Mojatu Berkshire Magazine

Berkshire connected

category

CHILDREN

What To Teach Them

MENTAL HEALTH Connected Support

GOT LEMONS

Make Lemonade

ECOFEMINISTS Africa’s Future

HEALTH & FOOD Magnesium: What do you know?

17 Healthy Vegetarian Snacks

1

Editor’s Welcome Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Berkshire Mojatu Magazine B031. Check out our cover story an exclusive interview with Veronica Kararwa, Mental Health Practitioner, DBT Therapist and A life Coach. (Pg 8&9) where she talks about the experiences with her son taught her the importance of making a difference in our society, hence the founding of Kevin Kararwa Leukaemia Trust. As a registered charity No. 1175159, she encourages people from Black and other ethnic minority groups to register as potential Stem Cell Donors.

We also have quite an insightful and informative poem by Annice Thomas (Pg 7). We highlight why the world needs an African Ecofeminist future (Pg 10&11) as well as the Al Anon Family Groups for the family of alcoholics (Pg 12&13). We also bring you a competition

by Farmeco Community Care based in Nottingham about Food! Farming! What Future? (Pg 14&15) which encourages young people write write a rhyming poem, a haiku, a lyric, a shape poem, a rap or an acrostic poem to illustrate how they feel about themselves, where they live, the food they eat and their future.

Rachael Link is an inspiration to the community by highlighting 17 quick and healthy vegetarian snacks (Pg 16&17). We have also featured in this issue, a book

by Cecily Mwaniki (Pg 23&24) called Don’t be Silenced.

The book is out and can be ordered by emailing cecilymwaniki@gmail.com There are lots more fun and informative contents on magnesium, FGM facts and benefits of indulging in art, 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: Cecily Mwaniki | Valentine Nkoyo | Yvonne Boothe | Chukwuemeka Obiora | Annice Thomas | Veronica Kararwa | Kathy Githinji | Fatimah Kelleher | Angela Wathoni | Rachael Link | Sonian Barnes | Kristina Barger 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

Contents News & Sports Benefits of Indulging in Art ....................................... 4-5

Community Mental health support ................................................ 6-7 We are women .................................................................... 7 Making lemons out of lemonade ............................ 8-9 In the Garden ...................................................................... 9 African Ecofeminist Future .................................... 10-11 Al-Anon Family Groups........................................... 12-13 Farmeco Competition ............................................. 14-15

Health & Food 17 quick and healthy vegetarian snacks........... 16-17 Magnesium ................................................................. 18-19 FGM facts ............................................................................20 Choose your cofounder wisely ...................................21

Education and Career What can Teach our Children 22

Cover

Veronica Kararwa

Mental Health Practitioner, DBT Therapist and A life Coach.

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.

Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com 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

4

mojatu.com

News & Sports

Benefits of Indulging In Art

by Yvonne Boothe

Those who don’t describe themselves as an artist often shy away from the thought of creating their own piece of expression. They think, “I’m not good enough” or “I could never do that.” Truth is, if you push through those initial negative words, you may be surprised with what you can do. And what you can create isn’t as important as why you should create it. This is a principle that Yvonne knows just too well. Above are some of the items she has drawn from the scratch that positively surprised many in the community as she displayed them during the Women International Day 2019 celebration in Reading.

Music, Dance, Painting, Chalk, Decorating your home or for an event, Clay/Pottery, Wicker, Drawing, Glass, Beads, Jewelry

There are multiple forms of art, and some who categorize themselves as artists even say that everything is art. Regardless of how you define it, creating art can bring healing benefits if you open your mind, body and spirit to the process. Yvonne 100% agrees with that from her personal experience.

If you decide not to take a formal course, YouTube tutorials, books, friends, and family are also options for learning.

So, What Type of Art Is Right for You?

What Healing Benefits Come from Participating in Art?

If you’re just starting out, it can feel a little overwhelming. You may feel that if you join a class, you’ll be judged. Or that if you try something and fail, then you’re a failure. Rest assured, everyone starts from the beginning. Do a little research on your own so you have an understanding of what you’re doing. This helps with confidence. Be honest when you arrive, and let the instructor know you are out of your element. Artists love to spread the love of creativity and are generally eager to share their knowledge.

Engaging in art is a moment in time when time itself seems to stand still. You become so intertwined with your concentration, flow, and self-expression, the other thoughts that can typically over power your mood dissipate. For this reason, it is important to begin something new without the worry of a hard stopping point. Give yourself the gift of being in the present.

Here are eight ways in which art can heal you from the inside out.

There is probably a list of things you haven’t tried yet, so you may not known what type of art to try first.

Here are some ideas. What jumps out at you? If there is anything that once (even as a child) had your attention, curiosity, or entertains you, start there.

1. Self-Expression In your busy life of work, household chores, children, and other responsibilities, you have very little time (if any) for true self-expression. Get back to giving yourself this gift. Self-expression gives you the space to process who you are during a particular time in your life and provides an opportunity for your soul to be heard.

Berkshire connected

2. Releasing Judgment This may take a little practice. Many people think they must create these amazing works of art that compare to what they have seen from professionals. How do you think they became professionals? Everyone started just where you are now. They too may have thought their craft was not worthy of others to see. So refrain from judging yourself in the process. Laugh at your mistakes, then remind yourself it may not have been a mistake at all. This lesson can be carried over into the rest of your life as well.

3. Intuition/Third Eye Your intuition can guide you in every way of life, if you allow it. Art is a safe and personal way to learn to live into your intuition versus merely following your thoughts. What stroke of the brush or dance move does your soul want? What thought stops or slows down that gut feeling? Your struggle through these combating feelings carry over into your job, relationships, and selflove. Take note of these challenges. Your intuition and happiness will grow stronger in this process.

4. Meditation Maybe you have a rough time with the “standard” ways of meditation. Your brain just doesn’t slow down enough for you to reap the benefits, or you don’t even try because you feel as though you are just too hyper. Art may be the perfect form of meditation for you. The hands and brain are focused on a non-stressful activity just long enough to allow you to drift off into a meditative state. From here, other forms of meditation will become easier. You may also choose to craft a mandala, providing meditation during and after the project.

5. Giving and Receiving One of the laws of the universe, giving and receiving is

News & Sports

5

pivotal to healing, abundance, and manifesting the joys of life. Your art can be a gift to yourself and to others.

Keeping the circle of both giving and receiving is the lesson. If you have a harder time giving, then create something and present it to a loved one. If you have a harder time receiving, give yourself permission to enjoy your art just for you. Accept it as a gift and cherish it.

