Volume 1
E E FR PY CO
Issue
#11
MAY 2014
this issue
an Entertainment, Social, Community Magazine with YOU in Mind
ECR BIG WALK 2 FORWARD THINKING DIRECTOR 4-5 BUZZ PLACES IN DURBAN 14-15 MIND ON BIG THINGS ... 18 TEEN SCENE 24-25
DINESH
Naidoo Serendipity Worldwide Group
Group Operations Director
Cruise with the Stars
Our Vision: To be the Leader and First Choice Travel Agent and Tour Operator in Africa
See Inside for Details
Page 4-5
[ Live Concert ] [
Fashion Health & Sport Home & Gardens Parenting Travel Food Money Matters Entertainment Teen Education
]
Be the Change!
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
3
PUBLISHER
Raj Maree rmaree@changenow.co.za
EDITORIAL
Carl Niemann Phone: +031 464 2270 / 4517 Email: editor@changenow.co.za ISSN 2307-5570
from the publisher
Love Change
This month we are excited about introducing you to an out of the box businessman, without much formal education in this market, but has one of the most recognized travel companies in South Africa. Business savvy Dinesh Naidoo is a true inspiration to young entrepreneurs. This month of May the pharmacies, card shops, department and variety stores will be crowded with people scurrying to find the best card to present to their mums on Mother's Day. This is nice, but really why just this one day of the year to express your love to your mother? Your mother is the kind, gentle, angelic soul that risked her life to give you life. She carried you in her body for nine months. In many instances mothers have their children on their mind and will them against any adversity and try to comfort them when they are upset or alarmed.
Tasha Lee Maree Felicity Keats Steve Tobak Dr. Leanne Reddy Attorney - Christina Ponnen
ADVERTISING Sales and Marketing: Tel: 031 464 2270
Hello ChangeNOW Supporters I am so grateful that we are getting to feature young entrepreneurs making a difference in 031 (Durban). Thank you Jaco Boyens for embracing our cover in our April issue. Jacob Boyens is well known in the motor industry for his drive and passion but most of all for his positive mindset which he utilizes to empower his staff. Believe it or not, I am seeing much more Audis on the roads ...
CONTRIBUTORS
If you ask a child what mothers are they will probably answer that a mother is a cook, a comforter in time of anxiety, a nurse when they are sick and the boss who tries to make the family income stretch. She gives sage advice in so many instances. She is an unpaid lawyer and the tie that bonds. This month we have asked a few young adults and entrepreneurs to tell us what "what my mum means to me" Some words of a song once very popular keep ringing in my head: "There ought to be a hall of fame for mothers and the hand that rocks the cradle ... rules the world." Always on my mind, my dear departed Mom. For all of you whom are blessed to still have your mothers, please cherish and appreciate them, be grateful and thankful. God bless all mothers. So from me and the ChangenNOW Family, we wish all the mums a Wonderful & Joyous Mothers Day.
Be Safe & Believe in YOU! Publisher - Raj Maree www.changenow.co.za
Shamila Pillay Cell: 083 694 0309 Mike Rothqu​el Cell: 078 685 3894 Email: sales2@changenow.co.za
DESIGN
BullzEye Advertising & Marketing
PHOTOGRAPHY
Harriet James Kevin Hsu Photography
Art Print - DBN. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Postal Address 46 Chrisway Road, Malvern, Queensburgh, KZN, 4093 Email: info@changenow.co.za DISTRIBUTION Property Junction Stands from Bluff to Hillcrest and select stands in Durban North. Participating Garages, Restaurants, Schools, Libraries and Churches. COPYRIGHT All material appearing in ChangeNow Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. ChangeNow Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.
Kevin Hsu Photo • 084 655 5668
Mr Dinesh Naidoo Group Operations Director Serendipity Worldwide Group
From sponsoring a major IPL team, to producing movies, bringing artists to South Africa, working for the united Nations and served as Vice President for ASATA (2005-2011) and various other bodies abroad, Dinesh Naidoo has led a distinguished, successful and honorable life. For many who will not come close to his lifetime worth of achievements, for the humble forty-two year old, it is just the beginning of greater things to come. Born in Merebank and currently married with one son and a baby girl, Naidoo has ensured the joy in his career never dampens, this, he feels is achieved through the diversity of Serendipity Group where each day varies from the next. "My schedule varies from day to day and I think that’s an exciting part of my life, you never know what tomorrow holds" says Naidoo. Looking back at his achievements, Naidoo said he stumbled into the travel business by accident. After having completed matric, he studied Software Engineering at ML Sultan (now known has Durban University of Technology) but did not feel the passion and decided to go to America with a group of Hindu students to represent South Africa in the Parliament of World religions in 1993. Naidoo got a job at the United Nations working on conflict resolution in Copenhagen for two years. "I came back to South Africa in 1995 in search of a job but could not find
Forward Thinking Direct Worldwide Group Mr Di
talks about his plans for the com
[
Our Vision: To be the Leader and First Choice Travel Agent and Tour Operator in Africa
anything that I was passionate about, so I accepted a job in a company as a public relations person". Travelled often to India, and through that Naidoo saw the opportunity to service the needs of the travel trade in South Africa. In October 1996 Serendipity Tours was born. Serendipity Tours is a dynamic company that is masterful at ensuring efficient, hassle free travel. Serendipity Tours, a division of the Serendipity Worldwide Group, specializes in corporate, leisure and incentive travel worldwide. With branches in the major cities in South Africa, Serendipity Tours serves as a superb catalyst for out-bound travel & tourism in multi-cultural areas as well as to clients in other provinces of this emerging and progressive country. Serendipity Tours is a multi-award winning company with well-deserved accolades from various suppliers. "Our mission is to perfect the art of travel by managing and exceeding the expectations of our clients through creativity, commitment and customer care, whilst focusing on excellence in quality and dedicated professionalism," says Naidoo. [ Exclusive interview with ChangeNOW ]
As a young out of the box entrepreneur, who has been your mentor, and has assisted you to shape Serendipity Tours as one of the major players in the travel industry? Serendipity Tours was started by three partners, Mr. Lal Jayamaha, Mrs. Carol Du Preez and Mr. Dinesh Naidoo. We three came from different backgrounds, with different cultures and was born in
]
different decades. This cosmopolitan partnership gave us a unique edge in the travel industry. 18 years later we are still partners and have taken the company to being number one of the top ten IATA brands in South Africa.
