Mojatu Nottingham Magazine Issue M030 by Mojatu Magazines

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Nottingham connected

FEA

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SUPPORT

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day

AFRICA Al Capone option

FYA

One Year On!

MENTAL HEALTH

Time to Change

21 FOODS

That can Make You Gain Weight Female Genital Mutilation ZERO TOLERANCE TO FGM: FGM – FACTS,

Updates, & Pledge Pg 4-6 HELPConference & ACTIONS

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS 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 The Ci • In Nottingham, about 85 new cases were recorded through NHS in 2016/17.

Taking The City To the Farm 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 Refugees & A • Drop in sessions at Mojatu Offices 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR: ContactSeekers us Wel Sessions: Free FGM helpline Refugees & Asylum • Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Tuesdays Welcome Sessions: • Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876Seekers 4800 Saturdays Certificates O Tuesdays • Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or about to happen Saturdays Certificates Offered ADOPT A T Tuesdays Activities include: Saturdays ADOPT A TREE include:Fruit Harvesting Actions Activities Fruit Harvesting Tree Management Activities To help end FGM and support survivors, join oneinclude: of our campaigns or projects Tree ManagementWeeding for Pumpkins & M Fruit Harvesting • FGM Survivors Club • Volunteer with us Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize Form onli Tree Management • FGM Steering Group • ‘Adopt a tree’ project https://goo.gl/ Feeding the Pumpkins & Maize • FGM Global Faith Ambassador Weeding• for Donate to support ouranimals work Form online @ • FGM Global Young Ambassador Feeding •the Fundraise our work oodland 9sz animals to support https://goo.gl/WyH

W gement nd W a l ana ionEDIBLE d o M o s W t Ecocentr n e s s m e e S ag s WOODLAN nd ‘18Farm, Screveton,wN r-SepHome Woodgleament MaSnessionEDIBLE Ecocentre, p A WOODLAND For more information, contact Foundation ‘18 www.farmeco.co.u ManeassiMojatu ns pr-SepHome Ecocentre, Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL A https://goo.gl/pEK1 Mojatu Foundation |1 S eo07794372214 Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 8 1 ‘ p www.farmeco.co.uk S T: 0115 784 6666 | M: 0751 Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: Apr-www.mojatufoundation.org Mojatu Foundation | 167 Alfreton Road,36 N https://goo.gl/pEK1AC

• Request for training

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

@ mojatuf

@mojatu_foundation

Editor’s Welcome

Happy New Year and welcome to the M030 edition of the Mojatu Nottingham magazine! This year, we mark the second anniversary of NOTTINGHAM as a city of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. On 6th Feb, come to #TreesAgainstFGM at the Farmeco Community Care Farm and a conference on 7th Feb. See FGM updates and upcoming events (pg2- 8). Heard of Fearless Youth Association (FYA)? See special feature of their amazing work being done by our young people in the community. With knife crime on the rise, see the ground-breaking work this young people led group is doing (pg14-19). One in every four people will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their life according to statistics. Mojatu Foundation is one of the core partners on the Nottingham Time to Change initiate aimed at raising awareness of mental health and challenging stigma in the community. Don’t miss out the special article on (pg30-31). ng The City Farm Have To you the thought of your personal development plan for 2019? Cecily Mwaniki shares her thoughts on this in her he Farm article Leaping to 2019 in Style on (pg20) The international Women’s Day celebrated on 8th of March will be here soon. A group of Nottingham ladies wanted to celebrate this in style for a good cause! Learn about the Clit Rock Extravaganza- an End FGM gig to raise awareness and funds to support girls education in Kenya. Don’t miss the special annual Fempowerment event co-organised by us Nottingham organisations to bring women together and Refugees & Asylum celebrate their achievements (pg 8-9). tefugees us & Asylum Seekers Welcome Interested in investing in shares and getting involved in us Seekers Welcome farming, then Farmeco Community Certificates Offered Care gives you that (pg 36). .uk From our Mojatu Foundation team, we wish you a happy ertificates Offered and successful 2019! A TREE ADOPT

ADOPT AValentine TREE Nkoyo

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Managing Editor valentine@mojatu.com

nt mpkins & Maize Form online @ https://goo.gl/WyH9sz mals Group Form online @ Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managingz Editor: valentine@mojatu.com ps://goo.gl/WyH9s

Editorial

EDIBLE WOODLAND IBLE DLAND

Graphic Design: Robert Borbely Contributors: Valentine Nkoyo | Penny Cooper Angela Wathoni | Peter Fabricius | Ian Brennan Ecocentre, Home Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL Micha Skye | Tamim Nashed | Cecily Mwaniki www.farmeco.co.uk Saidi | Jillian Kubala rm, Screveton,Lillian NG13 8JL https://goo.gl/pEK1AC IT / Social Media: Daniel Ibinimion meco.co.uk ps://goo.gl/pEK1AC Robert Borbely ndation | Photos: 167 Alfreton Road, NG7 3JR Accounts: John Gordon - accounts@mojatu.com |ton M: Road, 0751 366 1176 | E: angela@mojatu.com NG7 3JR Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com E: angela@mojatu.com tion @ mojatuf @mojatu_foundation Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: com @mojatu_foundation Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com tion Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com

Contents

News and Sports

FGM Updates .................................................................. 4-6 2018 Game of Remembrance ....................................... 7 Clit Rock Extravaganza .................................................... 8

Community

Should Africa consider the Al Capone option? ....12

Fearless Youth Association

Knife Crime ........................................................................14 Who are we and why we exist ....................................15 Previous Events & Trainings .................................. 16-17 Our Services & Courses ..................................................18 FYA collaborates with Genius .....................................19

Arts & Culture

Leaping to 2019 in Style ........................................ 20-21 5 African Podcasts ...........................................................22 The way we talk of integration ...................................23 Victor and Cecily ..............................................................24

Health & Food

21 foods that can make you gain weight ........ 28-29 Time to Change ......................................................... 30-31

Business & Finance

Accountancy and Finance ............................................32

Education & Career

Mojatu Training Programs ............................................33 Ads & Classifieds ....................................................... 34-36

Cover

FYA Fashion show & Basement + FYA studios

Mojatu Foundation Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.

News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Non Executive Directors / Trustees: Finance: Angela Wathoni - angela@mojatu.com Marketing: Dr. Tabani Ndlovu - sales@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage subs@mojatu.com Address: Mojatu Foundation, 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR 0115 8457 009 | 0115 7846 666 | 0751 6962 992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumagazine Printers: Mojatu Publications

News & Sports

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Trees Against FGM: Nottingham 2nd Anniversary for Zero Tolerance to FGM By Valentine Nkoyo

of women and their bodies, as well as the protection of their physical health- which can be tremendously affected later in life. These efforts are to benefit actions fighting violence against women and girls as a whole. Nottingham was the first city in UK and Europe to officially make a declaration and agree to the set of commitments.

Mojatu Foundation’s ground-breaking work and lobbying on tackling Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) over the years led to Nottingham City declaring Zero Tolerance to FGM and agreed to a set of commitments in ending FGM. International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on February 6 as part of the UN’s efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation. It was first introduced in 2003. One of the beliefs in support for this day acknowledges that culture is in “constant flux,” and with the concerns begetting FGM being so high-risk, the abolition of such practices must be prompt. This is a movement for the rights

Mojatu Foundation has been using different approaches and partnerships in tackling FGM. This includes working with a local farmer, David Rose, to end FGM and to facilitate community cohesion and integration of people from the city and the county. The farmer allocated us a piece of land for planting trees to raise awareness. The farm sees thousands of people visit every year and has become a fantastic venue for our support work, therapy, annual cultural festivals and other community events. Our approach of celebrating diversity of cultures and “Bringing the city to the farm and the farm to the city” has gained popularity and we now attract over 1,500 people every year where we use the opportunity to raise awareness of FGM and other forms of extremism. This year, we will mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance in a special way on 6th February by planting trees which will include plaques with personalised messages from faith and community leaders, individuals, families, groups and organisations committed to Ending FGM in a generation. Messages can be in loving memory of a loved one, a group, an organisation etc in support of the End FGM campaign. Faith and community leaders play a very vital role in supporting social change in the society. Not much can be achieved without their support and we are therefore calling upon them to be involve in the campaign to keep girls and women safe! If you are a faith leader/ community leader or know one, please get in touch! We are recruiting Global Ambassadors of Change. Continue to Page 7