6. Acceptance If you are not fully satisfied with your art, that’s OK. Accept your journey. There is success in stepping outside of your comfort zone, so be proud! Accept that you can try again for your vision, or accept that you may need to once again try something different. Wherever you are, accept that you’re good enough just as you.

7. Create Calmness Often your home can feel like a to-do list. Let the chores stay where they are, round up the family, and create an art activity that will bring calmness to all of you. By engaging in such an activity, you create an environment marked by rest and creativity. It may surprise you how much more help you will receive to get done what needs to get done and even better... everyone is happier.

8. Unity There are so many races, religions, traditions, and cultures that love and embrace art. It has the power to bring people together in meaningful ways. Bring a community together with an art project of your choice and heal the town. It might even create ripples felt across the globe.

Now that you have the basics, your mind is probably thinking of all sorts of ideas not mentioned here. Grab your notebook and write them down. After all, writing is an art form, too.

6

mojatu.com

Community

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT & COMMUNITY NEIGHBOURHOOD CONNECTIVE SPARK

By Chukwuemeka Obiora

‘’The wrath of the fire breathing dragon inflicts us with so much pain in our mental field but at the same time, brings out the best fighting knight in us.’’- This explains the negative issues we go through in life which causes so much stress mentally but at the same time, it brings out the surviving spirit within as individuals.

journey helps to really bring out the flexibility in being able to embrace the good and the bad that comes through sudden intrigues entering our unit.’’This shows that the difficult situations that occur in our lives really brings out coping mechanisms to embrace unpredictable issues to be dealt with be in good or bad.

‘’The monster created through our own personal afflictions shows its impact and lessons learnt until it eventually departs in order for us to be reborn.’’This can be related to going through depression based on some challenging issues which plays with our psyche during tough periods but at the same time when we overcome them and learn from the past in order to evolve and grow and not to go back to that dark period ever again.

‘’The suspense in a cosmic adventure creates a mystery interconnecting two worlds together.’’This shows in communities how people including neighbours through one circumstance which shows the bond they have depending on similarities.

‘’The screams start to fade in our world when we begin to embrace the clear blue skies within to keep us fulfilled.’’-This means ignoring the negative thoughts in our head and thinking positive all the time in order to be happy. ‘’ A Mudsling inflicts torment and misery through its labeling but at the same time, we decide on our part either to be rebellious against its bullying or just be passive about its dominance over us our slave master.’’- This explains that when a false accusation is made to affect us, it causes sadness in our lives but at the same time, we decide either to be active in clearing our name or to accept defeat. ‘’The personal jungle encountered during our personal voyage in life with its serious presence of gruesomeness and horror, challenges us to find out if we can survive its thorns of deep intensity or just avoid the conflict.’’- This shows that in our journey in life we go through storms which challenges us to test us if we are survivors or just be passive as individuals. ‘’The dark tunnel we find ourselves during a personal

‘’The dark angel with its enchanting appearance gives sweet whispers which are appealing and seductive but at the same time, turn out to be extremely sharp as daggers trying to leave a mark with a false promise or belief.’’- This explains and teaches to be careful of individuals whom might appear genuine especially in life and communities but at the same time may turn out to be disappointments and let us down. It further explains that not everyone might be your friend. ‘’The height of the fence built round our fortress determines the right set of people that are willing to jump over high enough to gain access and benefit our unit.’’- This explains having standards attracts the right set of people in our lives because they will be fascinated by what we stand for as individuals. ‘’The strong allure between two worlds helps to bring out the essence of a theme in a beautiful artistic background.’’- This explains with the right connection between people in communities, it blossoms into beautiful friendship cherished. ‘’The opposing force of two different worlds depicts a complicated story of rage and deep hatred at first but after sometime, reveals the essence of togetherness to function as a unit.’’- This was written based on inspiration from a movie watched

Berkshire connected

Community

7

called “The Hate you give” which signifies the unity between everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and so forth in order to work together in harmony.

might happen at a critical phase in a voyage.’’- This shows with the strong bond between individuals in communities, they are able to overcome difficult situations in their environment based on cooperation.

‘’The two lost spirits going in opposite lane directions show the ignorance of the serious wound neglected to be treated so that a new face can be restored.’’This explains that everyone in communities should be each other’s keeper and be there for each other rather than distant from each other because no man is an island and we all need one another no matter.

‘’An old face surprisingly from a moment in time, sometimes emerges lending a helping hand without us knowing to walk through the difficult fog of a bleak winter due to poor direction on our path.’’- This means that sometimes, an old friend or neighbour can help us unknowingly without knowing it through difficult times we might be going through which could be through connections for a job, discount for getting financial help and so forth.

‘’The right solidarity between two subjects defines the strong resistance in being able to withstand or overcome any natural disaster occurrences that

WE ARE WOMEN...

Celebrating Women’s International Day 2019

by Annice Thomas

We are women we rise early each new morning We are women we are motivated to do our calling We are women we work hard every single day We are women we carry on come what may As a Social Worker I have worked within the community with a wide variety of women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, class, culture and faiths.

As women our experiences are different shaped by nature and nurture.

I have written this poem for us women and hope within the written lines we can find a sense of unity and commonality.

We are women of deep feelings and moods We are women we love to cook and watch others enjoy our food We are women intelligent, reflective and kind We are women strong in body, soul and mind We are women please treat us with due respect We are women we laugh, we cry, we sometimes forget We are women we are able to grasp the old and the new We are women we do wrong and make mistakes too We are women shaped and blessed by our Father above We are women we have been called to serve each other in love We are women designed to carry every generation We are women of every complexion, tongue and nation

8

mojatu.com

Community

MAKING LEMONS OUT OF LEMONADE

By Veronica Kararwa

It is popularly said that “life is what you make it” and they also say that it is not what happens to you but how you respond or react to it. We all know that, in life stuff will happen, disappointments, failure, loss of health, loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship and of course good stuff will happen too, like getting married and starting a family, studying and graduating from college, landing yourself a great job and the list goes on. However it is not the good times that determines who we are and what we are made of, but it is the hard times. Robert H. Schuller coined it so well in his book Tough Times, he said, “Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do”. The song God on the Mountain by Linda Randle also says it, that your faith is really tested when you are in the valley not when you are on the mountain.

I am not sure whether I qualify to count myself as a tough person, but I surely can say that I have gone through tough times. I arrived in this country with my two boys in tow in 1996. Kevin the older one was about 6yrs and Ian the youngest was about 6months old. I really did not know where I was going and as a single mother with two children I must say that it was not easy, however I did my best to settle in this country the best way I could. I started working as a house cleaner, after a short while worked as a care assistant and a support worker and eventually moved my way up by enrolling for a nursing degree and qualified as a mental health Nurse. I did not stop there, I continued to develop myself and became a trained Dialectical Behaviour Therapist. I am very grateful to say that I have an extensive experience working with people with different types of mental health issues. But the most important thing is, I love my work and it really gives me lots of satisfaction and joy when I help my clients overcome their difficulties.

