Mojatu Nottingham Magazine M023 by Mojatu Magazines

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BOOKS ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION - by HILARY BURRAGE

ERADICATING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: A UK Perspective (Ashgate / Routledge, 2015) This groundbreaking handbook is required reading for health, legal, educational and social service professionals as well as researchers, policy-makers, school governors, journalists and other concerned citizens. “Hilary Burrage's book is the pre-eminent 'state of the field' book on FGM. Although the beginning and end points are located in the UK, her scope is global, and anyone, anywhere, with a practical or theoretical concern about this controversial practice will find much of value in it. It also contains very useful information at the end on further reading, multimedia resources, and organisations active in the field.” “The author, an active anti-FGM advocate and activist for several decades is an expert on this topic, and recognized and respected around the world as such…. This is the best book ever written about the sensitive subject of FGM, a very harmful practice that affects girls and women not only in third world countries (..) but also in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe.” (Amazon reviews) £25.00 paperback / £70.00 hardback (20% discount from www.routledge. com/9781472419941 – Code: FLR40 at checkout)

FEMALE MUTILATION The truth behind the horrifying global practice of female genital mutilation (New Holland Publishers, 2016) More than seventy compelling narratives across five continents from FGM survivors, their family and other community members, campaigners and concerned professionals, as they seek to make FGM forever history. “Every page in this book rings the bell of the rebellion against female genital mutilation.” (Dr Morissanda Kouyaté, Director, InterAfrican Committee on Traditional Practices) £14.99 (£11.99, Guardian bookshop https://bookshop.theguardian.com/ catalog/product/view/id/296770/)

Available from respective publishers in the UK and US / Australia, from high-street bookshops, and from Amazon (including e-versions). @HilaryBurrage www.hilaryburrage.com hilary.burrage@btconnect.com

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Editor’s Welcome Hello and welcome to the Mojatu Nottingham issue 23. This issue covers the success story of Mojatu Foundation working closely with Nottingham City Council leading to the official declaration of Nottingham as the City of Zero Tolerance- The first in the UK (P4). The campaign was then taken to a national level in the House of Commons during the Nottingham in Parliament Day event on 25th October bringing high profile supporters together (P10-19). With more coverage on FGM over recent years and new legislation, it is becoming increasingly vital for frontline professionals and communities to be better informed. Don`t miss the Archbishop of York Rev John Sentamu’s Agape Love stories book launch (P20). See page 22 for Michel Johnson’s new book - Do Great Exploits - where she discusses the power to say YES when it is easier to say NO. Check out a story on the Black Achievers Awards 2016 that saw inspirational individuals within the community get the recognition they deserve (P8) Nominate your favourite individual or organisation making a real difference in the community for the ongoing Nottingham City Homes nominations. Details of the categories & how to nominate are on (P23) English Classes & Refugees and Asylum Seekers Media Training programmes have been launched - see details on (P29 and P6). Weekly sports and physical activities for girls and women were launched in December hoping to bring women from different cultures together (P19). The police are recruiting new police constables this January and members of BME are encouraged to apply. (P7) We wish you a very happy new year and look forward to sharing more in 2017. Valentine Nkoyo Managing Editor: Mojatu magazines Email: valentine@mojatu.com

Editorial

Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managing Editor: valentine@mojatu.com Graphic Design: Robert Borbely Contributors: Kris Gunnars | Michael Henry | Edwin Ubah | Shalom Adebanjo | Leikeisha Walters | Serum Ugoh | Almighty Nchafack | Megan Cox IT / Social Media: Robert Borbely Photos: Lubomir Curny | David Galji Accounts: Esther Muthoni 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 Zero-Tolerance to FGM Model goes global .............. 4 Communities Inc. Upstanding Award......................... 5 Inspector Sukesh Verma: Police Project Manager.. 7

Community

Fourth Black Achievers Awards Ceremony............... 8 In loving memory of late Mrs Mary Nneka Ubah.... 8

Mojatu In Parliament

Why focus on mental health & legal protection...10 Analysis of the Tackling FGM Initiative report.......11 Parliamentary Speakers Profiles .......................... 12-13 Recommendations & Actions......................................15 Thank You Everyone .......................................................18

Faith and Spirituality

John Sentamu’s ‘Agape Love Stories’: ............... 20-21

Arts & Culture

Interview with Michelle: Do Great Exploits ..... 22-23

Health & Food

Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure ... 24-26

Business

Looking for an inspirational trainer and speaker .27

Education

Cameroonians Bid Farewell To Two Members ......28

Classifieds

Fempowerment for Nottingham’s communities 30

Cover

Mojatu Foundation Activity Days:

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: Marketing: Dr. Tabani Ndlovu - tabani@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage Address: Mojatu Foundation 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR T: 0115 8457 009 | 0751 6962 992 | 0779 4372 214 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumedia Printers: Mojatu Publications

News & Sports

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First City of Zero-tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in UK: Nottingham Model to go Global - www.fgmworldwide.org

We tha the at Aw Through the Mojatu Foundation’s “End FGM in a Generation” campaign in the UK and beyond Nottingham City took a strong stance and declared Nottingham a zero-tolerance to FGM zone, the first city. The Nottingham Survivor’s Club and Nottingham FGM Community Steering Group run by Mojatu, put forward a request for the declaration. This is a remarkable achievement for the city and will be celebrated in Parliament on 25th October 2016 as the campaign goes to a national level. Sheriff of Nottingham Cllr Jackie Morris (FGM Ambassador) who moved the motion to the full Council House in September 2016, will call other cities to follow suit by committing to tackling FGM through awareness raising, training and working closely with survivors and affected communities. • Over 200M girls and women worldwide are affected by FGM. • Over 137,000 girls and women in England and Wales are believed to have gone through FGM. • Over 60,000 girls in the UK are believed to be at risk. The Sheriff said:

“City of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation – Nottingham Model to go Global”. Through a panel discussion, Mojatu Foundation will seek to address the complexity of appropriate mental health service provision of FGM survivors and legal protection of girls and women at risk with the aim of influencing policy. Furthermore, they will explicate the ways in which research can help to fill gaps in knowledge and further a greater understanding of FGM. Valentine Nkoyo, Director Mojatu Foundation, Chair of the Nottingham Community FGM Steering Group said: “As a survivor myself, I am so grateful to our city, supporters and funders for taking such a strong stance on FGM and we hope other cities will follow and keep the subject on the agenda as we take this to a national level and beyond. We are very proud to be part of the Nottingham in Parliament event as this continues to strengthen our advocacy work to keep our girls and women safe. We do hope that policy makers and commissioners will consider the importance of the issues we will be addressing in Parliament.”

“FGM is something that many people think shouldn’t be talked about but that’s partly what makes the practice continue. That’s why I helped to move the motion, to make it known that Nottingham is a Zero-tolerance City to FGM. I am very proud of the work Mojatu Foundation has been doing and I will support them on a national level to get other cities on board”.

Speakers include FGM Survivors, Sheriff of Nottingham, Sarah Champion MP, Lilian Greenwood MP, Prof Stephen Regel (Specialist in Trauma and Mental Health), Terri Harman (Godiva Law), Dr Carol McCormick (Nottingham FGM Specialist), Dr Catrin Evans (Associate Professor and Director of Global Engagement at the University of Nottingham) among others.

As part of Nottingham in Parliament Day(NIPD), Sarah Champion (MP for Rotherham) will be hosting the Mojatu Foundation’s event

Our audience include FGM survivors and campaigners, MPs, policy makers, Home Office, health and education professionals, researchers, legal professionals, the police among others.

