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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
with Betty Mungai
LIFE IS A JOURNEY
Moving On For Wellbeing
NEW YEAR - 2019 Leaping In Style
TALKING INTEGRATION
How to do about it
Utulivu Women’s Group Annual Report 2017-18 Pg 11-14
International Zero Tolerance Day To Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 2019
Ending FGM in a Generation: The Case for Men Friday, 8th February 2018 from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm Reading Hilton Hotel RG2 0GQ FGM has been described as a global epidemic, it’s a Human Rights Violation and it’s against the Law. You can talk to someone because it is everybody’s business to ‘End It’. Men are now talking more than ever before.
Speakers include: Dr. Charles Dotou - Health implications & why men need to speak out Walters Tanifum - Safeguarding Implications for Professionals Kate Agar - Schools Programme on FGM Acre Men’s Group - Why FGM should Stop Victoria Hunter - Rose Centre Contact: 07859063643 / 01189 510 279 email: info@utulivu.co.uk / info@acre-reading.org Refreshments will be provided Supported by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Editor’s Welcome Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Berkshire Mojatu Magazine B030. Check out our cover story an exclusive interview with Betty Mungai (Pg 4). We also have quite an insightful and informative article on Moving on WellBeing (Pg 8). We highlight the Utulivu Women’s Group Annual Report 2017-2018 which presents the challenges and opportunities which in many ways have helped us strengthen our resolve to achieve various objectives. With the key focus on empowering women and young people with the support of men through events and activities that promote healthy family relationships, career progression among others has remains the motivation to our continued tireless work (Pg 11-15). We also bring you a Family Matters article (Pg 16) which highlights the definition of family and how it begins as well as the challenges faced by families. We have an exciting article about a motivational woman, who has achieved great academic heights despite challenges. Lillian Saidi is an inspiration to the youth (Pg 17). We have also featured in this issue, 21 food that can make you gain weight (pg18) and personal development plan in 2019 (pg 20). There are lots more fun and informative contents on health, segregation and accountancy, we not only believe that you will enjoy the contents, but you will also be able to give us feedback on your views and how best we can serve you better. Happy Reading! Happy Reading! Cecily Mwaniki Managing Editor: Mojatu magazines Email: news@mojatu.com
Editorial Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managing Editor: info@cmnetwork.co.uk Graphic Design: Robert Borbely Contributors: Kris Gunnars | Cecily Mwaniki | Jammie Koroma | Mary Juan Pierino | Valentine Nkoyo | Lilian Mshila | Simon Allison | Wafula IT / Social Media: Daniel Ibinimion Photos: Robert Borbely Accounts: John Gordon - accounts@mojatu.com Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com
Contents News & Sports Rising from Ashes .............................................................. 4 Poem By Annice Thomas ................................................ 5
Community Mental Health First Aid................................................. 6-7 Moving On For WellBeing............................................ 8-9 Victor and Cecily Win Awards......................................10 Utulivu Women Repor............................................. 11-14 Your Voice Matters ..........................................................15 Family Matters ..................................................................16 The Box of the Covenant ..............................................17
Health & Food 21 Foods That Can Make You Gain Weight....... 18-19
Arts and Culture Leaping to 2019 in Style......................................... 20-21 The Way We Tak of Integration ...................................22
Business & Finance WKM Accountancy...........................................................23
Cover
Betty Mungai
Mojatu Foundation Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.
News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Non Executive Directors / Trustees: Finance: Angela Wathoni - angela@mojatu.com Marketing: Dr. Tabani Ndlovu - sales@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage subs@mojatu.com Address: Utulivu Women’s Group, 555 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8NXT 0118 907 2534 | 0785 9063643 | 07516 962992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumagazine Printers: Mojatu Publications
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RISING FROM THE ASHES - By Betty Mungai There is always a pivotal point in anyone’s life where it can all change. Your destiny. Your legacy. Your life. Where it counts the most and the decisions made or lack there of will have immense consequences on the current and future generations. You could say it comes down to purpose and let’s face it no one knows the purpose of life, at least no one can tell you what yours is. In life you get tested and the aim is to rise above all that. The greatest people in the world Nelson Mandela, Alexander the great changed the world and will be remembered for time to come. Faith – belief in things not yet seen. Alexander the great saw victory and hope to win a war when everyone else had surrendered. At the end of the day there was only two ways it could have played out: win or perish. Martin Luther – ‘I have a dream’ I would categorise life in four different areas that each individual would like to win in to have a fulfilling life: love, health, wealth and happiness. Over the last few months, my health and happiness pillar was rocked to the core. Getting really sick and being given hours to live after being diagnosed with an immune condition that has no cure. All the vital organs were failing or malfunctioning, my body was a ticking time bomb. That was scary moment for anyone, leave alone a young person with dreams and hopes ahead of them. What about those ideas that keep me up at night and get me excited? What about the impact I had envisioned I would
make in the world? What about the lives I thought I would change? What about my dreams to have a family? What about just being healthy and living a normal life? It felt like negotiation time and literally a fight to survive. I came out of it. Now was time to get back to normal I suppose? No. It was time to rebuild. I had no idea what I would rebuild it into and that is the whole point. Pivotal. Rebuilding into my own image, of how things should be. Create. And starting from nothing is the part, when you are sad, lost, broke and depressed and you are at rock bottom you can start over with precision. Renovating an existing house is way harder than building a fresh one, there are constrains in the existing structures. I decided that it was time to visualise what I want my life to look like with the four areas in place. And being a person of faith, I asked God as he puts desires in our hearts, after all you have not because you ask not. I made the image as extravagant as I could, dreaming is free. Right? I allowed myself to love me a little more by betting on myself, forgiving myself quickly and celebrating the small and big wins. My loses too – I was winning on comparison to the person on the couch who was taking zero action. I got laser focused by working daily on my goals. I decided to add value to others and enrich their lives. I got down deep in personal development to get my mind right, read about people who have the results I wanted. Each day I am creating my story, just like Michalangelo who started with a blank canvas the aim is to create a master piece. Create your story, change your life
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POEM BY ANNICE THOMAS
Written for young people and adults suffering poor mental health
Annice is a long time and experienced social work and a children’s therapist. As such she has interacted with different people and dealt with some of the inevitable life’s challenges which she has no words to express her feelings but to use poetry to do so. Being a pastor’s wife, it enriches her experience as she can see and do things from a spiritual point of view too. Below is one of her many poems that she has put on paper over the years
The pain I feel... The pain I feel is an endless wheel That continues round and round The pain I feel screams out loud Not making a single solitary sound The pain I feel crushes my soul And leaves me so raw and cold The pain I feel has no words So my pain goes unspoken and untold The pain I feel has left me numb Has ripped me wide apart The pain I feel hurts everyday And drives a wedge deep in my heart The pain I feel needs to leave But I don’t know where to start The pain I feel has taken over And daily rips my life apart The pain I feel is causing me harm I need to raise an alarm The pain I feel makes me restless inside I need to feel safe and calm The pain I feel needs to flee Please help me as I am desperate to be pain free
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News & Sports
Adult MHFA
Mental Health First Aid starts with you Learn more at mhfaengland.org
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Berkshire What is Mentalconnected Health First Aid? Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis. Adult MHFA courses are for everyone aged 16 upwards. Every MHFA course is delivered by a quality assured instructor who has attended our Instructor Training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health, and is trained to keep people safe and supported while they learn.