While doing the above, although still a struggle, life was pretty good, with no major issues. I dedicated my whole life to my two boys and all I wanted was to give them the best and be a good role model.

I disapproved the benefits culture (when one is able) and wanted to teach my children that working hard and achieving something in life is worthwhile, rather than expecting handouts. That a life of taking responsibility and earning your own money was more rewarding than a life of laziness. So in all intent and purposes, life was going well, Kevin was in his third year in University studying IT and Ian was in college, life was good, until the fateful day.

I remember the day very well, 20th of April 2012, it was my birthday. It was 4pm and on this day you would have seen me happily singing in my kitchen as I prepared food for the family get together. I was feeling happy and expectant, until the phone rang, it was my son Kevin, and he said the words that would change all our lives. “Mum, I have Leukaemia” What? Leukaemia? How is that possible? I could not understand what he was saying. I did not know how to feel? How would you feel as a mother? I was paralysed, numb and unable to move… However even after it all sunk in, I felt confident that we would be fine, a donor would be found and life would get back to normal.

But it didn’t, a donor was not found and Kevin could not get a match that he desperately needed to save his life. He died on 20th May 2014 aged 24yrs. My friend this was devastating and I cannot begin to tell

Berkshire connected

Community

9

you how it was like for the 2 years he was undergoing treatment. It is an experience that I would never wish on anyone including my worst enemy. It was a time lived in fear and uncertainty. The experience of watching your child go through an odious treatment that left him a shadow of himself was in itself heart breaking; it leaves you feeling powerless and helpless. Many a times I wanted to run away, fade off, disappear from it all. But I couldn’t. I had to face and accept what was happening whether I wanted it or not. It was my reality. The whole experience made me ask God questions and nearly doubted his existence, but what I did not know then is that, this experience was developing my inner person and all I can say now is that, I have changed ,my whole world view has changed and I have for sure ordered my priorities. Most important of all is this, instead of running away from God, I became closer to him, I learnt and discovered things about myself that I did not know. I now know what matters and the importance of pursuing a meaningful life.

The experience with my son has taught me the importance of making a difference in our society, hence the founding of Kevin Kararwa Leukaemia Trust. As a registered charity No. 1175159, we encourage people from Black and other ethnic minority groups to register as potential Stem Cell Donors. This is because there are very few BME people on the Stem Cell Registers. If you are black and you require a stem cell transplant, there is a next to nil chance of getting a matched donor due to the above reasons. I thought it important to educate and create awareness of this after our experience with Kevin.

On top of being a behaviour therapist, I have also trained as a personal life coach as well as a group coach.

I normally coach people who are undergoing difficult times in their life. In my coaching programme, I teach and coach people to become the best version of themselves. The programme is a combination of my professional and personal experience. In this programme, I get my clients to ask themselves deep questions of life in order to find their WHY in other words their purpose.

Because if we live a life without purpose, we fall the risk of leading a mediocre life.

Veronica Kararwa, Mental Health Practitioner, DBT Therapist and A life Coach.

Facebook: @veronicakcoach

Twitter: @v.kararwa Website: www.verinicakararwa.com KKLT: www.kkltrust.org

IN THE GARDEN

by Kathy Githinji.

It was a nice warm summer evening When my mum broke the news to me And my brother. This is exactly what she Said.� Kathy, Christian tomorrow we are going to go Gardening. We are going to grow some potatoes.

Me and my brother were really excited and prepared everything for the following day .

When we arrived all that I could see was mud and

Greenhouses. That changed my mind set. I was thinking that gardening was going to be very boring, but I was wrong. Very wrong. I enjoyed everything from clearing the ground to collecting the potatoes. It took two whole months for the potatoes to grow. Sometimes we went back to water them.

After we finish collecting them something struck my mind. All the food and drinks we get from the supermarket are not made by the supermarket workers but are grown by farmers who put their time, heart and soul into them so that we can have the best fruit and vegetables. I hope next year we will do it again. See some of the photos as we got working.

10 Community

mojatu.com

Why the world needs an African ecofeminist future

By Fatimah Kelleher activism in Africa have simply gotten busy building strategic and political alliances between women, nature, and protection of the environment.

Wangari Maathai and her Green Belt Movement arguably epitomise the essence of African ecofeminism and the collective activism that defines it. As the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2004, Maathai highlighted the close relationship between African feminism and African ecological activism, which challenge both the patriarchal and neocolonial structures undermining the continent. Lesser -known activists, however, have also long been at the intersection of gender, economic, and ecological justice.

Orthodox economic models have failed us all, but women across Africa are resisting them and coming up with visionary alternatives. We need an “African ecofeminist future”. And by we, I don’t just mean Africa, I mean everyone.

I say this for two reasons. Firstly, Africa is now the “final frontier” for economic models that have already ecologically compromised the rest of the planet.

Not long ago touted as the world’s “basket case” but now covetously viewed as its future breadbasket, a sustainable alternative in Africa is possibly the final bastion against global environmental degradation.

Secondly, women and feminist activists are already on the front line of the battle for ecological sustainability on the continent. Their everyday struggles, uncompromised commitment, and willingness to envision a radical future in which justice, equity and rights harmonise with environmental sovereignty have the potential to save us all.

So what is ecofeminism, and why African ecofeminism specifically? Ecofeminist activism grew out of feminist, peace, and ecology movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Intersectional ecofeminism also underscores the importance of gender, race, and class, interlinking feminist concerns with human oppressions within patriarchy and the exploitations of a natural environment that women are often more reliant upon but also its guardians in many cultural contexts.

But whilst the broader movement has sometimes been bogged down in a divisive debate over whether gendered associations with nature essentialise women, movements engaged in feminist and ecological

Ruth Nyambura of the African Eco Feminist Collective, for example, uses radical and African feminist traditions to critique power, challenge multinational capitalism, and re-imagine a more equitable world. Organisations like African Women Unite Against Destructive Resource Extraction (WoMin) campaign against the devastation of extractive industries. Meanwhile, localised organising is also resisting ecologically-damaging corporatisation: in South Africa, Women Mapella residents fought off land grabs by mining companies; in Ghana, the Concerned Farmers Association, led largely by women, held mining companies accountable for pollution of local watersheds; and in Uganda, women of the Kizibi community seed bank are preserving local biodiversity in the face of the commercialisation of seeds by corporate multinationals.