News & Sports Nottingham connected

News & Sports

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JOIN US IN ENDING FGM IN OUR GENERATION! JOIN JOIN US IN US ENDING FGM INFGM OURIN GENERATION! IN ENDING OUR GENERATION! JOIN US IN ENDING FGM IN OUR GENERATION! TAKETAKE A PLEDGE TODAY, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! ATODAY, PLEDGE TODAY, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! TAKE A PLEDGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! TAKE PLEDGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Female Genital A Mutilation (FGM), TODAY, defined as cutting or removing part of the female genital hes Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), defined as cutting or removing part of the female genita organs for non-medical reasons, has no health benefits. It can affect girls and women both ng Genital Mutilation (FGM), defined as no cutting or removing part fema organs for non-medical reasons, has health benefits. It can affect girls of andthe women both to physically, emotionally, psychologically and can result in death. physically, emotionally, psychologically and can result in ple for non-medical reasons, no health benefits. It death. can affect andfema wom Genital Mutilation (FGM),has defined as cutting or removing partgirls of the sa At least 200 million women and girls alive today have suffered this violent and intrusive lly, non-medical emotionally, psychologically and can result in death. The for reasons, has noand health benefits. It can affect girlsand and wom At least 200 million women girls alive today this violent practice. But we can stop this: Research shows we can endhave FGMsuffered in one generation through intrusive has practice. But we can this:and Research shows wein candeath. end FGM in one generation through lly, psychologically can result education, partnerships andstop empowerment of those affected. py, emotionally, education, partnerships and empowerment of those affected. nts. 200 million women and girls alive today have suffered this violent and nd Mojatu Foundation has been working in partnership with the City and County FGM Steering .ty”200 But we can this:and Research shows we can end in one generation million women girls alive today suffered this violent and Group (astop multi-agency group in Nottingham) and otherhave partners and supporters to get more Steering Mojatu Foundation has been working in partnership with theFGM City and County FGM 500 people taking action in line with the Nottingham Action Plan developed following the official Group (a multi-agency group in Nottingham) and other partners and supporters to get more on, partnerships and empowerment of those affected. .iseBut wedeclaration can stop this: Research shows wedeclare can end FGM in onethrough generation of Nottingham as the first city to officially zero tolerance to FGM people taking action in line with the Nottingham Action Plan developed following the officia on, partnerships ofcity those affected. a fulldeclaration council and house. of empowerment Nottingham as the first to officially declare zero tolerance to FGM through of ary ahas full council house. Foundation been working in partnership with the City and County FGM We need your help to show world leaders that we care about protecting women and girls ith a multi-agency group in Nottingham) and that other and supporters to Foundation been working partnership withpartners the City andrights County beforehas more are subjected to thisin violent practice infringes on the human of girls FGM nity We need your help to show world leaders that we care about protecting women and girls ons and women. We can all make a difference! Change begins with you and me! taking action in group line the Nottingham Action Plan developed following a multi-agency Nottingham) andpractice otherthat partners and supporters toth before more with areinsubjected to this violent infringes on the human rights of girls ges an and We allaction make difference! Change begins with youtolerance and (FGM) me!following ion of action Nottingham the first city to officially declare zero to FGM taking inwomen. lineas with the Nottingham Action Plan developed th Today (……………..) I can take toahelp in tackling Female Genital Mutilation and gn. join the campaign to END FGM IN A GENERATION! uncil ion ofhouse. Nottingham as the first to toofficially declare zero tolerance to FGM in Today (……………..) I takecity action help in tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) an can the campaign to ENDON FGM IN A GENERATION! uncil house. I AMjoin SIGNING THIS PLEDGE BEHALF OF: ore Details dto your help to show world leadersName that we care about protecting women I AM SIGNING THIS PLEDGE ON BEHALF OF: er/ ch! more arehelp subjected to world this violent practice that infringes the human righ d your to show leaders thatName we care about on protecting women Details My self ………………………………………………… men. We all make a difference! Changethat begins with you andhuman me! righ more are can subjected to this violent practice infringes on the e7 My family ………………………………………………… men. We can begins with you and me! My all self make a difference! Change ………………………………………………… ……………..) I take action to help ………………………………………………… in tackling Female Genital Mutilation (F My Organisation My family ………………………………………………… campaign to END FGM IN AtoGENERATION! ……………..) I take action help in tackling Female Genital Mutilation (F My group ………………………………………………… MyEND Organisation ………………………………………………… campaign to FGM IN A GENERATION! My place of worship ………………………………………………… GNING THIS ON BEHALF OF: My PLEDGE group ………………………………………………… My company/business ………………………………………………… Name GNING THIS PLEDGE ON BEHALF OF: My place of worship ………………………………………………… Name Other (please specify) ………………………………………………… My company/business

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TO TAKE ACTION BY (Please tick the box/es relevant to you) Distributing leaflets Putting up a poster Training our staff Organising an awareness event Offering a venue for event/s

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Volunteering Promote our work Fundraising Offering pro-Bono services to survivors Donate

I am signing this pledge to end FGM because

ad By signing this declaration, I give consent for my details and information here to be stored, processed and used in accordance with GDPR guidelines for the purpose of supporting the End FGM campaign. Name

Celebration of 2nd anniversary of Zero Tolerance to FGM in Nottingham Conference

Signature

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Thi UN

Tel/Mobile

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER TO END FGM!

Event will include:

Address (optional)

National FGM context Local FGM context Opportunity to pledge support and join the campaign Updates from ‘talking heads’ Launch of the Nottingham FGM Action Plan Celebration of Zero Tolerance to FGM Networking lunch

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO END FGM IN A GENERATION!

You can complete this 2-minute form online at https://bit.ly/2MKjoiH

VENUE: Muslim Hands, 148 Gregory Blvd, Nottingham NG7 5JE DATE: 7th February 2019 TIME: 9.30am- 1.30pm

WE CAN END FGM IN A GENERATION!!! To book your place at the conference please email community.cohesion@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Female Genital Mutilation TOGETHER WE CAN END FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS FGM THIS GENERATION!

Facts

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Nottingham connected Event details: Date- 6th February 2019 Time- 10.30am- 3.00pm Venue- Farmeco Community Care Farm, Screveton. NG13 8JL To Send your tree message please complete this short form- https://goo.gl/vopMLL. Even if you do not adopt a tree immediately, you will still be able to plant a tree on the day to mark this special day. There is a free bus that will pick attendees from the Forest Park and Ride at 10.am and return at 3pm from the farm. FREE HOT FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED! Cantact Julia Paul at Mojatu Foundation to book a place on the bus and for catering purposes. He details are julia@mojatu.com or ring the office on 01158457009.

News & Sports

Goals, which the elimination of FGM is a key target under Goal 5. The observance of FGM continues to be practiced every year on February 6th and will be greatly pursued by the UN and other social activism parties in efforts to eliminate FGM by the year 2030. Awareness has been rising for FGM with constant pursuit of activism. We at Mojatu Foundation are therefore proud to be part of this movement with the aim to eradicate FGM in our generation! Join us in this important work! OUR GIRLS, WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT MATTER! All proceeds go to supporting survivors and our FGM project. Remember to book your place as they are limited!

This day is a part of a global combined effort by the UN to meet one of its “Sustainable Development

2018 Game of Rememberance,100 Years! - By Penny Cooper Football, so many of us love the sport, and fans from all over the world put themselves out to attend the games of their favourite clubs. Yelling and cheering on the players and patiently (sometimes impatiently) looking on and hoping for a goal. The excitement generated by the crowd watching passes from person to person, and everyone has eyes only for the match and the moving ball. Is it any wonder then, that it was football which formed the basis of a truce at Christmas in 1914, the Western Front in WW1. French, German and British soldiers came out of their trenches and passed seasonal greetings to each other. The truce led to prisoners being released by both forces, but it was the football games together, which stood out in the memories of those fighting, a temporary ceasefire, which unfortunately never resolved the conflict, and it wasn’t until 1918, when on the 11th month, of which the 11th day and the 11th hour, 11-11-11, officially became the end of WW1.

Thursday 8 November 2018 and we are to attend the men’s football game, English soldiers verses German soldiers, kick off at 7 pm. We were welcomed into the grounds of Nottingham Forest Football Club and entered the executive section as guests of Sir John Peace, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. This match is a tribute to the many men and women who gave their lives in WW1, and to whom we owe an enormous thank you. I feel the pride well up in me when I think about our armed forces serving their country and equally a great sense of achievement at the war’s end and the enormous debt we owe to the millions who lost their lives,. This match was a celebration of those lives, a remembrance lasting 100 years to date. The two sides playing were made up of men from the army, British playing in red and white and Germany playing in White and Black. The first half went very well for the Germans, they scored 3 goals to our 1. The

second half saw no more goals, but I think was a better example of play, maybe the nerves had settled. We sat amongst our German comrades, who generated excitement at their winning total naturally, and we all managed not to end up fighting. LOL, they were good sports and so were we, being on the losing side. We give thanks to Nottingham Forest FC, Notts County FC, Nottinghamshire County Council, Woodland Trust, Never Such Innocence, The Royal British Legion and the National Football Museum for making this football event possible, along with local businesses and private persons. It brought together many organisations in celebration of armistice and we can be proud of the young men and women who still go off to war and protect the borders of this great nation. We have peace in Europe and we have allies not just in Europe but throughout the world. Let us give thanks and look upon WW1 as a distant memory of what we don’t want to happen again.

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News & Sports

CLIT ROCK EXTRAVAGANZA By Beth Hanna & Mandy Pride

Online booking: https://goo.gl/juaRWy Beth Hanna, Mandy Pride in partnership with Cultural Vibrations and Mojatu are organising a fundraising gig for a girls school in Kenya. Funding will go towards resources to enable the girls to go to school. Many girls are subject to FGM and we want to educate individuals about the consequences of this. ‘Don’t CUT, educate. The event is on 8th March which is international women’s day at the maze from 7.30 pm onwards. We have a line of female entertainers for the night. Please join us for a night of entertainment for a good cause. Please see link for tickets or you pay on the night.

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Nottingham connected

News & Sports

International Women’s Day - Bvy Angela Wathoni International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Everyone has a part to play - all the time, everywhere.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the firstIWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Prior to this theSocialist Party of America, United Kingdom’s Suffragists and Suffragettes, and further groups campaigned for women’s equality.

From grassroots activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. We notice its absence and celebrate its presence. Balance drives a better working world. Let’s all help create a #BalanceforBetter.

