FRE
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Y
16 O. 0 EN U e SS zin E.I againds� N M U k M J Lin cting The onne
The
“C
Magazine
Issue 016. June 2015
Ministry of education gets a
new minister GENDER:
ENVIRONMENT:
HEALTH:
sports:
A Pan-African initiative launched to empower Rwandan women
Meet Sabuhoro, a Rwandan voluntarily protecting gorillas
Parents to blame for the Early Pregnancies among youth
Manchester United becomes the first team to be worth $1 billion
CONTENTS
3
in this issue /contents
The Magazine
Issue 016. JUNE 2015
Education
ENVIRONMENT
6. Should we do away with Arts
26. Meet Sabuhoro, a Rwandan
Subjects?
8.
voluntarily protecting gorillas
African University Leaders speak out on brain drain problem
10. School success; little to do with your future success
12. School absenteeism a key
facilitator of school dropouts
14. Ministry of education gets a editor Rutabingwa Edward
MEDIA & OPERATIONS Alex Kamanda
contributors Richard Mugarura Saturday January Denis Agaba Doreen Karakure
layout & design
new minister
16. Drug abuse among youth is
a major cause of school drop outs
17. School dropout, gradually
killing the future of teenagers
publisher
HEALTH
30. Technology in blood
transfusion launched at RBC
31. Eight Myths About
Metabolism You Need to Stop Believing
34. Reproductive Health: Talk
straight to the Link Doctor
36. Parents to blame for the Early Pregnancies among youth
to early pregnancy cases today
18. A Pan-African initiative
launched in Kigali to empower Rwandan women
20. Kenyan man offers livestock to wed Obama’s daughter
child, Rwanda focuses on accelerating efforts in Early Childhood development
38. Early pregnancies cost lives & deny a good future
SPORTS
42. Manchester United becomes
the first team to be worth $1 Billion
22. Gahaya links bringing hope
& restoring women dignity in Rwanda
24. The Strength of a Woman is
key to national development
26 42
MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS LTD. “Connecting Minds”
The Link Magazine Publications Ltd. P.O BOX 5637, KIGALI E: editor@thelinkmagazine.org T: 0785277180 / 0788462414
joint efforts to protect regional wetlands
37. Prostitution greatly contribute
GENDER
21. On the day of the African arachnid Design House Kigali-Rwanda T: 0786 418 370 / 0788 855 441 E: arachnidhouse@gmail.com
28. Dr. Mukankomeje calls for
20 The Link Magazine Publications Ltd.| Web: thelinkmagazine.org
EDITOR’S NOTE
5
Youth have a role to play in saving lives through
Blood donation
M
any people in the world among other deaths die in hospitals due to loss of blood in their bodies. The common deaths occur as a result of accidents and due to loss of blood by mothers during the time of giving birth in the hospitals.
If majority of the Youth joined the campaign to donate blood more blood will help Rwanda and the world to not only save peoples’ lives but also to achieve the fourth, fifth and sixth millennium development goals more especially the one dealing with reduction of child mortality, improve maternal health and combat other deaths happening due to loss of blood. World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on June 14th. While the World health Organization holds this campaign every year to encourage more people to donate blood, this year has a special emphasis on thanking those who have donated blood to save life under the theme “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters”. Blood donation is important to the whole world according to the statistics mentioned here; In low-income countries, 65% of all blood donations are given to children under the age of 5. In high-income countries, up to 76% of all donations are given to patients 65 years or older. In total, there are one hundred and eight million blood donations in the whole world. This might sound like a high number, but over half of those are in high-income countries, which only accounts for 18% of the world’s population. This means that low-income countries not only have more people, but also have a markedly lower availability of blood. If you are eligible for donating blood, I encourage you to do it, personally I do. Each country in the world has their own specific set of guidelines including those for medication, travel, and chronic illnesses according to the Red Cross. If the youth donated blood in all the parts of the country many lives would be saved, Since the youth make up the biggest percentage of the world’s total population particularly for our country and the world’s population generally, To those who have already donated blood, I say thank you for saving someone’s life and keep up the spirit.
Edward Rutabingwa Editor
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The link Magazine | JUNE 2015 | Issue No.016
Should we do away with which we live. So how fair are we if we shun such subjects?