What will I learn? Learning takes place through a mix of group activities, presentations and discussions. What you learn will depend on the length of course you attend: Two Day - Mental Health First Aiders A practical skills and awareness course designed to give you: − A deeper understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect people’s wellbeing, including your own − Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues − Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress − Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening − Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to appropriate support
MHFA England™ © 2017 MHFA. All rights reserved.
News & Sports One Day - MHFA Champions An awareness and skills course which will teach you to: − Recognise the main signs and symptoms of common mental health issues − Provide initial support − Guide a person towards appropriate professional help − Be mindful of your own wellbeing − Develop an understanding of how you can create and maintain a healthier workforce or community Half Day - MHFA Aware An introductory course designed to increase mental health awareness and give an understanding of how to look after wellbeing and challenge stigma. When you complete your course you will get a certificate of attendance and an MHFA manual to keep and refer to whenever you need it.
How will attending an MHFA course help? Research and evaluation shows that taking part in an MHFA course: − Raises awareness and mental health literacy − Reduces stigma around mental ill health − Boosts knowledge and confidence in dealing with mental health issues − Promotes early intervention which enables recovery To learn more or book a course, please contact: cecily.mwaniki@berkshire.nhs.uk
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MOVING ON FOR WELLBEING, LIFE IS A JOURNEY: Talking of journey means a lot to everyone. - By Bridget Maingi A journey can be any journey. Goal setting is the key point on every journey. Have you set your goals for the year 2019? My goal is to complete my life event book before the end of the year and to progress my project of raising mental health awareness. A journey may include, career progress, further education, work experience, relationships, family, life events or individual’s past history. What we all need to know, is to take one day at a time. Don’t waste your energy doing things you might regret about tomorrow. How has my journey been? Has it been a straight journey without obstacles? Have I learnt anything on this journey? These are the questions I want to ask myself. No, it hasn’t been easy or straight forward. What kept you going? Was it hard to connect and ask for help? Have you learned something new on that journey? How should we make life better to continue being the people we are and being positive and happy? Telling our own stories is important. Why? When we tell our stories, we share experiences with others. This can be illness, relationships or family matters. We motivate others who find life difficult to cope, those who think they are the only ones going through difficult times. There are those who are just like you and me, they have gone through issues, but they find it hard to talk about it. They find it hard to share with anyone and so suffer in silence, live in fear and endless worries. In such situations when one has fears and worries, chances of becoming depressed are higher than someone who talk or share their problems. Sometimes we just need somebody to listen to our pain and to acknowledge we are struggling or suffering. As I have said before, sharing your difficult issues with someone is good as it’s no longer your problem alone
but a shared problem. If the person you have shared your problem with is in a better place to support you, surely, they will support at that point. In the world we live in, there so many people who struggle with life’s issues, but they are unable to talk even with those they are close to. The inability to talk to anyone is a problem in its own. The idea of encouraging people by telling your own story is to help them. You may ask yourself how you’d help them by telling your own story. It is by listening to you that make them realise they are not alone, others have gone through the same or even deeper and longer than you. Sharing helps to heal the wounds of the past that would have made many suffer depression. Here is how you help. Ill share just a small piece of my personal story. I was born in a family of eight children, I was a forth born child and second born daughter. We were three sisters and five brothers. We grew up with love of one another as brothers and sisters. We enjoyed growing up as siblings just like most families. We used to share jokes, stories and talked a lot of how the day was, things we did and that could keep us awake all night. At times our mother could get up after 2am to get us out of living room to go to bed as we could chat till morning. We were very warm with one another as siblings. However, before we were fully grown-ups, we lost our parents and we were left to care for ourselves, elder taking care of little ones. By that I mean none of us was adult enough to work and care for others. Our lives changed, life became hard due to a lot happening in the family. The love we had while growing up was slowly tested and went down when we started moving into different directions in life. However, we still became adults and two brothers got married, my senior sister went in different direction, the second girl (me) and forth born child was not married and had two little children as a teenager was left at home to
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care for them. I didn’t have a choice but to be in the
ignored when you think the conversions who had were
family home. At times we are happy when families are multiplied with in laws, nieces and nephews and we all love that. Loosing parents before we were mature enough, was the worst nightmare I would never wish anyone to experience. It was the start of a long journey and a lot happened in the family.
