corruption in Africa… I don’t really know much about corruption but I am aware that it is a crisis in our country. There is bribery and misuse of funds just to name a few.

Most memorable moments…When I arrived in my home province (Mafikeng, North West) after being announced the winner of ‘2012 South Africa’s Got Talent’ competition. The welcome was mind blowing; the whole city came to a stand-still just for me. I felt like a hero. My heart still melts at the thought of it.

Advice to the BINGWA readers…

Be obedient to mum and dad.

My life’s philosophy… Education + Jesus = Success Favourite Drama.

subject

in

school…

Favourite music… House Music.

All-time best book… Swipe by Evan Angler. @SolomonAtah

real ongo Aslay, whose

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AN ENERGETIC FRESH VOICE FROM TANZANIA

ISSUE 12

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Stars Rising

PHOEBE NEKESA …is 10 years old and goes to Kampala Junior Academy.

Being a celebrity at such a young age feels… Great!

I was popular even before I started presenting on TV because I am a prefect in my school. Being a celebrity is not about the fame it’s about being a role model. I love children so much that I feel such a special bond with them. Some girls at my school even call me ‘mummy’.

Who inspires you and why? My mum is like a woman warrior; she’s always there, she stands out and even stands up for what she believes in. I want to be like her. I also want to be the first woman president. I also admire Kleith Kyataira and David both TV personalities; they inspired me to be a presenter.

UGANDA’S K-PLANET TV STARS Phoebe Nekesa and David Luwagaa are TV personalities who host K-Planet, a kids program which airs every Saturday morning on NTV Uganda.

What I know about corruption… Corruption is greedgreed of money. I think that the men and women in Government should give to the needy of this country, because people are suffering.

How do you think corruption has affected Uganda?

Our country is losing money because of corruption.

Do you know any forms of corruption? An example is when a judge is handling a case and then receives a bribe to change a proper decision.

What are some of the ways we can fight it? Do you think it can be fought? Yes, of course it can be fought.

Ugandans just need to come together and join hands as a nation and fight corruption.

As a TV presenter, how do you think you can reach out to both children and adults watching about corruption? I can talk about what I feel on TV. Since we do not use scripts, we are allowed to talk about what we feel is right. I would tell them to join hands and fight corruption so that our country can be a better place.

Do you think that when children are educated about corruption at a young age they will fight corruption?

Sometimes, people become corrupt because of the friends they keep. Another reason is not having enough.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

DAVID LUWAGAA … is 12 years old and goes to Galaxy International School, (Lubowa) Uganda.

Being a celebrity at such a young age feels… I don’t think of myself as a celebrity. I am simply popular and a public figure in my school but not a celebrity.

Who inspires you and why? My mum. She is the person who makes me want to wake up every day and go out and make my life different and better.

What I know about corruption…Corruption can mean stealing money. A person like that is greedy, a failure and is not patriotic in most cases. If you are corrupt, you do not love and do not follow the ten commandments of God, meaning you cannot make a difference.

How do you think corruption has affected Uganda? It hinders the development of our country. It also scares away investors and tarnishes our image as a country.

Do you know any forms of corruption? Corruption is not just about money; corruption can be in the mind as well, where you only think about stealing money. So it is physical, mental and verbal.

What are some of the ways we can fight it? Do you think it can be fought? To change corruption is quite difficult, I would however prefer if we had tracking systems in Uganda where there is tight security and people are responsible for the money allocated. Whereby if it is lost you are directly responsible.

As a TV presenter, how do you think you can reach out to the children and adults watching about corruption?

If a child stays with a corrupt person, in most cases they do not understand what is happening. If I had a chance to get the children together, I would explain to them what corruption really means and the dangers it causes to society.

Do you think that when children are educated about corruption at a young age they will be able to fight corruption? Yes. Everyone needs to change not just the young ones. The teachers at school need to make sure that children understand the disadvantages of corruption and know that they can stop corruption from developing now. If they understand it now, then they will practically grow up as people with integrity. If people love their country and the world then they should fight corruption.

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Stars Rising

BY KABEERIA M’MBOGORI

ACTIVIST FOR A GREENER AFRICA ENVIRONMENTALIST STEPHEN NJOROGE: He is the environmental activist who started the ‘We Care Club’ at nine years of age. Today, the club has over 5,000 members. In September 2012, he was featured in Business Mind Magazine, as the ‘Top Under 20’ entrepreneur. On 18th October 2012 , he was feted on the UN Day at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi. In November 2012, he was appointed the Green Africa Foundation Goodwill Ambassador and on 15th November 2012, he established a ‘Kibaki Green Corner’ in honour of former President Kibaki’s birthday. On 17th November 2012, he was the chief guest at the ‘Plant Your Age Initiative’ at Nairobi National Park. He is also the voice of children on the Board of Visionaries for Vision 2030. He is 13 years-old and goes to Makini School in Nairobi, Kenya.