These activists on these front lines are fighting back, but they are also offering visions of alternative development models that demand both gender and economic justice. In doing so, they ask us all to reconsider what constitutes “progress” in the first place.

Women, the environment and biodiversity African women are often at the heart of communities dealing with huge changes related to economic development and shoulder the burden of environmental mismanagement. These concerns are multi-layered, and range from agrarian justice through to extractivism, but one issue that particularly clearly demonstrates the importance of African ecofeminism today is the threat to seed biodiversity.

This is an increasingly worrying concern. In the 20th century, an alarming 75% of crop biodiversity was lost, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture

Berkshire connected Organisation, and this trend has continued since. In the last decade, for example, Europe and Central Asia have seen 42% of their terrestrial animal and plant species decline in population size, partially due to intensive agriculture and forestry practices, with more natural resources being consumed than produced.

Currently, the Green Revolutions seen in Europe, the US and, more recently, parts of Asia – which have involved moving from subsistence agriculture to industrialised farming, cash cropping and mono cropping – remain at the forefront of thinking around economic growth and food security. However, there is increasing evidence that this corporate-driven vision, which has dominated development trajectories over the last century, has failed on several fronts.

Not only has it failed to address hunger despite overproduction, it has indirectly reinforced biodiversity losses and therefore nature’s more holistic contributions to a sustainable environment. Before the Green Revolution in India, for example, there were roughly 50,000 varieties of rice. Within 20 years, this dropped to just 40. This has resulted in the loss of crops once part of diverse food baskets as well as a degradation of farmers’ ownership and control over seeds.

Seed sovereignty is therefore a key pillar of ecofeminism, and the relationship between seed biodiversity and women is particularly critical. Women, who are often central to domestic food production, are also frequently the custodians of seeds that reproduce balanced, varied and nutritional diets. In Africa, female farmers often preserve diverse (and indigenous) crops that remain off the cash-cropping agenda, from myriad varieties of spinach and cassava to the less well-known acha, a paleo grain native to parts of the Sahel.

Among other things, women’s indigenous knowledge around seeds and their selection, storage, and planting of diverse and often hardy crops increase climate resilience, placing them right on the frontline of the battle against climate change. By contrast, extensive mono-cropping has actually made agriculture more vulnerable to pests, disease and drought, often leading to a dependence on the pesticides and fertilisers produced by the same companies that sell the commercial seeds now being pushed across Africa.

Indeed, commercial seed capture on the continent is on the rise, with corporate-invested pushes towards regulations that authorise the planting of only selected seeds. Hybrid seeds aimed at maximising yields in particular are being prioritised. This is deeply problematic as hybrid seeds cannot be replanted, meaning farmers must buy new ones each season.

Community

11

Through this, farmers lose their autonomy, while the women who’ve been custodians of seed knowledge for centuries are disempowered. The commercialisation of seeds is therefore not just reducing variety and undermining climate resilience, but also compromising food sovereignty as a small cabal of multi-nationals monopolise the market.

Visioning something better An info-graphic making the social media rounds a few years ago highlighted that if everyone on the planet consumed like in the United States, we would need 4.4 Planet Earths. The reality that accepted models of development are unsustainable is no longer news to most. Meanwhile, there is a growing public awareness around threats to biodiversity and climate resilience as well as of the tensions that have arisen as a result of corporate-driven agricultural agendas.

And yet, most African governments remain anchored to the idea of a Western-inspired green revolution, and are beholden to donor support (from the West as well as China) that is often invested in agribusiness expansion. Policy spaces still rarely welcome the voices of smallholder farmers and those working at the grassroots, leaving alternative positions and challenges to orthodox models of economic development on the margins of regional and global tables where decisions are brokered.

Undeterred, however, ecofeminists continue to fight at the coalface of this struggle. From Ghana to South Africa and beyond, women-organised seed-sharing initiatives continue to resist corporatisation. Activists like Mariama Sonko in Senegal continue to lead on agroecological farming initiatives for localised and sustainable food production.

Ultimately, the crisis of Africa’s current trajectory is a crisis of visioning: the inability of the continent’s leaders to imagine a process of development less destructive, more equitable, less unjust, more uniquely African, and – quite simply – more exciting. The positions, passions, and holistic approaches offered by African ecofeminism provide key ingredients for an alternative to the capitalcentric ideals of economic growth that have defined progress so far. These have not only wreaked havoc on global ecological sustainability but have failed to deliver a genuinely equitable or just society anywhere. It’s time to start dreaming and delivering an African future that can do better than that.

Fatimah Kelleher is an International Women’s Rights Strategist and Technical Adviser. Original and other articles at https://africanarguments.org/author/ fatimah-kelleher/

12 Community

mojatu.com

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS – for the families of alcoholics Much is known - and written - about the effects of heavy alcohol consumption on the drinker.

Indeed, alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill health and disability among 1449 year olds. But how it affects those closest is equally as devastating.

Al-Anon Family Groups is an organisation that is there to help the families, relatives and friends of alcoholics. It’s estimated that for every alcoholic at least five people are directly affected. That is a staggering 13 million people in the UK and Ireland who could be helped by Al- Anon. Below is Phil’s story of how Al-Anon has helped him:

‘I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when I began to think my wife’s drinking was a problem, but I remember, when we first met, we both enjoyed life and we both drank a lot. Sometimes drinking would make her fun, energetic and loving, but sometimes she’d be mean, cutting and filled with hate. I always imagined it was just ‘one of those things’ and the good times overrode the bad.

Berkshire connected

Community

13

We married after a few years together and started a family. After our first child was born, certain behaviours started to intensify. This would range from erratic and volatile outbursts at minor incidents to starting an argument and then changing the topic mid-flow. The negative behaviours became more frequent.

what was normal behaviour and what was not. There were times when I was convinced I was the problem and that they would all be better off without me.

And because of the disease within me, those selfpitying thoughts increased. It got to the point where I’d be driving in to work, imagining my car tearing off the road and flying into a ditch.

At that point I still did not think alcohol was the cause of this. I thought it was baby blues or the effects her family had on her. But I did know that, whenever she drank, it was 50/50 which person I would get. I would turn on myself and ask myself, ‘Why don’t you do something?’ But, as a new dad and with no knowledge of the disease of alcoholism, I assumed it was natural and this is what married life was all about.

The alcoholism also separated me from my friends.

How could I possibly tell anyone what was going on at home? It was the shame of how weak I was and the guilt of ‘why can’t I fix it?’

