Culture Beez Issue 10

the Global Youth Voice Magazine

Issue No. 10 SEP 2014 - MAR 2015

Culture Beez

The Two-in-One Edition!

2014,Photo Album Edition

&

2015, Quarter One Edition

MISSION

Promote the AIESEC way.

OBJECTIVES

Show off AIESEC UoN. Explain and enhance leadership.

Influence fun and youthful experiences.

Enable and elevate cultural exchange.

Maximize potentials.

For more information please contact: Samuel Kinyua

Local Chapter President samuel.kinyua@aiesec.net Whitney Mwangi.

Editor-in-Chief.

whitney.mwangi@aiesec.net Emma Serrem

Vice President Marketing and Communication emma.serrem@aiesec.net Write to us: culturebeez@gmail.com

Changing Lives with AIESEC Everyday

Today

Tomorrow

The Editor’s Note Whitney Mwangi Some days we forget who we are. Other days we accept our dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that we are wonderful.

Insecurities and fear cloud over some seasons. Consequently, we struggle to either fit in where we do not belong or do things we are not equipped to do or just settle in positions that do not challenge us at all. Well, 2014 unravelled the remedy: CLARITY. This awakens you to your purpose in life. It allows you to understand the importance of self and identity. Then your values and goals begin to roll out smoothly.

On December 19th, Radio Maisha and other local bigwigs visited the Kenyatta National Hospital Children’s Ward for an event dubbed Konnect Na Mtoi.They donated neccessities and entertained the children.This is what AIESEC UoN has been doing every Friday afternoon for years. And to see the society follow in our steps in bigger ways is elevating and a huge boost to our identity as an organisation.At the end of the day, we can face life with boldness, appreciate ourselves more and thus not settle for mediocre.The photo album section illuminates how we set the record.

This is a special issue that marks transition from 2014 to 2015. It is specific to those who rose even an inch higher in life in 2014.

And relevant to those who made mistakes in 2014 but are making things right this year. Here at AIESEC we opened the year with new leaders, new thoughts and new ideas. So far...success reigns! May the magazine represent!

Culture Beez Issue 10

September 2014 - March 2015

September 2014 - March 2015

The

Incredib

LAMU

Diani Beach Resort

Mt.Kenya Region

ble

Kenya

Above everything else that AIESEC is about, sits

Programmes. BeneďŹ ts?

Exchange

Wider circle of exotic friends.

Horizontal gain of ideas and experience.

Cross-border dating.

Intellectual and self-growth Shopping....AND MORE!

Interested?

Please Contact:

ANDREW ONDIMU +254 774 095 074 andrew.ondimu@aiesec.net

Wise Up Section 2015 will be an amazing year for those brave enough to take the opportunities available.Remember that success is deliberate and it does not come without hardwork and consistency.

Samuel Kinyua The Local Chapter President In my opinion the secret to achieving this is focusing on member experiences.

Students join AIESEC for the experiences!

The experiences in AIESEC are built on leadership growth. We thrive to grow in leadership .

Encouraging exchange by discovering cheaper yet worthwhile experiences and explaining why exchange is key.

Clear Job descriptions also encourages their participation .

LC synergy should involve member and protfolio synergy which means working together Many LC team buildings. Team buildings are vital for building trust and unity of members.

Norbert Lupamo FnA

The year 2014 was a successful year in AIESEC UoN.This obviously sets a higher benchmark for 2015 .Our vision being to be the most outstanding student organisation in East Africa. through exchange.

September 2014 -March 2015

I believe that everyone is a leader in one thing they love most so find that one thing that you love most and let it kill you let it kill you .Let’s make it happen.

Emma Serrem Vice President Marketing and Communication (VPMaC) The year will be a great year for me and it should also be for you.

This is the year we should strive for personal growth,get to achieve our AIESEC goals and align them with our life goals.This is the year we make it happen.

Duncan Magana TM -& BD Marketing & Communication In life we tend to regret not those things we did but the things didn’t do. 2014 may have been many things to diffrent people But in 2015, we can rewrite history. Let us make it a story about social impact Andrew Ondimu Vice President ,OGCDP

Wise Up Section

September 2014-March 2015

Culture Beez Issue 10

September 2014 - March 2015

Revenge Imprisons

By Alice Munga Tears clouded Christie’s eyes. She blinked in a bid repeatedly to keep them trickling down her cheeks. Everyone had said that time is a healer. She had only gotten worse.