Subjects? By Saturday January
I
s there value any more in Arts subjects? This comes after a lot of things have happened and more so in the academic world and many have blended Arts courses in the best appropriate way they probably understand them. I absolutely respect their ideas and views. I can thus never underestimate them because we all know what is good for us and we must give it our best to get something good out of it; keeping in mind that “good” is not good enough when the “best” is expected. The discrimination and ill talking about Arts subjects is something that has now surpassed my understanding. It has without saying discouraged and demoralized many students offering those subjects since they have been wholesomely regarded as useless and a waste of time. This kind of corrupt ideology has thus dismantled the learners’ zeal and motivations to freely offer Arts Combinations. This has a great impact on their concentration which affects their studies and their dreams in the long run. We are in the generation where we don’t need to dwell so much on what we have probably studied at campus but rather what we can do within our means. University studies should therefore expose us to the reality of life and enhance our thinking capacity and creativity. I believe that Arts subjects like Literature help us to analyze relationships in society in all spheres of life such as Politics, Social aspects, Geographical and Economic fields as well which are all relevant to the contemporary world in
With this kind of negativity about the study of Arts subjects, should we believe that all is lost for such learners whose dreams have to be in the sleep on studying those subjects? Who of you has ever imagined a world without eloquent speakers, journalists, lawyers, politicians among others whose success solely depend on the foundation of Arts subjects? May be we have enough of those people, No we don’t. Like I said earlier, I cannot disregard the fundamental importance of science and its study. They are really important and we need them for a great number of reasons. However, this should not give room for us to talk ill about the study of Science Subjects because they are equally important. I have hardly seen a country that has been transformed purely on the basis of scientific excellence. Therefore, science alone is not the component in the
While we agree that scientists are preparing Africa and the world at large into a better place, for a better tomorrow, we still need a society that is inclusive in nature.
transformation of any given country. We have to agree with each other that both Science and Arts graduates
EDUCATION & CAREER
are all necessary if any society is to progress. We really need each other for complementarity in development. There is no good reason for us to render Science subjects the pillars of the world and brand Arts subjects Useless. While we agree that scientists are preparing Africa and the world at large into a better place, for a better tomorrow, we still need a society that is inclusive in nature. We have to keep in mind that we are born differently with different capabilities to perform different tasks. Some parents have threatened not to pay tuition to
their own children unless they offer sciences! This is how far we have gone! And of what use it to force a child to study sciences if they cannot manage? Such an act from a parent can bring trauma and failure to a learner? I am thus of the view that even Arts Subjects should be given some attention if we are to have a fully balanced world in the future with great lawyers and very outstanding journalists, eloquent leaders, among other quality professionals whose foundation lies on the Arts and
7
science subjects as well. We have to reinvigorate the light and hope of the young ones so that they enjoy offering Arts subjects freely without fear of the future. Can you imagine a world after the extinction of people who have studied Arts? Then take some time to also think of a society with only one sex‌ either females alone or males alone. What an interesting world it would be!! The Writer is a teacher at Riviera High School
TVET students attending their vocational lessons
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Students enjoying their fun moments together at school
African University Leaders speak out on
brain drain pro By The Link reporter
E
arlier this month Rwanda hosted a four-day conference held at Serena Hotel, dubbed “Internationalization of Higher Educations in Africa, Prof. George Magoha, the immediate former president of AAU and former vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi pointed out on how most African PHD holders have turned to victims of Brain drain.
In a conference that attracted more than 250 participants from 44 countries across the world, Magoha attributed the lack of PhDs in African universities to the fact that the people who are sent to study overseas do not return to serve their countries. In his remarks, Magoha said he served the University of Nairobi for 10 years in high capacity and they used to train (for PhDs), at least 120 people every year. However, 80 per cent of his colleagues did not return to Kenya because most
of them stayed in American, European or Asian countries, while others stayed to work for more developed African countries,” he said. He also said that the internationalization of African higher education should address the wrong perceptions of many Africans who think that there is greener pasture away from home. “I have traveled to all continents and I affirm to you that there isn’t green pasture anywhere, therefore, I advise our lecturers to change their mindset
EDUCATION & CAREER
oblem because if they earn more money somewhere else, the purchasing power index takes away all that money they earn,” Magoha said. Besides Magoha, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Prof. James McWha, had something to say about the institution “We have been coping with the problem of a few PhD holders by building strong partnerships with other universities and that Rwanda was fortunate as most of its students return to serve their country after completing their studies abroad”.