Serendipity brand has come a long way. What has attributed to the success of the brand? None of us had any formal training in the travel industry, so we widely read and travelled to gain the experience we needed to build the brand. Our biggest strength is our employment of the correct staff and we treat everyone with the same respect. Our team believes in the philosophy that "we work hard and we play hard", thereby ensuring we have a lot of fun in what we do. With the economic industry being so volatile world-wide, whereby consumers / travelers are holding on to their wallets and are spending wisely. What has Serendipity done differently to sustain themselves in the marketplace? Understanding the new generation of clients is the key to growing and sustaining your market share. We also understanding that we do not own most of the products we market therefore our USP (unique selling point) is service. We also play in different spaces in the South African travel industry, we wholesale, retail and we manage a consortium of independent travel agents. The major international trend is to diversify businesses and Serendipity brand has diversified into different segments. Tell us about this? Under the banner of the Serendipity World Wide Group we have different divisions that can cater for business from multinational companies to doing
tor of Serendipity inesh Naidoo
mpany.
MAY 2014
5
[Live Concert ] Cruise with the Stars
CRUISE WITH THE STARS
DEPART 05 DEC 14 RETURN 08 DEC 14 DURBAN - PORTUGUESE ISLAND a booking for a man on the street. • Serendipity ICE (Incentives, Conferences & Events) handles major corporate events and conferences, with a team that understands what corporates require. • SITA Worldwide Group (SWG) manages ticketing for over 270 travel agents across South Africa. • Serendipity Sport handles all the match tickets for major events around the world, namely the English Premier league. • Serendipity Events manages shows, concerts and events with our major event this year being "Cruise with the stars" on the MSC Opera.
You are definitely part of a Change Generation utilizing modern technology to give your business a global perspective. Which platform of technology has worked for you and taken Serendipity World Wide to a new level? Technology is one of the greatest tools one can use to market and increase your service levels. We have a dedicated team that manages our social media. We are proud to be the first travel management company in South Africa to have an APP (SERENDIPITY TRAVEL) for both Android and Apple. What is your vision for Serendipity Worldwide Group? To be the leader and First choice Travel Agent and Tour Operator in Africa. To be the number one IATA producing travel agent in South Africa. What is the secret to your success and what advice can you provide to young entrepreneurs? If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it. You must love what you do. • Be innovative: Create something different that will stand out.
• Your employees are your best asset. Happy employees make for happy customers. • Lead by listening: Get feedback from your staff and customers on a regular basis. • Be visible: Market the company and its offers by putting yourself or a senior person in front of the cameras.
What do you enjoy most about being the Group's Operation Director of Serendipity Worldwide Group? Working in an industry where most factors that affect us are beyond your control, therefore I thrive on the different challenges that face us on a daily bases. I have a great team around me and this makes it easier to adapt to change quickly. With his motto "18 till I die", Naidoo said he tried to enjoy every opportunity that presented itself because life is a journey of memories and the more memories one could make the better the journey is. Naidoo has no regrets throughout his life. He believes that failure is a stepping stone to success and if you do not have obstacles in your way you will not appreciate the end results. "Some call it luck, but I believe that luck is when preparation and opportunity meet." adds Naidoo Reflecting on morals and principles, he said it was important for people to believe in punctuality, honesty, and loyalty. "The old way of doing business was very selfish. I use a selfless model rather than selfish model in the way I operate. I believe in teaching and sharing my idea’s with the people around me. The more people I can assist in succeeding, the easier it is for me to succeed."
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3 Nights return Cruise All meals All Port charges and Insurance Concert on board In conversation with Stars Hindvani Bhangra Bash VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED
FOR BOOKING CONTACT
031 201 0630
MEDIA@SERENDIPITYTOURS.CO.ZA
6
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
5 Ways to Be a Better Leader While not everyone can be the boss, more and more employees are asked to take on leadership roles. "With the increasing need for project managers, we should all want to improve our skills and abilities as our projects become larger and more complex," said Russell Harley, a veteran project manager and project management office director. To help those tasked with leading projects, Harley offers five tips for getting the most out of your team: • Be a leader: While this should be pretty obvious, it is very easy to get caught up in personalities and the normal socialization of the workplace. This is especially true for long-term projects, or those that require the team to work together for long hours. As a project manager, the important thing to remember is that your only goal is the completion of the project. It is not to be friends with everyone or to have them all like you. Projects can easily get into trouble if things start sliding due to the project manager not wanting to hold people accountable. • Stop multitasking: This may be the hardest task to do effectively. Numerous researchers have shown that multitasking is bad for
everyone. Yet people still try and do more than they really are capable of doing. So how do you control this tendency? In a word, delegate. You have a team of subject matter experts plus others on your team. So ask them to help, or assign tasks to them that they should be doing instead of you. Yes, it may seem easier for you to just handle it yourself, but what is the point of having a team if you are doing most of the work? • Run effective meetings: Project managers spend a lot of time leading meetings. To make sure you use the time spent in these meeting efficiently, rely on a key, though underused tool: a team charter. This simple, one-to-twopage document details the protocol of the meetings, which everyone has agreed to. Items in the charter can include everyone agreeing to be on time, no cell phone usage, etc. A tool like this will not only help the existing team, but will also show new people exactly what is expected, rather than leaving them to guess on their own. • Be an agent for change: Process and procedures are great for keeping everything running smoothly, especially on difficult projects. However, the team also
needs to make sure these rules are helping the project rather than hurting it. If you or someone else on your team can improve a process, then speak up. Showcase how the change would help the team complete the project faster, cheaper, etc. The proposed change may actually affect multiple projects, not just your own, and could even affect the entire company . However, if the change will only benefit your team or project, be sure to explain that this would just be an exception for one project and not a global change. If you can institute a beneficial change, your team will thank you. • Breathe: Project managers sometimes forget that the projects they are responsible for are not theirs. As a project manager, you normally do not "own" projects; the sponsors do. You are only responsible for managing the project, not owning it. (Though, most of the time, managing the project by itself is a huge task.) So if the project experiences massive changes, including cancelation, it is not you, it is the sponsors. So do not react or stress out as if this is something you or your team did wrong. by Chad Brooks
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE
7
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Are you a single parent? Are you struggling to maintain your child/ children on your income alone? Then you need to apply for maintenance. What is maintenance? Maintenance is the obligation to provide another person, for example a minor, with housing, food, clothing, education and medical care, or with the means that are necessary for providing the person with these essentials. This legal duty to maintain is called ‘the duty to maintain’ or ‘the duty to support’. Who must provide maintenance? The duty to maintain is based on blood relationship, adoption, or the fact that the parties are married to each other. What expenses may be claimed? You may claim reasonable support that is necessary for providing the child or other person who has a right to maintenance with a proper living and upbringing. This includes providing necessities such as food, clothing and housing, as well as paying for a proper education. Steps to follow • Apply for maintenance at the magistrate's court in the district where your child lives. • Go to the relevant court and complete and submit an Application for Maintenance Form. • In addition to the completed form, submit proof of your monthly income and expenses, such as receipts for food purchases, electricity and/or rent bill payments. • The court will set a date on which you and the respondent (the person whom you wish to pay maintenance) must go to the court. • The court will serve a summons (a letter instructing a person to come to court) on the respondent (the person against whom the claim is brought) to appear in court on a specific date to discuss the matter. • If the person who is allegedly liable to pay maintenance does not consent to the issuance of an order, he or she must appear in court, where evidence from both parties and their witnesses will be heard. • If the court finds the person liable for paying maintenance, it will make an order for the amount of maintenance to be paid. The court will also determine when and how maintenance payments must be made. • The court can order maintenance money to be paid in one of the following ways: • At the local magistrate's office or any other government office designated for this purpose • Into the bank or building society account designated by the person concerned. • Directly to the person who is entitled to the money • By means of an order that directs the employer of the person who is liable for paying maintenance to deduct the maintenance payment directly from the employee’s salary, in accordance with the new Maintenance Act, 1998.