The guilt and bitterness had taken over what was left of her personality.

That night, 15 years ago, her plot to get rid of her step mother was deployed.

Chabot Ayabei was the second wife to the Chief Murabi, her father. Theirs was love at first sight. She was the modern woman; with elegant beauty and extraordinary intelligence.

Christie’s mother, Tiwa Njeri, was as simple as can be but ageappropriate for the chief. The new marriage was met with intense rejection by the villagers and Christie as well.

The chief was intimidatingly rich. They thought Chabot was in it for the money.

“Enough is a word for the stomach, not the heart for a generous man like me,” chief said to justify Chabot’s presence in their family. No one challenged his decisions

because it is always person. He loved h influence. Njeri p drinking habits. B busy elsewhere. T “The

witch has fin go! The Witch m Chabot was respo the cross. Christie to get rid of the int who planned to

The fateful day bed imagining h full of change. how devoid of

“My dear, I am go about two hours. T something so you d

“If I do sleep Chabot would b Thirty minutes la the bushes aroun finished our king must go.” They s The scene was o

s pointless to argue with an inebriated his Muratina and was always under the prayed for better days and her man’s But one night, God must have been The old man slept and never woke up.

Little did they know, C had left that night to vi wanted to call a truce their future after the dea

nished our leader.The Witch must must go.” There was no proof that onsible but everyone made her carry e knew that this was her only chance truder. She called a group of people burn her house while she slept.

Her efforts had turned t returned home and slep phone call woke her up.

came and Christie lay on her how the following days would be The smack on her face proved remorse she had grown to be.

“I heard too. But I cho till the police are done

oing to visit a friend. I will be back in There is a lot of food in the house. Fix don’t sleep hungry,” Njeri said and left.

p!” She replied in her mind. be no more after the two hours. ater she left to join those hiding in nd Chabot’s house. “The Witch has g. The Witch must go! The Witch sang as they approached the house. of lit torches, smoke and chants.

“I just heard about the house. Sorry for the

“They found two though. Any idea w person could be?”He

“Two bodies? No wa for hours. Typical of a who are still so crazy ab Later, she decided to g

Ma!Ma!” There was n tried calling her but her She left anyway. In

Christie’s mother isit Chabot. She for the sake of ath of their man.

tragic.Christie pt. George’s . fire at Chabot’s loss, ”he said.

ose to stay away with the scene!”

bodies inside who the other seemed frantic.

ay!”They spoke a young couple bout each other. go to his place.

Days on end, the roar of the raging ne that night replayed in her mind. It trau and maimed her wholeness. Nightmares in and depression followed. George the changes and tried what he could b time, being in his arms was not as

The revenge took a different turn. The came clean about Christie. She was Wamumo Rehabilitation Centre for 15 Over the years, she grew closer to God. redeemed and accepted her mistakes. It clear that revenge is never an answer. Mo when digging a hole for your enemies mak enough because you might go in there wit

When she got out, in 2014, she the village, at night not to draw a of those who might have known The land is bare. The memory felt rec it did not sting as it used to. She did no the tears. She took them with unsh strength. She had killed the last of family s

no answer! She r phone was off. his arms,

mungawamaitha@ya

eighbors umatized s kicked noticed but with magical

villagers sent to 5 years.

She felt became oreover, ke it big th them.

visited attention n her. cent but ot mind hakeable she had.

ahoo.com

“My past will not define me!�

She murmured with conviction,...walking away.

God wants more from you than just going to church and getting entertained for a couple of hours.Then going back to the world to be like everyone else.He doesn’t want us to blend in but to stand out. Be: Positive.

Good to people.

Manage your emotions.

At work and home as you are at church.

Stable.

A happy believer.

Careful with what you say.

Trusting in God rather than trying to ďŹ gure everything out.

Have a patient attitude.

Give your opinion only when needed or requested.

In 2015, be the one who turns the light brighter wherever you are!!!