We ended up in a pattern of calm followed by chaos and, whilst there was no physical violence on either side, we would be emotionally and psychologically abusive to one another. The kids didn’t know what to expect from either of us. It was impossible to predict when a flare up would occur particularly as, alongside my wife’s drinking, I had ups and downs with my own emotions, which affected my mental health. When I was up I could handle it better, but if I was down then it was hell.

A typical row might start over something as simple as me getting stuck in traffic on the way home from work, because the kids were playing up,

or a misunderstanding about who was doing the ironing. We’d end up not talking for days or, worse, being passiveaggressive in our attitude and language toward each other.

Alcoholism tortured my wife and created a great sense of alienation within her, but it also confounded me to the point where I didn’t know

Eventually we settled into a cycle where we would drink in the evening to combat life. Sometimes we’d share a bottle of wine or I’d drink a beer and leave her with the wine. I remember thinking drinking her wine was taking away from her the one thing that managed to calm her down. What I didn’t realise was that my wife was drinking earlier and earlier in the day, so when I’d get home and join her in a glass, she was already several glasses in. I carried on in denial, hoping it would work out.

Then one day my wife told me she was going to Alcoholics Anonymous which stunned me. I had assumed alcoholics lived on the streets and were not functioning members of society, but I was proven completely wrong.

While my wife worked on her recovery, I got steadily worse in my own thinking. Eventually I found Al-Anon, a group that helps the families of alcoholics. Al-Anon really did save me and gave me a place where people understood what I was going through and provided the love and support I needed. I know without that group I was on the way to a mental breakdown.

When I look back, it all seems so obvious - my own descent into insanity could have been prevented so much earlier. But alcoholism is a cunning, baffling and insidious disease. It uses your own mind to convince you there is nothing wrong with what is happening and that your willpower can control events, and even your loved one’s malady. Its key strength is to trick you into shutting up shop and saying nothing, so you feel ever more isolated and alone.

For me, the secret to starting to conquer it is to seek support and help from people who understand and can give you the guidance to find your own peace of mind. I really don’t know what the future will bring for my family but I do know that, by asking for help, we give ourselves the best chance of making it the best we can. www.al-anonuk.org.uk The Al-Anon helpline is on 0800 0086 811 from 10 am - 10 pm, 365 days a year.

14 Community

mojatu.com

FOOD! FARMS! COMMUNITY! WHAT FUTURE? A Competition for young people & school children.

by Angela Wathoni

Young people have strong views on where they live, on farming, on health and on education.

At Farmeco, we have always been keen to make sure that the opinions of the next generation are heard and the topics that matter to them are aired. We are therefore planning a competition, asking young people to write a piece or draw a picture with the theme “Food, Farms, Community, What Future?”

We are challenging young people to write a rhyming poem, a haiku, a lyric, a shape poem, a rap or an acrostic poem to illustrate how they feel about themselves, where they live, the food they eat and their future.

The competition is aimed at highlighting talent as well as promoting the different projects that Farmeco is currently supporting.

We hope that young people from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Kenya will share their experiences and dreams with those of us in the UK. If a poem does not appeal, then a diary entry, a short story, or a reflection (up to 500 words) will be accepted for entry. A drawing or a painting will also be welcome.

Interpretation of the competition title is very flexible.

The piece might be about the incredibly important role farming plays in a local area or in the economy.

It might be about experiences growing up , or the differences between one country and another. We hope it might also highlight where young people see farming and food growing in the future.

The competition follows on from a recent visit to Kenya where a young person wrote a fantastic

Berkshire connected

piece about being a young farmer. We hope to engage children and young people with agriculture and to get them thinking about where their food comes from.

We intend to share the entries in different formats, both through paper and the internet. We have partners abroad who can help and support with language interpreting.

Each entry will have a link back to a school community or family and include a brief autobiographical note about the entrant.

Prizes will be awarded in different age groups (to be listed soon). For example prizes could be, free visits to farms, learning materials or sports equipment. The winning pieces will be published in an anthology celebrating the thoughts and dreams of multicultural communities around the world. We intend this to be published in December 2019.

The competition has been developed by Farmeco, not only to reconnect communities with their food, – where it comes from and how it gets to their plates – but also to enhance their understanding of how farming impacts on their lives and to open their eyes to the many career opportunities available in the sector.

The launch of this competition is May 1st. We are grateful to BBC Radio Nottingham for inviting us onto the Dean Jackson show on the 24th April to talk about it .

Community

15

We intend for some early entries to be read and displayed at Farmeco Open Farm Sunday on the 9th June 2019.

Closing date for entries is the 1st August. Winners will be announced in early September 2019.

There will be a display and readings at our local farming show, Flintham Ploughing Match on September 26th.

Schools are invited to attend.

David has offered to visit schools or community groups to discuss this competition with teachers or the children directly.

David will also be doing a YouTube message to encourage participation!

A book will hopefully be ready for the Christmas market.

Sponsors, judges and prizes will be announced very soon.

If anyone has sports equipment they are able to donate please get in touch !Schools and Children in these countries have very few resources to enjoy sport.

For more information, rules and guidelines contact: Project co-ordinator FARMECO Mobile: 07513661176 Email: office@farmeco.co.uk Website: www. farmeco.co.uk

mojatu.com

16 Health & Food

17 Quick and Healthy Vegetarian Snacks

By Rachael Link, MS, RD

Selecting nutritious snacks to enjoy throughout the day is a key component of any healthy diet — including vegetarian diets. Unfortunately, many quick and convenient snack foods offer little in terms of nutrition apart from extra calories, sodium, and added sugar. Still, finding vegetarian snack options that are easy, portable, and nutritious doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here are 17 quick and healthy vegetarian snack ideas.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Popcorn: Popcorn is a nutritious, low-calorie snack that is a great source of the mineral’s phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. It’s also high in manganese — a mineral involved in digestion, immune function, energy production, and brain health.

Be sure to select air-popped popcorn rather than pre-packaged or microwave varieties, which are usually packed with extra calories, fat, and sodium.

6.

Nuts: Nuts, like almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios — provide a wealth of important nutrients, including heart-healthy fats, fibre, protein, magnesium, iron, and calcium. In addition to being incredibly nutrient-dense, research shows that adding nuts to your diet may reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer like colorectal cancer.

Remember, nuts are high in calories, so enjoy them in moderation and stick to about 1 ounce (28 grams) at a time as part of a healthy diet.

Nut butter with fruit. Pairing your favourite fruit with nut butter makes for an easy, filling, and quick plant-based snack that you can enjoy anywhere.