8
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
The grass doesn’t have to be greener in your neighbor’s lawn. Your grass can be lush, green, and healthy. The best news: You don’t need costly lawn services or high-tech sprinkler systems. Just follow these seven ground rules: 1. Raise the blade. Set your mower blade at about 6 to 7.5 centimeters – typically the highest setting on your mower. Longer grass means deeper roots. 2. Mulch, mulch, baby. Use the sheared grass to help fertilize your lawn. 3. Hose less. Water once or twice a week instead of every day. That forces grass roots to grow deeper as they search for more water. Longer roots will serve a lawn well on the hottest of summer days and during times of drought. 4. Soak before sunrise. Around 5 a.m. is a good time to water your lawn. Your grass gets a good soaking then because you don’t lose much water to evaporation. 5. Aerate soil. Aeration is a simple concept: You drill lots of little holes all over your yard to allow more oxygen into the ground and to give your grass better access to water and nutrients. 6. Fertilize with precision. To get to the right amount, do the math. Look for a fertilizer that contains at least 35 percent of its total nitrogen as water insoluble, or slow release. 7. Patch bare spots. To ensure that the ground is warm enough for germination, use compost in your seed mix. The compost will absorb sunlight and help warm up the ground for faster germination.
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9
MAY 2014 We MOVED!
To NEW Premises
Dr Leanne Reddy
MBhB (UCT), DCH
(SA) ,Dip HIV Mx (SA
)
Menopause Myths and Legends
... would like to Wish All the Mums a very Happy & Blessed Mothers Day. Thank YOU for the Change you bring. If you are interested in joining this growing family in the capacity of a Sales Executive please email your 1 page CV to info@changenow.co.za P.S. Only Experienced Candidates in the Print Media & Advertising Market will be considered.
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Myths and legends surround its onset. This new phase, long awaited yet filled with anxiety, frustration… fear! ‘Change of life’, they call it – many spouses and children can vouch for the fact that this phase did, temporarily, change their lives as well. The loving, cuddly mummy changes into this moody, irritable, monster spitting green venom! Yes… this is Menopause. Menopause refers to the time in which a female’s reproductive capacity comes to an end – this being evident by the end of her menstrual periods. For some it is a blessing in disguise but due to the hormonal changes, numerous effects are experienced. These include hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, dry skin, increased hair growth specially on the face, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, irritability, depression, tiredness and increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. The suspicion of menopause is based on presenting symptoms however definitive diagnosis is via blood tests, in most cases not a necessity. Treatment is individually based – some women do not require any treatment(just patience and understanding) whereas others do need medical support to salvage themselves(and the family!!) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be started once the woman is fully screened. Treatment can be in the form of tablets (oral or vaginal) and transdermal patches. There are contra-indications to HRT so it is of utmost importance to come in for a casual chat should you find yourself changing into a gruffalo at home!
To all the mums who have blessed our lives… HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Dr Leanne Reddy
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10
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Gifts from the Heart
Remember that you have many ways to spend less and add more meaning for a Special Mother's Day Somewhere along the way, honouring mom came to mean a fancy brunch or extravagant flower bouquet, an oddly transactional approach that manages to be both generic and pricey at a time many household budgets are tight. But the most meaningful Mother's Day gifts may be the ones that don't cost a cent, or at least very few. This is a day when it really is the thought that counts. So put down your credit card and summon that creative inner child whose macaroni masterpieces used to adorn the family fridge. "I think homemade, simple gifts are always much more heartfelt than going to the mall and buying something," says Sara Moody, a mother to two teens. Because the holiday is meant to celebrate the bond between mother and child, give something that is personal to your relationship. Sometimes a simple handwritten card that rekindles memories by recounting a specific story can be powerful, she said. Or plan an experience, which studies have shown makes people happier, for longer, than material gifts. Of course, not all moms see it that way, so if she expects an iPad Air, you don't want to disappoint her on her special day. But if a spend-free Mother's Day is something the family can embrace, here are 10 ideas for keeping costs low and sentiment high.
Homemade Cards. There's no reason to give your money to Hallmark or Cardies when you can make a perfectly good and far more personal card on your own. In some households, if you have a habit of
recycling cards you receive from others by "tearing out the pretty part" and using that to decorate homemade cards made with folded construction paper and art supplies procured for pennies at garage sales. If you write a thoughtful note in the card, telling a fond story about your mom or your relationship, it's often gift enough.
Memory Lane. Especially as the years wear on, people care less about stuff and more about their personal relationships. Collect memories from your mom's friends and family members and make a scrapbook highlighting what people love about her or their favourite stories about her, along with photos, mementos, artwork and anything nostalgic. If scrapbooking isn't your thing, you could find a pretty jar (or basket or box) and fill it with slips of paper bearing those favourite family memories. Picture Perfect. Have a friend, ideally someone who knows their way around a camera, take a photo of you, your kids or your family and present it in a homemade frame. To do the latter, buy an inexpensive picture frame and add your personal decorating touch. For example, coat the frame with mod podge (basically watery glue) then decoupage it with loving words cut from magazines, dried flowers or pictures that reflect her interests (flowers if she's a gardener; books if she's a reader). Flower Power. The best gifts are indulgences people like but wouldn't normally buy for themselves, so flowers,
for all their impracticality, are a lovely choice. Rather than drop R300 - 400 online to send an overpriced bouquet, buy a skinny vase from a thrift store, tie it with a ribbon and insert a single rose or a couple of lilies or whatever flowers mom likes best. "The size of the bouquet is not indicative of the size of your love for your mom," she said. You could also plant a flower in a pot so she can admire it for longer.