Joyce Meyer

Take Up Leadership

p. Be the Difference.

Seeing beyond the label: The Tr Students With Disabilities in

By: Rosemary Wanjir

Quite often we look at handicapped people and conclude that they need help in completing a task at hand.

Commonly, when we meet with a PWD we unconsciously develop an inner attitude of empathy and rush to help them out. Recently, they held a forum to voice how perceveing them as helpless beings injures their ego.

Some time back, students with disability (SWD) from the University of Nairobi held a forum to express their issues to the relevant authorities within the main campus. During the forum, Solomon Odhiambo, a Second Year Medicine student emphasized about the need to sensitize the public about SWDs.

“Since, I am parti have encountered who are very qui even without m assistance,” said

“For instance whe a simple form come and pick it without enquiring of course I know goodwill but this our ego!” Lament

Kelvin Kioko, a stu shared the same that when a person disability they are schools where we be independent are treated as if so we adapt to it has withheld my

ravails of Kenya

ru

ially impaired I d many people ick to help me me asking for d Odhiambo.

en I am filling someone will from me even if I need help, w it is entirely such acts hurt ted Odhiambo.

udent from UoN, opinion saying n succumbs to a taken to special e are taught to persons. We we are normal but the society yths about us.

“We heal from the trauma of being disabled but the society never heals,” said Kioko.

The forum was spearheaded by Jamleck Njoka, a placement officer at the dean of students office. It was facilitated by the leadership of the Students with Disability Association.

The forum elicited diverse emotions from the students who turned up from different faculties Mr. Njoka addressed issues raised by the students. David Mtai, The Secretary General of Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU), responsible for students with disabilities , requested the students to talk openly about their issues by assuring them they were the only ones who can make their felt needs known.

“We are not only doing this for ourselves but also for the students who will join this university later.

We will pride in ourselves when there is change that extends into the future,” assured Mtai.

Michael Muigwa, the Secretary General of Students With Disabilities Association (SWIDA), outlined the issues as per the disability. He said that there was need for disability sensitization in all campuses. He added that the students who are visually impaired need their course outlines scanned to make it easier for them during revision.

He also said that the university should come up with means to ensure that during their registration they are not subjected to the torture of making long queues.

However, the students attributed their success to UoN. They emphasized that the institution did not kill their interests as compared to other institutions that limit the courses they should pursue.

SWIDA acknowledged the University’s effort with a ranking of 50 per cent in addressing the students with disabilities challenges. They also mentioned that the university offered students who are visually impaired with laptops and those with hearing disorder with hearing devices. They expressed utmost gratitude for the university’s effort to accommodate them.They commended the University of Nairobi for implementing the law that governs the rights of PWDs under the Persons With Disabilities Act of 2003 by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. The SWIDA Sports Representative, Benson Nderitu, supported his colleagues by adding that the university had plans underway to purchase equipments needed by the students during sports. Wilson Macharia a SWD said that the university means of transport for the SWDs will be ready for use in a short while as it was getting repaired then.

Later, in the afternoon session the students were joined by the representative of Disabilities Mainstreaming Committee (DMC), Susan Oluoch, which deals with the SWDs needs and representation in the institution.She engaged with the students and emphasized on the need for them to register with the committee as part of the SWDs as students were shying away from them. She said that the committee would collaborate with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities through the institution to get financial aid that should cater for their fees and other needs. She said the collaboration will enable the institution to fully adhere to sub article 18, part two of the rights and privilege of persons with disabilities by the council (PWDs Act 2003).

The students’ representatives from the School of Arts and Social Sciences.

They also emphasized that the students should improve their interactions with the institutions through them as they reassured them of their full commitment to helping the SWDs to overcome all their challenges.

“We

heal from the trauma of being disabled but the society never

�

heals

I must agree that the forum was very informative and educative forum since I met with many SWDs who are independent. In fact they need minimum or no assistance while interacting with the environment provided it is conducive. So may be its time that we let them live life as we live it. Free from unwarranted assumptions and discrimination but help when need be.