He also added that on return, however, some of the scholars join the business sector instead of serving tertiary institutions, but that the University of Rwanda strives to build intellectual capacity of the country.
9
.He also added that from the profiles of the participants, he had no doubt that the conference would come up with answers for the continent’s various challenges.
McWha said University of Rwanda was envisaging having above 50 per cent of PhDs within its permanent staff in the next 10 years.
.Lwakabamba commended AAU for its contribution in engaging African higher learning institutions to set up strategies to support the economic growth of the continent.
Rwanda’s Minister for Education, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, called on African universities leadership to adapt higher education systems to the continent’s aspirations for socio-economic development.
“I must say that this theme has come at the right time when our continent needs to redesign and streamline our higher education systems to respond to our people’s expectations for socioeconomic development.
He said the conference of academicians, policymakers and partners in education should streamline ideas on how to enhance the quality of higher education in Africa and adapt the knowledge to the continent’s economic development in order to turn it into a knowledge-based economy.
According to Lwakabamba Internationalization is an integral part and major driving force for change in African universities and the internationalization approach will partly solve the problem by working with other universities worldwide.” he said.
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
School s
little to do with yo By Ponsian Kabeera
A
fter having studied and finished with a degree in Education from Makerere University, a certificate in counseling and guidance also from Makerere and a diploma in philosophy from a Seminary institute, I have come to believe that changing the education systems is something that has to happen and it should be done for our better tomorrow. I have heard so many people from all odds talking about the way our education system should be set to suit the job market, many have spoken about sciences as the only solution to unemployment and all favors are directed towards science students as the exodus for employment to the current breed of unemployed fresh graduates. Today knowledge is constantly changing and growing exponentially, it is free and in any device connected to the internet, It has become a commodity. There is no competitive advantage today in knowing more than the person next to you, the world doesn’t care what you know but only cares about what you can do with what you know. During my undergraduate studies at Makerere University, i always
reached that point where i couldn’t see the connection between what i was learning with what I wanted to learn. I felt bad wanting to learn other things or in another way and I discovered myself learning by myself about things that truly matter to me and that had a posteriorly impact on my life today. Going to class or reporting to work was often a job that I didn’t want to do and that has made me question whether we really need to spend 3 or 4 and more years of our precious lives all hustling to get a degree. Most of my software, design and management I learned at night after classes seated in my humble room in the great Lumumba
hall in short spans of time. But in all that, Motivation was the key. We have to go to classes that take all our days not allowing us to have other activities on the side like starting a startup. Having to quit school to create a startup is as risky as trekking through the den of lions. How many times do we drop a class or a subject that we could have otherwise loved because of a teacher we didn’t like or a too crowded class or bad timing or overlapping of classes? Classes in most universities are not updated (at the speed of innovation) and we end up learning things that are
EDUCATION & CAREER
11
success;
our future success School library with all the books for student’s excellence
having an option that would take into account that we are launching a startup and we can’t do all the assignments. Learning to be an innovator is about learning to cross disciplinary boundaries and exploring problems and their solutions from multiple perspectives. We should be allowed to be rewarded if we want to learn things that we believe are important for us to grow. Having the possibility of changing from one course to another at any moment and not getting penalized for that.
not up-to-date.
Content We are filled with knowledge instead of schools focusing on developing our innovative skills and motivation to succeed. Most of the things I have been forced to learn without wanting to or without a teacher showing me the need and the application: I have forgotten them already. We learn better and in a happier way when we understand why we learn it.
Choice We are unable to select which teachers
we would like to learn from. We all know that the person matters. We are unable to select which courses we want not until we join the college and it is not the case in all universities. Electives are limited and we can’t learn what we want. We have to decide very soon what is it that we want to learn and then stick into the system till we get the degree. It is against nature.