Fruits like apples, bananas, and strawberries are loaded with antioxidants and high in fibre that 7. helps keep you feeling full between your main meals while delivering a hearty dose of satisfying protein and healthy fats.

Cheese sticks. Cheese sticks are a portable and convenient snack perfect to help curb cravings on the go. Cheese sticks are a good supply of protein, which is the most filling macronutrient, making cheese an excellent choice for a satisfying vegetarian snack. It is also a good source of 8. calcium, a key mineral that helps strengthen bones and teeth.

Bell peppers with hummus: Bell peppers with hummus are a healthy, plant-based alternative to traditional chips and dip as they provide the same 9. satisfying crunch as chips or crackers but are also lower in calories and contain more fibre, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Dipping them in hummus can help boost your intake of protein and fibre while keeping your calorie intake low.

Roasted chickpeas: Chickpeas are loaded with protein, fibre, and vitamins and minerals like manganese and folate, best of all, roasted chickpeas are easy to make at home!

Yogurt with fruit: Rich in protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and potassium, yogurt is an excellent vegetarian snack option. Combining yogurt with apples, berries, bananas, grapes, or fruit can also help bump up your intake of fibre, vitamin C, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Look for plain, unsweetened varieties to minimize your intake of added sugars and use a little cinnamon, honey, or maple syrup to naturally enhance the flavour.

Kale chips: Kale chips are an easy and delicious way to squeeze a serving of leafy greens into your daily diet. Kale is an especially good source of vitamins C and A, important nutrients involved in immune function and disease prevention.

Cottage cheese: Made from the curds of cow’s milk — which are coagulated milk solids made by adding an acid to milk — cottage cheese is a high-protein dairy product rich in phosphorus, selenium, and vitamin B12.

It’s also a great source of calcium, an essential nutrient that plays a central role in bone formation, muscle function, and hormone secretion. Cottage cheese has a mild flavour that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with fruits like bananas, melon, berries, and pineapple or with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper for a vegetarian-friendly savoury snack.

Berkshire connected

Health & Food

17

10. Green smoothies: Green smoothies can be 15. Hard-boiled eggs: Hard-boiled eggs can be a a quick and convenient way to fit a few extra wholesome and nutritious vegetarian-friendly servings of veggies into your diet while ramping snack to help keep you feeling full between up your intake of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and meals. In addition to be a great source of antioxidants. These are made with leafy greens like protein, hard-boiled eggs are also high in kale or spinach or fruits, veggies, and ingredients selenium, vitamin A, and B vitamins. Studies also can be added as well. suggest that eating eggs may decrease hunger to support weight loss and increase blood levels 11. Roasted edamame: Edamame are soybeans that are of HDL (good) cholesterol and antioxidants. harvested before they’re fully ripe. They can be boiled,

steamed, or roasted to create a tasty and nutritious 16. Guacamole and plantain chips: Pairing plantain on-the-go snack. Cooked edamame is high in fibre, chips with guacamole is an easy way to ramp proteins, magnesium, iron, and vitamin C. up your intake of healthy fats while satisfying your cravings for a salty snack. The avocados in 12. Trail mix: Trail mix is a simple, vegetarian snack guacamole are high in monounsaturated fatty typically made with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. acids, which have been shown to increase HDL It’s portable, delicious, healthy, and versatile, and (good) cholesterol and reduce triglyceride levels. you can tailor it to fit your personal preferences.

They’re also a great source of potassium, vitamin Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, coconut, and whole grains C, and vitamin B6. Plus, plantain chips are easy like puffed rice or popcorn are a few examples of to make at home and can be baked instead of nutritious ingredients that you can use to craft and fried for a healthier alternative to store-bought customize your perfect trail mix. potato chips.

13. Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are a great source 17.

Homemade energy balls: Energy balls are of many important nutrients, including protein a simple snack option that you can make and fibre. They are also rich in magnesium, a at home and customize with your choice of micronutrient necessary for muscle contraction, nutritious ingredients. Try adding nuts and blood pressure regulation, nerve function, and seeds to your energy balls to help boost your DNA synthesis. intake of protein, fibre, and heart-healthy fats.

14. Oatmeal: Although it’s often classified as a Dried fruits, cacao nibs, and honey are excellent breakfast food, oatmeal can be enjoyed any choices to ramp up the flavour and antioxidant time of day as a filling and nutritious snack. Oats content of your snack. contain a type of fibre called beta-glucan, which Source: is thought to promote weight loss and improve Rachael Link MS, RD, cholesterol levels, blood sugar control, and blood pressure. Bump up the flavour of your oatmeal Senior Staff Writer at Ancient Nutrition with toppings like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, berries, https://www.healthline.com cinnamon, or nut butter.

THE BOTTOM LINE Including a variety of healthy snacks in your diet can help keep you going between meals while squeezing in a few extra nutrients.

Fortunately, there are plenty of vegetarian snacks to choose from — all of which are nutritious, easy to prepare, and delicious. To get started, simply pick a few of your favourites and enjoy as part of a healthy, wellrounded vegetarian diet.

mojatu.com

18 Health & Food

MAGNESIUM: The Forgotten Mineral

By Sonia Barnes

Why is it good for health?

Majority of health problems is attributed to the body reacting to external influences, and these in the long term, in turn, prevents the heart from getting blood to circulate quickly around the body.

Long term inflammation or chronic inflammation develops into hardening of the arteries as blood doesn’t get to where it is needed. As time progresses, blood gets there less and less quickly. Eventually, the area of the heart, area of the brain and regions of the body lacks blood causing the heart to work much harder to generate a high pressure for the blood to get through to the vital organs.

Anything that reduces inflammation, thins the blood slightly or from thickening up or improves blood supply to the vital organs is extremely good, and magnesium has all these properties.

Magnesium is both a mineral and an electrolyte, and it is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It is necessary for electrical activity in the heart and the brain and also a cofactor for more than 300 cellular functions in the body. It is a protein synthesis making protein for hair, nails and muscles. Energy production helps creates energy in the mitochondria, involve in bones, nerves, glucose, carbohydrates metabolism and regulating insulin.

Amongst its many roles, magnesium helps other electrolytes like potassium, and sodium utilise in the body. The body does not make this mineral, and if you are wondering how much to take, the recommended daily allowance is 400-420 for men and 300-360mg from women, but on average our daily intake is less than 240 300mg less than the RDA. 75% of people take in less magnesium than they should.

Magnesium mineral when taken into the body, 30- 40 % goes to the gastrointestinal system, the small bowel, some gets excreted into the kidneys and are reabsorb with 1-2% is found in the blood. Studies have shown that 60% is stored in the bones.

gastrointestinal (GI) problems: ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome to name a few or medication to lower acids in the GI will all lend a hand in malabsorption of the mineral causing deficiency.