Crafts For

I must admit that perhap who is not accustomed hospital or around kid experience can prove you think. A minute o radiant young faces sm what they may be un

By Herman Busuru your heart simply melt The thought of cancer stiffens of nothing (if that m and cripples all of mankind. It is now common knowledge just how There sitted on the m much cancer patients experience floor are scores of kids insurmountable pain. Seeing a a brief moment of ha serene toddler with no experience from the needles an and knowledge of the world go they have grown so a through such pain is simply daunting. Even amongst the see faces are a few who rem Then comes UoN’s AIESEC bright to wheelchairs or are idea in form of a project to help to do as much as som make these kids’ lives way better! kids. All these small sp Kenyatta Hospital is the every-Friday to make one appreciate venue where AIESEC members in life. What you wo interact with these kids in the consider a normal a afternoonThis is in a project Crafts living free of medicat of Cure where the members listen to more of a luxury to som the kids as they share their stories.

Crafts

r Cure

ps for someone d to being in a ds, the first time e scary, or so or two with the miling through ndergoing and ts into a puddle makes sense).

mats lain on the s all looking for appiness away nd medication accustomed to. emingly bright main confined simply unable me of the other pectacles seem e the little things ould otherwise aspect such as tion would be me of these kids.

Those who frequent for Crafts are ever so excited about making time to be with the kids. Their commitment to such a worthy cause can be seen even as they help the kids draw objects and color as well as teach them a sum or two. Not to mention some of the crazy stories these children have to give, they simply leave you in awe. Sure there is the challenge of a few introverted individuals who would prefer to draw on unperturbed by the activities around them but with successive visits by the team, the kids tend to warm up to them and eventually open up.

It’s a rather monumental moment given that some of them never get to see anyone other than their parents or doctors as some end up in hospital for a long period of time.As is often the case, many of the children hail from underprivileged families and Crafts has come up with ways of assisting them.

This is through a very beneficial partnership with Faraja Cancer Support Trust, a foundation founded in 2010 that aims at providing emotional, practical and healing support to anyone affected by cancer.They supply the kids with clothing, toys, food etc

For Cure

They also organize small scale fun days just so the kids can escape to a haven of paradise even for just a while.

All this out of sheer love and support for the young ones with a vision of ensuring the children lit up with smiles.

When it iss time to leave everyone gets into a circle for a song and dance session just to leave the kids energized till the next meeting. Everyone indulges in sheer excitement and even leaving becomes a task. Woe unto anyone who gets picked on to take part in a dancing song, they are ultimately faced with tedious challenge of running after a kid in an attempt to win. This fuels the fire of joy in the room anyway. When the “Kwaheri Walimu” line strikes then you know its goodbye for sure.

After every session with the kids, the Crafts’ members meet to discuss and share the day’s experience. You might think that the weekly introductions grow old however it usually helps those in attendance to build a network of friends alongside monitoring the number of people in attendance. A common experience for most first timers is the joy they derive from seeing the kids all active and excited as opposed to their probably fatigued usual selves.

People who have previously perhaps never interacted with kids are moved by day’s events. Somehow with all the hustles and bustles of life, that place leaves you feeling too blessed.to even be stressed after seeing young ones excited yet they face so many challenges.

The very exclusive session follows. It’s mind-blowing, exciting and will have you confused if not amused at the end of the day. There’s a lot of movement involved as well, that is as you jump into crowd so as to appear in a picture. Yes folks, it’s the “Selfie session”. Where all your profile pictures seem so last week such that you need to get a new one. Even with whatever trace of fatigue on hold, the evening somehow finds you refreshed and rejuvenated.

There is “CAN” in Cancer because we can beat this thing. That’s what Crafts is all about; entertaining the sadness out of those children and improving their lives through all the help they render.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Crafts together with Faraja believe in this as their way of making a difference in the lives of the children.

Fee: Free Venue: The Luke Hotel Thika Road Start time : 8.00 am End time: 10.30 am Note: meals non-inclusive

2. GLOBAL VILLAGE DELEGATES ONLY

All information is in the link below http://issuu.com/aiesecinkenya/docs/global_village_prep Non -conference delegates Register herehttps://docs.google.com/…/1RlBnzMBriL-3s_ AbQpvmeyi…/viewform For NON- DELEGATES ONLY register on this form. https://docs.google.com/…/1RlBnzMBriL-3s_ AbQpvmeyi…/viewform

Afroxlds 2015 KENYA DAY 1 - 30th March 2015 1. OPENING CEREMONY FOR DELEGATES ONLY.