The future is exciting. Let’s build a gender-balanced world.

FEMPOWERMENT EVENT To celebrate International Women’s Day

#BalanceforBetter

Friday 8 th March 2019 | 9.30am- 3.00pm

Register At Hyson Green Community Centre 37A Gregory Blvd, Nottingham NG7 6BE New Art Exchange, 39-41 Gregory Blvd, Notts NG7 6BE

FREE EVENT

Women from all backgrounds welcome

COME AND ENJOY Inspirational speeches | Meeting new friends Stalls | Entertainment

FREE FOOD FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email: eleventecheighteen@outlook.com Nottingham Equal: 01159607766

Designed and printed by Mojatu

10 News & Sports

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Re Inves Visit to Farmeco Community Care - By Angela Wathoni Re Inves is a project of Rupert Aikman, Jamaican Nutritionist & Kemet radio about plant-based foods as alternative nutrition to staple chicken/â&#x20AC;&#x2122;stew and rice. They were engaged in a visit to Farmeco where they learnt the history of the farm, how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evolved as well as a tractor trailer tour to see planted trees & bushes within the edible woodland area. The exciting part of this trip was to harvest pumpkins and curve them to different shapes and sizes and were able to see the trees that had been adopted. They also had a chance to engage with the Mens in Sheds members who are great at woodwork in showcasing wood carvings.

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SUDANESE TEAM TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY FOOTBALL AT THE FOREST

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12 Community

Should Africa consider the Al Capone option? By Peter Fabricius

The Alcapone and Jungle Jabbah precedents show how minor crimes can be used to bring down major criminals Al Capone, we all know, was a notorious Chicago mafia gangster when Chicago was the capital of American crime in the violent 1920s. But the legal authorities couldn’t pin any of his most serious violent crimes on him. So eventually they persuaded his bookkeeper to testify against him and he was found guilty in 1931 of tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in jail. In April 2018 Mohammed ‘Jungle Jabbah’ Jabbateh, a notorious Liberian warlord, was convicted in a Philadelphia court for lying about his nefarious past on application forms for asylum and permanent residence in the United States. The US authorities charged him on these lesser crimes of perjury and immigration fraud because they didn’t have crimes against humanity or war crimes on their statutes or couldn’t apply them retrospectively to Jabbateh’s atrocities during the Liberian civil war. They nevertheless sentenced him to a solid 30 years for six violations of immigration law. He will probably serve at least 25 years, with five years off for good behaviour. Do the Al Capone/Jungle Jabbah precedents suggest how African countries could litigate terrible atrocities when they can’t manage to get over the higher bar of nailing them for International Criminal Court (ICC)-type crimes? This was one of the proposals at a seminar run by the Berlin-based Wayamo Foundation last month in Arusha on justice and accountability in East Africa. The seminar explored the possible synergies between fighting international crime – the kinds of offences prosecuted by the ICC – and transnational organised crimes such as terrorism, trafficking of people, arms, drugs and wildlife, and money-laundering. It was Stephen Rapp who most strongly argued that Africa should sometimes consider the Al Capone option. Rapp was most recently ambassador for war crimes issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice of the US Department of State. Before that he prosecuted the media case in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and prosecuted former Liberian President Charles Taylor in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Rapp said he believed in the ICC as a court of last resort, but it was generally better to try cases at a national level closer to the people. That could become difficult when prosecuting atrocities such as mass rapes, torture and murder of civilians, especially when there was an ethnic dimension involved and witnesses often felt reluctant to testify lest they be accused of betraying their own group.

That was when it could be useful to achieve the same results by bringing other charges against the same perpetrators. ‘Some of the other tools in the legal toolbox can get at the same actors without necessarily picking at these divisions within society,’ Rapp said. He offered several examples of using other legal tools such as the case against Otto Pérez Molina, who was immediately arrested after standing down as Guatemala’s president in 2015 and charged with customs fraud – even though he had headed a notorious genocide squad murdering Maya people in the 1980s. The seminar heard from several investigators of international crimes and transnational organised crimes that the perpetrators of these different types of crime were almost always very hard to distinguish anyway. William Rosato, a senior investigator for the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC, said the United Nations defined transnational organised crime as ‘organised crime coordinated across national borders, involving groups or networks of individuals working in more than one country to plan and execute illegal business ventures. In order to achieve their goals, these criminal groups use systematic violence and corruption’. ‘Does this differ from ICC crimes?’ he asked, somewhat rhetorically. In Libya, he said, the lines between militia leaders, traffickers in human beings and Islamic State insurgents were blurred. As were their motives. ‘Do they control territory to generate money? Or do they generate money to control territory? And does it matter?’ Philipp Ambach, chief of the ICC victims participation and reparations section, said what often distinguished international crimes from transnational organised crimes was the larger scale of the former. Convicting international crimes usually demanded a higher burden of proof, a demonstration that the crimes had hurt large groups of people. He also suggested that it could often be easier to prosecute these people for transnational rather than international crimes. Nonetheless Ambach suggested to Rapp that there could be a real problem in going after perpetrators of terrible atrocities on much lesser charges, as this might deny the victims a sense that justice had been done for them. Angela Mudukuti, international criminal justice lawyer at the Wayamo Foundation, agreed. Mark Kersten, deputy director of the Wayamo Foundation, feared that countries like the US and Canada pursuing the scores of perpetrators of

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Nottingham connected atrocities who had fled to their shores on minor immigration charges from countries like Liberia and former Yugoslavia might often be doing so to wash their hands of these people. Most of them were simply deported and went home to impunity. Rapp agreed that pursuing perpetrators of atrocities on lesser charges and in national courts carried its own risks. He cited Iraq where the national courts are prosecuting Islamic State suspects for terrorism rather than genocide for the terrible atrocities committed against the Yazidi people. Rapp said they were being given very short trials with little evidence adduced and most hanged very soon after being convicted and sentenced.

Community

Clearly an ICC prosecution was preferable but it was not going to happen, Rapp suggested. And he insisted that it was possible to bring some satisfaction to victims, even in cases like that of Jabbateh. The Liberian community in the US had been mobilised around such cases, he said. Perhaps this was so because evidence of their atrocities had been brought in aggravation of sentence and also because sentences were harsh. The ICC or other international criminal tribunals were always a better idea in theory. ‘But if you can’t get the best, go for the good,’ he said. ‘Don’t make the best the enemy of the good.’

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Primary – Have you heard! - By Penny Cooper

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Mojatu team visited Primary, 33 Seely Road, Nottingham NG7 3FZ, for an event with Emma Smith and her 5Hz exhibition. A conversational evening to learn about her creation of a new language and how that work has provided insights into how language, in all its differing guises, may have evolved and a musicality about our speech which we may not have appreciated. “Primary was initiated by artists wishing to create an organisation that placed artistic research and production as a public process at the core of its work. Primary was set up by Nottingham Studios Ltd, an artist-focused not-for-profit organisation established as a registered charity in 2006.”

A pleasant and welcoming space, which draws you in, with friendly engagement and fresh food and tea. We tried the bread there, made from fermented flour. What fun! The evening was great fun and very informative. Very much a lay person myself, it was interesting to hear about how language may have evolved, it’s design, the written word and how we peak and dip as we speak. We invented some lines and sang them, and enjoyed the benefit of a professional, Emma Smith, guiding us through various exercises to try out the new language. I would recommend a visit to Primary, take a look on their website - http://www.weareprimary.org/ for the up to date programme of events and see what else they are doing there!

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14 Fearless Youth Association (FYA)

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IMPORTANT NEW FINDINGS COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE CARRY WEAPONS

Social media, drill music and middle-class drug use have been variously blamed for the sudden increase in knife-related murders of young people in England and Wales. But not only are these assertions about why people carry knives almost certainly wrong, they are also far too simplistic to explain this complex behaviour. Despite the great harm that weapons can cause, we only have a very rudimentary understanding of what drives someone to carry one. There is some truth in the idea that people carry knives because they fear being attacked with a knife if they don’t, but that’s far from the full picture. My research shows that weapon-carrying in England and Wales is driven much more by being involved in violence than by fear or past victimisation. I’ve also found that when someone’s peers are involved in crime and when a person distrusts the police, they are more likely to carry a weapon. It also shows that there is a surprising degree of similarity between young people who carry a weapon. That can help us to better target interventions to prevent this dangerous behaviour. Finding a pattern The relatively little research about weapon-carrying that does exist has been done in the US. There are different laws and cultures around weapons there, which means that research may not apply to other countries. In order to better understand why young people in England and Wales carry weapons, I analysed the largest available survey of young people’s offending behaviour and looked for differences between those who had carried a weapon and those who had not. I found that weapon-carrying was