Nottingham Declared the first City of Zero-tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in UK Read full story in page 6 of Issue M022 at https://goo.gl/SJpqrV

Read more on Mojatu in Parliament Recommendations, Photos & Actions Page 10 –18

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Nottingham connected

News & Sports

UPSTANDING ORGANISATION AWARD FOR COMMUNITIES INC. AT NATIONAL HATE CRIME AWARDS 2016 By Michael Henry We are very pleased to announce that we have been presented with the Upstanding Organisation Award at the inaugural National Hate Crime Awards on 17 November, 2016. The awards, run by a partnership including Tell MAMA, Stonewall and the ‘No to Hate’ campaign, were set up to champion those who seek to tackle hatred, intolerance and prejudice across the country. The awards are a chance to celebrate the upstanders in society, in the hope that their work will inspire others not to be bystanders. The Upstanding Organisation Award is awarded to an organisation that has made a significant impact on countering intolerance, hate and bigotry in 2016. We were presented with the award following our work within the Nottingham & Bassetlaw communities, promoting community cohesion, tolerance and acceptance through our Building Stronger Communities project. Shamsher Chohan, who received the award, said “it is a real surprise to win this award but I am delighted. There is so much work to be done to raise awareness and support victims of hate crime and we are committed to doing our part”. Michael Henry mentioned “We are really pleased to win this award. Often, this type of work takes place in the background and goes without acknowledgement. For us, this is just the beginning. It’s been a busy first year for the project, and our team have worked hard in all sections of

the community, organising events and engaging people in dialogue”. We would like to say thank you for noticing our effort in tackling hate crime and we are hoping to have an even more productive year of work in 2017.

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News & Sports

GAIN (GLOBAL AFRICAN INTEGRATION NETWORK) DIASPORA MAPPING AND END GANG YOUTH VIOLENCE (EGYV) PROJECTS LAUNCHED

- By Sarem Ugoh

GAIN Diaspora, a membership organisation for African led and African focused organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire has launched Mapping and End Gang and Youth Violence (EGYV) projects. In the past month, GAIN Diaspora was able to kick-start its research process by sending out individual and group questionnaires to African communities. This research by GAIN includes a mapping exercise to determine where African people and organisations are based in the city; to identify their main problems / issues / needs / concerns. We will also be conducting a skills audit of organizations and members. This is aimed at providing the right solutions to African communities in Nottingham. As a result, in the coming months GAIN will require the assistance of African communities to participate in the survey, so that it is exhaustive. In respect to the research, GAIN has created an interactive map that showcases the presence of African community groups and their locations in Nottingham. GAIN also started its newsletter in November, this is available to individuals and groups in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and can be signed up for on our website. The website for GAIN has been updated- our membership forms and surveys can be accessed at www.gaindiaspora.co.uk. In 2017, GAIN Diaspora will organise two events for Nigerian and Sundanese communities living in Nottingham. The project will bring together these two groups to discuss and identify solutions to crimes affecting them, their ability to report crimes and support victims and how best to work with existing statutory bodies and community groups in tackling crime and violence locally. Supported by the Nottingham City Council through EGYV fund, the project will also bring together young people to create a video capturing their understanding of crime and how to end it. This will help improve the way young people avoid gangs, crime and violence and also improve the crime reporting processes. We are inviting all African communities in Nottingham to join GAIN Diaspora and to participate in these projects by emailing info@gaindiaspora.com or visit www.gaindiaspora.co.uk.

TRAINEES JOIN REFUGEE & ASYLUM SEEKERS MEDIA TRAINING - By Megan Cox

Mojatu has successfully launched the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Media training programme. As of January 2017, five trainees of Pakistani, Sudanese, Cameroonian and Iranian background have fully enrolled onto the course. The accredited course provides trainees with comprehensive print, radio, TV and photography journalism understanding and is taken online, creating a flexible learning style. This month, trainees will also begin their radio training module. ‘Introduction to Radio’ is an eight week course run at Insite Media UK with Headquarters in Alfreton Road, Nottingham and will cover a range of topics, including discussion of music scheduling, audience research, copyright and practical desk usage. Moving forward, trainees can look forward to additional learning opportunities such as social media, photography and video training. Additional partnerships have also been established with local community groups to ensure that trainees have the resources necessary to complete their learning. These groups include PATRA, Communities Inc. and CEEA. However, we are still calling upon local groups and organisations to support this training programme by aiding in the following areas; •

Placement opportunities in media, communication, public relations or related positions

•

Support with the learning and training materials including accessing mobile devices for collating, editing, managing and sharing contents (photo, video, audio and text)

• Participation in events and networking activities, including transport costs and invitations We strongly encourage individuals who are interested to apply to take partas recruitment will be on a rolling basis over the next few months. Email megan@mojatu.com or see back page for more details.

Nottingham connected

News & Sports

Inspector Sukesh Verma Project Manager - East Midlands Operational Support Services What is your role? I am currently an Inspector for East Midlands Operational Support Services (EMOpSS) based in with the senior leadership team, specifically focusing on the project management of the regional collaboration between Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. I will however be moving back to Nottinghamshire in 2017, and into the Force Control Room. When did you join Nottinghamshire Police? I joined in 2002 after spending three years at Loughborough University studying politics and a further year out working for Adidas in India and South Africa. Why did you join Nottinghamshire Police? I have always been interested in a career within the police. I always liked the idea of having variety in my job and the police certainly offers that! I have close family members who served for Nottinghamshire Police, and I grew up in a local police house, so you could say it was in my blood. I initially submitted an application to the Metropolitan Police service, and was accepted but I was tired of being away from family and friends. I transferred my application to Nottinghamshire, and within a month I was starting. Have you had to face any challenging or new experiences? My whole career has been a challenge. I started at Carlton, which ironically was my father’s first posting, so many of the officers and staff I worked with kept calling me the wrong name to start with! The culture was different, even back

then. Overt discrimination was still prevalent, and I always felt that I had to prove myself, perhaps more than my counterparts. The Dynamic Intervention Firearms Course (Hostage Rescue) was possibly the toughest- and longest- seven weeks of my career, and a challenge I look back fondly upon, albeit only after completing, of course! What’s been your proudest moment? Without a doubt, becoming a father! Work-wise – I was proud to pass my firearms course and join the Force’s Operational Support Division (OSD) as an Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officer in 2006. Being promoted to sergeant and leading a dedicated, motivated and close-knit shift and achieving a score in the top percentile nationally, in both the sergeants and inspectors Objective Structured Performance Related Examination (OSPRE) exams was a great source of pride for me.

Divisional Support Unit (DSU). I joined OSD as a firearms officer in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in the same role. This was a great role as an operational firearms commander and team leader alongside my role as a specialist firearms officer. I moved into the inspectors post in 2016, which is a very different role, with responsibility for the EMOpSS collaboration and a wide variety of senior project management. I still have an active interest in projects I helped launch including Transformation through Education, Tap the Gap and the independent advisory groups within Nottingham. What’s the best part of your role? Trying to make a difference. What would you say to anyone looking to follow in your footsteps? Make a plan, have an idea of where you want to get to and prepare for the unexpected! It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

Would you be PROUD to serve?

What does a typical day at work look like for you? Early starts, late finishes and lots of traffic on the M1 travelling to Leicestershire HQ – with a few meetings and plenty of thinking in between. During your time at Nottinghamshire Police, which different roles/ teams/projects have you been involved in? I worked on response until 2005 when I joined the then-South Notts

Nottinghamshire Police will be recruiting Constables in January 2017 We want to recruit talented people with a wide range of skills and experiences, who are representative of the communities we serve. If you are committed to making a difference, we fully encourage you to consider joining our organisation.

For more information about the support we can offer, please contact hr.positiveaction@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk or visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/recruitment

Community

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Fourth Black Achievers Awards Held - By Davia Mckoy