FLEXIBILITY There is no option of stopping for a semester school to create something. Attendance is compulsory and there is no option of taking some of the courses per week online or at night or
We are evolving by nature, we change our mind until we get to something that makes sense to us but that might take some time so we should be encouraged to change and find our ‘place’. Classes should be project orientated and we should be able at the end of a degree course to show a personal portfolio showing what we are capable of. Why wouldn’t we just get exams/ show a project before we apply for a specific job and demonstrate that we have the knowledge and skills required for the job? The writer is an educationist currently in China pursuing his masters degree
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
A school absentee in school uniform at home attending to her young brother on a week-day
School absenteeism a key facilitator of school dropouts
S
chool absenteeism is a common practice for the school going children and it greatly facilitates a large number of students dropping out of school. This practice has been on since time immemorial and it requires serious attention from school administrators and owners to ensure school retention and completion to whoever begins the academic process. School absenteeism happens slowly but it gradually affects student’s performance and later leads to dropping out of school, a practice that ruins their future. This is why we see many uneducated young people
wondering in tax parks, on streets, markets and in plantations doing causal jobs. Many students today are victims of this practice where parents or care takers engage them in different home cores such as taking care of their young ones, grazing cows, planting and harvesting crops, going to the markets among other factors, all these are common causes of school absenteeism and consequently school dropout. All this is done on days when children are supposed to be at school for studies. Some stakeholders such as the ministry of education and distant care givers may not be aware of the vice and
killer of many children’s future but parents who engage their children, their neighbors and teachers of these children know it and have continued to tolerate the practice. Absenteeism involves a lot of consequences on academic performance including the following; • Poor performance: Due to absenteeism and poor attendance of students in schools there has been a drawback in their results and the marks they score. This has resulted into parents dedicating their children’s poor performances to their teachers and the schools they study from.
EDUCATION & CAREER
However, on the other side some intelligent parents who are aware of their children’s behaviors try to follow them through advices on daily basis. This has created a big change in most of them and also the results have positively changed. • Theft of other student’s notebooks Since some students don’t attend classes, they don’t get time to write their own notes; because they are not in class during lectures they have no access to notes. Therefore, these results into stealing of other students notes who attend classes daily, hence leading them to poor performance. Teachers have always blamed these students without knowing such cases happen. Therefore, teachers should always have communication with their students in order to jointly find solutions to such problems. • Poor relations between students who are victims and their teachers as well as parents When a teacher comes to class and discovers that the student doesn’t have all the notes as required he tries to punish the student an issue which should be foregone slowly through discussions in order to understand the issue behind it before students are punished. Registers are very important in order to specify those who always attend classes and those who attend in order to know the wrong doers. • Lack of confidence and self-esteem leading to a feeling of inferiority complex Absenteeism may lead to Lack of confidence in a person, since
in schools they always have debates which support children in developing their confidence at an early age, therefore if one doesn’t attend such classes he or she may end up losing confidence in him or her. • Drop out When a s student doesn’t attend classes, there is a probability to drop out of school because in most cases education may turn out as not becoming your passion. That’s why in order to have everything online one should always have passion for it in order to succeed. • Regrets
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Way forward • Government through its ministry of education and local government authorities In order to avoid such cases, there should be lack of government intervention because it may be one of the best solutions, attendance lists should be considered with verification as a compulsory law from the ministry of education, and lastly I also think the sensitization of students on attending classes should be more considered because it can play a major role in solving these issues. • School administrators
In future people always regret when it’s too late as you find that most chances you had can never comeback, it’s true
School absenteeism happens slowly but it gradually affects student’s performance and later leads to dropping out of school, a practice that ruins their future.
It’s an obligation of the school administration to put various measures on solving such problems because if the schools administration fails no one else can do that including the parents since the failure starts from school where students spend most of their time especially boarding schools. •
Parents
Parents play a major role of paying school fees for their children, but according to the saying that “charity begins at home” they should pull up their stockings for their children to grow up with a bright future that’s why they should always visit their children in schools in order to understand what’s going on in everyday life. • Students
because we have seen people trying to return to school at an old age. This has also affected their performances in school because their memory also remains low to the extent that its return is not easy any more.
Finally, it’s the role of the student to understand how to prepare his or her future plans at an early age, because, if he or she doesn’t do that everything will fall apart. So students should work hard since they are our future leaders of tomorrow. Although one can’t be a leader there are also other sectors to be occupied in order to contribute in the achievement of our country goals.
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Ministry of education gets a
new minister F ollowing a special statement released yesterday 24 June 2015 by the office of the prime minister, Dr Papias Malimba Musafiri is now the new Minister for Education, replacing Prof. Silas Lwakabamba.