Performance Art. A favourite gift tradition could be to stand before her and recite poems they have memorized in her honour. "It will be the sweetest thing ever, to hear what poems they chose and to know they took the time to memorize them. Quality, not Quantity. Great things can come in small packages, so if your mom loves bath products, get her one nice soap or lotion rather than the basket assortment. If she loves chocolate, get her a single special bar rather than a fancy box. If lattes are her thing, a R50 gift card to her favourite coffee shop may make her smile. The point is to know what she likes and get her one thing, as opposed to a big production. Room Service. Add a sweet touch to the classic breakfast in bed by creating a door hanger, with food options, that mom can check off and hang on her bedroom doorknob so she gets just what she wants. Add a foot massage and DVD options on the checklist, as well as her preferred wake-up time, for a fuller hotel and spa experience
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Five Ways to Help Your Child Do Better in Maths As the new school term has just started, it will be time for your children to begin to work on the subjects they struggled with in the first tests of the year. For a lot of South African children one of these subjects will unfortunately be Maths. The Mail & Guardian reports that between 2009 and 2013 the number of candidates who wrote mathematics in the final Matric exam declined by 17%, while the number of students who wrote mathematics literacy increased. Furthermore, “the overall number of learners who are achieving an NSC pass with more than 40% in mathematics has been falling over the same period to 17% of the class of 2013. This is concerning because Matriclevel mathematics is a requirement for many university courses. The South African Institute for Chartered Accountants is among the interested parties who worry that “the current matric pass in Maths and Science is insufficient to meet the current skills shortage the country is facing”. Here are some tips to help your child do better in maths:
Have a Winning Attitude
In an insightful article in Quartz, there is a perception that only some people have the ability to be good at maths. For high school math, inborn talent is just much less important than hard work, preparation, and selfconfidence. When well-prepared children, whose parents have drilled them on maths from a young age, come to class and do well, the unprepared children assume that the well-prepared ones have natural maths talent, not realizing that they have been working hard at it. “Deciding that they ‘just aren’t math people,’ they don’t try hard in future classes, and fall further behind.” Learners have to realize that their intelligence is not predetermined; they can always “greatly change how intelligent they are”. They can make themselves smarter by hard work. Maths teacher Elizabeth Cleland couldn’t agree more. “I tell all students alike that math requires perseverance and a willingness to take risks and
make mistakes. These qualities are much more predictive of mathematical success than innate ability (if such a thing exists),” she writes in The Atlantic. She advises parents not to perpetuate the fallacy of innate maths ability. Parents should also make an effort to help their children with their maths homework. Karen LoBello of Everyday Life emphasises the importance of parents having a positive attitude about maths. “Avoid phrases such as, ‘I was never good in math either.’ Let him see how you use math at work and at home and point out the way others use math in their careers.” Remember, you’re your child’s first role model!
Talk numbers and set everyday maths problems
Try to work numbers into everyday conversations. In a study published in Developmental Psychology in 2013, researchers found that “frequency of number talk in the children’s homes had a big impact on how well the youngsters understood basic mathematical concepts”. You could note numbers on signs when you’re driving or use number words when talking about sports, science, history or video games with older children, suggest Annie Murphy Paul. For some excellent ideas on discussing numbers with your children, have a look at Christopher Danielson’s blog Talking Math with Your Kids. Susan Adcox has a few ideas for setting everyday maths problems for your children (or grandchildren) on About.com. For instance, let them help you bake, but don’t give them all the different measuring cups to use, so that they have to work out when double, or half, or a quarter of a measuring cup is needed. When you’re at the shop, let your children help you work out what the groceries will cost. Or when you’re taking a trip, let them work out how many kilometers you’ll travel. Telling time is maths too, so get the kids to work out schedules, allocating a certain amount of time for each activity. Keeping score is another fun way for kids to interact with mathematics. When playing board games or card games, encourage you children to keep score
in their heads.
Turn it into a game
There are many games that can improve children’s maths scores. For Business Insider, Walter Hickey compiled a list of games and activities that people in technology, finance, and engineering careers have credited with sparking their interest in maths. These include Lego, card games, origami and chess. More specifically, researchers have found that intuitive number games lead to better maths performance. A study published recently in the journal Cognition involved researchers asking first-graders “to practice tasks that required them to approximate, or roughly evaluate the number of objects in a set without counting them”, explains Science Daily. The children who took part in these estimation challenges scored better on maths tests thereafter. Annie Murphy Paul concludes in an article for Mind Shift that, “This seems like an easy way to engage children in thinking about numbers — just ask kids to estimate how many items are in a pile of paperclips, pennies — or toothpicks.” If you’re looking for free fun online maths games to entertain and educate, try PBS Kids.
Use gestures
Further research on improving maths skills published in Psychological Science shows that using abstract hand gestures helps children solve maths problems. Science magazine explains that “researchers taught a group of third graders to form a V-point gesture with their fingers to signify adding the numbers up, followed by pointing a finger at the blank in the equation to represent inserting the outcome in its place”. Children who used the gesture could then use it to solve similar problems. Prof Susan Goldin-Meadow, the senior author of the research paper, said in an article on the University of Chicago website: “Our findings provide the first evidence that gesture not only supports learning a task at hand but, more importantly, leads to generalization beyond the task.” So try using gestures next time you help your children with their maths homework.
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
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The Waterfall College Matric Dance was held on 4 April at Kloof Country Club. This is an important milestone as it is the first year that the 10 year old independent high school has had two classes of Matric (Grade 12) students. On the night, twenty-nine couples arrived in various forms of novel transport including a vintage Ford, a Ferrari and a pair of toy horses. The venue was elegantly decorated in cream and black with touches of greenery, creating a step back in time to a romantic age peopled with elegant gentlemen and poised ladies, with the theme of ‘Vintage’.