Low levels of magnesium is also known as hypomagnesemia, which if often overlooked as results will only show 1-2% in the blood test.

Key symptoms of magnesium deficiency include Chronic Fatigues, Poor digestion, Hormonal issues, Osteoporosis, Constipation, PMS, Insomnia, Muscle cramps, Migraines, Headaches, Brain fog/memory problems, High blood pressure, Nutrient deficiencies and Emotionally related deficiency such as Anxiety & Depression Ways to Support Magnesium levels 1.

Magnesium Rich Foods

• Pumpkin seeds – best absorb if soaked or sprouted for easy digestion. Use in a smoothie or sprinkle on a salad.

• Green vegetables – spinach leaves, swiss chard, kale or mustard greens. Lightly steamed or eaten raw in a salad.

• Almonds – soaked or sprouted to remove phytic acids and for more natural absorption. Eat almond as a snack or add to a smoothie or juice.

• Avocados – add to green smoothie or to Salads.

• Dark chocolate - 70% pure dark chocolate with has antioxidant.

• Figs – good for constipation.

• Black beans – include in a salad

Possible causes of deficiency

• Bananas – ripened

Magnesium deficiency is possible due to modern lifestyles and eating a western diet with highly processed foods, refined sugars, carbonated drinks.

To include stress, lack of sleep, environmental toxins, drinking too much coffee and alcohol which excretes more magnesium from the body. Soil depletion,

• Himalayan pink salts food grade 1.

Magnesium Supplementation These have poor absorption in the gut and are mostly laxative in nature. They have poor stability and not the best form for getting magnesium into the cells.

Berkshire connected

Health & Food

19

• Magnesium Oxide, Magnesium Dihydroxide, Magnesium Aspartate, Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium sulphate, Magnesium Citrate

• Magnesium Taurate and Orotate: Magnesium Taurate and Orotate helps to improve cardiovascular health issues.

• Best Magnesium Formation: They are high bioavailability and chelated supplements making them easily absorbed, better for the body and are gut friendly.

• Magnesium chloride: Magnesium chloride in an oil form, or a lotion or a spray is useful especially with having digestives health issues. This magnesium bypasses the digestive system and goes directly to the blood cells and to the vital organs. It is applied to the skin and useful for joint, muscle pain and helps with relaxation.

• Magnesium Glycinate: Magnesium Glycinate made from magnesium and the amino acid glycine. It helps to relax the body, it is gutfriendly, helps support and good for nerve pain.

• Magnesium Malate: Magnesium Malate helps with emerging, metabolism and reduces muscle pain.

• Magnesium Threonate: Magnesium Threonate helps with brain injuries, brain fog, depression and anxiety, memory problems and is considered to be the mental magnesium. Threonate penetrates the cell and crosses the blood-brain barrier, helps support neurotransmitters and neuronal functions.

Bottom line: Great emphasis is often placed in getting more calcium in the body and although it known for many vital functions it is mainly for cellular communication.

Though not much thought is upon the importance of taking magnesium, it is useful to balance calcium and to prevent a build-up of calcium in the cells. Magnesium helps calcium to mobilise and function better in the body. An increase of calcium in the cells decreases magnesium in the cells. The unforgotten mineral is equally as important as other major minerals.

If you have a kidney or heath condition, consult with your local physician first before supplementing with magnesium.

2.

Epsom Salt Baths

• Magnesium sulphate: Magnesium sulphate is good for phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification and phase 3 which helps to remove and eliminated toxins.

• Absorption of Magnesium: Magnesium need vitamin D3 that helps absorption into the small intestine and transport to the blood. Moreover, to go further into the bones, studies have shown that vitamin, K2 a fat-soluble vitamin needed to carry the mineral to the bones.

20 Arts & Culture Female Genital Mutilation

FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS

mojatu.com

Facts

• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985.

• FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls.

• It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. • FGM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute.

• FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk.

• FGM affects girls and women both physically, emotionally and psychologically.

• Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM. • 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. Taking Th • In Nottingham, about 85 new cases were recorded through NHS in 2016/17.

Taking The City To the F Taking The City To the Farm

Help

Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need support?

• Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: • Join the Community FGM Steering Group: Contact us • For emotional & peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact us Free • Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Contact us Sessions: Free Refuge • Drop in sessions at Mojatu Offices 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR: ContactSeeke us Sessions: Free FGM helpline Refugees & Asylum • Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Tuesdays Seekers Welcome Sessions: • Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 Saturdays Certific Tuesdays • Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or about to happen Saturdays Certificates Offered ADO Tuesdays Activities include: Saturdays ADOPT A TREE Activities include:Fruit Harvesting Actions Fruit Harvesting Tree Management Activities To help end FGM and support survivors, join oneinclude: of our campaigns or projects Tree ManagementWeeding for Pumpkin Fruit Harvesting • FGM Survivors Club • Volunteer with us Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize Form Tree Management • FGM Steering Group • ‘Adopt a tree’ project https://g Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize • FGM Global Faith Ambassador • Donate to support our work Form online @ • FGM Global Young Ambassador Feeding •the Fundraise our work oodland 9sz animals to support https://goo.gl/WyH

W gement nd a l ana ionEDIBL d o M o W gement E ss s‘18 eWOODL S d a n n a l a EDIBLE d p M o e s o S n r W ment p Home Farm, Scre AEcocentre, ssio ‘18 SeWOODLAND For more information, contact Foundation p www.farmeco e ManeasgseiMojatu S s r n p Ecocentre, Home Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL A https://goo Mojatu Foundati S eo07794372214 Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 8 1 ‘ p www.farmeco.co.uk S r T: 0115 784 6666 | M: Ro 0 p Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: A www.mojatufoundation.org Mojatu Foundation | 167 Alfreton https://goo.gl/pEK1AC

• Request for training

T: 0115 784 6666 | M: 0751 366 1176 | E: an @mojatu.foundation Mojatu Foundation | 167 Alfreton Road, NG7 3JR T: 0115 784 6666 | M: 0751 366 1176 | E: angela@mojatu.com @mojatu.foundation @ mojatuf @mojatu.foundation

@ mojatuf

@mojatu_foundation

Berkshire connected

Arts & Culture

21

CHOOSE YOUR COFOUNDER WISELY

By Kristina Barger

Mismatched cofounders can destroy each other — and their business, says start-up coach Kristina Barger, who here shares tips for how to make a great match.