By Iain Brennan, The University of Hull rare – around 4% of 10- to 25-yearolds who were surveyed reported carrying a knife or gun in the year before they were surveyed. The analyses found that the peak age for weapon-carrying was 17 – and being male tripled the risk. People who had a recent history of violence or drug use, who had little or no trust in the police or had lots of peers who had been in trouble with the police were each more than twice as likely to carry a weapon. Compared to these factors, being a victim of violence or feeling that one’s neighbourhood is dangerous were not strongly associated with weapon-carrying – although the actual extent of disorder in the person’s neighbourhood was a good predictor. The link between carrying a weapon and distrusting the police is an important new finding. While trust of the police is a complex topic, it’s possible that young people who live in high-crime neighbourhoods or who are already involved in crime may not see the police as being able or willing to protect them from harm. In those situations, it is unsurprising that a young person would see carrying a weapon as justified or necessary. These findings demonstrate that weapon-carrying is a complex behaviour and that it is influenced by factors at many levels: individual factors like a history of violence, interpersonal factors like peer offending and community factors like neighbourhood disorder. Each of these levels exert their own influence on the decision to carry a weapon. Many of the risk factors that have been shown to influence carrying a weapon in England and Wales are similar to the risk factors for carrying a gun in the US. This indicates that there are some common causes for carrying a weapon in different countries, which

means that some of the successful interventions that have been used in the US may well be effective here. It should be said that while this study is based on the largest available survey of young people’s offending, the data were collected between 2004 and 2006 – before Youtube, WhatsApp and Snapchat became popular ways for young people to communicate. It was also gathered before the advent of austerity, which has resulted in dramatic cutbacks to public and charitable services for young people. We don’t know what impact these developments have had on weapon-carrying and other violent behaviours. The finding that a large amount of weapon-carrying can be explained by a small number of factors suggests that weapon-carriers are quite similar to each other – or at least that weapon-carrying has some common causes. For those working to prevent weapon-carrying, this is useful to know. While some interventions like social media campaigns try to target large sections of the population, these findings suggest resources would be more effectively spent helping young people who exhibit many of the risk factors for carrying a weapon or supporting those people who have already carried a weapon to change this behaviour. Based on this research, working with peer groups of at-risk young people, rather than individuals, and building trust between these young people and authorities, should yield positive results as part of a long-term public health-informed strategy to reduce youth violence. Article originally published on www.theconversation.com

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WHO IS FYA? - By Angela Wathoni Formed in 2016 (as Ransom Social) by 12 young people who were out of education and not at work, FYA has become a highly effective group in attracting and engaging young people seeking to turn their lives around. Since then, 3 of the founder members have joined university, 4 have joined college and 2 have found employment. In addition to the support by these 12-young people, FYA has recruited more new members and developed sound partnerships thereby supporting over 18 young people to engage with training, skills development, music and digital contents production and organising and managing events. We continue to support our young people through active engagement, supporting them to refrain from youth and gang violence, tackling knife crime, helping reduce their link with offending or anti-social behaviour, better relationship with the police and statutory bodied. Our work also

involves working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, local community groups and education institutions to facilitate positive relationships between, mainly young people from BME, refugees and asylum seekers and the new and emerging communities and the Nottinghamshire Police. Aim The aim of FYA is to provide mentoring for young people in the Nottingham area by creating a safe space where we recruit members, sustain our momentum and growth, train members and other young people functional skills on digital media training programs, administrative skills, management, recording and social skills and increased ways of sharing and accessing information locally and in ways that is best suited for youths and young people. Vision To make young people knowledgeable about the dangers of Knife Crime.

Our Services • Events Organising & Management • Tackling Knife Crime and Gang Violence • Counselling & 1-1 Support • Training & Skills Development Digital media Courses • Photography and photo editing • Video Recording & Editing • Radio presentation & Interviewing skills • Music Engineering & Production. • Social Media • Photoshop.

Mission The mission of FYA is the pursuit of the following principles: • Commitment: FYA wants to inspire pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and instil a sense of hope in the future. • Responsibility: The focus of FYA is to empower youth in establishing goals and following through on commitments. • Possibility: FYA wants to expand the perspective of young people to make them aware of life’s possibilities. • Support: An individual is dramatically influenced by their support system. FYA wants to surround young people in a caring, inclusive learning environment.

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18 Fearless Youth Association (FYA)

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COMMUNITY MEDIA & DIGITAL STORYTELLING PROGRAM LAUNCHED Fearless Youth Association (FYA), Mojatu Foundation and Basement Studio will provide community members with access to the tools and training needed to produce digital stories. FYA in partnership with Basement Studios has supported over 130 young people in the last 12 months through training, music production, business development and further education, including joining university. Their work focuses on tackling knife crime by giving young people opportunities through media and safe space. Through this scheme, FYA has offered training courses and practical work in music engineering and production, video recording and production and organising events. On the other hand, Mojatu Foundation has used storytelling for nearly 8 years to turn community’s shared experiences and concerns to an effective community development strategy through Social Media and Mojatu Magazine. They have also been running a pilot Community Media training program for the last three years (2016 - 2019) and have successfully trained 43 people. Using the lessons from FYA and Mojatu Foundation and the experience of Basement studio and Radio Faza, we will launch a 5 years Community Media & Digital Storytelling program this year. Based at the FYA studio in 151-153 Alfreton Road, this program will offer training and skills development to individuals and communities in the local area and online. It will also offer the learners and communities access to tools, resources and training materials to produce digital stories useful for community development. This Community Media & Digital Storytelling program will: •

Encourage conversations among community members

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Use storytelling as an instrument for citizen empowerment

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Help community members and groups to design community storytelling events that build relationships with community stakeholders.

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Train community members and organizations how to plan storytelling projects throughout the community designed to address critical local issues.

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Create a collective representation that improves the community’s well-being

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Facilitate individual and community self-discovery, understanding and citizen empowerment This program will strengthen relationships and build

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power by reaching heart of decision-makers who often forget the plight of the people. This way, storytelling starts to create power and empowerment. It will also give communities the necessary skills and resources to tell their stories in their authentic voices and from a relatable perspective and communicate in a way that elicits a positive response from the audience. The courses will help individuals and community members to: •

Use audio, visual and text tools to create digital stories that build connections

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Create digital stories to develop political, social and cultural stories concerning their community Valentine Nkoyo, the CEO of Mojatu Foundation said, “We believe that anyone can make the difference in his/ her life and other people’s lives and this program will offer participants a sense of empowerment which helps people believe they can affect political and social change”. Esther Muthoni, the FYA projects Manager noted that, “Within a few months, FYA team has had great success, with many young people gained skills, producing music records and videos and succeeding in completing courses and joining institutions of higher education”. “As one of such young people who will be joining university in 2019, I believe this program will give opportunities and open doors for many people in the often deprived and disengaged communities. Gaining university admission is a dream come true and I with my team members will use practical experience in supporting individual and community transformation”. Esther said. Angela Wathoni, FYA manager and a master’s student at Nottingham Trent University says, “Over the last year or so, FYA team has developed extensive social capital and many local groups are joining us in using this to influence human capital, policy-making and community initiatives. We will use this storytelling program to build understanding and bridge differences”. The program will help individuals and community members create and distribute digital stories consistently,

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thereby strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and communicating solutions to political and social issues. These will help influence policy-making and future initiatives Laura McCartan, the projects communication manager stated that “Our strategic plan includes building networks, relationships and associations which will be sustained and expanded through digital stories that build the social capital community members need to

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accomplish their goals”. Sophie Price, the broadcasting coordinator “We want to build a broad base of partnerships with media houses and personalities, community members and organisations to initiate dialogue on important issues, establish relationships with key stakeholders and build a bridge of understanding. We will train and support them local groups to develop digital storytelling thereby empowering them to affect political and social changes”.

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE - By Genius Team

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FYA Collaborates with Genius Clothing

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We are the independent clothing brand ‘Genius Clothing’. We have won national awards for fashion designs and we aim to use our position to help and raise awareness of situations that are happening in our city Nottingham and launch our new Line ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ The line will donate percentages of our profits to poverty, homelessness in Nottingham and social injustice that occurs in the UK. The stance against racial and social injustice forces people to confront an uncomfortable reality about their country and the world. That nuance can get lost when handled by brands, however. A brand aims to appeal broadly and measures itself in profit. Protest, however, is specific and provocative, and isn’t supposed

to be an easy sell. Justice is about restoring dignity to people, and often requires systematic change through thoroughly unsexy and unmarketable processes and I am trying to find the ‘Happy’ Medium of this with the range ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ and the video ‘Ultra-Light Beam’ Since fashion is something so visible and present in our daily lives, it becomes a great tool that can be used by those that fight for minorities to share their message. Social justice is a blend of law, policy, grassroots organising and individual voices. But, what happens on a college or university campus or on the streets of our city is just as important as what is going on in Parliament. It says so much about our country’s political

psyche. Young people are speaking, and we are speaking with the way we present ourselves to the public. “Fashion is how we tell the world what we want them to know about us” Genius Clothing can’t fully show the way the class system and opportunities favour the middle or upper class. But, we can show how mental illness and stereo typing won’t stop our models, supporters, viewers and ultimately our audience from expressing their sometimes hidden or over looked beauty. Even the most beautiful flower has not had the easiest place to grow. The campaign can detail how it still infects every aspect of our daily lives without it hindering the clothing and fashion appeal of the brand and its vision.