Waterfall College Head Boy Peter Mthembu with his partner, Heather McGregor
Nathan Lindsey and Kyla Theron
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Buzz Places A MO-ZAM-BIK at Gateway Mo-zam-bik restaurant situated at the Gateway shopping mall is a simple laid-back eatery with a strong Mozambiquan undercurrent. When it comes to the menu, they bring together exciting food and drink in a unique fusion of Afro-Porto flavours. To ensure their food is always up to scratch, only the finest fresh ingredients are used in their dishes and each sauce is freshly made to order. The menu offers delights for meat and seafood lovers alike, but given that the restaurant theme is ‘Mozambique,’ the seafood dishes are the main event. The famous grilled chickens are marinated in a unique Afro Porto flavour and served with jasmine coconut rice. The ambiance is reminiscent of the spirit of adventure, flavour and the way of life in Mozambique. No frills, some spills, plenty of laughs and an appreciation for the wisdom of simplicity is what Mo-zam-bik portrays. A chill zone reminiscent of hot sunshine, white sands, prawns and beer.
Mo-zam-bik – the spirit, the sound, the taste, the life. Welcome to their Barraca. Ballito - 032 946 0979 Gateway - 031 836 1574 Hillcrest - 031 765 6556 If you would like to advertise and feature your restaurant in the "Buzz Place Around Durban" please email our editor for rates and more info. [editor@changenow.co.za]
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Around Durban Nonna’s at Makaranga in Kloof Be prepared to be enchanted to experience a whole new world of magic delivered with impeccability. In the rolling hills of Kwa Zulu Natal, 15 minutes from the bustling city of Durban you will find the lush green village of Kloof, and at its heart, Makaranga Garden Lodge complete with hotel, restaurant and conference facilities. Nonna, a contemporary Italian bistro and deli at Makaranga has an open-plan kitchen, which faces onto the restaurant produces tantalizing contemporary fare. A Brett Harvey Chef de Cuisine at NONNA, takes you on a taste and visual explosion with the NONNA menu. The restaurant is family friendly and kids can enjoy the beautiful view of the gardens and breath taking pool. The scenery and atmosphere demands relaxation. Great food combinations and captivating surroundings it is the ideal place to feed your soul.
Rest assured you will be changed for the better for having experienced Makaranga. Telephone: +27 (0)31 764 6616 Email: info@makaranga.com
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Scientists Probe
Dark Chocolate's Health Secrets
The health benefits of dark chocolate are all the rage right now, with increasing numbers of studies pointing to its rich concentrations of beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols. This applies particularly to dark chocolate because it contains a higher concentration of cacao seeds than milk chocolate, and therein lies the secret to its healthpromoting powers. Cacao refers to the plant, a small evergreen tree of the species Theobroma cacao, which is cultivated for its seeds, also known as cacao beans or cocoa beans. The term “chocolate” refers to the solid food or candy made from a preparation of cacao seeds (typically roasted). If the cacao seeds are not roasted, then you have "raw chocolate," which is also typically sweetened. Cocoa, on the other hand, refers to the powder made from roasted, husked, and ground cacao seeds, from which most of the fat has been removed. Knowing the meaning of these terms is important, because if you think you’re improving your health by eating typical chocolate candies, you’re being misled. That being said, however, certain types of chocolate, as well as cocoa powder and cacao, are turning out to be powerful super foods that rank right up there among the most anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods known to mankind.
Your Gut Bacteria Help Unlock Chocolate’s AntiInflammatory Powers
Research presented at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) claims to have unraveled the precise reason why dark chocolate is so beneficial. While it’s known that cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants including catechin
and epicatechin, along with a small amount of fiber, it was thought that these molecules were poorly digested and absorbed due to their large size. The new study found, however, that your gut bacteria breaks down and ferments the components in dark chocolate, turning them into anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit your health. In particular, beneficial microbes including Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria “feasted” on chocolate, according to the researchers.
Eating Your Chocolate with Prebiotics May Boost Its Benefits
The researchers suggested that consuming cocoa along with prebiotics may be one way to encourage the conversion of polyphenols into highly absorbable anti-inflammatory compounds in your stomach. Prebiotics are carbohydrates found in whole foods that you can’t digest… but which beneficial bacteria can, acting as “food” for them. Unprocessed whole foods, such as onions and garlic, are among the best prebiotics, so if you’re eating right, you should be getting plenty of prebiotics. It would seem that taking steps to encourage healthful gut bacteria, in general, would also ensure that you have enough beneficial bacteria available to help break down and ferment the healthy substances in cocoa.
Chocolate and Your Heart: What Does the Research Say?
A seven-study meta-analysis sought to find a link between chocolate consumption and certain cardiometabolic disorders, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Along with those disorders are related problems like hypertension,
elevated fasting glucose and triglycerides, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. But rather than negative effects, scientists found that chocolate – specifically the dark unprocessed raw cacao kinds – actually reduced the risk of such disorders. In fact, the highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared with the lowest levels! Other research has also shown that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in chocolate may lower your risk of heart attack and stroke considerably. • Small amounts of dark chocolate can cut your risk of heart attack because, like aspirin, chocolate has a biochemical effect that reduces the clumping of platelets, which cause blood to clot. Platelet clumping can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack. • Specially formulated raw cocoa powder has the potential to prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetics. When diabetic patients were given a special high-flavonol cocoa drink for one month, it brought their blood vessel function from severely impaired to normal. The improvement was actually as large as has been observed with exercise and many common diabetic medications. • Researchers also discovered that a compound in dark chocolate, called epicatechin (a flavonoid), may protect your brain after a stroke by increasing cellular signals that shield nerve cells from damage. A stroke is similar to a heart attack, but occurs when the blood supply to your brain becomes blocked or reduced, as opposed to blocking the blood supply to your heart. By Dr. Mercola
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
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& n w a r P y m a e r C idor Crayfish Therm Simple, decadent recipe to spoil Mom this Mother’s Day Ingredients
• 1 tbsp olive oil • 750g crayfish, shelled • 1 kg raw prawns, shelled • 25g shallots, thinly chopped • 100ml white wine • 100 ml fresh fish stock • 1/2 tsp English mustard • 350ml double cream • salt, and freshly ground pepper • lemon juice, to taste • 30g gruyère cheese, diced • 2 egg yolks • 1 small bunch of parsley, chopped
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Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add in the prawns & crayfish and stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add in the shallots and cook for a further minute. Pour in the wine and fish stock. Cook briskly and allow to reduce for a minute. Add the mustard and 300ml of double cream. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Squeeze in a little lemon juice to taste and mix in the gruyère cheese. In a bowl, beat the yolks with the remaining double cream. Take pan from the heat and mix in the yolk mixture and the parsley. Serve with savoury rice.