productive? TIME WILL TELL
The love we grew up with turned to dislike of one another in different ways. The people who came to the family could not understand why we could support one another. The sad thing, they never asked explanation as to why we support one another. But what they did was to separate siblings from one another by talking bad of others and as siblings we failed to understand what was going on or to challenge that behaviour. To be divided is so easy once there is no collaboration which was easily hindered by not talking or sharing experiences. The warmth we had while growing up was undermined by the love of our extended families. We kept pushing for good relationship but some of us were cold with others. During family meetings, we sit and chat with warmth of one another but when we leave the meeting place you can call your brother or sister and not get a reply. You wonder “didn’t we talk about this” surely, we all have a duty to make strong ties with the family. But what do you do when you’re
Time still moves on in our day to day life. My family, despite obstacles here and there we have lost some of our siblings and they were all adults. They left their own families those we connect positively with. We have lost people we loved, people we loved, and we cared about. Our relationships as siblings was put to test by those who came as friends or as part of family who had little knowledge of the way we all grew up. Some of us in valued the way we were brought up by our parents for the short period they were alive. In any case, life continues. It’s okay to love your family, to love your other half, but that should be equal love for both. The question is, why do we let others dictate our lives? Do we have to push families apart to control other lives just because of love to put your interest first? All families should remain strong despite the obstacles in life. This is just a taste of sharing. Does it help? Yes, for me sharing has helped me in many ways. I have suffered in friendships, in family matters and in relationships. I have shared this piece with you, knowing there’s no family that is 100%. If yours is, please understand those who are unlucky wishes they had perfect family and support where you can but don’t feel obliged
FEARLESS RADIO Do you want your community to have a voice? Then why not get involved in FYA’s new community radio station. We want to hear from local people who care about their communities and want to make a difference. We're especially keen to hear from people with authentic community voices. No previous experience in radio required as technical training is provided. Whether you want to host a weekly show, share your story, play your music or if you just want to hear more please feel free to get in touch Fearless Youth Notts info@fyaonline.com or sophie@mojatu.com 151 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR Phone: 0115 784 6670 Tune in To Fearless Radio https://tunein.com/radio/Fearless-Radio-987-s17066/
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VICTOR KOROMA AND CECILY MWANIKI WIN AWARDS Edited by Angela Wathoni
Victor Koroma and Cecily Mwaniki were joint winners for their work with ACRE, particularly around the issue of FGM, and for their relentless campaigning for equality and fairness. They have been working on reducing the stigma when talking about mental health. With this issue at hand they have come up with ways that people can get an understanding of this. 1. “Mental Illness Awareness means recognizing that mental illness is as real as any physical llness.” 2. “It means recognizing that mental illness affects not only the individual, but everyone from friends and families to entire communities, no matter how big or small.” 3. “It means educating people on what mental illness means, how to prevent it, and to remove the stigma about it.’’ 4. “To be sensitive and knowledgeable about brain diseases. To advocate for mental health by being against stigma and prejudice.”
5. “Mental illness awareness means bringing down the walls of stigma by sharing our experiences, stories, and truths. It means educating others on what mental illness REALLY is and helping those with illnesses know they are not alone.” 6. “Mental health awareness means that we’re not only acknowledging that mental health is important, but we’re talking about it, putting it out there so that people who feel too much can get the help they need too.” 7. “Awareness is the acceptance and understanding of something, in part or whole. It means learning about mental illness and being familiar with the vernacular of the movement. It means accepting the medical nature of it and not asking that people ‘get over it,’ when the solution is much more complex. At its finest, awareness also involves advocacy.” With Cecily and Victor being at the forefront in encouraging communities to carry on the ‘mental hygiene’ work started all those years ago in many different ways and as they have heard the responses from the volunteers of diverse communities, it is important that they are well supported to better promote the mental hygiene of our communities.
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Utulivu Women’s Group
ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 “Keeping Well” - Health & Wealth Together
Utulivu AGM 2018
Background ‘Utulivu’, Swahili word for patience continues to grow from strength to strength as we watch women, men and young people not only survive but thrive through life’s inevitable challenges. Whether it is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), hunger for education, marriage relations, parenting, career growth, financial health etc, Ututivu has strived to be empowered and gone out there and done it despite the strained resources. Consequently, we have witnessed women graduate in various fields, successful businesses started and sustained, reduced school exclusions of our young people, healthy relationships restored, wellbeing promoted etc. We have continued to hold on to our long lived motto of ‘’Coming Together Is Success, Working Together Is Growth and We will Never Let It Go Until Our Good Gets Better and Our Better Gets Best’’.
Meet the Team
The Chair The year presented both challenges and opportunities which in many ways have helped us strengthen our resolve to achieve our stated objectives as a group. Thanks to our dedicated trustees who have driven this with commitment and enthusiasm even in the face of the challenges. Our key focus on empowering women
Cecily Mwaniki
Esther Onduso
Borne Sengwayo Chair
Lillian Mshila
and young people with the support of men through events and activities that promote healthy family relationships, career progression, health and wealth creation among others has remained the motivation to our continued tireless work. We have in many ways reached out to partnership working. The Trustees have continued to empower themselves so that they are better able to empower others. This has been manifested in their individual achievements over the last year namely: Lillian and Josephine Kihika completed their Mental Health First Aid Training and so are now have officially Mental Health First Aiders. Esther Oenga yet again did two-week mission outreach work in Burundi—Africa with huge success. Bornie Segwayo, our Chair completed her master’s in social work. Cecily Mwaniki was acknowledged as one of the five Reading community heroes. She also got the staff star award within BHFT for her work in the community. Additionally, she co-authored the African Women In Europe 1st Edition.