This year councillor Merlita Bryan held the fourth Black Achievers Awards in Nottingham. Previously the Black Achievers Awards was known as the Black Achieving Men Awards where her vision at the time was to recognise young black males in society that were still striving to succeed in what they were doing and who needed to be recognised as role models in the community. She first hosted the Black Achieving Men Awards around the time the London Riots. Black males were seen as rebels and were frown upon after the riots and she wanted to change this. She decided that year that she would start a trend to recognise black males and to show others that you don’t have to result to violence to be seen or heard. In 2011, the first Black Achieving Men Awards free event was launched and became a success across Nottingham. Due to her demands as the Lord Mayor of Nottingham in 2013, she was unable to continue with it that year but came back strong in 2016 and it was seen as the event of the year by the black community. Merlita Bryan decided to change the name of the awards this year as she felt that black males are not the only ones who are to be recognised for what they are doing, but black females should be appreciated and recognised as well for the hard work that they put out into the community. This was where the Black Achievers Awards found its name. This year, the Black Achievers Award was held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in the University Park Nottingham. The night was filled with positive vibes from everyone who attended. The atmosphere was calm and throughout the night everyone was entertained by a talented performer by the name of Mr Curtis Walker who was the host at this year’s event and the crowd was also entertained by the award winning female saxophonist, Millicent Stephenson who soothe the audience with songs from old and new school genres. Here is a comment from Professor Gina Higginbottom of The University of Nottingham about this year’s event: “It was a very great privilege to present The University of Nottingham sponsored Health Award at the Black Achievers Awards ceremony. It was a

fantastic event and the organisation was superb. Most importantly, the awardees were outstanding and their narratives impressive; despite her own personal challenges, Maxine Robinson has gone on to benevolently establish a self-help group and charity Support for Survivors, demonstrating exemplary courage and altruism.” One of our winners from the Learning, Skills & Employment Category who is a Matron for the Ambulatory Care Pathway at the Nottingham University Hospitals said “I hope I can inspire others in the Nottingham BME community to chase their dreams in nursing and healthcare. We can all step forward in confidence, and use our talents to improve patient care.” Councillor Bryan thanks everyone for being involved with the event and sends out a big thank you to the sponsors as we couldn’t have done it without their help. Councillor Merlita Bryan looks forward to planning next year’s Black Achievers Awards and hopes to continue this for many more years to come. If you are interested in knowing more about the event, please visit our website at blackachieversaward.co.uk and you can also click on the links to our social media pages at the bottom of the website to see photos of the night.

Nottingham connected

Community

In loving memory of late Mrs Mary Nneka Ubah ( Nkpurumma) Nee Obi 1956-2016 Sign

Edwin Okwy Ubah (Son)

10 Mojatu in Parliament

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Why focus on mental health service provision and legal protection of those at risk?- by Valentine Nkoyo Following our work and support for FGM survivors and affected communities in Nottingham and beyond, we have continued to come across the complex issues affecting survivors. Even though each survivor’s story is different and are affected differently, there are key issues that continue to be reported. Key issues include, difficulty accessing appropriate services that respond to their specific needs, fear for the safety of their children, stress/ depression and other forms of mental health issues and access to further studies or training opportunities among others. Following one to one meetings and discussions with survivors and members of the Community FGM Steering Group, two key issues were chosen to be addressed today- mental health service provision and legal protection for girls and women at risk. I will now share some of the accounts shared by survivors and their concerns. No real names will be used to protect the identity of the survivors. Survivor A. “I was cut at the age of 9, this is the worst thing that could ever happen to a child like me and I still remember everything that happened that morning. After healing, part of me thought that was the end of it. When I became pregnant, that was the start of a painful journey. I did not know where to go for help. When I was taken in to deliver, I was in pain for more than three days and nights as the baby could not come out easily and the nurses did not know much on how to deal with the issue. This led to other complications with back pain and stomach pains that I still experience. Survivor B. “As a survivor myself, I do understand fully how survivors are affected both physically, emotionally and psychologically……think of the painful memories of what happened. This is the fear of any mother with female children wanting to protect them. If the trauma is not handled well and appropriate support offered, this leads to serious mental illness. Based on my own experience, I believe survivors need adequate and culturally sensitive support, reassurance, motivation and encouragement to overcome the traumatic impact of FGM. I believe this will go a long way to reassure us as survivors and give us the confidence to think of the brighter side of life” Survivor C. “As a survivor, I believe every child matters and it is everybody’s responsibility to protect

them from FGM. Legal protection should be given to children and women at risk irrespective of their colour, believe, background or immigration status. I do not understand why people say they fear to offend another culture- FGM is a form of child abuse and is a serious safeguarding issue. Our children should be protected”. Survivor D. “I worry every day about my daughter, sometimes I feel so hopeless and lost. I may protect my daughter myself, but I don’t know what could happen to her if we ever get send back home as this could still be done to her. I have done everything I could to prove I am a survivor and that my daughters are at risk. But, every time I find a letter at home, I fear for the worst that it could be telling me it’s time to go back to my country of origin. The stress that this brings to me is too much to cope with” Survivor E. “The problem is, we still find it hard to talk about FGM even with our men and family members as it is seen as a taboo. Many of us suffer in silence because of the stigma and also lack of understanding from those we think could help. I have had bad experiences accessing services where I was asked questions in a very insensitive way… …“why did you do this to yourself”. This made me very upset and I felt I was being judged even before any support was offered. I hated going back to access the same services for a long time as it made me feel angry that someone supposed to support me would think I did this to myself. Knowing what I know now, I must insist on how important it is for professionals working with FGM survivors to be culturally competent and have a strong understanding of FGM and the way that various identities can affect how women understand and relate to their experiences of FGM” Following the Tackling FGM Initiative (TFGMI): 20102016 funded by Rosa, the UK Fund for Women and Girls; the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; Trust for London; Comic Relief; and Kering Corporate Foundation, a final report was compiled. The report gave a detailed analysis of tackling FGM by working closely with survivors and affected communities. The report also acknowledges the complex mental health needs of survivors and provides best practice for mental health service providers. Mojatu Foundation is a member of the Tackling FGM Initiative.

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Nottingham connected

Mojatu in Parliament

An analysis of the Tackling FGM Initiative report by Mental Health Today

FGM survivors with complex mental health needs may be slipping through the support net provided by frontline services, a report has claimed. The final evaluation report in the £2.8 million, 6-year Tackling FGM Initiative (TFGMI) hailed the programme’s contribution to understanding the links between mental health, FGM and prevention efforts, but called for research to understand whether current service provision meets the complex needs of survivors. The TFGMI funded a range of community-based organisations in about 40 local authorities to explore and develop best practice in preventing FGM; with several of the organisations developing projects to meet the mental health and emotional needs of survivors. In the final TFGMI evaluation report it said: “The TFGMI as a whole has arguably made a real contribution to understanding the links between mental health, emotional support and FGM. Current evidence suggests that there is often a strong mental health need and that there needs to be better support linking women into care if they have complex mental health needs. “Several projects have included ‘pre-work’ where women develop an understanding of mental health services before attempts are made to link them into care. The referrals often come through outreach and not from other frontline services. This strongly suggests that there is a strong need to build on these models of care for women affected by FGM.” The report highlighted three organisations working with the mental health needs of FGM survivors – the Dahlia Project in north London, NESTAC in Rochdale, and ECYPS in Enfield – and concluded that, while the government has recognised that FGM survivors may have complex psychological needs, more investigation is needed to assess whether these needs are being met. The report was launched alongside TFGMI’s Communities Tackling FGM in the UK: Best Practice Guide. The guide identified the following best practice for mental health service providers: • Mental health and emotional support as well as counselling should be provided in multiple languages • Individuals providing mental health and emotional

support as well as counselling should be culturally competent and have a strong understanding of FGM and the way that various identities – e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, migration history – can affect how women understand and relate to their experiences of FGM • Individuals providing mental health and emotional health support as well as counselling should be adequately trained to provide these interventions. They should have the relevant qualifications to enable them to take on this work • Prior to providing mental health and emotional support organisations should have established referral pathways including to accessing specialist physical health support and to intensive psychotherapy • In order to meet the needs of individual women an intake assessment that asks about language, route of migration and risk and needs assessment, among others, is essential • It is important to provide holistic support services; including the provision of practical support with issues women are facing e.g. housing, immigration etc. The report warns that lack of funding remains the single greatest threat to the government’s ambition of ending FGM in the UK. “Even in areas where local authorities, public health colleagues, police and others highly valued FGMI partners, when asked about future funding intentions it was not evident that funding needs had even been considered,” the report said. “This may be because of the lack of clarity on where FGM ‘sits’ and who should be funding it (local authorities, Health and Well-being Boards, public health or clinical commissioning groups), as well as the impact of the cuts of local budgets.” https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/fgm-survivorswith-complex-mental-health-needs-may-be-slippingthrough-support-net-report-claims.aspx

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12 Mojatu in Parliament

PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKERS

Professor Stephen Regel

Terri Harman

Director of the Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth (CTRG), Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Professor in the School of Education, Nottingham University and a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham.

Legal Consultant & Director, Godiva Law, specialising in National & International Family Law, with 15 years expertise in legal issues on FGM, forced marriages, domestic violence, international child abduction and children law matters. Terri is a resolution accredited solicitor in Private Children Law and Domestic violence.