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What Is Your Personal Development Plan In 2019?;

Leaping To 2019 In Style - By Cecily Mwaniki As the year begins, just how much time have you budgeted for your personal development this year? We know this is a key element to the most successful people that we so well know of from time immemorial. I share with you below from the wisdom of Napoleon Hill on what he had to say about this very subject matter years ago which still holds value in those who have succeeded and those planning to in life. I trust you will benefit from the 17 lessons that he so well shares. Lesson 1: Definiteness of Purpose Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Without a purpose and a plan, people drift aimlessly through life. Lesson 2: Mastermind Alliance The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others. Lesson 3: Applied Faith Faith is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent. Lesson 4: Going the Extra Mile When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play. Going the extra mile is the action of rendering more and better service than that for which you are presently paid. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play. Lesson 5: Pleasing Personality. Personality is the sum total of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental, spiritual and physical traits and habits that distinguish one from all others. It is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked by others. Lesson 6: Personal Initiative. Personal initiative is the power that inspires the completion of that which one begins. It is the power

that starts all action. No person is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own. Lesson 7: Positive Mental Attitude Positive mental attitude is the right mental attitude in all circumstances. Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure. Lesson 8: Enthusiasm Enthusiasm is faith in action. It is the intense emotion known as burning desire. It comes from within, although it radiates outwardly in the expression of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice and countenance. Lesson 9: Self-Discipline If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline begins with the mastery of thought. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Selfdiscipline calls for a balancing of the emotions of your heart with the reasoning faculty of your head. Lesson 10: Accurate Thinking The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used. Lesson 11: Controlled Attention Controlled attention leads to mastery in any type of human endeavour, because it enables one to focus the powers of his mind upon the attainment of a definite objective and to keep it so directed at will.

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Lesson 12: Teamwork

Lesson 15: Health

Teamwork is harmonious cooperation that is willing, voluntary and free. Whenever the spirit of teamwork is the dominating influence in business or industry, success is inevitable. Harmonious cooperation is a priceless asset that you can acquire in proportion to your giving.

Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.

Lesson 13: Adversity & Defeat Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Individual success usually is in exact proportion of the scope of the defeat the individual has experienced and mastered. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Lesson 14: Creative Vision Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination. It is not a miraculous quality with which one is gifted or is not gifted at birth.

Lesson 16: Budgeting Time & Money Time and money are precious resources, and few people striving for success ever believe they possess either one in excess. Lesson 17: Habits Developing and establishing positive habits leads to peace of mind, health and financial security. You are where you are because of your established habits and thoughts and deeds. To effectively and effortlessly achieve the above lessons, you will need a clear plan and the right environment. This will include the people around you and those you meet on the way. As must as possible I encourage you to meet the following fifteen set of people and if you cannot meet them please do seriously look for them.

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1. *Encouragers* - even in discouraging situations of life, these people keep you going with encouraging words.

tell you when you are wrong; they prevent you from digging a grave of mistakes that may bury your destiny.

2. *The hand lifters*- They are those whose hands are strong enough to hold yours up when you are weak.

9. *The Committed*- whether things are up or down, these ones are standing with you.

3. *Destiny Helpers*- They provide shoulders upon which you ride to fulfilling your dream and destiny.

10. *The Loyal*- they work with you with all of their hearts to make things work in your life.

4. *The Givers*- these ones will give of their time, talent, and treasure to you in your hour of need.

11. *The Truth-Tellers*- they will not call night day, and day night.

5. *The Receivers*- these ones are different from routine takers and serial beggars. You can’t be blessed if you don’t give, and you can’t give if there is no one to receive. Not all lands bring forth fruits, and not all hands that receive command blessings. You need those whose receiving hands will trigger abundant blessings unto you.

12. *The Altruists*- these ones believe that life is not just about them, it is about you too.

6. *The Prayer Conquerors*- You need more than prayer warriors IN 2019. Many Prayer warriors pray from their heads only; Prayer conquerors pray from their heart and conquer. 7. *The Recommenders*- these are the ones who mention your name in quarters where your skills and talents will be celebrated. 8. *The Correctors*- these are the ones who honestly

13. *The Reliable*- You can count on them when it counts most. 14. *The Contented*- these ones are not greedy, they are satisfied with whatever they get from you and they bless you from their heart for it. 15. *Lovers and Pursuers of God & Godly Life*- these ones are always connected to God, so you will never be disconnected from your source who is your MAKER. ETERNAL ROCK OF AGES www.Cmnetwork.co.uk www.utulivu.co.uk.

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5 AFRICAN PODCASTS TO SPICE UP THE NEW YOU! With January well on its way, 2019 is heavy with new resolutions, diets and set goals. Whatever it is, we support you. Here are 5 African Podcasts to add to the new or to the old you. Whatever you believe, these afro-centric podcasts will surely add a bit of a spark to your daily routine. Name: CZIKA Themes: African Diaspora, Music and Identity. Where: Episodes and segments at Sticther.com (app version exists) and Pod Africa. Description: CZIKA captivates you within the first 5 seconds of every episode. Whether with a snippet from the movie Sarafina or with the latest playlist from Africa and its diaspora, you will surely stay tuned. CZIKA, which is Swahili for Listen is perfect for a refreshing morning commute listening to discussions on African Identity. You even leave with new song references from all over Africa for your dancing playlist. With themes such as Prosperity Gospel, Black Diasporic Art, Wokeness, Black Twitter and Mental Health, this podcast is perfect for those grappling with contemporary issues.

Name: Africa Past & Present Themes: Politics, History and Culture in Africa and the Diaspora. Where: Available on iTunes, Afropod and MSU websites. Description: A product of Michigan State University historians, this long running podcast is suitable for everyone. With over 100 episodes, you are guaranteed to learn something about African history and current politics. Guests often include lecturers, book publishers and experts. The best aspect of the episodes is the search button where you can narrow down topics by country or theme, for example women or Tanzania because there will be a series of discussions and knowledge about it.

Name: The Cheeky Natives Themes: Poetry, Literature and Art Where: Itunes.com and Soundcloud Description: This podcast is perfect for all bibliophiles and artists. The Cheeky Natives is an interactive platform that mixes book reviews with cultural discussions. They even interview rising artists and poets. If you’ve heard of Chinelo Okparanta (Nigeria), Yaa Gyasi (Ghana) or Professor Kimberley Crenshaw (U.S academic and womanist) then this podcast is for you. If you have not heard of them then it is still a good introduction. Check out the Cheeky Natives for interesting yet informative discussions on African literature, race and society.

Name: Jesus and Jollof Themes: Afropolitanism, Tradition and Lifestyle. Where: Simplecast.fm and Apple Podcasts. Description: Fans of the award-winning HBO show Insecure and the bestselling author of ‘I’m Judging You’ are no strangers to Yvonne Orji and Luvvie Ajayi. These two ladies bring to you Jesus and Jollof, a podcast series exploring dating, careers, immigration, religion and jollof in such humorous ways.

Name: The China Africa Project Themes: Politics, Business, Economics. Where: www.ChinaAfricaProject.com Description: Ever wondered what China’s engagements in Africa mean for the continent? Well, the China Africa Project podcast covers all things development, policy and economics with a weekly podcast. Ran by South Africa’s Witwatersand University, this project invites all who are interested in the latest trade deals and developments in Africa. Just a few episodes will give you something to talk about and consider at your next debate or political discussion.

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The Way We Talk of Integration Will Lead to Segregation, Not Inclusion By Tamim Nashed

Exclusive programs or integration courses designed solely for refugees lead to segregation instead of inclusion and can neglect to address newcomers’ different backgrounds, says one Syrian man now living in Austria. I left Syria in August 2012, as there was no other choice. I had friends in Austria and that is why I ended up in Vienna. At the time, I had no idea what the words “refugee,” “asylum” and “integration” meant. During the first year after getting asylum, I was busy learning the German language and looking for a job. However, I had zero intention of integrating myself in the new society I was living in, and frequently asked myself why I would need to integrate. After 18 months of hard work invested in learning the language, making new friends and exploring a new country, journalists started contacting me. They wanted to hear more about the Syrian revolution and the factors that had helped me integrate in Austria. That was my first concrete exposure to the world of “integration.” Before that, I had thought I already was part of the society, as my friends never asked me to integrate: We were simply all equals living in the same place yet sharing different experiences. For me, “joining” the world of integration felt like a burden, enforced by governments, NGOs, public institutions and other key players. I say enforced because it felt like I was sent from one place to another with the argument that certain projects or programs were designed for people like me – people who are refugees, because refugees have special needs. It’s moments like these when you realize that you belong to a minority and are treated differently from any other individual who simply wants to learn a new language, start a new job and settle down in a new country. It’s almost like you are meant to stay behind and enjoy the assistance offered by the superiors. I still struggle with this myself, while policymakers and NGOs might consider me a success story. For these reasons, I believe that refugees should seek advice from friends, service providers, language institutes or any other relevant sources that could help them settle down in a new country, as many civil society actors are making great efforts to support newcomers. Exclusive programs or integration courses designed just for refugees lead to segregation instead of

inclusion and can neglect to address newcomers’ different backgrounds, including the fact that those fleeing wars may need additional support to overcome trauma and health issues. Refugees frequently find themselves obliged to follow certain paths or make certain choices imposed by governments, and this leads to the creation of a new second-class society. We live in a time where “integration” has become a burden on “refugees” instead of being a solution. In order to create inclusive societies, governments have to embrace diversity and integrate it into the human rights discourse. This can happen through education and fighting discrimination. We need education systems that teach diversity and emphasize equal opportunities for all, and for this reason policymakers should think strategically and modify the current education systems. At the moment, political agendas are polarizing European societies, and steps in the right direction can be very quickly overturned when there is a change in government. Once diversity is seen as an essential part of a society, we will see future generations take diversity for granted. These new generations will not discriminate because of nationality, race, colour or for any other reason. Future teachers, policymakers and workers in public agencies will not practice discrimination because they have grown up in a country that embraces difference, and they will put together policies that affect everybody in the country, not only refugees. This might sound like a dream, but for refugees, this is the dream: not being referred to as someone who needs specific care. My advice to “refugees” is to fight for changing the narrative and the way people think about “refugees” and “integration,” because these two expressions have become misleading. “Integration” in its current form will lead to segregation instead of inclusion. We have to fight stigmatization, and with the current terminology, this is not possible because it highlights the fact that we belong to a minority and that we are not part of the society we live in. I have learned that a refugee should never feel incapable of pursuing his or her dreams. And this is the message I will keep fighting for. Tamim Nashed is Policy Officer on Refugee Inclusion at the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE). Originally from Syria, he currently lives and works in Austria.