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Keep your mind for the big things Imagine this scenario: you come home from work tired and frazzled and your little kids are running wild. Perhaps this doesn’t require much imagination. People in such situations may find solace in a popular meditative practice called mindfulness. With mindfulness, you train your mind to focus on the present and respond with reason before emotion. It’s about taking a pause and guiding yourself to become aware enough in the moment so before you react, you’re aware of how you’re responding. “That gives you the choice to blow up or not to blow up. You say, ‘I’m about to lose my temper’, rather than losing your temper.” In our high-stress culture, the idea has caught on. Mindfulness is being practiced not just by New Age types, celebrities and executives. Education leaders in many states have received training in how to incorporate mindfulness into curricula. Most medical schools now offer an optional course in mindfulness in medicine, Epstein says. For the rest of us, a popular way to learn the technique is through eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction courses. Courses are held in churches, schools, hospitals and community centres. For faster, less expensive options, you can find mindfulness courses online and tutorials on mobile device apps such as Buddhify. Popularity is not necessarily a gauge of effectiveness, of course. What’s the science behind mindfulness – is it really a powerful coping skill? “It’s not a cure-all. It doesn’t take all the problems away,” says Luke Fortney, a family medicine doctor in Madison, Wisconsin, who has carried out clinical studies into the practice. “But it can help
reframe our focus around how we approach these stresses.” Research shows being mindful can have tangible benefits, such as alleviating chronic pain and helping to curb depression and anxiety. Studies have linked mindfulness practice to improvements in attention, eating and sleeping habits, weight management and recovery from substance abuse. Research also suggests mindfulness can help people cope better with heart disease, breast cancer, fibromyalgia, asthma and other conditions.
moderate reductions are “nothing to sneeze at”. The meta-analysis demonstrates “the average person may be able to cut back on anti-anxiety, antidepressant or other medications, which is not insignificant, given the side effects and other issues, such as tolerance, that many psychotropic drugs have”. As the authors note in their paper: “These small effects are comparable with what would be expected from the use of an antidepressant in a primary care population, but without the associated toxicities.”
One way to assess the validity of studies is to undertake a comprehensive review of multiple studies. One such analysis, reported this year in Internal Medicine, found “moderate evidence” that mindfulness meditation programmes could have small but significant effects on anxiety, depression and pain. But the review did not find sufficient evidence that mindfulness could help with other health problems.
Last year, Brown published one of the first studies to look at how mindfulness practice affects the early unfolding of emotional reactions. By studying how brainwaves changed in response to emotional stimuli such as unpleasant images, he and his colleagues found individuals deemed to be more mindful had lower stress responses.
This doesn’t mean mindfulness can’t help people with other conditions, but that stronger study designs are needed to establish whether it is effective, says Madhav Goyal, an assistant professor of general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and lead author of the meta-analysis. The important message from the study, in which the team evaluated thousands of people and studies, including patients with anxiety, fibromyalgia, low back pain, HIV and heart disease who completed about eight weeks of mindfulness training, is that there is “a consistent but small effect of improvement for anxiety, depression and pain”. Brown points out that these
Mindfulness practice seems to alter how emotional centres in the brain are activated, Brown says. “Rather than simply helping people cope better with negative emotions and stress – which is certainly important – mindfulness seems to help inoculate against the arising of stress in the first place.” The beauty of mindfulness is that once it’s learnt, it can be done easily while one is doing other things like washing the dishes, caring for children and driving. As the mother of three young children, I find this to be perhaps its greatest appeal. It is empowering to be able to step back, pause to assess the situation – however stressful it is – and recognise what I’m feeling. Then I can choose how to respond rather than letting my response happen to me.
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
19
21 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY
Specialising in: • Home addition & Maintenance • New Homes • Industrial Factories & Project Management • Plans and Engineering Plans Drawn • Plumbing • Owner Supervised • Member of NHBRC
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
What Does Mu
Dean Junior is studying Medicine in Mauritius. His message to his Mum Samantha Sigamoney
Crystal Hayden, 16 year old from Westville Girls High School shares some thoughts about her Mom Sarah Jane Hayden
Mothers play an invaluable role in the lives of their children. So mum, thanks for being my biggest supporter and yet still my biggest critic. Your wisdom guides me and you keep me grounded. You are always there when I need a shoulder to lean on and you lift me up when I am down. And even though I am 2900km away, you never fail to tell me how much you love me. You support my dreams and help me get back up when I fail to reach them. So thank you again and Happy Mothers Day Mummy, I love you and can't wait to see you in August.
My Mom and I do not see eye to eye when it to comes to everything, we have our differences. But there is something that we both enjoy and that is dancing. Dancing is the thing that keeps us close. Sometimes my mom drives me crazy with working me hard until I want to through my dancing shoes at her but at the end of the day she is my mom and my best friend who I love because without her love, support and faith, I wouldn't be the women I am today. Our Family means everything to my Mom and her greatest skill was encouraging me to find my own personality.
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
21
um Mean To Me.
Sinenhlanhla Ngxukumeshe, learner at Durban Girls High School talks about her beautiful sari-clad mum
Kamille Padayachee, MD of Thoughtfire an Events & PR Firm shares her thoughts on her Mum, Pravina Coombs
My mum is crazy! She is not afraid to tell me that I look 'chubby' in my jeans or that the lumo green lipstick does not work at all. She is brutally honest and I admire that. Yes, it hurts but who else would have told me this? My mum is unique in that she wears saris everyday and accepts herself for who she is. She would rather walk barefoot than seeing my siblings and I suffer in any way. I love my mother very much. My mother is diligent, wise, humble, kind, ambitious, patient and loving. Through her, I am the person that I am both literally and metaphorically. Thank you Mum.
My mother is special to me because she made me her sole priority. As a single mother, she did everything possible to make sure that I was well provided for, even though I knew she couldn’t afford to give me the life she wanted me to have. My mother worked hard to make a success of her life and taught me that I am responsible for my own life and destiny and that success is built on hard work and determination. I appreciate the woman she is – strong, honest, she is not afraid to speak her mind and she stands for her beliefs.
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
The Secret to Changing Habits Successfully
by Kirstin O´Donovan
I bet you have some harmful habits that you would love to change. What are some of the things you wish you didn’t do? We all have habits that limit us, things we just can’t help doing and we swear we will never do again. Nobody is perfect and everybody has limiting habits— some more than others—but we generally notice our harmful habits once they are already limiting us in some way and we find ourselves saying things like “I wish I could just be more…” or “I wish I didn’t always do that”, and then we simply move onto the next thought, and it is forgotten.