After five years coaching founders across four continents, I’ve seen my fair share of terrible matches. In the last 10 days alone, I’ve had two new clients showing signs of clinical depression, as a result of cofounder disputes.

he Cofounder City To dysfunction the Farmis one of the most common issues I see in start-ups. It’s likely an offshoot of the “move fast Farm

Start-ups are resource poor, leaving founders far more vulnerable than most executives and workers, who are normally surrounded by support staff and protected by labour regulations. Workplaces are required by law to have protective policies and structures in place for managing hours, vacation time and roles. Most also offer formal support through wellness and other HR programmes that offer team building, mentoring, coaching or training and informal support through the familiarity and predictability of co-worker relationships.

and break things” ethos of acting now and thinking later.

Business and funding models emphasise product-market fit, while glossing over team dynamics. Relying solely on product data to predict performance — irrespective of compatibility and team cohesion — is risky. Building your own business is highly personal and affects you in ways you may not realise. Taking a moment to choose the right partner is key to both performance Refugees & Asylum and wellness.

“The agility and freedom of unregulated environments comes at a high psychological price.”

of prestigious US accelerator YCombinator — who

That’s tough to manage. Human beings need to be able to manage uncertainty in order to feel secure. We all need the sense of safety that comes from predictability — whether in relationships, routines, finances, health or environment. In the early days of startups, many founders gamble with all of these. And they often do it alone, because there are very few consistent relationships. Founders rarely have coworkers to share a regular coffee and chat or to watch out for signs of distress, leaving them to rely on themselves and their cofounders for essentially everything. Without the trust and support of a strong cofounding team, founders and companies can be in serious trouble. Even the best product only goes so far without a good team.

Welcomeas inequality. I recently Dysfunction often manifests ees & Asylum Seekers spoke with a two male one female team — alumni ers Welcome Certificatesand Offered

started out with great rapport, complementarity of skill cates Offered sets and alignment goals, but no communication ADOPTof A TREE

or transparency around power and workload. One

OPT A TREE functioned as a sort of dictator, with the two founder

others towing the line. The first years went by in a blur of hard work, but the inequality wasn’t sustainable. One founder withdrew and the female founder realised she been doing more work for years, despite having a ns &had Maize Form online @ felt this was a gendered lesser proportion of equity. She https://goo.gl/WyH 9sz expectation m online @ and that she had no recourse to negotiate, given the team’s power dynamics. By the time we spoke, goo.gl/WyH9sz she felt dismissed, exploited and trapped. Cutting her productivity would hurt the company but leaving wasn’t an option after investing years into a successful company.

Editorial

EDIBLE LEWOODLAND “I think we’ll see that team dynamics are actually more AND www.farmeco.co.uk important in start-ups than traditional workplaces.”

Ecocentre, Home Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL

eveton, NG13 8JL https://goo.gl/pEK1AC

o.co.uk It’s not just a gender issue though. The typical founder is

o.gl/pEK1AC ion independent, | 167 Alfreton Road, NG7 confident and 3JR driven, with a clear vision.

0751 366 angela@mojatu.com teamwork may not come naturally, oad,Compromise NG71176 3JR | E:and resulting in lots of conflict and power struggles. We’re ngela@mojatu.com @ mojatuf @mojatu_foundation in the nascent days of founder research, but I think we’ll see that team dynamics are more important in start-ups @mojatu_foundation than traditional workplaces.

The agility and freedom of unregulated environments comes at a high psychological price. There is very little to lean on for support or certainty. Start-ups rarely have a stable operating budget, workplace or even product offering. All the excitement and dynamism create constant change, chronic risk and pervasive feelings of insecurity and instability.

Like choosing a good life partner, choosing a good cofounder stands to impact almost every aspect of your life. But, how do you do it? It’s always going to be a risk, because there are so many unknowns, but there are some things to look out for. The golden rule is to know yourself. Know your strengths, weaknesses, expectations and needs. Are you an optimist or overachiever? You may need someone more critical to pull the brake. Do you struggle with decision making? Look for someone to push you or to execute. The key is balance and complementarity of strengths and weaknesses.

mojatu.com

22 Education & Career

WHAT CAN WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN?

By Cecily Mwaniki

take him across continents. The adventure may probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live his life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know. Teach him – gently, if you can, that for every enemy, there is a friend.

He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true.

Teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him if you can, that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar stolen. In school, teacher, teach him that it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose and enjoy winning when he does win.

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and to be tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Teach him if you can – how to laugh when he is sad.

Teach him that there is no shame in tears. Teach him that there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.

Photo by Kiana Bosman on Unsplash As loving and dedicated parents whose genuine interest is to give their children the best by teaching and preparing them for life, you sit back and ask the above all common question. The reason being our children appear to know far much more than we do.

But the question remains ‘Do They Really? To really think what best lessons I need for my children, I came across a letter by one of the great men of the time, Abraham Lincoln, indicating to the teacher what he wanted him to teach his son.

“Teach him to know that it is more honourable to fail than to cheat” Abraham Lincoln, wrote this letter to his son’s teacher when his son joined school: “My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might

Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to everyone but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Let him have the courage to be impatient and the patience to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, and in God. This is a tall order, teacher, but see what best you can do.

He is such a nice little boy; he is my son.”

How do you like that letter? How do you like your son having that kind of a teaching?

Cecily Mwaniki Don’t be Silenced!

Cecily’s tireless writing has continued to encourage and empower many across the globe. Her simple, yet powerful style of communicating led her to put this book together to remind and encourage us all not to be silenced by those who are out to do so for nothing else but malice. Through the pages, Cecily has reminded us that ‘If you are rejected, accept; if you feel unloved, let go; if they choose someone or something over you, move on. Just remember in every ‘No’ from someone is a ‘Yes’ to someone better’, and that sometimes the chains that prevent us from being free are more mental than physical.

It’s all about turning frustrations into fascinations and moving on because you learn more by being fascinated by life than frustrated by it all because, if you don’t move you suffocate. As you do so, Cecily encourages us through to embrace learning as a life-long process bearing in mind that formal education will make you a living but self-education will make you a fortune while noting that every king was once a crying baby; every great tree once a tiny seed and every tall building once on paper — so ‘DON’T BE SILENCED’ and instead ‘DREAM YOUR DREAMS’.

You Have What It Takes Friends!

x x x x Cecily!

Don’t be silenced by people who don’t know your story.

You have a lot to give to the world!

Book Out Now!

Order Your Copy

cecilymwaniki@gmail.com

mojatu.com

24 category

Don’t be Silenced!

BOOK OUT NOW! Order Your Copy

cecilymwaniki@gmail.com

Don’t be silenced by people who don’t know your story.

You have a lot to give to the world!

Cecily Mwaniki