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MOJATU BERKSHIRE TEAM RECOGNISED Victor Koroma and Cecily Mwaniki Win Awards Edited by Angela Wathoni

Victor Koroma and Cecily Mwaniki were joint winners for their work with ACRE, particularly around the issue of FGM, and for their relentless campaigning for equality and fairness. They have been working on reducing the stigma when talking about mental health. With this issue at hand they have come up with ways that people can get an understanding of this. 1. “Mental Illness Awareness means recognizing that mental illness is as real as any physical llness.” 2. “It means recognizing that mental illness affects not only the individual, but everyone from friends and families to entire communities, no matter how big or small.” 3. “It means educating people on what mental illness means, how to prevent it, and to remove the stigma about it.’’ 4. “To be sensitive and knowledgeable about brain diseases. To advocate for mental health by being against stigma and prejudice.”

5. “Mental illness awareness means bringing down the walls of stigma by sharing our experiences, stories, and truths. It means educating others on what mental illness REALLY is and helping those with illnesses know they are not alone.” 6. “Mental health awareness means that we’re not only acknowledging that mental health is important, but we’re talking about it, putting it out there so that people who feel too much can get the help they need too.” 7. “Awareness is the acceptance and understanding of something, in part or whole. It means learning about mental illness and being familiar with the vernacular of the movement. It means accepting the medical nature of it and not asking that people ‘get over it,’ when the solution is much more complex. At its finest, awareness also involves advocacy.” With Cecily and Victor being at the forefront in encouraging communities to carry on the ‘mental hygiene’ work started all those years ago in many different ways and as they have heard the responses from the volunteers of diverse communities, it is important that they are well supported to better promote the mental hygiene of our communities.

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Your Voice Matters: How Your Experience Can Provide Evidence for a UK Government Select Committee. Photograph from Your Voice Matters party material, distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share 3.0 Unported Licence

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Arts & Culture

Citizens can expect local MPs to communicate their stance on a series of matters and community interests within Parliament. You can contact your MP by email, post or book a brief meeting. However, due to busy schedules, timed meetings are often very short and requests to speak to an MP are usually a last resort in matters where members of the community have complaints relating to government services. Did you know that there are plenty of other ways to add your voice and experiences for Parliament members to consider and discuss? The House of Commons Select Committees are cross party groups elected by fellow MPs to hold inquiries that examine features of government spending, policies and administration systems. There are over 18 different sets of Committees within both houses of parliament. Members of the African Diasporia should definitely consider sharing their experiences, opinions and solutions during Select Committee inquiries. What Is a Select Committee Inquiry? Different groups discuss various aspects of government action. This may be in committees such as Public Accounts or Human Rights. In 2018 alone, the International Development Select Committee launched inquiries on refugees or victims of forced displacement in Africa, climate change and sexual exploitation by aid workers in developing countries. The most recent inquiry is a joint effort with the Kenyan government and International Disability Alliance to investigate disability inclusion within the Global South. When an inquiry is made public, members of society are asked to send no more than 3000 words of input, experiences and suggested solutions for an inquiry. The guidelines for written submissions can be found on the link to whatever inquiry inspires you to respond. Anybody can be a witness; we cannot simply leave the evidence process for academic experts and elites. This mainly results in a top down input where the citizens themselves do not share in the process of holding departments to account. For example, the 2018 inquiry on forced displaced in Africa asked a series of questions investigating how the International Development department could improve service and

impact for displaced people in Africa. Here are some of the questions asked: Does DFID give sufficient priority to displacement-related issues, and to internal displacement? DFID has been supporting efforts to tackle the root causes of displacement in Africa and to prevent human trafficking and smuggling; how effective has this been? Committees can also inquire on national matters. For example, last year, the Transport Committee held inquiries on rail timetable changes and on the state of local roads. The Justice Committee is currently holding an inquiry on UK Court and Tribunal Reforms; even the Women and Equalities committee is currently asking for evidence and witnesses on the current mental health state of men and boys in the UK. Do you have experience or solutions you would like to share? Your voice matters in any discussions that have to do with public good and policy. Imagine it as you would a mosaic- these are pieces of art which stand alone as a colour yet when put together, there is a bigger picture and every small square contributes to it. Consequences and Aftermath The good news is that any testimony and evidence given is subject to parliamentary protection. No action may come off it except in cases of open trials or active threats. The not so good news is that witness accounts are published and available to the public and action groups though confidentiality may be discussed. In some cases, certain submissions are invited for further oral evidence and testimony. You may also witness these testimonies on parliamemt. tv or attend a session of interest to you as the oral evidence chapter is open to the public. Although it is not guaranteed that submissions result to immediate change, your testimony and experience can be used for further public movements and reforms of public policy. Some choose to contribute their voices through writing, social media posts, volunteering, voting and joining campaigns and that is all valid. However, so is adding your thoughts and solutions for committee considerations. So, the next time you ask yourself what more your life experience could offer, remember that inquiries are always open and your voice matters.

mojatu.com

26 Arts & Culture

PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR FOOTPRINTS IN OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES! Our CEO, Valentine Nkoyo, met with Lee Neary in York just over 7 years ago when they were both studying at York St John University. After learning the inspirational story of her journey and passion to impact on the lives of her family members, community, continent and beyond, Lee wanted to help! He started with fundraising for Valentine’s former primary school Moi Eor-Enkitok Primary School! He is a guy on a mission and supports Smile Mission, a charity supporting communities in Uganda. Smile Mission combine adventure with humanitarianism in sunsoaked Camino de Santiago charity event. July 22nd – August 6th 2018: With only a 9kg backpack, old boots and a big smile, Lee Neary participated in a 322km hike along the famous Camino de Frances. Stepping off the train in Léon (Spain), Lee (33) began a twoweek long march through record breaking temperatures, across mountains, valleys and plains – following the sun west all the way to Santiago de Compostela……. and he made the selfless decision to donate what he raised to support Mojatu Foundation’s Female Genital

Mutilation project to support survivors and raise awareness. Asked about the walk, Lee said “Each soul has their own Camino! You don’t always have to know where, or with who or even why. Some are searching for purpose, some creating it – some already know. Sometimes…it can be as simple as: left foot first, right foot will follow!”. When our CEO met him in Leeds earlier this year, she asked Lee what the biggest challenge was and he said “There were certainly a few wearied moments of doubt. Moments of exhaustion, extreme physical discomfort and wondering if I had bitten off more than I could chew!”. It is only a person driven by passion would keep their head up despite such challenges to ensure they accomplish what they set to do! As if this was not enough, he chose to fundraise for Mojatu Foundation to celebrate his birthday! Again, A man on a mission! Asked to choose the project to be supported through the funds raised by Lee, Valentine, who was raised in the Maasai community of EorEnkitok, Kenya Said “The key project which I have been working on most the past couple of years is on the

FGM issue, it’s a massive issue! Quite often people think that FGM is not an issue outside of Africa, but there are children at risk and women here who have been through FGM and are in need of our support …” The good news is, Lee has been invited as a special guest at the Clit Rock Extravaganza in Nottingham to raise awareness and funds to support the same village school, Moi Eor-Enkitok Primary School, he fundraised for several years ago. He will be meeting a team of powerful women who have come together to fundraise to support girl’s education in Kenya. Join us on 8th March to celebrate the day in style. See (page….for details of the event). More great stuff is in the pipeline….. have you ever though of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a good cause? Contact us for updates as that’s the next big vision……Conquer the Kilimanjaro with a Smile- The more, the merrier! Many people walk in and out of our lives but only true friends and supporters leave their footprints in our lives. See photos of the meeting in Leeds earlier this year, when a decision was made which project to be support.

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Nottingham connected

Arts & Culture

Lillian Saidi Publishes Her First Book.