We Care Club is about…

I CARE stands for ‘I Create Awareness and take Responsibility for the Environment’. I started the We Care Club when I was nineyears old, because I care a whole load about the environment. My interest in the environment begun when I was three-years old. The club, which has planted over 15,000 trees to date. began with two classmates from Makini School.

Some of the highlights of your work… Green birthdays; where instead of just blowing out candles we plant our age like we did the former president Kibaki’s birthday.

My passion for the environment is celebrated and because of this I have visited every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Explain some pressing issues affecting the environment… Kenya loses 5.6 million trees a day! It is a miracle that there are still forests standing. Its no wonder that access to clean water and other effects of pollution are affecting us all. Water is life and sanitation is dignity.

What can BINGWA readers do?

We must fight ignorance, by being trained and educated. For example,

let us take it upon ourselves to remove pools of water where mosquitoes breed around us; this is a step to preventing disease in our homes and schools. We can even make Africa cooler and greener by learning how to think, not just what to think.

Let’s create wealth by planting seedlings to generate income and use this experience in doing business. When I started We Care Club I used to spend my pocket money on seedlings, this was a sacrifice, but when you do something you love, nothing is ever too much.

What are you dreams or ambitions?

As an environmentalist, I am what I wanted to be. My ambition is to see a better environment and a green Kenya. Wangari Maathai is my environmental role model and Nelson Mandela the leader I admire.

Favorite tree: Mango because of the fruits Favorite animal: Humming bird Favorite Movies: Comedy, Action and some animations.

Favorite Subject: Science

ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS FROM STEPHEN Everyday activities can make a big difference; • Go digital, reduce paper by learning from digital platforms like screens • Closing taps tightly (imagine if one million people have dripping taps this results in wasting millions of gallons of water) • Avoid littering. Carry your trash until you reach a bin. If you are uncomfortable then let that burden weigh on your conscience until you find a bin.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

ANSWERS MAGICAL WORLD OF NUMBERS (PG. 27) (A) NUMBER MAZE

MATCH OUTLINE (PG. 19)

MAtch the picture of dugong the sea cow with it’s correct outline.

(B) BRAIN BINDERS (I) RECTIFY EQUATION ANSWER Move the number 2 half a line up to make: 101 - 102 = 1 (II) HOURGLASS Start both hourglasses at the same time.

After 4 minutes turn upside down and restart the 4 minute hourglass. When the 7-minute hourglass is finished turn it upside down and restart. The 4 minute hourglass has 1 minute left in it and when it finishes the 7 minute hourglass will have spilt one minute of sand. Turn the 7 minute hourglass over again and let the 1 minute it had spilt run back. That adds up to 9 minutes i.e.

4+4+1=9

A

C

B

D

MY DREAMS FOR KENYA COMPETITION WINNERS (PG. 46) Yuri Sadia, HiIl School, Eldoret, Kenya Beatrice Adhiambo Okoth, Amalemba Primary School, Kakamega, Kenya QUIZ ANSWERS: WHAT’S YOUR LEARNING STYLE? (PG. 35) A = Auditory learner: You learn best by hearing information.

Speaking about ideas helps you remember them better. Listening to others and/or recordings is very helpful too.

B = Kinesthetic learner: You learn by moving around and doing things, touching and feeling things.

Songs, games and dance can really help you remember what you study.

C = Visual learner: You learn best by reading information or seeing pictures and diagrams. Looking at your teachers when they speak can help you remember quicker.

SYNONYMS CROSSWORD (PG. 26) 1. Cover 2. Create 3. Disaster 4. Shake 5. Glorious 6. Redundant 7. Panorama 8. Sprout 9. Often 10. Realm

T-SHIRT WINNERS • Girimbabazi Emmanuel, Homecare Preparatory School, Uganda. (Pg. 6 & 7) • Bernard Waweru, Moi Primary School, Nakuru, Kenya (Pg. 7) • Malcom Muriuki, Abba Juniour Primary School, Nairobi, Kenya. (Pg. 7) • Carla Iglesias, Rainbow International School, Uganda. (Pg. 18) • Atuheire Edina, Kabale Primary School, Uganda. (Pg. 18) • Said Abdi, St. John’s Catholic Primary School, Kenya. (Pg. 18) • Maureen Nyambura, Sacred Heart Girls Boarding School, Kenya. (Pg. 6)

• • • • • • • •

Faith Wahu, Moi Primary School, Nakuru, Kenya. (Pg. 18) Rebecca Antonetti, Rainbow International School, Uganda. (Pg. 7) Redan Daniel Murigu, Gateway Primary School, Kenya. (Pg. 10) James Dranyuma, Kingsway Primary School, Uganda. (Pg. 10) Kisakaye Marion, Greenhill Academy, Uganda. (Pg. 10) Denis KIkuvi, Shalom Academy, Machakos, Kenya. (Pg. 18) Santana Mwango, Chogoria Complex Primary School, Meru. (Pg. 19) Ann Wayness, Chesternel Schools, Embu, Kenya. (Pg. 19)

DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD WORDSEARCH (PG. 19) 1. Apartheid 2. Soweto 3. Uprising 4. Rights 5. Education 6. Language 7. Protests 8. Afrikaans 9. Discrimination 10. Race

ISSUE 12

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ISSUE

KONZA CITY IN 50 YEARS

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YURI SADIA, HILL SCHOOL — ELDORET, KENYA.