By Richard Mugarura
P
Dr Papias Musafiri Malimba
rof Silas Lwakabamba has been in this position since July 2014, a position he assumed after serving as Infrastructure minister for a period of one year. He served as Rector of the former National University of Rwanda-now University of Rwanda since 2006, Rector of former Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management (KIST) – now University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology. Before the appointment Dr Musafiri has been working as a Principal at the University of Rwanda in the College of Business and Economics (UR-CBE), Musafiri has vast experience; Experience in teaching, research, consultancy, administration and leadership, Dean Faculty of Management, Vice Rector Academics and Acting Rector, in former public higher learning institutions of Rwanda. Musafiri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Management from the University Of Dares Salaam, Tanzania, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the School of Business at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Roorkee) and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Finance from VIT University. The statement, signed by the Prime
Minister Anastase Murekezi, also announced the appointment of Dr Celestin Ntivuguruzwa as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
Dr Ntivuguruzwa replaces Sharon Haba, who has been in this position since October 2009.
JKUAT KIGALI CAMPUS PROGRAMMES DIPLOMAS PROGRAMMES • • • • •
Diploma in Information technology CISCO Certificate Diploma in business Bridging in mathematics Bridging in English
BACHELORS PROGRAMMES
• Bachelor of Science In Criminology And Security Studies • Bachelor of Procurement & Contract Management • Bachelor of Commerce • Bachelor of science in Mass Communication. • Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and rural Development. • Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering • Bachelor of Science Electrical and Electronics Engineering • Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication and Information Engineering • Bachelor of Science Mathematics and Computer Science. • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Business and office management • Bachelor of science in public health • Bachelor of science in mechatronics • Bachelor of science in community health and development
MASTERS PROGRAMMES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Masters of Science in Project Management Masters of Business Administration Masters of Science in Energy Technology Masters of Science in Human Resource Management Masters of Construction Project Management. Masters of science in Agricultural and applied Economics . Masters of Science in Software Engineering Masters of Science in Computer Systems Masters of science in Applied Statistics. Masters in Leadership and Governance Masters of Science in Mass Communication Masters of Science in Entrepreneurship Masters of Science in Economics. Masters of Science in FINANCE. Masters of science in Public health.
• Masters of science in information Technology • Masters of science in Procurement and Logistics • Masters of Executive MBA • Masters of science in Development studies • Masters of science in civil Engineering
PhD PROGRAMMES • • • • • • • • • • • • •
PhD in Business Administration. PhD in Human Resource Management PhD in International Business PhD in Leadership and Governance. PhD FINANCE PhD in Mass Communication PhD in Development Studies PhD in Entrepreneurship PhD in Computer Science. PhD in Information Technology PhD in public Health PhD in Project Management PhD in Supply Chain Management
Phd by thesis in various other Programmes also available
TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology “Setting trends in higher Education, Research & Innovation” Box 3373 Kigali Tel: +250 787 888 881, +250 787 888 882
info.kigalicampus@jkuat.ac.ke www.jkuat.ac.ke/campuses/kigali
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Drug abuse among youth is a major cause of
school drop outs By Patrick Muhizi
T
he number of School drop outs has grown noticeably of recent. Although those dropouts continue to increase, in my point of view, I think this should not be the main question, I think we should first understand why this actually happens and then ask ourselves whether it’s a good thing or not. The main reasons we know that is because school dropouts end up in taking drugs, early pregnancies and more other immoral issues. However, if further scrutinized it can reveal more to what really causes these dropouts, therefore we should ask ourselves why do our children, friends and students engage in drug abuse or sexual intercourse at school. I think it is because these students do not get enough care and counseling. When we are in school the main purpose is to study, sometimes studying things you’re not comfortable with or things you don’t like. This is very common in high schools, where we find cases of students forced to take certain subject combinations and pursue careers that do not align with their passion, dreams, talents or abilities. Students are forced to study medicine, law and others when they actually want to be artists, poets, actors, football players but since these careers are considered “fake” or underestimated in the society, they have to obey their parents’ wishes and study other career subjects.