THE BOX OF THE COVENANT I was born in Tanzania, which is one of the East Africa country, to a family of nine children. I am the seventh child. We were among the poor people in that village, living only on what we could get. By Lillian Saidi My mother separated from my father when I was 5 years old. When I turned 7, the age for starting primary school in Tanzania, my mother refused to register me for school. She believed that it was a waste of time, since I would be married in the near future. The same year I left home at the age of 7 after discovering my mother was organising for me to get married at a such young age to an old man. I let the village and I went to Town to look for a job (maid) Since then I worked as a maid for over twenty. Incredibly, having only started school at the age of 19 with no primary education, that is to say not knowing how to read and write completely I managed to go to secondary and obtained O Level and A level studies and later graduated in Business Management. Now I am a member of the Association of Business Executives. You might be asking yourself why I decided to write a book and share my story? This is simply because of what I went through in my life; I believe I had these experiences for a reason and by putting them in writing, I will be able to help somebody who is going through similar circumstances. This book is for anyone who is going through any challenge in life where they need someone who can tell them that they will get through it, that they can do it, and that there is a better tomorrow and that they will make it in life. And of course, to those people with dreams and aspirations will not only be inspired but also given life tools that will equip them to persevere,

work hard, defy the odds, and eventually succeed. What I have shared in the book basically to tell people that, regardless of their darkest situation, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Persevere and you will find that tomorrow will be better than today; you might be going through a night, but I promise you there will be a morning. I had so many dark moments and sleepless nights, I thought I wouldn’t see tomorrow, but I always made it to see the sun rise. Keep dreaming and move forward whilst focusing on your future! Some insight of the book This book and the whole experience of writing it – sums up my life to date. It shows that no two lives are the same and we all go through different experiences, but life is what you make it. Find who you are, know your values and what you stand for. Believe that your dreams and aspirations are worth fighting for; fight for them and they will come. One of the great lessons I have learned from my experiences is that tomorrow will be different to today. I can say with confidence that whatever you are doing, whatever you believe, and despite whatever circumstances you are facing, you can make a change and have the things you dream of. I hope that my book helps people recognise this and realise that nothing is impossible to those who believes. I would like to take this opportunity to advice young girls who might be going through what I went through/ anyone who is going through any difficulties in life.

They need to have something bigger inside than their circumstance, they need to have something bigger than what they are going through. That is what will make them persevere and move forward. Because it is very easy to go into depression or even to think of committing suicide and things like those one but I just want to encourage those people that they need to have something bigger inside you, something that you are hoping because everything that is happening to us we are just passing through, nothing is permanent and if they have something bigger inside them they will be able to pass through anything because there is something inside them which is bigger than what is surrounding them, which is bigger than what they see outside. That is what will be like their fuel for them to move forward. I would like to give an example of a Car: We see the tires moving the car, but we don’t see the things inside the car that drive it forward. The engine inside the car is more powerful than the parts we see outside. Without that big thing inside us, it would be difficult to overcome any obstacle in life. The energy inside you is more powerful than whatever challenge is outside; you need to have that fuel to drive you to achieve your dreams in life. I thank God am now living in England with my husband and two beautiful daughters. The book is called “The Box of the Covenant” by Gemma is available from Amazon stores in paperwork and Ebook.

mojatu.com

28 Health & Food

21 FOODS THAT CAN MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT By Jillian Kubala With nearly 39% of adults worldwide classified as overweight, the diet industry has never been stronger. Diet foods, such as those labelled “lowfat,” “low-calorie” or “fat-free,” are specifically marketed to people looking to shed excess weight. However, many diet foods may do your waistline more harm than good. Here are 21 diet foods often considered healthy that may, in fact, cause weight gain. 1.

Smoothies and Protein Shakes While some smoothies and protein shakes are nutritious and exceptionally healthy, others are loaded with calories and sugar.

Dried Fruit Dried: Dried fruit is packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. However, since dried fruit is smaller and sweeter than fresh fruit, it can be easily overeaten. Plus, a serving of dried fruit holds more sugar and calories than an equal amount of fresh fruit. Although dried fruit is convenient, fresh fruit is a healthier option. Packaged Diet Foods: While these items may be tempting, most of them are unhealthy. Many diet foods contain preservatives, unhealthy fats and artificial sweeteners that may harm your body. It’s best to replace these packaged, overly processed foods with nutrient-dense, filling options.

Low-Fat Flavoured Yogurt: Fat is a filling nutrient that amplifies foods’ flavours. When fat is removed to reduce the calorie content of certain products, sugar is usually added to heighten flavour. Many low-fat yogurts are loaded with added sugars, which isn’t good for weight loss or overall health. Interestingly, full-fat dairy may be a better choice than low-fat dairy.

Flavoured Coffees: It’s well known that caffeine acts as a mild appetite suppressant, which leads many people to up their coffee intake when trying to drop weight. Although coffee has many health benefits, you should refrain from certain coffee drinks when trying to lose weight. Even though a daily latte may seem harmless, sugary coffees could sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Fresh-Pressed Juices: Many people drink fresh juices made of fruits, vegetables or a combination of both to improve health or boost weight loss. Although not all juices are high in sugar and calories, most fruit juices are. Drinking fresh fruit juice regularly can contribute to excess calorie consumption, which may cause you to gain weight. Stick to juices that contain mostly non-starchy veggies like kale and low-sugar fruits like lemon to control your calorie intake.

Premade Salads: Salads chock full of fibre-rich vegetables can be very weight-loss-friendly. However, those doused in high-calorie dressing or topped with unhealthy ingredients are not. Premade salads, such as those in grocery stores or fast food restaurants, can be very high in calories, sugar and unhealthy fats. Making your own salad with nutritious ingredients is a better choice.

‘Healthy’ Sweeteners: With many people cutting white sugar from their diet, alternative sweeteners marketed as “healthy” have become increasingly popular. Even though these products are often deemed healthy, going overboard with any sweetener — even natural ones that aren’t as processed as white sugar — can contribute to weight gain. Because any type of added sugar can cause weight gain, it’s important to limit your total consumption of sugar — including alternative sweeteners. Low-Calorie Cereal: When trying to lose weight, you might reach for low-calorie cereals to start your day. While these breakfast foods may be low in calories, they are often loaded with added sugars. Many low-calorie cereals lack the protein and healthy fats that help you feel satisfied.

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10. Protein Bars: Many people rely on protein bars for a quick, convenient energy boost. Although some protein bars are healthy and nutritious, others bulge with calories, sugar and artificial ingredients. 11. Diet Soda: Diet soda is often viewed as a healthy beverage because it contains 0 calories. However, research ties diet soda consumption to weight gain — not weight loss. Diet soda has also been found to negatively impact gut bacteria, thereby increasing your risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. 12. Granola: Granola is a filling breakfast food beloved by many health-conscious people. However, while granola can contain nutritious ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds and coconut, many are saturated with added sugars. To control

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Nottingham connected your sugar intake, choose granolas with no more than 6 grams of sugar per serving. Better still, make your own granola at home by baking oats, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, coconut oil and dried fruit at a low temperature. 13. Sports Drinks: Sports drinks can be beneficial for athletes and anyone participating in prolonged, intense workouts. However, these beverages are simply unnecessary for the average person. Sports drinks can be filled with sugar and may contribute to excess calorie consumption. Plus, any type of sugary beverage can spike your blood sugar levels, which can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain. 14. Diet Peanut Butter: Diet peanut butter is lower in calories and fat than regular peanut butter. Although this may seem like a good choice for weight loss, diet peanut butter regularly harbours unhealthy oils and added sugars. Natural peanut butter made with limited ingredients is a better choice for weight loss. Research shows that limiting added sugar may promote weight loss, so choosing natural peanut butters with no added sugar is the best choice. 15. Low-Calorie Condiments: Low-calorie condiments like salad dressings and ketchup may be a hidden source of added sugars that can contribute to weight gain. Surprisingly, many lowcalorie dressings are packed with sugar. 16. ‘Healthy’ Sweets: Many desserts and candies are marketed as healthy alternatives to more calorie-laden sweets. Although they may contain fewer calories than traditional desserts, low-calorie baked goods, candies and other confections can be packed with sugar and artificial ingredients. To decrease calories while maintaining taste, manufacturers replace fats with sugars or artificial sweeteners. Added sugars can contribute to weight gain. At the same time, artificial sweeteners like sugar alcohols can cause digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea and gas. Plus, consumption of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose is linked to an increased risk of obesity and may even encourage sugar cravings and dependence. 17. Low-Fat Foods: Many people try to cut out high-fat foods when attempting to lose weight. However, research shows that this can be counterproductive. One review determined that low-fat and non-fat foods contained more sugar than regular versions of the same food. Consuming even small amounts

Health & Food

of added sugar can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease. What’s more, dieting and dietary restraint likely increase the chances of future weight gain. 18. Frozen Yogurt: Frozen yogurt is a popular dessert that’s widely considered healthier than ice cream. Because frozen yogurt is often associated with health, it’s frequently over-consumed. Many frozen yogurt establishments let you fill your own cup, making portion control difficult. Additionally, the enticing, sugary toppings offered at most frozen yogurt shops can stuff your dessert with even more calories and sugar. To keep your intake under control, opt for the smallest yogurt cup available and choose natural toppings like fresh fruit, unsweetened coconut and nuts. 19. Sushi: Sushi can be a healthy or unhealthy meal depending on what it holds. Rolls filled with ingredients like tempura shrimp or sweet sauces can be packed with calories. Choose sushi rolls that contain healthy ingredients like fresh vegetables, avocado, fresh fish or grilled shrimp and opt for brown rice over white to boost your fibre intake. 20. Coconut Water: Coconut water is one of the most popular natural beverages around. Even though coconut water provides vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it does contain sugar and calories. While coconut water is much lower in calories and sugar than beverages like juice and soda, it’s best to limit your consumption of any sweet drink. 21. Diet-Specific Processed Foods: Many grocery stores offer diet foods targeting vegans and vegetarians, as well as those following low-carb meal plans. These products are often filled with artificial ingredients and added sugars that can negatively impact health. Focusing on whole, unprocessed foods rather than convenient, packaged foods is always healthier — no matter your dietary preferences. The Bottom Line Though many diet foods are branded healthy, they may destroy your weight loss efforts. Products like smoothies, frozen yogurt and low-fat snack foods can negatively impact your health and even cause you to gain weight. What’s more, research shows that dieting is not the best way to lose weight. Following a whole-foods diet rich in healthy fats, proteins and fresh produce is the best way to keep weight off for good.

mojatu.com

30 Health & Food

TIME TO CHANGE NOTTINGHAM HUB

Tackling stigma, raising awareness and uniting communities to change the way our city approaches mental health. By Micha Skye – Time to change champion going on.