TOP FIVE ACHIEVEMENTS OF

KENYA SINCE 1963

Education is one of the sectors every country yearns to improve. The expansion of higher institutions of learning and the introduction of free primary education have seen the citizens scale new heights. For those living handto-mouth, it has relieved them of the burden of school fees. The upgrade of roads such as the Thika Super Highway have also led to the magnificent development of urban centers. Air-strips and airports have also made transportation faster. There are many industries in both the towns and rural areas and more schools and hospitals now cater for the growing population.

Kenya has not been left behind in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as the government is geared towards ensuring all Kenyans are ICT literate through educational institutions. One of Kenya’s most recent achievements is the promulgation of the new constitution. It has led to important reforms and is contributing to the ending of various forms of discrimination. May God bless my country Kenya.

By Beatrice Adhiambo Okoth, Amalemba Primary School, Kakamega, Kenya

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

Pictorial

APRIL 2014: BINGWA Magazine was thoroughly wowed by these girls at the Kenya National Drama Festivals in Nyeri, Kenya.

CHILD AFRICA PUPILS FIGHT CORRUPTION Child Africa Junior School, Kabale, Uganda school pupils understand that corruption is damaging their country. The schools’ Music, Dance and Drama Group used drama and song to show ways of fighting corruption in a play written

by Teacher Elia.

The plot: Corruption is evil and is polluting Uganda as it craftily creeps into the minds and lives of innocent children. Children need to be awake and not give in to the evil ways of corruption. To prevent the further breeding of corruption in young minds, the best way is to fight corruption.

ISSUE 12

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Pictorial

1

2

3

4 6

5 1. Book Week at Rainbow International School, Uganda.

2. Riara Springs Primary School pupils (Kenya) perform a Swahili piece during their annual concert.

3. Pupils of KIlimani Primary School, Kenya during the first 2014 read-aloud stir-up in preparation for the 2015 Guinness World Record for the most number of people reading aloud from the same text at the same time’.

4. Rainbow International School, Uganda, during the World Swim Against Malaria.

5. Muthoni Garland leads the read-aloud stir-up during the 2013 Storymoja Hay Festival in Kenya.

6. Riara Springs Primary School pupils (Kenya) ready to perform at their annual concert.

7. Child Africa champions at the launch of the new Bingwa campaign at Grand Imperial Hotel, Uganda.

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION BY BUILDING INTEGRIT Y IN THE CHILDREN OF AFRIC A

KenGen Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge

The KenGen Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge is an environmental conservation programme targeted at 200 primary and secondary schools close to KenGen power stations in Embu and Machakos counties.

The schools are provided with between 300-600 seedlings to develop the best woodlots in their compounds. To determine the winning schools, the final evaluation will be done after two-years based on creativity, effort and growth rate.

FUN FACT The free seedlings provided are Cassia siamea and Melia volkensil (Mukau), both of which can survive in arid and semi-arid areas.

AWARDS • 1st Prize-20,000 litres water tank, a trip to a KenGen facility and Kshs. 40,000 in cash.

• 2nd Prize-15,000 litres water tank and Kshs. 30,000 in cash.

• 3rd Prize-10,000 litres water tank and Kshs. 20,000 in cash.

SPONSORED BY:

SUPPORTED BY:

Energy for the nation

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

CALL FOR

YOUR CONTRIBUTION A special edition of BINGWA Magazine will be published in November 2014. The aim of this special edition is to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as we take stock of its achievements.

Join us in this celebration by doing any of the following: 1. Write a short story about the children’s right or rights that you value most.

2. Tell us about an incident when your rights as a child were violated and what you did about it.

3. What you would like your government or international organisations to do for children in your country.

4. Using pictures, tell us what you understand about children’s rights.

Entries are welcome from BINGWA readers aged 9-13 going to school in Africa

PLEASE NOTE: • Your entry must reach us by August 15th 2014 • At the back of your entry, do not forget to include your full name, age, class, school, and a telephone or mobile phone number (even your teachers’) we can reach you on.

• Your contribution could be published and read by millions of children in Africa.

SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO: The Editor, BINGWA Magazine, ‘BINGWA CONTRIBUTIONS’ P.O. BOX 823-00606, Nairobi, Kenya.

Or email: editor@bingwa.org

www.savethechildren.net info@savethechildren.org Save the Children East Africa Region

www.bingwa.org

BINGWA Magazine

@BingwaMagazine

@EA_Savechildren