Have much habits now?
you considered how of an influence your have on your life right
Half your day consists of habits, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. Did you know that almost 40% of the actions you take every day are habitual? Meaning, you act automatically without really making active decisions; you just do. This happens because your brain needs to form habits in order to free up space for other important things. Imagine if you had to learn how to drive and brush your teeth every day; it wouldn’t be much fun would it? Over the years, you have likely picked up and developed many different habits, some good and some bad, and your habits lead to the results you have in your life right now. Are you happy with them? It is much easier to work towards changing your limiting habits now than to live with the consequences of them later. If you don’t change your habits, you keep reinforcing them, which makes it more difficult to change at a later stage. To effectively change a habit, you need to understand how you are forming them and what makes
a habit, a habit.
Let’s focus on habits that are the most difficult to change, like quitting cigarettes. Studies have shown that there is a habit loop that we follow, which consists of the trigger, the habit and the reward. Studies have also shown us that after some time, the trigger and the reward become so closely associated that it causes uncontrollable cravings. Your body is immediately anticipating the reward the moment there is a trigger and this is why you might get highly irritated when you want a cigarette and you cannot have one.
The habit loop: 1. Trigger: This is what sets off the behavior; the habit as such. It can be anything from something emotional, to situational, or even environmental. For example, wanting a cigarette after a stressful situation, or whenever you have a drink in your hand, or being with a certain friend. We all have different triggers, some obvious and some less obvious. 2. Habit: This is the way you behave, the set of actions you take, and can be emotional or physical. In this example, we have used smoking, but habitual behavior can relate to anything from the way you think, to what you do, to how you would feel. 3. Reward: Of course, this relates to the benefits, the satisfaction you get, there is always a reward. Sometimes the reward might not be obvious to us when the negative consequences of the habit are very apparent, however, there is always a reward., otherwise you wouldn’t do what you do. Research has also revealed that the best and most effective way to change a habit is to change the
routine. Most of us try to change the trigger, but this has proven not to be as successful. For smokers, it is too hard to avoid certain friends, situations or ignore the craving after a meal. Instead, changing the behavior for one which gives the same rewards is key. • First you must identify the triggers and the rewards. • Then think about what else can you do (the habit) to give you the same reward? For example, imagine the reward is that you feel lighter, less full after eating or that smoking calms you down when you are angry. Think about other things that can give you the same effect. You will need to test your new routine, think about what will give you the same reward and try it, if it doesn’t work, think of something else. • Keep doing this until you find the “new habit/behavior” that gives you the same reward. To do this, you need to invest your time in identifying these triggers and rewards. The point or extent to which you identify the rewards and triggers correctly, will actually determine the extent of your success in changing this.
Here are some helpful tools to assist with change: 1. You must believe that change is possible. Having belief in only those things that you can see, is not belief. 2. Take consistent action, don’t give up after one attempt, then try again a month later—consistency is key. 3. Focus on the reasons why you are doing this and don’t stay focused on how hard and difficult it is to change. 4. Be aware of homeostasis, this is your subconscious natural resistance to change. We all have a
natural tendency to want to go back to balance and away from change. Our bodies perceive change as threatening, even if it completely the opposite. 5. Listen to your own excuses and dispute them. To dispute them, argue with yourself rationally. 6. Keep it simple, don’t try to change more than one habit at a time. Rather put your energy on changing one habit successfully and then moving onto the next one. When you are able to change one habit, you will feel more confident in your ability to change more.
8.Put structures up. Structures are reminders to help you to remember to take action on what is important. Structures will only be effective if they are visible. Examples are putting up motivational post its or wearing a string around your wrist, to putting reminders on your email with notifications to leaving a chair in front of your door as a reminder. Whatever works best for you. If our habits make up such a big part of our life, then what we most often do, shapes our reality and our world. You have the ability to create the life that you want, to get the results you desire. Always finding excuses why your life isn’t the way you want it, might be the first habit you need to break! “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
The 2014
UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
are heading for Pietermaritzburg this June!
Marathon racing is South Africa's most popular mountain biking discipline and now the cream of the sport will head for Pietermaritzburg this June for the pinnacle of the annual international racing calendar, the UCI MTB Marathon World Championships. Having recently hosted it's fourth UCI MTB World Cup, as well as the 2013 UCI MTB & Trials World Championships, Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg will once again form the headquarters for the international MTB showcase with the event further enhancing KwaZulu-Natal's capital's status as Africa's 'Bike City'.
Photos courtesy of - www.gameplanmedia.co.za
7. Be aware of your potential obstacles and challenges and prepare for them. We all know what normally gets in our way when changing a habit. Perhaps procrastination, distractions or lack of motivation. Whatever it is, you will be more successful in overcoming your obstacles when you have a plan of how you will do it.
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CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Just a Prick of Evil We know the story and her unforgettable fairytale, but what lies beneath the surface of the evil witch in “Sleeping Beauty.” Maleficent is the story of the witch that curses Aurora when she is born. Who was the woman that haunted our memories and caused us to fear needles and where did her story begin? One of Disney’s most beloved fairytales takes a dark turn; embark on a magical adventure with some of your favourite lost characters. Maleficent will be hitting your cinema screens on May 30 featuring award winning Angelina Jolie and the young Elle Fanning.
Change is Essential ... by Tasha
e
Lee Mare
An Intergalactic Fragrance
Looking for
Spoil your mom this Mother’s Day with Alien by Thierry Mugler a beautiful scent that is out of this world. She does the little things for you, picks up your smile and wipes your tears so let her feel like the amazing woman that she is. Alien is an elixir that is feminine and sweet filled with exotic and tempting spices from vanilla to Jasmine Sambac. Packaged in a deep purple bottle that illuminates in the light, mom will feel like a queen. Indulge in the heavenly aromas of an unworldly paradise. Available at Red Square and Clicks.
We look at society and often we are the very first people to judge and criticise but really what is it that you are doing differently.
Change is Beautiful ...
Dare to be Different Divergent has recently just hit theatres but the adventurous story of Tris Prior in the New Age America is best read. This is a society where citizens are categorized and are forced to conform to the restrictions that their life holds. Each person is required to choose a community either Dauntless, Erudite or Abnegation. Dauntless are those who are brave, those who will protect their people and country. Erudite are those who believe in the truth and the laws and Abnegation, these are the people who are selfless and take care of the food for the nation. Born into an Abnegation family, Tris jumps at the chance to be daring and brave of those in Dauntless. Unfortunately secrets threaten their society as well as Tris. Tris is different but they will kill her if they find out. For a wonderful, captivating read, check out Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Change_ Setters.