It may come as a surprise to some, but we all have mental health. Sometimes we may refer to it as emotional health, but diagnosis or not we all have it and the impact of not looking after it can be drastic. As a city it’s time we not only embraced our mental health and caring for it as we do our physical but also tackled some of the challenges we as a city amongst our communities face, together. But what does mental health in our city look like? There are approximately 786,000 people living within the Nottinghamshire area. As with physical health there are considerable variations in mental health across the city. Deprivation links historically with both ill physical and mental health and Nottingham City is one of the ten most deprived districts in the country (Nottingham Insight 2016). Nottingham has high levels of many of the risk factors that can contribute to poor mental wellbeing. Equally our Nottingham City CCG areas have significantly higher levels of longterm mental health problems than that of the national levels. The majority of CCG areas also report levels of depression that are above the national average and this is of course includes only those that feel they can ask for help. Many still slip through the statistics too ashamed to reach out for help and admit what is truly

• In the most recent three year period reported, 85 deaths in Nottingham City were recorded as suicide, over 78% of whom were men. Men are in fact three times more likely than women take their own life with rates highest in middle age. Suicide also increases in most deprived communities experiencing far higher rates. • Black men are 3 times more likely to be represented on a psychiatric ward and up to six times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act. In fact the DRC (2006) concluded that people from black communities were more likely than others to bypass primary care and be admitted straight to a psychiatric hospital. • British white women were the least likely to have a common mental health problem (15.6%), followed by white British women (20.9%) and black and black British women (29.3%)

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• Asylum seekers and refugees are more likely to experience poor mental health than anyone else in the local population (estimated over 5 times more likely to struggle) • 10% of children ( ages 5-16 years) have a diagnosable mental health condition, however 70% of them have not had appropriate intervention. These statistics and facts cannot continue to be heard but not addressed by the people it directly effects- us the community. We know there are variations in help seeking behaviour, cultural barriers, language barriers, discrimination which all impact access but the answers as to why this is happening and how it can be changed are unclear. What is clear however

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Nottingham connected is the impact of the above having a drastic impact on individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole, with immense social and financial costs. More clear to me however is that now has never been more important for all cultures and races to come together and speak up for what they as individuals and their communities need in order for us to implicate effective prevention, but also accessible services for all, So this is where Time To Change Nottingham Self Help Uk hub comes in. Rooted in Mental Health activism, self-advocacy, peer support and empowerment the hub has become the back bone to many groups in our city. Time to Change Nottingham is a now world wide initiative to tackle the way we approach mental health. Led by the local Health and Wellbeing Board with Partners including Nottingham City Council, Self Help UK, Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham Recovery College, Notts FC Football in the Community and of coure Mojatu Foundation. The hub recruits lived experience local people, as it believes ordinary people hold the answers to what needs to be done in how our City supports our people. A diverse range of Champions have been very proactive in reducing stigma and discrimination so far. We have champions and employers in our City including Frameworks, The playhouse, Experian and Nottingham Forest Football club who have pledged to tackle discrimination and raise awareness. Events and talks have been held at age

Health & Food

friendly, walking out of darkness, Members have also had more active discussions aimed at changes to services with steering groups, the health and wellbeing board, employers and councils in our city. Whether you want to attend for curiosity, voluntary opportunity, group support or active change the hub has everything for everyone and this really is only the beginning. Your community needs your voice so these statistics decrease instead of increase. So anyone no matter who they are can get the support they need without feeling ashamed. So we as a city can change the future of Mental Health. We welcome you to come and join us, you can: Register as a community or employer champion www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/timechange-champions/become-champion Or join us at the next group meet, we are always happy to welcome new people and ideas. Please do remember the service is to help those with a lived experience of mental health but it is not a mental health medical support service.

INVITATION TO A BAME CHAMPIONS MEETING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Saturday, 23rd February 2019 / 11am to 3pm International Development Foundation, 181 Adam Court, Unit 5, Northgate, New Basford, Nottingham, NG7 7GR •

AND International Development Foundation Time to Change is a growing movement of people changing how we all think and act about mental health problems. At the heart of the campaign are local champions, communities and organisations taking action to change people’s attitude and behaviour around mental health stigma. We are holding a local Champions meeting focussing on tackling stigma from a BAME perspective

• • •

Find out more about how you can get involved and become a champion, hear more about the Time to Change campaign. Be inspired and motivated to take action. Share ideas for future activities and events in your local community. Use your lived experience expertise to tackle stigma from a BAME perspective.

This is a FREE event and will include refreshments and lunch. Everyone is welcome to attend. Book by emailing: Anita Kumari a.kumari@time-to-change.org.uk

32 Business & Finance

ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE: With Christmas fast approaching, this is another indication that the deadline for submitting the Tax return for the period ending 5th April 2018 is also fast approaching. You need to ensure you have submitted your tax return by midnight 31st January 2019 and also for those who wish to do any amendment for 2016-2017 tax return this need to be done before 31st January 2019. So what do I require to submit a tax return? The paperwork you may need • Employment income (and pension income) • Your P60 form – for employment held at 5th April in the tax year • Your P45 form – for any jobs you left during the tax year • Social Security Benefits – A letter from the DWP which shows the amount of your state pension or other taxable benefits. If you receive job seekers allowance there should be the form P60U • Self Employment Income – A summary of your business income and expenses for the tax year. • Capital Gains – Contract notes for the sale and purchase of any assets for e.g. shares or antiques. • Savings Income – A summary of interest received from your statements or passbook • Rental Income – A summary of your rental income and expenses, bills for expenses and bank statements, and any letting agreements • Other income you will need to include on your tax return includes dividend paid during the year. It should be noted that you should keep your records for future reference. You need to keep your records for at least 6 years from filing date; this includes self-employed, partnership or Ltd companies. What other factors do I need to consider during this time of the year? As 2018 comes to an end, most people will be winding down ready for the Christmas break but we always think this is the best time to prepare for the New Year, here are a few tips on how to prepare for the coming year: Review your business plan – this is always a good starting point for all businesses, whether you are just starting or have been trading for years, it’s always a good idea to review your plans for the future as your business grows Reward your employees At this time of the year, most businesses have different ways of rewarding their workers or holding parties. While doing this, bear in mind the tax implications and know what you can and can’t claim. As a summary, you are allowed to spend up to £150.00 per head on social events for employees, this need to be offered to all employees. Remember you can hold multiple events as long as the events don’t cost more than £150.00 per head this is exempt Move to the cloud Cloud-based accounting programs will save you time and are simple to

mojatu.com use, giving you more time to focus on what you love over this festive period. They allow you to work from anywhere and have secure, powerful encryption and remote backups so there is significantly less chance of information being lost or stolen. Avoid the tax return rush this January With the deadline for submitting your tax return being midnight on 31st January, it’s best to submit it within plenty of time to avoid any fines and mistakes. This will help you avoid any end of year stress and avoid the £100 fine for missing the deadline. If you require assistance with self-assessment please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 0115 82440555 or email info@wkmaccountancy.co.uk For more information about anything related to taxes or accountancy visit www.wkmaccountancy.co.uk for your local accountancy services.

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VRCCNOTTINGHAM CHURCH

BEING YOURSELF SERIES

COMMUNITY MEDIA & DIGITAL STORYTELLING

Digital storytelling for factual narratives and authentic community voices. This course will help learners to use digital storytelling and media in: • Radio Broadcasting • Community development • Preserving your legacy

• Brand awareness • Initiate dialogue • Effect change • Fundraising • Promotion

Special Invitation by Pastor Julia & Pastor Elizabeth Family & Friends Sunday Time: 10.30am - 1.00pm Dates: 17/02, 17/03, 21/04, 19/05, 16/06, 21/07, 18/08, 15,09

Courses: • Broadcasting • Gathering & recording digital stories • Photography

• Videoing • Media law & ethics • Social media • Podcasting

Bookings:

Email: sophie@mojatu.com E E Mob: 0751 696 2992 R F

Phone: 0115 8457 009 or 0 115 7846 666

Food & Refreshments Available Enquiries: Pastor Julia Paul: 07799967516, 07476008294, 07462484516 Email: info@vrccnottingham.org Website: www.vrccnottingham.org 234 Arnold Road, Leen Valley Community, NG5 5 HB

Farmeco Community Care

FARMECO COMMUNITY CARE

BOOKING

For More Information Visit the Website: www.farmeco.co.uk

farmecoNG13

fccnotts

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office@farmeco.co.uk / david@farmeco.co.uk Call/Text 01157846666 / 07855252151

TIME 10am – 3pm

Juice, wine & cider making Cultivating, processing & selling fruit products Confidence building Workshops & Activities

ADDRESS Home Farm, Off Lodge Lane, Car Colston, Screveton, NG13 8JL

• •

COURSES INCLUDE:

Woodland Management Sessions Plant husbandry Agroforestry Pruning

DAYS 6 Feb, 14th April, th 26 Feb, 23rd April, th 14 March, 21st May, 19th March, 9th June, 6th April, More later.

• • •

•

FEB – DEC 2019

FARMING REGENERATION PROGRAMME.

Farmeco Community Care