Smart casual , If you have your country’s official african wear, the better.

FOR INTERESTED ATTENDEES ONLY

The opening ceremony is the official kickoff for the event and will feature speeches from the Cabinet Secretary for Youth and Devolution, Ms. Anne Waiguru and the PAI elect, Ana Saldarriaga. This will be followed by the Global Village, where we will be celebrating Africa’s rich culture and diversity.

Dresscode: Opening ceremony- smart casual, global villagetraditional attire

The Score Conferenc

By: Duncan M

The Score Conference is the biggest conference in Uganda. So when I got an email inviting me to attend the conference at a delegate fee of $50 only, I knew without a doubt that I would not miss it.

I have to admit, at first, I wanted to attend that conference because it was an opportunity to visit Uganda and add it to my ‘countries I have travelled to’ list which was not pleasing at all. I tried to round up some friends to go with to the conference but with no success.

This made me have second thoughts about the whole thing because I did not want to travel alone. After some soul searching, I decided to go ahead with it because I was a little bit curious how the AIESEC entity in Uganda handles its business and I was sure that there is something they did better than us that I could apply when I came back home.

Three days to the confe gathered the finances have some weird sense still convinced that I w the conference. I cann money but in a nutshe supportive of my AIE the fact they totally do n this at all! I know this faced by most AIESE think that AIESEC is Anyway, I arrived February the 26t Committee for the bodaboda to come pi

ce 2015

Magana

erence and I still had not I needed for the trip. I e of hope because I was would be in Kampala for not explain how I got the ell, my parents are very ESEC ambitions despite not understand why I do is a common challenge ECers; our parents may s a mere waste of time. d in Kampala on th. The Organising e conference sent a ick me up at the stage.

The thing that beat my expectation was the grand reception that I got when I got La Grand Chez Johnson Hotel in Muyenga, Kampala.I felt like the President of AIESEC International because of the love and care that I received. Perhaps it is because I was the only Kenyan delegate, there were 2 lovely ladies who were Kenyans but they were facilitators of the conference; Ruthie Ndung’u who is the MCVP Business Development and also Lorna Kanyuga who is MCVP Incoming Global Community Development Programme.

The conference had a fun start, the Global Village, which encompasses delegates from different countries showcasing their culture in terms of food, drinks or clothing. The funny thing is that we Kenyans won the best showcase despite we were only three guys.

I just have to let this out, this conference was the best ever in my AIESEC experience and believe me, I have attended very many conferences.

Of course I do not plan to release such a statement and not give any supporting evidence.

First of all, Ugandans are extremely warm and welcoming people. I really felt at home and no one treated me differently for being a foreigner. The other thing that caught my eye was the different nationalities of delegates present. There were Ugandans, Tanzanians, Kenyans, Ethiopians, one Nigerian, one German, one Finn and one Somali as well. This is a challenge Kenya should also embrace so that our National conferences can also have multiple nationalities present.

I cannot fail to mention the awesome support system AIESEC in Uganda

has from its sponsors. Coca Cola w unlimited water and sodas for t national partners and other extern the sessions. This is something I conferences too, I would like the A engage directly with our members. an educative one, with many ins thinking a lot. The facilitators were And guess who won best male

was the main sponsor providing the whole conference. Their nals were also incorporated in would also like to see in our AIESEC alumni and partners to The conference was obviously spiring sessions that had me e simply amazing and engaging. delegate? Yours truly here!!

It was actually a shocker that I got this award but I guess my undying energy came through for me.

The conference ended on Sunday the 29th but my Kenyan counterparts and I had not had enough of the ‘Pearl of Africa’. We went to the MC house where we planned to stay for the night till the next day. Fortunately or unfortunately, the bus to Nairobi left us. We were busy buying Rolexes when it left us. Blame our Rolexguy, Isaac, who made one hell of a Rolex. A Rolex is a Ugandan street dish where an egg and vegetables are rolled inside a chapatti. It’skind of like a street shawarma. We had to spend another night in Kampala.