Carol McCormick Nurse and Specialist FGM Midwife, who studied tropical medicine and Postgraduate Law. Whilst working in the Middle East and Africa, she gained experience dealing with FGM/C. She has been running FGM clinic in Nottingham as the consultant midwife since 2002.

Lilian Greenwood MP Lilian has been the MP for Nottingham South since 2010, having previously been a UNISON organiser in the East Midlands. She has spoken at Mojatu Foundation’s international FGM conference in 2015 and has supported the work of Mojatu Foundation by raising questions in Parliament, on its behalf . Lilian was also instrumental in helping to make Nottingham the first zero tolerant city to FGM, in the UK.

Catrin Evans Associate Professor and Director of Global Engagement in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Catrin has expertise in community-led health promotion focusing on migrant populations, women’s rights and the cultural context of healthcare.

Cecily Mwaniki Cecily is the founder of CM Network and co-founder of Utilivu Women’s Group. Based in Reading, She works with women and children promoting healthy living and helping to integrate them into the wider community. She has published several inspirational books including those related to female empowerment within different topics.

Nottingham connected

Mojatu in Parliament

Veronica Pickering Chair of The Panel

Dr Phoebe Abe

Veronica is an Executive Coach and Mentor, a Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and Patron of the Nottingham Community FGM Steering Group and Trustee of Mojatu Foundation.

Dr Abe was born in Uganda and attended Medical School at Makerere University. She completed her medical degree at Manchester University Medical School as a refugee. Dr Abe is an associate member of the All Parliamentary Party Group on FGM and an FGM specilialist and activist supporting FGM survivors. She advises FGM organisations within and outside the UK.

She has worked for over 25 years to support children, families and communities in difficult social and personal difficulties thus improving their overall welfare.

Hilary Burrage Hilary Burrage is a sociologist, consultant, teacher and writer with wide experience in regeneration, the knowledge economy, sustainable communities and the delivery of social policy. Hilary has published two books on Female Genital Mutilation FGM. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Councillor Jackie Morris Councillor Jackie Morris is the current Sheriff of Nottingham and Councillor of Bulwell. She is the former Lord Mayor of Nottingham and is the Mojatu’s Nottingham FGM Ambassador and women’s rights activist. She recently moved a motion declaring Nottingham a “Zero Tolerance to FGM City”, the first in the UK.

Sarah Champion MP Sarah was elected the first woman MP for Rotherham in 2012. Passionate about working with communities as well as young people to give them better access to opportunities. She has led high-profile inquiries into the effectiveness of current child sexual exploitation legislation, which has resulted in a change in the law. Furthermore she has openly challenged the government on its record on preventing FGM in the UK.

Kinsi Clarke Into the Mainstream Refugee Services manager at Nottingham Refugee Forum, an activist and campaigner against FGM. She is an FGM Trainer and Consultant and a Trustee of Mojatu Foundation.

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14 Mojatu in Parliament

OUR PARTNERS

Collaborative & partnership working underlines the service provision & projects delivery at Mojatu Foundation. Our health, media, training, empowerment, social cohesion & engagement work are offered through various partners.

COMMUNITIES INC

UTULIVU WOMEN’S GROUP, READING

Hard-hitting subjects are discussed at a Communities Inc’s dialogues Communities Inc. is a social enterprise established in 2011 to bring fresh approaches and innovation in addressing long standing issues affecting disadvantaged communities. Our two founding directors both have a history spanning over 50 years of experience in working with communities and in building positive relationships and addressing inequalities within communities. Communities Inc.’s activities fall into three areas of work: engaging disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, influencing policy and practice towards these communities and developing innovative and practical projects that address inequalities. We have experience of piloting innovative approaches, scaling up successful work and leveraging additional resources. Since our inception we have delivered over 15 projects including: • • • • •

Young people who are NEET access employment advice and support Documenting the contributions made by grassroots black activists in the east midlands Several projects that bring diverse communities together to discuss common issues Supporting Mojatu’s work around raising awareness of FGM and developing projects that support survivors of FGM Four projects around hate crime leading to a successful BLF project ‘Building Stronger Communities’

Communities Inc. is the leading provider of services to support community cohesion and tackle hate crime in the whole of the East Midlands. We were the first organisation in the UK to train voluntary sector organisations to set up as third party hate crime reporting centres. Over the last three years we have trained over 300 people from 41 local organisations in how to support victims of hate crime and build community cohesion.

Launched in July 2004 as women’s community group, Utulivu Women’s Group is a registered charity in Berkshire covering Reading, Bracknell, Slough, West Berkshire, Wokingham and the surrounding areas. Utulivu engage women, children and senior citizens from minority ethnic communities throughout Berkshire. Mojatu Foundation works with Utulivu in publishing Mojatu Berkshire magazine and organising various events and activities aimed at promoting health and wellbeing. Over the last few years, we have established strong FGM tackling and safeguarding partnership which has become powerful tool in supporting women towards alleviating loneliness, isolation, depression and social exclusion. REFUGEE FORUM Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum

(NNRF) is an independent voluntary organisation that works with and for refugees and asylum seekers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire offering practical advice, information, support and friendship and also campaigning on issues affecting them. It helps them to gain fair and just outcomes, rebuild their lives and integrate into society. NNRF’s vision is society where Asylum Seekers and Refugees are welcomed, receive just and compassionate treatment and support in rebuilding their lives. NNRF works with Mojatu Foundation in supporting FGM survivors and other Refugees and Asylum seekers through training, community engagement and safeguarding their health and wellbeing.

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Nottingham connected

Faith in & Spirituality Mojatu Parliament

RECOMMENDATIONS & ACTIONS

FGM and the like as criminal harm, bad traditions and human rights abuses.

5. Remember the ‘4 E’s’ of Eradication (See full paper in the next issue Issue M023)

3. Spread the message!

Programmes RECOMMENDATIONS such as the Guardian Global #EndFGM Media Campaign and training in places Following the Nottingham in Parliament such as Kenya, Gambia and Nigeria, for event, young several recommendations were put journalists can reach many, manyforward: corners of the Likewise, be sure to to include whole range • globe. National standards ought be seta out, defining of the people as activists and enforcers and make services, that survivors and those at risksure can allexpect relevant are equipped with the fromprofessionals the NHS. andencouraged understanding need totraining tackle • knowledge It was also thatthey national FGM. And weneed also to need be talking tofor boys and standards be to implemented health men, in traditionally practising communities, in practitioners. other shared public places in the(not UK • schools There and needs to be a commissioned service currently commissioned) and US, and in political contexts. • Joint working between agencies 4. Develop a proper paradigm. I have tried inthat my writing to make theiscase for a Due to the fact the current system not costconjoined discipline– which will bring together all effective: the aspects of this very complex subject. There is a • There needs for specialised NHS mental health danger that, without top-level direction and without commissioning for service to develop, understanding of parameters for action for • a clear Increase in current capacity, various types of activists and campaigners, we will • Gender balance (especially for FGM work) in begin – however much they are notcover. intended – to staffing, formal medical/psychiatric professionalinturf wars. In nations such as the • seeImprovement clinical facilities. the timeand simply for awareness-raising is past. • UK, Enhanced sustained funding for research • Co-ordinated Community interdisciplinary involvement inresearch, researchanalyses priority setting. and actions are now the order of the day.