Josephine Kihika
Anale Khoza
Thelma Kier
Lorna Obure Treasurer
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12 Community Events & Activities. Over the year, our events and activities have focused on the year calendar events which have helped reach the wider community. This has included: • • • • • • •
Community champions visit to the House Parliament FGM Zero Tolerance International Women’s Day Dying Matters Week Mental Health Awareness Week in May Mental Health Awareness Day in October Black History Month
Alongside the above, other events/activities have included: • • • • • • •
Health In-Equalities conference The annual conference Let’s Talk session every third Friday of the month Moving On for Wellbeing formally Woman2Woman Talk every 2nd Sunday of the month. Rose centre every 1st Friday of the month The gardening project in summer Welcomed the Maasai Warriors in Reading and brought warmth and colour to our community.
All the above events and activities are better explained by the photos below:
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We look to the year 2019 with expectations of doing more by collaborating and partnering with other organisations as equals. Through the support of the Health Trust for Active Communities, in January we will launch the Neighbourhood project aimed at bringing people together with the focus of reducing loneliness & Isolation and promoting wellbeing. We will continue with the ‘Let’s Talk About Wellbeing’’ and ‘Woman2Woman MovingOn Talk’ sessions every third Friday of the month and 2nd Sunday of the month respectively. In summer we will resume the gardening project focusing more on young people. Financial Report As attached. At the end of the year we had £4,644.77. Despite the financial challenges, the group had a sharp rise in their community involvement with events and activities which was made possible by collaboration and partnership work. We also had very generous individuals who sponsored a few activities especially to do with health and wellbeing and not forgetting the time commitment of our volunteers and trustees who innovatively made all this happen.
Our Funders Thanks to our funders who have kept the organisation going with the little they offered but which hugely helped us partner with other organisations to better manage the events and activities that have gone on in the year. This has included Rosa and Reading Borough Council through New Directions. Our partners organisations have included; Berkshire Health, Sudanese Community, The Gambian Community, Alliance for cohesion & racial equality (Acre), Women with Vision (WwV).
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Your Voice Matters: How Your Experience Can Provide Evidence for a UK Government Select Committee. Photograph from Your Voice Matters party material, distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share 3.0 Unported Licence Citizens can expect local MPs to communicate their stance on a series of matters and community interests within Parliament. You can contact your MP by email, post or book a brief meeting. However, due to busy schedules, timed meetings are often very short and requests to speak to an MP are usually a last resort in matters where members of the community have complaints relating to government services. Did you know that there are plenty of other ways to add your voice and experiences for Parliament members to consider and discuss? The House of Commons Select Committees are cross party groups elected by fellow MPs to hold inquiries that examine features of government spending, policies and administration systems. There are over 18 different sets of Committees within both houses of parliament. Members of the African Diasporia should definitely consider sharing their experiences, opinions and solutions during Select Committee inquiries. What Is a Select Committee Inquiry? Different groups discuss various aspects of government action. This may be in committees such as Public Accounts or Human Rights. In 2018 alone, the International Development Select Committee launched inquiries on refugees or victims of forced displacement in Africa, climate change and sexual exploitation by aid workers in developing countries. The most recent inquiry is a joint effort with the Kenyan government and International Disability Alliance to investigate disability inclusion within the Global South. When an inquiry is made public, members of society are asked to send no more than 3000 words of input, experiences and suggested solutions for an inquiry. The guidelines for written submissions can be found on the link to whatever inquiry inspires you to respond. Anybody can be a witness; we cannot simply leave the evidence process for academic experts and elites. This mainly results in a top down input where the citizens themselves do not share in the process of holding departments to account. For example, the 2018 inquiry on forced displaced in Africa asked a series of questions investigating how the International Development department could improve service and
impact for displaced people in Africa. Here are some of the questions asked: Does DFID give sufficient priority to displacement-related issues, and to internal displacement? DFID has been supporting efforts to tackle the root causes of displacement in Africa and to prevent human trafficking and smuggling; how effective has this been? Committees can also inquire on national matters. For example, last year, the Transport Committee held inquiries on rail timetable changes and on the state of local roads. The Justice Committee is currently holding an inquiry on UK Court and Tribunal Reforms; even the Women and Equalities committee is currently asking for evidence and witnesses on the current mental health state of men and boys in the UK. Do you have experience or solutions you would like to share? Your voice matters in any discussions that have to do with public good and policy. Imagine it as you would a mosaic- these are pieces of art which stand alone as a colour yet when put together, there is a bigger picture and every small square contributes to it. Consequences and Aftermath The good news is that any testimony and evidence given is subject to parliamentary protection. No action may come off it except in cases of open trials or active threats. The not so good news is that witness accounts are published and available to the public and action groups though confidentiality may be discussed. In some cases, certain submissions are invited for further oral evidence and testimony. You may also witness these testimonies on parliamemt. tv or attend a session of interest to you as the oral evidence chapter is open to the public. Although it is not guaranteed that submissions result to immediate change, your testimony and experience can be used for further public movements and reforms of public policy. Some choose to contribute their voices through writing, social media posts, volunteering, voting and joining campaigns and that is all valid. However, so is adding your thoughts and solutions for committee considerations. So, the next time you ask yourself what more your life experience could offer, remember that inquiries are always open and your voice matters.
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FAMILY MATTERS By Cecily Mwaniki How can you define a family? How does it begin? What are the challenges? ‘Family’ is a single word, with many different meanings. People have many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means to them. Families differ in terms of economic, cultural, social, and many other facets, but what every family has in common is that the people who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling them his family. The traditional family consists of a father, mother and children. This is the family shown on television as the standard family. However, the 21st century showcases a variety of family units, some very different from the standard of the 1950s. Today, children are also often raised in single parent homes, by grandparents or by homosexual parents. Some families opt to have no children, or cannot have children due to some
medical or emotional barriers. The idea that parents and children make a family is a basic definition; however, in order to accurately acknowledge other family structures, a broader definition is necessary. In addition to a more universal family definition, there are also plenty of people who consider a group of friends to be family, and adults who consider pets as defining members of the family unit. Whatever the definition of a family you choose to use, we know that in this day and age when we focus on everything else but the family----the movies, TV, music, school, work, friends, social media etc., family remains the most important influence in the society. It is responsible for its most cherished of all attributes--LOVE. It is said that by the time we are 4 years old, we will have learned and established 80% of our view of life---all from the family.