Long story short, my few days in Uganda were legendary!Kampala has definitely not heard the last of me

So for all you crazy and proactive AIESECers out there, get out of your comfort zone and go to a conference out of your country. You never know how much connections you might get and the little nitty-gritties of life that you will get to learn. What I feel is next for me is facilitating a conference and that is exactly what I will do.

Brave Actions!!

Passed by Our Rolex Guy

W� �ea�!

T��� f��l��!

Beauty vs. Pe Snow was born so no one could sleep.

Maxine, its mother was howling then our very old, white male neighbour began hurling unintelligible.

By morning, Maxine had given birth to six puppies; one white and five black. We named the white one Snow because she reminded us of Snow White (You know‌ the princess who decided life was too hard and decided to take a long nap until a prince arrived to save her?)

All these puppies were a mixture of the four breeds of dogs. As expected, we all favoured Snow because she was appealing both in looks and stature, compared to her siblings who were all black with terrier fur and sausage-dog height.

By: Candy Muth

“

...when i down to th personality only thin matters

ersonality

honi

it comes he basics, y is the ng that s... �

Snow was anoisy dog though.Shewas always barking. If you drove into the compound and she was in the way, she would just look at you and continue barking. Snow also had a horrid personality. Even after sending her to shags she still came back with attitude, pooped everywhere, ate our shoes and barked late into the night.

As we

beautiful as eventually

she sold

was, her.

What matters most? Inner beauty or what meets the eye? In today’s era of cosmetics and enhancing pills, this is a debate we will grapple with for a long time. Maybe we will conquer it, maybe we will not.

I care about how I look. I care about what I dress or what you stranger or friend perceives about me. However, when it comes down to the basics, personality is the only thing that matters to me.

Culture Beez Issue 10 FINANCIAL LITERACY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FORUM (FLIT) FLIT forum is a single day event that aims to deliver talks from professionals in the industries of Finance and IT to University students Objectives � To connect industry players with the student populace � To deliver first-hand information to the students from the professionals themselves � To create awareness on current trends and career opportunities within the fields � To promote Financial literacy among youth, especially University students

Friday 22nd of May

September 2014 - March 2015

LOCAL CHAPTER TRAINING AND MOTIVATION SEMINAR (LCTMS) Objectives � To induct new members into AIESEC and enhance their understanding of the organisation � To deliver interactive sessions on youth and leadership � To promote partner Brand visibility � To make profit that will contribute to the Financial

This is an annually held conference that is tailored toward members who have been in AIESEC for 3months or less.

It serves as the induction conference for new members where they get to learn about the History of AIESEC, AIESEC Way, our products and the various portfolios and processes.

From the 18th to 21st of June

The Moral Question

By Candy Muthoni

Is it really worth it to let a child into the world when you are not ready for the responsibility?

I

It is a Monday and I am at the bus stop feeling run down from a weekend full of errands. A noisy matatu comes along and before I sit down, I do one of those split- seconds assessments of everyone. I spot Nick.

I call him Nick because when I was in class one, I had this dream where I fell in love with a guy named Nick. Nick notices me too and by coincidence the seat next to him happens to be empty.

I leave the rest to your imagination.

Months later, I find out that I am pregnant.

‘This could go two ways. I tell Nick and he assumes responsibility or he scampers his way to the next girl, my number blocked and the memory of me tucked away into the dustbins of his memory. I cannot have a child because I am a young girl with too many dreams. I have to assess my situation before I tell Nick!’ I thought, going hysterical.

Well, I knew the implications of pre-marital sex. We used a condom sometimes and both of us initiated sex, so I could not say it was entirely his fault. Up until the moment when the pregnancy test came back positive, I thought abortion was wrong but at that point, it seemed feasible. I was overwhelmingly disappointed in myself.

‘I will tell Nick about it, but I will still abort it!’ I thought, In the end of it all, I was left questioning my identity. I was raised a Christian but then…

Am I what I preach? Am I who I think I am? Am I just a pawn of society pretending while harboring other parts of who I am?