•

Engagement (in communities)

Education ACTIONS (about FGM and, critically, also as preparation for adult life) We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to you Enforcement protection andof all for• making to our event.(legal It demonstrates the level commitment you all have to or see the end toprotection this form of prosecutions, FGM child abuseorders) that violates … andthe rights of girls and women. •

Let us• notEconomics end it here.(addressing Here is our call action: the to fundamental bases of these human rights abuses). • Help your city declare Zero Tolerance to FGM. us for ThisContact interview wassupport. originally published by the AHA Foundation. Hilary Burrage, a college • Need help to set up an FGMpreviously Survivors’ Club or FGM lecturer, is a sociologist, authorPlease of twocontact on female Community Steering Group? us for genital mutilation (FGM) and a consultant on FGM details. for the Guardian Newspaper. She is currently • campaigning Continue to awareness of FGM our to raise STOP FGM in the UK. and Visitshare https:// work with others. hilaryburrage.com or Twitter @HilaryBurrage •

Support our projects to raise awareness, offer FGM training, support survivors and affected Hilary will be part theFGM Mojatu Foundation’s communities and of train cutters.

discussion board on the actions needed in Donations are payable to: terms of policy and mental health support Mojatu Foundation for FGM survivors during the Nottingham Bank Name: Barclays Bank in Parliament day on 25th October 2016 Name: Mojatu Foundation See page 13 Sort: 206325 •

Acc Name: 23950174

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23 15

Join Clit Warriors to enjoy sports and healthy living activities Athletics, Crickect, Football, Netball, Table Tennis and many more Free training and fun activities offered - Contact Valentine on T: +44 (0) 115 8457 009 | M:+44 (0) 7794372214 | E: valentine@mojatu.com 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR

16 Mojatu in Parliament

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Nottingham connected

Mojatu in Parliament

18 Mojatu in Parliament

mojatu.com

City ofCity Zero-tolerance of Zero-tolerance to Female to Female Genital Genital Thank Everyone! Mutilation Mutilation –You Nottingham – Nottingham ModelModel to go to Global go Global • • v

• FGM is any proce organs for non-me • FGM has been ille • FGM is a form • of c On behalf of Mojatu Foundation and all our partners, we want to thank • It is an oﬀence to you for attending our Nottingham in Parliament Day “City of Zero Tolerance • FGM is Non-Islam to Female Genital Mutilation – Nottingham Model to go Global” event. We • FGM is puttingTH the RIG hope that you found the event informative, inspiring and worthwhile. • FGM aﬀects girls • Over 200 million g The primary goal of the event was not only to celebrate Nottingham’s success of being the first• 10,000 girls aged un city in the UK to have declared Zero tolerance to FGM, but also to bring leaders and professionals• Statistics show ab

Dear Attendee,

Dear attendee Dear attendee

This is your This official is your invitation official invitation to the House to the ofHouse Parliament! of Parliament!

Sarah Champion Sarah Champion MP will host MP ourwill Mojatu host our Foundation Mojatu Foundation FGM event,FGM “Cityevent, of Zero-tolerance “City of Zero-tolerance th th to Female to Genital Female Mutilation: Genital Mutilation: Nottingham Nottingham Model to go Model Global”, to go in Global”, parliament parliament on 25 from around the UK under one roof, to address and develop possible strategies toinprotect FGM on 25 October 2016. October 2016. at risk now and in the future. survivors and children

Are you concerned a g  Call 0808 028 350 for Given the vast number of issues surrounding the complexity of appropriate mental health service  Call Nottingham City  Ring the police on 99 provision for FGM survivors, the legal protection of girls and women who have undergone FGM, survivors needi or those at risk of undergoing this harmful practice, we felt that this was the right platformtoRefer or Contact Mojatu fo have this dialogue. Equally, the need for us to understand ways in which research can impact onFor emotional and pe Contact Valentine Nk this field and plug in some of the gaps in our knowledge remains pertinent.  Are you from an aﬀec the Community FGM

Following the Following declaration the declaration of Nottingham of Nottingham as the first as ‘City theof first Zero ‘City Tolerance of Zero Tolerance to FGM’ into FGM’ in UK in September UK in September 2016, the panel 2016,will thelook panel at will the look challenges at the challenges in supporting in supporting FGM survivors FGM survivors by focusingbyon: focusing on:     

The impact  The of FGM impact onof girls FGM andonwomen girls and women Complexity  Complexity of mental health of mental service health provision service provision It is our hope that our diverse and dynamic group of speakers and panellists offered you some insight into their respective area of expertise along with some practical tools and ideas for you to Legal protection  Legal of protection those atof risk those of FGM at risk of FGM act on in your endeavours to keep this issue alive. To help end FGM and The role ofThe research role ofinresearch understanding in understanding and tackling and FGM tackling FGM • FGM Survivors Celebration  Celebration and and action for to success other actioncities other toand follow cities to follow and work suit and work with closely with Your presence madecall theto day thecall great itfor was, yoursuit enthusiasm andclosely positive spirit • FGM Steering • FGM Champio hugely helped to make our time together both productive and fun, and for that, we thank you Ot survivors and survivors affected and communities. affected communities. • Request for tra from the bottom of our hearts.

Venue: Venue: We are in the process of compiling a report and we would appreciate if you could kindly Committee Committee Room 10, Room House10, of Parliament, House of Parliament, Westminster, Westminster, London. SW1 London. 0AA SW1 0AA provide some feedback on the event. The survey should not take more than 15minutes and it is anonymous. Please follow this link to complete it- https://goo.gl/2WSJRr. Kindly email this to any Time: 18.00 Time: – 19:30 18.00 – 19:30 other individuals you booked a ticket for.

wa P GO Email: valen

We wish you all thevia very best andGreen hope Entrance that you will continue to be engagednot with our work. -Entrance via-Entrance Cromwell Green Cromwell Entrance -Smoking/e-cigarettes -Smoking/e-cigarettes permitted not Stay permitted tuned in for events Mojatu Foundation. -Please allow -Please upupcoming to 30 allow minsup totoclear 30bymins security to clear security - No parking -facilities No parking available facilities available All the best from Mojatu Foundation Team

Admittance by Admittance invitationby only. invitation This invite only.isThis non-transferable invite is non-transferable Guests are advised Guests to arebring advised personal to bring photo personal identification photo identification PLEASE PRINT PLEASE THIS INVITATION PRINT THIS INVITATION AND BRING IT AND WITH BRING YOU! IT WITH YOU!

On behalfOn of behalf [organisations of [organisations involved] involved]

Carol McCormick Carol McCormick

in [room], inHouse [room],ofHouse Commons of Commons on 25 October on 25 October 2016 2016 at [time] at [time] Irene Stuart & Mansfield McCormick and requests and requests the Saroptimist pleasure the pleasure of your company of Carol your company

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Nottingham connected

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM – FACTS,

Mojatu in Parliament

HELPNATIONS & ACTIONSLADIES SPORTS FOR FUN ALL • •

Are you a woman and aged 16 and above? Facts Are you interested in some fun sports, meeting new GM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital people, enjoying and learning something new, feelrgans for non-medical reasons. or get or simply do something different? GM has been illegalgood in England and fit Wales since 1985. GM is a form • of childAre abuse and violence against women and girls. you interested in promoting and raising awareness is an oﬀence to fail of to protect a girl from risk and of FGM. the welfare ofthe girls women? GM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute. OUR ALL NATIONS SPORTS FORrisk. FUN IS GM is puttingTHEN the health of our daughters, sisters,LADIES mothers and wives at great RIGHT FORboth YOU. GM aﬀects girls and women physically, emotionally and psychologically.

ver 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM 0,000 girls aged under  15 whoWhere: have migrated to England Wales are likely to have undergone FGM.  John Caroland Leisure Centre, Denman Street tatistics show about 200 new cases aNottingham year are reported in Nottingham. Central, NG7 3PS. All indoors and free

parking available on site. Help  When: Every Sunday 3pm-4pm from 4th ou concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need support?th December 2016 toemail: 16 fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk April 2017. To be 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline or extended subject funding. Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct:to 0115 876 4800 g the police on 999 if  FGM has just happened or about to happen What to expect: there will be a range of sports and er survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Call 0115 969 1169 activities to try and socialise Contact Mojatu for referrals  What to wear: wear comfortable clothes emotional and peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club:and shoes tact Valentine Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 for sports you from an aﬀected community in Nottingham wanting to make a diﬀerence: Join  Group: WhatContact to bring: Female friends and family Community FGM Steering valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214  Cost: FREE sessions just bring your bottle of water Actions  What sports and activities: Badminton, Netball, p end FGM and support survivors, join Basketball, one of our campaigns or projects Football, Table Tennis, Cricket, music • FGM Survivors Club • Volunteer withamong us and dance, good exercise others.

• FGM Steering Group • ‘Adopt a tree’ project • FGM Champions of Change • Donate to support our subject work Others coming soon: Yoga and swimming to funding • Request for training • Fundraise to support our work

Make it your weekly session to let your hair off, have fun,

meetinformation, new people,contact feel good and burn some calories in a For more Mojatu Foundation

warm relaxed environment with like-minded people. IT’S Phone:and 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 GOOD FOR YOU, IT’S GOOD FOR ME, IT’S GOOD FOR US ALL! Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: www.mojatufoundation.org

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20 Faith & Spirituality

JOHN SENTAMU’S ‘AGAPE LOVE STORIES’: Mojatu Director, Valentine Nkoyo featured in the Book By Elizabeth Addy & Dr Mike Calvert

https://youtu.be/jboQdMArpV4

way to a Christmas Eve service in Sheffield in 2012.