In fashion we have the trendsetters those who push the boundaries but, what are we doing that instills change for a better human society. Maybe you’ve started your own business or you help out at the local shelter whether it is big or small it doesn’t matter. A great man once said, “Be the Change you want to see in the world.” So my fellow readers I challenge you to be a Change_Setter. Send me your story on why you are a Change_Setter with a photo of you as well as your twitter handle (if you have one) and I will feature you in next month’s magazine. E. tmaree@changenow.co.za T. @ChangeNOW_teenz
Changing Thoughts .
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where ever your are Change is happening ...
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Artist of the Month
Best known for his hit single “Love Me Again,” I have chosen John Newman to be the Artist of the month. With an old-school comb-over and retro attire Newman is a heart stealer. His album “Tributes” soared through the UK singles charts. Born in the United Kingdom on June 16 1990. He came from a hard life, living with a single mom who earned only a pound a day but I’m sure to say that Newman is truly grateful to his mom’s efforts. John Newman is sure talent and with the voice that will have you “losing sleep”
The Rise of Online Learning in Higher Education Advances in educational technology have allowed universities worldwide to create dynamic online learning environments containing an engaging mix of streaming video lectures, podcasts, webcasts, interactive discussion boards, and multimedia activities. These new online courses emphasize flexibility and are adaptable to a variety of individual learning styles. Additionally, the new “anytime, anywhere” learning environment fostered by online education is ideal for working professionals balancing families, work responsibilities, and increasing economic demands. In addition, students in online certificate programs may not feel comfortable expressing their views in a traditional classroom environment, but they now have a voice in interactive discussion forums with increased direct access to instructors and subject matter experts. Perhaps most importantly for students entering the workforce, and adult learners looking to advance their career, online continuing education provides valuable exposure to the types of interactive technology more frequently utilized by top global companies. Employers are in dire need of talented professionals who can thrive in an increasingly connected global economy. Online education can prove to be an invaluable training ground for collaboration and communication across borders and time zones. Educational experiences utilizing computers, smart phones, and tablets will become more common in the years to come. Employers will soon come to expect familiarity with online education and diverse learning environments utilizing technology when evaluating candidates. Learners comfortable with these dynamic learning environments will have a distinct competitive advantage over their peers exposed only to traditional educational experiences. Here are a few reasons participant enrollment is growing: • Working professionals have a continued need for work-life balance. Online learning allows individuals to study on their schedule with the convenience of programs tailored specifically for busy, working professionals • Individuals are looking to move up or take on additional roles and responsibilities in their companies, but need additional skills in order to advance their career. • Individuals often times do not have the time for a full-time degree program, so they look to advance their skills in specialized subject areas through non-degree certificate programs. Online learning programs provide the flexibility and training that students need to achieve their educational goals. Whether they are looking to strengthen their skill set in global leadership, global marketing, or global management, online continuing education provides the content and adaptability to help them reach their training goals.
To Thank YOU on Mothers’ Day By Felicity Keats
Every single one of us here on earth has – or had – a mother to whom we owe our very existence. Mothers sacrifice much for their children, going without, and putting the needs of their young before their own. Often a successful young, or older, adult, eyes to the sky as her or she shoots upwards in a promising career, may forget that is was because of the effort of his or her mother that he or she is in that prestigious position, with that glamorous job with its superb perks. That empty nest that contains all kinds of relics of the children that lived in it becomes warm and happy when children remember their mothers, especially on Mothers’ Day, and give thanks for the lives they are living. A phone call, a visit, a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates is but a small cost or amount of time to spend, but to a mother, often thinking of her fledglings that have flown the nest but not hearing from them too often, the gift will bring with it the warmth of remembrance of happy growing up times when children laughed and brought sunshine and music to the home. Mothers are precious people. There will always be only one mother than any of us can ever have. Let us cherish her and make sure she knows the value we place on her and what she has done for us. A caring mother instils ethics and morals, good manners and the right way to do things into her children so that they grow up to be polite and caring members of society. Motherhood is the basis of that good society. In ancient times, great respect was given to mothers.
CHANGENOW MAGAZINE MAY 2014
Crown of the Russian Ballet Durban - Performance 20 -21 May 14 The Playhouse Company Crown of the Russian Ballet was founded in 1997 as the choreography of the day demanded a new repertoire. The Company is headed by Chief Choreographer Anatoly Emelianov, the lead dancer of the Company. He is also was the principal dancer of the Metropolitan Classical Ballet (USA). The repertoire of the Crown of the Russian Ballet includes classical masterpieces, modern dance staged by Anatoly Emelianov. Over the years the Company became one of the best ballet groups in Moscow. Crown of the Russian Ballet has toured successfully around the globe. Show times: 7:30pm both nights.
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Title: The Other Woman The oddest friends are about to get even.After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman tries to get her ruined life back on track. But, meets the wife he’s been cheating on, she realises that they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered, all three women team up to plot revenge on the cheat.
Title: Heaven Is for Real (PG) The story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, lifechanging experience with the world. His son, Colton, claims to have visited Heaven during a near death experience. He recounts the details of his experience with childlike innocence and speaks about things that happened before his birth...
Title: Grace of Monaco The greatest role Grace Kelly would ever play. The story of former Hollywood star Grace Kelly's crisis of marriage and identity, during a political dispute between Monaco's Prince Rainier III and France's Charles De Gaulle, and a looming French invasion of Monaco in the early 1960s. Battle of the Sexes Durban: 06 -11 May 14 Barnyard Theatre | Gateway The challenge is on as male rock stars take on the divas in a rock and roll show down. Until the 1980s few women claimed the rock and roll stage and only a handful of rock divas such as Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Tina Turner took to the stage. Watch these sixties rock chicks take on the likes a Mick Jagger, James Brown, Jim Morrison and more to fight to win over audiences and critics. So male and female rock stars – stand your ground and let’s start the battle of the sexes. Hold onto to your seats as this battle is going to rock you like never before. Show times: Fri - Sat at 8pm
Title: Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return Continuing one of the world’s most popular and beloved fairy tales, we find Dorothy waking to post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try and save her old friends, the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man, and Glinda, from a devious new villain, the Jester. Her magical journey through the landscape of Oz to restore order and happiness to Emerald City.