student’s
voice
In short, these students have choices made for them the day they are born to the time they graduate. So when they get to school especially in boarding schools where they are granted even the smallest glimpse of freedom. They make the wrong choice of drugs, out of curiosity peer pressure, rebellion and many others reasons they make the wrong choice of drugs of sexual immorality and in the end they drop out of school. The question is not whether we should blame the students or the parents or any one because this will not solve anything. Instead what I think we should ask ourselves whether this dropout was a good thing and what should be our next step in handling this delicate matter. Again from my point of view, I believe dropping out is the right choice. Because it saves other students from falling victims to these acts and gives them valuable lessons to what happens when you make the same choices. Also, it gives the person time to think and a second chance to make a new choice, to put his/her life back on track and to learn from the mistake she/he committed but most importantly this situation should give the parent and the child a second chance to start over and to identify where they went wrong and to correct it together. The most important word here is “Together” because it represents a new journey a new experience that they must go through. But only this time they go through it together. Lastly, my advice, from my little experience, is for parents, guardians, elders, children, students, teachers and all other stake holders in the education and upbringing of children is to try to work together in critical times of a child’s life. To make sure these children understand the gravity of making a wrong choice. I also call upon parents, teachers and leaders to inspire and motivate these young people to understand that being young does not mean incapable. Incapability, of making your choice or achieving your dreams and to empower them in any ways they can so they can achieve their hopes, dreams and inspirations. Patrick is an S.5 PCB class student at Kagarama SS
EDUCATION & CAREER
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student’s
voice
School dropout, gradually killing the future of teenagers BY JOY Kankazi
M
y name is Joy Kankazi and am talking about students who drop out of school at an early age, one cannot simply understand the reason as to why students drop out of school. But it has been realized that many teenage youth especially girls are so much into materialistic world where one’s status is determined by the quality things she has.
Because of this many have reached out for the quickest means to get them which is one of the reasons why many undertake small jobs like in coffee shops, night clubs, to mention but a few. In addition to that, some boys in schools are no longer interested in studies; all they think about is to have money quickly to boast smartness as early as possible. This is why some of them have quit schools to search for a near company which can help them throw their mind. Some companies in the country usually go for cheap labor hence contributing to school dropout rates, there are other causes but the only reason behind it is “poverty” and the desire for “Money” at young age. So, in a way of cubbing down this growing issue, I recommend Career guidance and Parents should allow students to join different educational seminars and retreats. Students should be given time to apply what they learn through participating in various youth associations, there are very many of them, through attending different carrier guidance seminars and many others to mention but a few. Education is not about being taught only but it is also about applying what you have been taught. Because they say, education is a process of acquiring skills informally and formally. But most of all, books should be available for students to read because literature is the only tool that can make someone smart. A wise man said “We will continue to be the same person in 5 years unless for 2 things, the books you read and the people you meet” Reading, writing and interacting with others will lead the youth to the way of education and school drop outs will no longer exist if the things mentioned here are considered. It is our power to do so, let’s create an era which will enlighten the future generation. Joy is an S.6 student at Kagarama Secondary School
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
A Pan-African initiative
empower Rwa By Edward Rutabingwa
A
Pan-African advocacy initiative called New Faces New Voices has been launched in Kigali to empower Rwandan women. In pursuit of this mission, the initiative is targeting to raise over $20 million to finance projects for women in business. The Rwanda chapter initiative will be led by Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa as a chairperson and her team has been tasked to raise about $4 million in two years from about 300,000 shareholders in the country. The initiative leaders are expected to mobilise funds from the government and other stakeholders. Between $16 million and $20 million of investment is expected help in facilitating women’s access to financial services. The exercise which was graced by First Lady Jeannette Kagame and former South African First Lady Graça Machel, is a Pan-African advocacy group that focuses on expanding the was held in Kigali yesterday and will help in women in access to finance. Unlike other chapters, the Rwandan one will operate as a business in form of a registered company and aims at attracting as many shareholders as possible.
GENDER
e launched in Kigali to
andan women First Lady Jeannette Kagame and Graca Machel together with other participants posing for a group photo at the launch of the initiative.
The chapter chairperson Monique Nsanzabaganwa who is also the central bank governor noted Rwanda is developing in many aspects but there is still need to pool resources to finance business – for women inclusive. While a recent study by Fin Scope shows that overall financial inclusion in Rwanda improved significantly, from 48 per cent in 2008 to 72 per cent in 2012, women’s access to formal financial services stands at 36 per cent, with men at 42 per cent. Speaking at the occasion Mrs. Kagame noted the women empowerment begins with the women of girls as a way of removing vicious cycle of poverty the women face. She equally reminded the need of Rwanda’s commitment towards financial inclusion and entrepreneurship is not by accident but by design. In partnership with the African Development Bank and international organizations former South African First Lady Graça Machel founded the New Faces, New Voices movement in 2010. New Faces New Voices was formed to supplement the global financial system that is being reshaped. It is meant to help women in emerging markets and more especially to supplement efforts to bring women in financial inclusive policies for women.