Richard Taylor, father to Damirola Taylor commenting about his contribution in the book

John Sentamu’s Agape love Stories On 1 December 2016, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu launched his book ‘John Sentamu’s Agape Love Stories’ at St Michael le Belfrey Church, York. The book contains 22 stories of God’s love changing lives including contributions from Jean Vanier, Tiki Raumati and Muthoni Kanga. The book also features a chapter from a young Kenyan woman who went through female genital mutilation and now speaks out against the practice. Among the contributors who shared their personal stories at the launch was Richard Taylor whose 10-year-old son Damilola was murdered in London in 2000, and Maureen Greaves, whose husband Alan, a church organist, was attacked and murdered on his

The contributors have all experienced great challenges in their lives from those who have lost loved ones to murder and natural disaster, to those who have overcome extreme personal challenges and others who have devoted their lives to the service of others. Archbishop Sentamu said: “These remarkable stories show us the Holy Spirit at work and how real transformation is made possible. When we know God’s self-giving love for us, we are on a journey to walk the way of Christ Jesus and become love to others. Life isn’t simple but loving help makes all the difference”. Mrs Greaves forgave her husband’s killers, and said: “I have lived with God’s forgiveness all my life. It could not be on that night that I would not forgive them.” Speaking at the launch the Archbishop thanked those who took part in the book, and for their work and bravery in speaking out. The 22 stories in Agape Love Stories stand as inspiring demonstrations of Christian faith in action. Among the contributors are people who

have lost loved ones to murder and natural disaster, some who have overcome extreme personal challenges and some who have devoted their lives to a God-given calling to the service of others. Their stories, with accompanying words of wisdom and encouragement from John Sentamu, are witness to the life-transforming power of God’s love. Speaking at the launch, Dr Sentamu said: “Agape is a Greek word for love. These agape love stories are really about the transforming power of the God who came to us in a little child called Jesus.” Soroush Sadeghzadeh, a contributor, shared how he came to the UK 12 years ago as an asylum-seeker fleeing religious persecution in his native country, Iran. He now lives in Teesside where he manages the Middlesbrough Foodbank. Mary Kolu Massaquoi, a contributor, explained how she was ready to hear God’s call and follow it – and of her experience as a nurse in a civil war and fighting the Ebola virus. John Senior MBE TD reflected on the bravery of the RNLI crew, and of prayers said for the new Shannon lifeboat, at the Scarborough Lifeboat Station. Jill Quinn, who founded the growing North Yorkshire charity Dementia Forward, is another contributor. She said it was humbling to be involved in the book, alongside such powerful and inspirational stories. https://youtu.be/jboQdMArpV4

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Nottingham connected

Director of Mojatu Foundation, Valentine Nkoyo (Nashipae in the book) speaking during the launch Amongst them is Valentine Nkoyo, who writes here under the Maasai name of Nashipae (‘happiness’ or ‘happy person’). Valentine underwent FGM at the age of 11, as is the norm amongst the Maasai, and is now a leading human rights campaigner against the practice and other forms of violence against girls and women working at a local, national and increasingly international level. See her profile at http://valentinenkoyo.com. In her chapter, she also shares the difficulties she went through as a young woman trying to access education. Her narrative is a powerful one, as Sentamu underlines in his commentary, of someone moving from powerlessness to gaining in conviction and having a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. The key for her was education as you will appreciate when you read her poem in her profile or see it on a Vimeo recording from 2004:

Faith & Spirituality

Nashipae, who studied for a time in York, added: “I mention FGM around 30 times a day. A lot of people find it difficult to talk about. I was forced to go through it at the age of 11, but that does not define who I am. I know millions and millions of people are at risk of FGM, so even if I can save one life I am ready to do it.” This book is a companion both to John Sentamu’s Hope Stories (DLT, 2014) and to his Faith Stories (DLT,2013). In this new book Archbishop Sentamu introduces the stories of 22 individuals with personal encounters of the love of God in the midst of devastating experiences such as bereavement, female genital mutilation, being held hostage and surviving a tsunami.

share in their incredible journeys of opening hearts and homes, taking on new roles that express unconditional and selfless love to others. John Sentamu’s Agape Love Stories is available in paperback, priced £9.99, from bookstores and online. ISBN: 978-0-232-53223-4. Contributors to the book include: Jean Vanier, Richard Taylor OBE, Emily Finch, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale, Jill Quinn, Beverley Thomas, Mary Kolu Massaquoi, Claire Daniels, Muthoni Kanga, Alan Guile, Nashipae, John Senior MBE TD, Kate Marsden, Gabriel Oyediwura, Janet Morley, Archdeacon Tiki Raumati, Maureen Greaves BEM, Patricia Mutangili, Soroush Sadeghzadeh, Revd David Tomlinson, Gee Walker and Revd Irene Wilson. For more information, please visit: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/ pages/agape-love-stories-2016-. html

Richard Taylor, Beverley Thomas and The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu

John Sentamu is the Archbishop of York, and was previously Bishop of Birmingham and Bishop of Stepney. He is author of John Sentamu’s Faith Stories (DLT: 2013) and John Sentamu’s Hope Stories (DLT: 2014).

In this heart-warming and challenging book, they invite us to

https://vimeo.com/10067804. The launch saw many of the contributors gather in York, including Nashipae, who went through female genital mutilation at her home in Kenya and now speaks against the practice. The Archbishop said: “If you read this story, what comes out is a place of healing.”

Some of the 22 contributors whose stories are featured in Sentamu’s Agape love Stories

mojatu.com

22 category

Interview with Michelle Johnson on her new book

DO GREAT EXPLOITS Michelle Johnson’s launched her debut book, Do Great Exploits: Saying Yes to God’s call When It’s Easier To Say No for sale on 1st January 2017. Here is an interview with the writer: Does fear hold you back from doing the things you dream of doing? Do you doubt that you have what it takes to accomplish your dreams? Perhaps you have had some set-backs and given up on your dreams. Do you want to break through to higher levels of achievement than what you have achieved thus far? These are the types of questions H. Michelle Johnson asks in her genre busting new book titled, Do Great Exploits. “You’re called to great exploits,” Johnson says. “The keys shared in the book will help make it easier for you to say yes to that call. I wrote the book to show people how to identify and overcome obstacles that may be holding them back from moving forward in life the way they would like to.” The book draws on the lives and stories of a diverse range of people including modern and historical personalities and biblical characters, both men and women as well as the young and not so young. It gives examples of the many issues such people faced at different stages of their lives. Do Great Exploits picks apart how these people overcame in their situation and offers their strategies for how we too can overcome our own obstacles. “It breaks things down and gives really practical insights for breaking free of limitations of the mind and of the past that may be holding you back,” says Chair of the Board of Trustees and Pastor, Muyiwa Olubowale, God’s Vineyard Church and Vine Fruits Community Interest Company. So Mojatu contacted Ms Johnson and asked her some questions about Do Great Exploits and this is what she said. Why write such a book? I wrote this book because I have a heart for people of all types. I look at everyone and think each person is great, they have potential, but some aren’t releasing their full potential. And that’s tragic on two levels. First, the person isn’t experiencing the joy of producing what they were put on this earth to produce. And secondly, the world is left lacking what they were supposed to do or to produce. Imagine if someone like Barack Obama hadn’t decided to maximise his potential? Or someone like Usain Bolt, or senior politicians like Diane Abbot or top

businessmen like Richard Branson. Everything they and countless others have produced with their lives so far has had massive impact for untold numbers of people. Everyone has abilities, gifts and talents. Each of us has a responsibility to develop and use these to help other people and make the world a better place. Who is the main audience for the book? For over twenty years I’ve worked closely with teenagers and young adults through mentorship, counselling, coaching and running small groups. I even taught at a comprehensive school for a short stint when I was younger. I’ve always sensed the energy in young people, seen their potential and had a strong desire to guide, help and encourage them to release their potential and be the very best person they could be. So the book was primarily written with them in mind. I thought, If I had a son or a daughter, this is the kind of thing I would tell them very early on in their lives. (It’s the kinds of things I wish someone had told me when I was younger). I’d want to give them the strongest foundation upon which they could develop their confidence and build productive lives. However, when I sent the manuscript to my editor, she wrote me a lovely letter saying that while I had written this book for that age range, it had had an impact on her and she was in her late thirties. She suggested that the book had a much wider appeal. So, I tested that theory with people I know who are in their thirties, forties, fifties and even late sixties and they all fed back that the book had really challenged and inspired them and they had learned new strategies to move to new levels of effectiveness in their own lives. So now the book is being promoted for all age groups! Is writing something new for you? No, I’ve been writing since I was very little. In the book I wrote that kids my age were playing with dolls and riding their bicycles in the street, I was sometimes inside writing little stories. I remember some of them were just a paragraph long! I’ve worked hard to develop my potential in this area and have written and published many feature articles of leaders and achievers I have interviewed. Doing this combines the two things that are of great fascination to me – people and writing.