Why You Need To Connect With Your Family. When you are successful, the entire world will celebrate with you. When you fail, it is only your family that will be there. It is therefore a rightful duty to:
*RESPECT YOUR FAMILY. * When there is fame to share everybody will be your friend. If there is shame to bear only your family will still be proud of you.
*GO BACK TO YOUR FAMILY! * When you have palm oil on your finger, the entire world will come to lick. If its blood it is only your Family that will heal.
*SHOW LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY. * Prosperity attract the world, Poverty send them away from you. Poor or rich you have a place in your home.
*CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY. * If you are in the Government house, the entire world will seek you. If it is the mortuary only your family will come around you.
*HONOR YOUR FAMILY. * Loud ovation and kisses from the world when you succeed, shame and rejection from them when you fail. Failure or Success there is a room for you in your family.
*VALUE YOUR FAMILY. * When you are one year in the office, the entire world will come to celebrate. If it is one year in the cemetery, only your family will pay a visit. *REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY. * When you have money to give, friends will come and enjoy. When you have bill to pay friends will run, only family will remain. *SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY. * When you have coats of many colours, the entire world will love your presence. When you are naked only your family will stand to cover you.
*CONNECT WITH YOUR FAMILY. * All the above will be shaped by several factors including but not limited to; Family Relationships & Family values, Parenting, Value for education etc. So, it is important to explore them further to safe our families. www.CmNetwork.co.uk www.utulivu.co.uk
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Lillian Saidi Publishes Her First Book.
THE BOX OF THE COVENANT I was born in Tanzania, which is one of the East Africa country, to a family of nine children. I am the seventh child. We were among the poor people in that village, living only on what we could get. by Lillian Saidi My mother separated from my father when I was 5 years old. When I turned 7, the age for starting primary school in Tanzania, my mother refused to register me for school. She believed that it was a waste of time, since I would be married in the near future. The same year I left home at the age of 7 after discovering my mother was organising for me to get married at a such young age to an old man. I let the village and I went to Town to look for a job (maid) Since then I worked as a maid for over twenty. Incredibly, having only started school at the age of 19 with no primary education, that is to say not knowing how to read and write completely I managed to go to secondary and obtained O Level and A level studies and later graduated in Business Management. Now I am a member of the Association of Business Executives. You might be asking yourself why I decided to write a book and share my story? This is simply because of what I went through in my life; I believe I had these experiences for a reason and by putting them in writing, I will be able to help somebody who is going through similar circumstances. This book is for anyone who is going through any challenge in life where they need someone who can tell them that they will get through it, that they can do it, and that there is a better tomorrow and that they will make it in life. And of course, to those people with dreams and aspirations will not only be inspired but also given life tools that will equip them to persevere,
work hard, defy the odds, and eventually succeed. What I have shared in the book basically to tell people that, regardless of their darkest situation, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Persevere and you will find that tomorrow will be better than today; you might be going through a night, but I promise you there will be a morning. I had so many dark moments and sleepless nights, I thought I wouldn’t see tomorrow, but I always made it to see the sun rise. Keep dreaming and move forward whilst focusing on your future! Some insight of the book This book and the whole experience of writing it – sums up my life to date. It shows that no two lives are the same and we all go through different experiences, but life is what you make it. Find who you are, know your values and what you stand for. Believe that your dreams and aspirations are worth fighting for; fight for them and they will come. One of the great lessons I have learned from my experiences is that tomorrow will be different to today. I can say with confidence that whatever you are doing, whatever you believe, and despite whatever circumstances you are facing, you can make a change and have the things you dream of. I hope that my book helps people recognise this and realise that nothing is impossible to those who believes. I would like to take this opportunity to advice young girls who might be going through what I went through/ anyone who is going through any difficulties in life.
They need to have something bigger inside than their circumstance, they need to have something bigger than what they are going through. That is what will make them persevere and move forward. Because it is very easy to go into depression or even to think of committing suicide and things like those one but I just want to encourage those people that they need to have something bigger inside you, something that you are hoping because everything that is happening to us we are just passing through, nothing is permanent and if they have something bigger inside them they will be able to pass through anything because there is something inside them which is bigger than what is surrounding them, which is bigger than what they see outside. That is what will be like their fuel for them to move forward. I would like to give an example of a Car: We see the tires moving the car, but we don’t see the things inside the car that drive it forward. The engine inside the car is more powerful than the parts we see outside. Without that big thing inside us, it would be difficult to overcome any obstacle in life. The energy inside you is more powerful than whatever challenge is outside; you need to have that fuel to drive you to achieve your dreams in life. I thank God am now living in England with my husband and two beautiful daughters. The book is called “The Box of the Covenant” by Gemma is available from Amazon stores in paperwork and Ebook.
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18 Health & Food
21 FOODS THAT CAN MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT By Jillian Kubala With nearly 39% of adults worldwide classified as overweight, the diet industry has never been stronger. Diet foods, such as those labelled “lowfat,” “low-calorie” or “fat-free,” are specifically marketed to people looking to shed excess weight. However, many diet foods may do your waistline more harm than good. Here are 21 diet foods often considered healthy that may, in fact, cause weight gain.
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Dried Fruit Dried: Dried fruit is packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. However, since dried fruit is smaller and sweeter than fresh fruit, it can be easily overeaten. Plus, a serving of dried fruit holds more sugar and calories than an equal amount of fresh fruit. Although dried fruit is convenient, fresh fruit is a healthier option.