LONDON – H. Michelle Johnson marks her debut in the publishing scene with a new self-help book empowering readers to break free of things that hinder them from achieving God’s purpose for each one, to say yes to their dreams and to “Do Great Exploits” (published by AuthorHouse UK).

23 Nottingham connected Culture Insightful and inspiring, this book looks at the lives of people who Arts do great& exploits, including Bible characters and historical and modern personalities, to unpack biblical strategies for great exploits. It acknowledges many of the highly common issues that hold some people back and offers practical solutions Who are your favourite authors? to us by God and our job is to find out what it is, then to each one. go to work on it. Not only do we have to go to work “You’re called to great exploits. The keys shared will help make it easier In recent years I’ve read far more non-fiction than on ‘it’ whatever ‘it’ might be, but we also have to go for you to say yes to that call.onI have written thisgo book to show fiction. I enjoy books by John C Maxwell, Miles to work ourselves as we forward. Wepeople might howon to biographies. identify and overcome those obstacles that hold them back from Munroe, Robert Greene and I’m keen experience fear, or things that happened to us in the moving forwardyour in life the may way affect they would like to,” Johnson shares. “You I love books that give you the skills to navigate past our confidence, we make mistakes can doyourself. all things through Christ. You are a unique individual, muchto way through life and help you develop etc, but these ‘obstacles’ are actually quite with common value to bring to the world.” everyone. My view is that the people I‘ve named in this For fiction, I’d say Nicholas Owen (The Horse Whisperer, interview, plus a host of others, have all experienced Written with aThe bold, candid voice, with inthe author’s The Loop), JRR Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings, these in some way atfused some point their lives, butown they Hobbit). I really loved a book by experiences, the Nigerian “Do author Great Exploits” is to offered all readers who endeavor to found a way movetopast these challenges and still Ben Okri called The Famished Road. When it comes to for fulfill God’s purpose dolife. great exploits with their lives. If they can do it, so fiction it’s more about writing style and how language can we. In the book I share how we can - no matter is used to create pictures in the imagination andthe stirbook A snippet from reads: what’s happened or where we are in life. The essential the emotions. For me, the actual story is secondary difference between people who do great exploits to that. I bought a book by Arundati manydifference years andbetween The Roy essential people do the great exploits and those those who don’twho is that former go to work on ago, just because I loved the way who she had written one they develop self-mastery; maximize their don’t is that thethemselves: former develop self-mastery; maximize their gifts, sentence in the first paragraph (Iabilities, think). Iand didn’t getand gifts, abilities, and they ideas; and keep ideas; keep going until achieve theirgoing goals. until they beyond the first chapter because I wasn’t interested achieve their goals. The book empowers readers to in the story. I just loved that sentence! Wilbur Smith is break free of things that hinder them from achieving “Do Great Exploits” another powerful writer. God’s purpose for them and to say yes to their dreams. By H. Michelle Johnson Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 308 pages | ISBN 9781524663544 What’s the main message of your own book? Softcover | 6 x 9in | 308 pages | ISBN 9781524663520 Do Great Exploits, Saying yes to God’s call when it’s easier to say no is available now in paperback E-Book | 308 pages | ISBN 9781524663537 There are many messages in my book. But the overall £10 and hardback £20 at: www.dogreatexploits. Available at now at www.dogreatexploits.bigcartel.com one is that each of us was born with a purpose given bigcartel.com 1st January at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author H. Michelle Johnson has written for online and print magazines in both the Christian and secular world. She has a keen interest in what makes achievers different from the indistinct masses and she has written numerous feature-length articles on those achievers she has been privileged to interview. She is passionate about helping people become active in the pursuit of God’s purpose for their lives. As an ordained minister, Johnson regularly speaks to groups of young people and adults and she has a vision to see 21st-century disciples mobilised to have greater impact and dominion in line with God’s purpose.

It’s time to shine! 2017 Nottingham City Home Nominations It’s that time of year again when Nottingham City Homes is looking for nominations for their fantastic Tenant and Leaseholder Awards.

2016 Winners

The awards are all about celebrating and recognising the very best individuals, groups or initiatives that are improving the lives of their residents and communities. There are lots of categories that you can make nominations in and all of the details, including the different ways you can make a nomination, can be found by visiting www. nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/get-involved/ tenant-awards or by calling 0115 746 9100. But be quick! The deadline for nominations is Friday 20 January.

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24 Health & Food

15 Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure By Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that can damage your heart. It affects one in three people in the US and 1 billion people worldwide. If left uncontrolled, it raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good news. There are a number of things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally, even without medication. Here are 15 natural ways to combat high blood pressure.

Walk and Exercise Regularly Exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower high blood pressure. Regular exercise helps make your heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood, which lowers the pressure in your arteries. In fact, 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as running, per week can help lower blood pressure and improve your heart health. Bottom Line: Walking just 30 minutes a day can help lower your blood pressure. More exercise helps reduce it even further. Reduce Your Sodium Intake Salt intake is high around the world. In large part, this is due to processed and prepared foods. Salt has been linked to high blood pressure and heart events, like stroke. However, more recent research has shown that the relationship between sodium and high blood pressure may be less clear. One reason for this may be genetic differences between how people process sodium. If you already have high blood pressure, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth cutting back your sodium intake to see if it makes a difference. Swap out processed foods with fresh ones and try seasoning with herbs and spices, rather than salt. Bottom Line: Most guidelines for lowering blood pressure recommend lowering sodium intake. However, that recommendation might make the most sense for people who are salt-sensitive. Drink Less Alcohol Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressure. Alcohol is linked to 16% of high blood pressure cases around the world. While some research has suggested that low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol may protect the heart, those benefits may be offset by negative effects. Bottom Line: Drinking alcohol in any quantity may raise your blood pressure. Limit your drinking to no more than one drink a day for women, two for men.

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Eat More Potassium-Rich Foods Potassium is an important mineral. It helps your body get rid of sodium and ease pressure on your blood vessels. Modern diets have increased most people’s sodium intake while decreasing potassium intake. To get a better balance of potassium to sodium in your diet, focus on eating fewer processed foods and more fresh, whole foods. Foods that are particularly high in potassium include; Vegetables, especially leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes; Fruit, including melons, bananas, avocados, oranges and apricots; Dairy, such as milk and yogurt; Tuna and salmon; Nuts and seeds; Beans Bottom Line: Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in potassium, can help lower blood pressure.

Cut Back on Caffeine If you have ever had a cup of coffee before you have had your blood pressure taken, you will know that caffeine causes an instant boost. However, there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that drinking caffeine regularly can cause a lasting increase. In fact, people who drink caffeinated coffee and tea tend to have a lower risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, than those who do not. Caffeine may have a stronger effect on people who do not consume it regularly. If you suspect you are caffeine-sensitive, cut back to see if it lowers your blood pressure. Bottom Line: Caffeine can cause a short-term spike in blood pressure, although for many people it does not cause a lasting increase.