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Packaged Diet Foods: While these items may be tempting, most of them are unhealthy. Many diet foods contain preservatives, unhealthy fats and artificial sweeteners that may harm your body. It’s best to replace these packaged, overly processed foods with nutrient-dense, filling options.
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Smoothies and Protein Shakes While some smoothies and protein shakes are nutritious and exceptionally healthy, others are loaded with calories and sugar.
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Low-Fat Flavoured Yogurt: Fat is a filling nutrient that amplifies foods’ flavours. When fat is removed to reduce the calorie content of certain products, sugar is usually added to heighten flavour. Many low-fat yogurts are loaded with added sugars, which isn’t good for weight loss or overall health. Interestingly, full-fat dairy may be a better choice than low-fat dairy.
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Flavoured Coffees: It’s well known that caffeine acts as a mild appetite suppressant, which leads many people to up their coffee intake when trying to drop weight. Although coffee has many health benefits, you should refrain from certain coffee drinks when trying to lose weight. Even though a daily latte may seem harmless, sugary coffees could sabotage your weight loss efforts.
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Fresh-Pressed Juices: Many people drink fresh juices made of fruits, vegetables or a combination of both to improve health or boost weight loss. Although not all juices are high in sugar and calories, most fruit juices are. Drinking fresh fruit juice regularly can contribute to excess calorie consumption, which may cause you to gain weight. Stick to juices that contain mostly non-starchy veggies like kale and low-sugar fruits like lemon to control your calorie intake.
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Premade Salads: Salads chock full of fibre-rich vegetables can be very weight-loss-friendly. However, those doused in high-calorie dressing or topped with unhealthy ingredients are not. Premade salads, such as those in grocery stores or fast food restaurants, can be very high in calories, sugar and unhealthy fats. Making your own salad with nutritious ingredients is a better choice.
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‘Healthy’ Sweeteners: With many people cutting white sugar from their diet, alternative sweeteners marketed as “healthy” have become increasingly popular. Even though these products are often deemed healthy, going overboard with any sweetener — even natural ones that aren’t as processed as white sugar — can contribute to weight gain. Because any type of added sugar can cause weight gain, it’s important to limit your total consumption of sugar — including alternative sweeteners.
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Low-Calorie Cereal: When trying to lose weight, you might reach for low-calorie cereals to start your day. While these breakfast foods may be low in calories, they are often loaded with added sugars. Many low-calorie cereals lack the protein and healthy fats that help you feel satisfied.
10. Protein Bars: Many people rely on protein bars for a quick, convenient energy boost. Although some protein bars are healthy and nutritious, others bulge with calories, sugar and artificial ingredients. 11. Diet Soda: Diet soda is often viewed as a healthy beverage because it contains 0 calories. However, research ties diet soda consumption to weight gain — not weight loss. Diet soda has also been found to negatively impact gut bacteria, thereby increasing your risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. 12. Granola: Granola is a filling breakfast food beloved by many health-conscious people. However, while granola can contain nutritious ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds and coconut, many are saturated with added sugars. To control
Berkshire connected your sugar intake, choose granolas with no more than 6 grams of sugar per serving. Better still, make your own granola at home by baking oats, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, coconut oil and dried fruit at a low temperature. 13. Sports Drinks: Sports drinks can be beneficial for athletes and anyone participating in prolonged, intense workouts. However, these beverages are simply unnecessary for the average person. Sports drinks can be filled with sugar and may contribute to excess calorie consumption. Plus, any type of sugary beverage can spike your blood sugar levels, which can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain. 14. Diet Peanut Butter: Diet peanut butter is lower in calories and fat than regular peanut butter. Although this may seem like a good choice for weight loss, diet peanut butter regularly harbours unhealthy oils and added sugars. Natural peanut butter made with limited ingredients is a better choice for weight loss. Research shows that limiting added sugar may promote weight loss, so choosing natural peanut butters with no added sugar is the best choice. 15. Low-Calorie Condiments: Low-calorie condiments like salad dressings and ketchup may be a hidden source of added sugars that can contribute to weight gain. Surprisingly, many lowcalorie dressings are packed with sugar. 16. ‘Healthy’ Sweets: Many desserts and candies are marketed as healthy alternatives to more calorie-laden sweets. Although they may contain fewer calories than traditional desserts, low-calorie baked goods, candies and other confections can be packed with sugar and artificial ingredients. To decrease calories while maintaining taste, manufacturers replace fats with sugars or artificial sweeteners. Added sugars can contribute to weight gain. At the same time, artificial sweeteners like sugar alcohols can cause digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea and gas. Plus, consumption of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose is linked to an increased risk of obesity and may even encourage sugar cravings and dependence. 17. Low-Fat Foods: Many people try to cut out high-fat foods when attempting to lose weight. However, research shows that this can be counterproductive. One review determined that low-fat and non-fat foods contained more sugar than regular versions of the same food. Consuming even small amounts
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of added sugar can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease. What’s more, dieting and dietary restraint likely increase the chances of future weight gain. 18. Frozen Yogurt: Frozen yogurt is a popular dessert that’s widely considered healthier than ice cream. Because frozen yogurt is often associated with health, it’s frequently over-consumed. Many frozen yogurt establishments let you fill your own cup, making portion control difficult. Additionally, the enticing, sugary toppings offered at most frozen yogurt shops can stuff your dessert with even more calories and sugar. To keep your intake under control, opt for the smallest yogurt cup available and choose natural toppings like fresh fruit, unsweetened coconut and nuts. 19. Sushi: Sushi can be a healthy or unhealthy meal depending on what it holds. Rolls filled with ingredients like tempura shrimp or sweet sauces can be packed with calories. Choose sushi rolls that contain healthy ingredients like fresh vegetables, avocado, fresh fish or grilled shrimp and opt for brown rice over white to boost your fibre intake. 20. Coconut Water: Coconut water is one of the most popular natural beverages around. Even though coconut water provides vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it does contain sugar and calories. While coconut water is much lower in calories and sugar than beverages like juice and soda, it’s best to limit your consumption of any sweet drink. 21. Diet-Specific Processed Foods: Many grocery stores offer diet foods targeting vegans and vegetarians, as well as those following low-carb meal plans. These products are often filled with artificial ingredients and added sugars that can negatively impact health. Focusing on whole, unprocessed foods rather than convenient, packaged foods is always healthier — no matter your dietary preferences. The Bottom Line Though many diet foods are branded healthy, they may destroy your weight loss efforts. Products like smoothies, frozen yogurt and low-fat snack foods can negatively impact your health and even cause you to gain weight. What’s more, research shows that dieting is not the best way to lose weight. Following a whole-foods diet rich in healthy fats, proteins and fresh produce is the best way to keep weight off for good.