Learn to Manage Stress Stress is a key driver of high blood pressure. When you are chronically stressed, your body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode. On a physical level, that means a faster heart rate and constricted blood vessels. When you experience stress, you might also be more likely to engage in other behaviours, such as drinking alcohol or eating unhealthy food, that can negatively affect blood pressure. Several studies have explored how reducing stress can help lower blood pressure. Here are two evidence-based tips to try: • Listen to soothing music: Calming music can help relax your nervous system. • Work less: Working a lot, and stressful work situations in general, are linked to high blood pressure. Bottom Line: Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Finding ways to manage stress can help.

Eat Dark Chocolate or Cocoa While eating massive amounts of chocolate probably won’t help your heart, small amounts may. That’s because dark chocolate and cocoa powder are rich in flavonoids, plant compounds that cause blood vessels to dilate. For the strongest effects, use non-alkalized cocoa powder, which is especially high in flavonoids and has no added sugars. Bottom Line: Dark chocolate and cocoa powder contain plant compounds that help relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.

Lose Weight If you’re overweight, losing weight can make a big difference for your heart health. Losing 5% of your body mass could significantly lower high blood pressure. Losing weight can help your blood vessels do a better job of expanding and contracting, making it easier for the left ventricle of the heart to pump blood. Bottom Line: Losing weight can significantly lower high blood pressure. This effect is even greater when you exercise. Quit Smoking Every puff of cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels. Still, since both smoking and high blood pressure raise the risk of heart disease, quitting smoking can help reverse that risk. Bottom Line: Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

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26 Health & Food

10. Cut Added Sugar and Refined Carbs Many researches show a link between added sugar and high blood pressure. Sugar and all refined carbs, such as the kind found in white flour, convert rapidly to sugar in your bloodstream and may cause problems. Some studies have shown that low-carb diets may also help reduce blood pressure. Bottom Line: Refined carbs, especially sugar, may raise blood pressure. Some studies shown low-carb diets may help reduce your levels. 11. Eat Berries Berries are full of more than just juicy flavour. They are also packed with polyphenols, natural plant compounds that are good for your heart. Bottom Line: Berries are rich in polyphenols, which can help lower blood pressure and the overall risk of heart disease. 12. Meditation or Deep Breathing While these two could also fall under “stress reduction techniques,” meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention. Both meditation and deep breathing are thought to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective. Try guided meditation or deep breathing.

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https://youtu.be/awc8MLSpjlQ Bottom Line: Both meditation and deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure. 13. Eat Calcium-Rich Foods People with low calcium intake often have high blood pressure. While calcium supplements have not been conclusively shown to lower blood pressure, calcium-rich diets do seem linked to healthy levels. In addition to dairy, you can get calcium from collard greens and other leafy greens, beans, sardines and tofu. Here is a complete list of calcium rich foods – www.mojatu.com/15-calcium-rich-foods/. Bottom Line: Calcium-rich diets are linked to healthy blood pressure levels. Get calcium through dark leafy greens and tofu, as well as dairy. 14. Take Natural Supplements Some natural supplements may also help lower blood pressure. Some of the main supplements that have evidence behind them are aged garlic extract, berberine, whey protein, fish oil and hibiscus. Bottom Line: Several natural supplements have been investigated for their ability to lower blood pressure. 15. Eat Foods Rich in Magnesium Magnesium is an important mineral that helps blood vessels relax. While magnesium deficiency is pretty rare, many people do not get enough. Eating a magnesium-rich diet is a recommended way to ward off high blood pressure. You can incorporate magnesium into your diet with vegetables, dairy products, legumes, chicken, meat and whole grains. Bottom Line: Magnesium is an important mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. It’s found in whole foods, such as legumes and whole grains. Take Home Message High blood pressure affects a large proportion of the world’s population. While drugs are one way to treat the condition, there are many other natural techniques that can help. Controlling your blood pressure through the methods in this article may, ultimately, help you lower your risk of heart disease.

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Business & Finance

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER FOR YOUR EVENT?

Valentine Nkoyo delivers training and talks at conferences, workshops, community events, schools, colleges, universities, women events among others. As a key inspirational speaker, Valentine is a multi-award winner who has spoken at local, regional and international events including conferences, talks in schools, colleges and universities and has worked with different girls and women groups and young people. Valentine’s work on ‘Inspiring the Other’ and her community work over years, has been recognised through multiple awards and recognition she has received from different organisations including: The British Council, Women Federation for World Peace International and National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, The Sheriff of Nottingham, named and awarded the ‘Hero’s Award by her Kenyan community, named a ‘Rising Star and Future Leader’ by the Nottingham Post among other organisations and bodies.

Valentine gives talks on a range of topics including:  Women Making a Difference  Gender equality and Human rights  Girls and Education  Female Genital Mutilation  Capacity Building for Girls and Women  The undetected discrimination of girls and women  Girls and women as agents of change  The power within an empowered girl- a personal experience  Empowering women economically  Drivers of the economy- Girls and women in business  Turning challenges into opportunities  Young people- Rising above your adversities (for schools and other young people’s events). TO GET VALENTINE HER TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT: T: 01158457009 | M: 07794372214 | E: valentine@mojatu.com | W: www.valentinenkoyo.com

Valentine Nkoyo’s Profile Valentine Nkoyo is the co- founder and director of the Mojatu Foundation. She is a human rights activist, inspirational public speaker, Business Consultant, female genital mutilation (FGM) trainer, consultant and campaigner. Her passion to support girls and women has greatly been influenced by her own experience of living in poverty and experiencing discrimination at a younger age. She has fought for her education from a young age and learnt to fundraise and look for scholarships for herself since she was in secondary school in Kenya and later came to the UK for further studies. A part of her Maasai community still doesn’t value girl’s education. Valentine now has a diploma in Creative Writing & Documentary Film Making, Degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). For over 5 years, Valentine has been involved in working with communities mainly girls, women and young people and has set up projects and campaigns

in Africa and the UK to support these groups. She also supports small women groups to set and start up their own business enterprises. Her work with young people in schools and colleges to raise their aspirations and inspire them with her personal stories has been highly commended by the schools she has worked with. She has organised many events bringing different communities together including national and international conferences, cultural events, sports events, farm events among others thus facilitating community cohesion and integration and sharing important information. Valentine has spoken in many high profile local, regional and international events. Human Rights Activist, Public Speaker, Advocate for education, FGM activist, Director of Mojatu Foundation and Founder of Nottingham Community FGM Steering Group and FGM Survivors Club.

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NOTTINGHAM AMBITIOUS CAMEROONIANS BID FAREWELL TO TWO MEMBERS. By Almighty Nchafack

This weekend, the Cameroonian community in Nottingham bade farewell to two of theirs as they return home after postgraduate studies. Almighty Nchafack and Linda Rose Atem successfully completed a Master of Arts in Public Health from Nottingham Trent University and a Master of Science in Advanced Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham respectively. These young girls are part of the Cameroonian community called Nottingham Ambitious Cameroonians (NAC) which aims at supporting members in joyful and sad events as well as fundraising for charitable causes back home. NAC started in 2012 as a group of Cameroonian women meeting on Saturdays to socialise and support each other. Two years later, the men joined the group and it became a full-fledged association with an executive body and a constitution. ‘I made friends, travelled, cried, laughed and found a family away from home in NAC. I will miss them!’ says Almighty with tears in her eyes. Linda Rose on her part says, ‘It was an all-round experience and if I were to turn back the hands of time, I will still choose to be part of NAC.’

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MONTH DATES (FRIDAY) At Nottingham Arimathea Trust we provide supported accommodation for destitute November 25th asylum seekers and refugees who have found themselves with nowhere to live and no way to support themselves. We are launching a pilot of a peer mentoring December 2nd project where well established refugees and asylum seekers living in Nottingham will volunteer to support newer arrivals as they begin to build new lives in our January 13th city. We are looking for volunteers from the refugee community who like meeting people and getting to know them, andFebruary also are reliable and have an open minded 10th approach to different types of people and cultures. March 10th Nottingham Arimathea Trust will provide training in mentoring and befriending for all volunteers as well as regular supervision. For anyone who is interested in volunteering as a part of this project or would like some additional information www.mojatufoundation.org please contact Rhiannon Prideaux on 01159249920 or email rhiannon@ megan@mojatu.com nottinghamarimathea.org.uk forEmail: an application form. Tel: 0115 8457 00 Call/ Text: 0745 5005 459 MOJATU FOUNDATION IS OFFERING

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