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20 Arts & Culture
What Is Your Personal Development Plan In 2019?;
Leaping To 2019 In Style - By Cecily Mwaniki As the year begins, just how much time have you budgeted for your personal development this year? We know this is a key element to the most successful people that we so well know of from time immemorial. I share with you below from the wisdom of Napoleon Hill on what he had to say about this very subject matter years ago which still holds value in those who have succeeded and those planning to in life. I trust you will benefit from the 17 lessons that he so well shares. Lesson 1: Definiteness of Purpose Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Without a purpose and a plan, people drift aimlessly through life. Lesson 2: Mastermind Alliance The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others. Lesson 3: Applied Faith Faith is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent. Lesson 4: Going the Extra Mile When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play. Going the extra mile is the action of rendering more and better service than that for which you are presently paid. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play. Lesson 5: Pleasing Personality. Personality is the sum total of one’s mental, spiritual and physical traits and habits that distinguish one from all others. It is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked by others. Lesson 6: Personal Initiative. Personal initiative is the power that inspires the completion of that which one begins. It is the power
that starts all action. No person is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own. Lesson 7: Positive Mental Attitude Positive mental attitude is the right mental attitude in all circumstances. Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure. Lesson 8: Enthusiasm Enthusiasm is faith in action. It is the intense emotion known as burning desire. It comes from within, although it radiates outwardly in the expression of one’s voice and countenance. Lesson 9: Self-Discipline If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline begins with the mastery of thought. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Selfdiscipline calls for a balancing of the emotions of your heart with the reasoning faculty of your head. Lesson 10: Accurate Thinking The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used. Lesson 11: Controlled Attention Controlled attention leads to mastery in any type of human endeavour, because it enables one to focus the powers of his mind upon the attainment of a definite objective and to keep it so directed at will.
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Lesson 12: Teamwork
Lesson 15: Health
Teamwork is harmonious cooperation that is willing, voluntary and free. Whenever the spirit of teamwork is the dominating influence in business or industry, success is inevitable. Harmonious cooperation is a priceless asset that you can acquire in proportion to your giving.
Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.
Lesson 13: Adversity & Defeat Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Individual success usually is in exact proportion of the scope of the defeat the individual has experienced and mastered. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Lesson 14: Creative Vision Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination. It is not a miraculous quality with which one is gifted or is not gifted at birth.
Lesson 16: Budgeting Time & Money Time and money are precious resources, and few people striving for success ever believe they possess either one in excess. Lesson 17: Habits Developing and establishing positive habits leads to peace of mind, health and financial security. You are where you are because of your established habits and thoughts and deeds. To effectively and effortlessly achieve the above lessons, you will need a clear plan and the right environment. This will include the people around you and those you meet on the way. As must as possible I encourage you to meet the following fifteen set of people and if you cannot meet them please do seriously look for them.
1. *Encouragers* - even in discouraging situations of life, these people keep you going with encouraging words.
tell you when you are wrong; they prevent you from digging a grave of mistakes that may bury your destiny.
2. *The hand lifters*- They are those whose hands are strong enough to hold yours up when you are weak.
9. *The Committed*- whether things are up or down, these ones are standing with you.
3. *Destiny Helpers*- They provide shoulders upon which you ride to fulfilling your dream and destiny.
10. *The Loyal*- they work with you with all of their hearts to make things work in your life.
4. *The Givers*- these ones will give of their time, talent, and treasure to you in your hour of need.
11. *The Truth-Tellers*- they will not call night day, and day night.
5. *The Receivers*- these ones are different from routine takers and serial beggars. You can’t be blessed if you don’t give, and you can’t give if there is no one to receive. Not all lands bring forth fruits, and not all hands that receive command blessings. You need those whose receiving hands will trigger abundant blessings unto you.
12. *The Altruists*- these ones believe that life is not just about them, it is about you too.
6. *The Prayer Conquerors*- You need more than prayer warriors IN 2019. Many Prayer warriors pray from their heads only; Prayer conquerors pray from their heart and conquer. 7. *The Recommenders*- these are the ones who mention your name in quarters where your skills and talents will be celebrated. 8. *The Correctors*- these are the ones who honestly
13. *The Reliable*- You can count on them when it counts most. 14. *The Contented*- these ones are not greedy, they are satisfied with whatever they get from you and they bless you from their heart for it. 15. *Lovers and Pursuers of God & Godly Life*- these ones are always connected to God, so you will never be disconnected from your source who is your MAKER. ETERNAL ROCK OF AGES www.Cmnetwork.co.uk www.utulivu.co.uk.
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22 Arts & Culture
The Way We Talk of Integration Will Lead to Segregation, Not Inclusion By Tamim Nashed
Exclusive programs or integration courses designed solely for refugees lead to segregation instead of inclusion and can neglect to address newcomers’ different backgrounds, says one Syrian man now living in Austria. I left Syria in August 2012, as there was no other choice. I had friends in Austria and that is why I ended up in Vienna. At the time, I had no idea what the words “refugee,” “asylum” and “integration” meant. During the first year after getting asylum, I was busy learning the German language and looking for a job. However, I had zero intention of integrating myself in the new society I was living in, and frequently asked myself why I would need to integrate. After 18 months of hard work invested in learning the language, making new friends and exploring a new country, journalists started contacting me. They wanted to hear more about the Syrian revolution and the factors that had helped me integrate in Austria. That was my first concrete exposure to the world of “integration.” Before that, I had thought I already was part of the society, as my friends never asked me to integrate: We were simply all equals living in the same place yet sharing different experiences. For me, “joining” the world of integration felt like a burden, enforced by governments, NGOs, public institutions and other key players. I say enforced because it felt like I was sent from one place to another with the argument that certain projects or programs were designed for people like me – people who are refugees, because refugees have special needs. It’s moments like these when you realize that you belong to a minority and are treated differently from any other individual who simply wants to learn a new language, start a new job and settle down in a new country. It’s almost like you are meant to stay behind and enjoy the assistance offered by the superiors. I still struggle with this myself, while policymakers and NGOs might consider me a success story. For these reasons, I believe that refugees should seek advice from friends, service providers, language institutes or any other relevant sources that could help them settle down in a new country, as many civil society actors are making great efforts to support newcomers. Exclusive programs or integration courses designed just for refugees lead to segregation instead of inclusion and can neglect to address newcomers’ different backgrounds, including the fact that those
fleeing wars may need additional support to overcome trauma and health issues. Refugees frequently find themselves obliged to follow certain paths or make certain choices imposed by governments, and this leads to the creation of a new second-class society. We live in a time where “integration” has become a burden on “refugees” instead of being a solution. In order to create inclusive societies, governments have to embrace diversity and integrate it into the human rights discourse. This can happen through education and fighting discrimination. We need education systems that teach diversity and emphasize equal opportunities for all, and for this reason policymakers should think strategically and modify the current education systems. At the moment, political agendas are polarizing European societies, and steps in the right direction can be very quickly overturned when there is a change in government. Once diversity is seen as an essential part of a society, we will see future generations take diversity for granted. These new generations will not discriminate because of nationality, race, colour or for any other reason. Future teachers, policymakers and workers in public agencies will not practice discrimination because they have grown up in a country that embraces difference, and they will put together policies that affect everybody in the country, not only refugees. This might sound like a dream, but for refugees, this is the dream: not being referred to as someone who needs specific care. My advice to “refugees” is to fight for changing the narrative and the way people think about “refugees” and “integration,” because these two expressions have become misleading. “Integration” in its current form will lead to segregation instead of inclusion. We have to fight stigmatization, and with the current terminology, this is not possible because it highlights the fact that we belong to a minority and that we are not part of the society we live in. I have learned that a refugee should never feel incapable of pursuing his or her dreams. And this is the message I will keep fighting for. Tamim Nashed is Policy Officer on Refugee Inclusion at the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE). Originally from Syria, he currently lives and works in Austria.
Berkshire connected
ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE: With Christmas fast approaching, this is another indication that the deadline for submitting the Tax return for the period ending 5th April 2018 is also fast approaching. You need to ensure you have submitted your tax return by midnight 31st January 2019 and also for those who wish to do any amendment for 2016-2017 tax return this need to be done before 31st January 2019. So what do I require to submit a tax return? The paperwork you may need • Employment income (and pension income) • Your P60 form – for employment held at 5th April in the tax year • Your P45 form – for any jobs you left during the tax year • Social Security Benefits – A letter from the DWP which shows the amount of your state pension or other taxable benefits. If you receive job seekers allowance there should be the form P60U • Self Employment Income – A summary of your business income and expenses for the tax year. • Capital Gains – Contract notes for the sale and purchase of any assets for e.g. shares or antiques. • Savings Income – A summary of interest received from your statements or passbook • Rental Income – A summary of your rental income and expenses, bills for expenses and bank statements, and any letting agreements • Other income you will need to include on your tax return includes dividend paid during the year. It should be noted that you should keep your records for future reference. You need to keep your records for at least 6 years from filing date; this includes self-employed, partnership or Ltd companies. What other factors do I need to consider during this time of the year? As 2018 comes to an end, most people will be winding down ready for the Christmas break but we always think this is the best time to prepare for the New Year, here are a few tips on how to prepare for the coming year: Review your business plan – this is always a good starting point for all businesses, whether you are just starting or have been trading for years, it’s always a good idea to review your plans for the future as your business grows Reward your employees At this time of the year, most businesses have different ways of rewarding their workers or holding parties. While doing this, bear in mind the tax implications and know what you can and can’t claim. As a summary, you are allowed to spend up to £150.00 per head on social events for employees, this need to be offered to all employees. Remember you can hold multiple events as long as the events don’t cost more than £150.00 per head this is exempt Move to the cloud Cloud-based accounting programs will save you time and are simple to
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use, giving you more time to focus on what you love over this festive period. They allow you to work from anywhere and have secure, powerful encryption and remote backups so there is significantly less chance of information being lost or stolen. Avoid the tax return rush this January With the deadline for submitting your tax return being midnight on 31st January, it’s best to submit it within plenty of time to avoid any fines and mistakes. This will help you avoid any end of year stress and avoid the £100 fine for missing the deadline. If you require assistance with self-assessment please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 0115 82440555 or email info@wkmaccountancy.co.uk For more information about anything related to taxes or accountancy visit www.wkmaccountancy.co.uk for your local accountancy services.
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24 category
Community Farm & Edible Woodland Project
Share Offer Document
01st Aug 2018 to st 31 Mar 2019 Buy shares here CONTACT DETAILS Email: office@farmeco.co.uk Web: www.farmeco.co.uk Twitter: #farmeco Facebook: farmecoNG13 Reg Address: Shackerdale Farm, Car Colston, Bingham, Notts, NG13 8JB