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
President Barack Obama with his daughters, Sasha (L) and Malia
Kenyan man offers livestock to wed
Obama’s daughter
N
AIROBI - A Kenyan lawyer has offered US president Barack Obama 50 cows and other assorted livestock in exchange for his 16-year old daughter Malia’s hand in marriage, a report said Tuesday. Felix Kiprono said he was willing to pay 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats in order to fulfil his dream of marrying the first daughter. “I got interested in her in 2008,” Kiprono said, in an interview with The Nairobian newspaper. At that time President Obama was running for office for the first time and Malia was a 10-year-old. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t dated anyone since and promise to be faithful
to her. I have shared this with my family and they are willing to help me raise the bride price,” he said. Kiprono said he intended to put his offer of marriage to Obama and hopes the president will bring his daughter with him when he makes his first presidential visit to Kenya, the country where his father was born, in July. Obama’s Kenyan grandmother, who is in her early 90s, still lives in Kogelo, in western Kenya, home to a number of the president’s relatives. “I am currently drafting a letter to Obama asking him to please have Malia accompany him for this trip. I hope the embassy will pass the letter to him,” he said. Kiprono dismissed the notion he might
be a gold-digger. “People might say I am after the family’s money, which is not the case. My love is real,” he insisted. The young lawyer, whose age was not revealed, said he had already planned his proposal, which would be made on a hill near his rural village, and the wedding at which champagne would be shunned in favour of a traditional sour milk called “mursik”. Kiprono said that as a couple he and the young Obama would lead “a simple life”. “I will teach Malia how to milk a cow, cook ugali (maize porridge) and prepare mursik like any other Kalenjin woman,” he said. AFP
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On the day of the African child, Rwanda focuses on accelerating efforts in
Early Childhood development
R
wanda commemorated the Day of the African Child under the theme “Accelerating our common efforts for Early Childhood Development in Rwanda”. The commemorative event led by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) brought together stakeholders from the Government, civil society organizations, international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral organizations, who were called upon to renew their commitment to the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme. “The early years of a child’s life quite literally present the opportunity of a lifetime. What happens, or does not happen to a child through its early childhood can influence the entire course of that child’s life, for better or for worse” said Noala Skinner, Representative of UNICEF Rwanda. In April 2012, the Government
of Rwanda organised a national Stakeholders meeting on Early Childhood Development under the leadership of Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda. The meeting offered a platform for advocacy on the need for ECD services and constructive engagement with stakeholders on their respective obligations to support ECD interventions. Early Childhood Development has become a national priority of the Government of Rwanda, marked as a foundational issue in the EDPRS II. The government has now updated the National ECD policy to cater for emerging needs of children from conception to 6 years whilst emphasizing on positive parenting as a cornerstone to sustainable ECD. “The Government of Rwanda recognizes that ECD is a vital foundation for addressing all children’s
needs which call for special attention because their rights are the bedrock for a good future. We need to link with other Ministries in order to ensure ECD is included in government plans,” said Honourable Oda Gasinzigwa, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion. Bringing people together, leaders, community representatives, parents, civil society organisations, private sector, faith based organisations and other stakeholders, both national and international on this Day of the African Child offered an excellent opportunity to demonstrate ECD as a priority, and rationalise investments into the program. The event was an opportunity for leaders at all levels and parents themselves to rally around the renewed momentum and commitment to Early Childhood Development for the best interests and development of Rwanda’s future – its children. Story by MIGEPROF
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
G
ahaya links is a company that has empowered and supported Rwandan women a lot, although Rwandan women suffered a lot during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, GAHAYA LINKS joined hands with the rest of Rwandans to bring hope and restore dignity to women who were affected by the genocide.
Ms. Janet Nkubana after after winning the award of excellence
A company founded by two sisters Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, it was incorporated as the first handicrafts export company with the vision of providing skills which create economic opportunities for the women and men artisans of Rwanda. After the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda was faced with a gender imbalance, with many women left as widows, teenage orphaned girls and wives with husbands facing long jail terms. Majority of these women had never had a chance of going to schools due to cultural attitude and bias. The only skill they knew was weaving which was done as hobby during their leisure time to make household baskets. From a humble beginning under a tree in a remote village of Byimana in Southern Province, Gahaya Links started organizing women in associations that later transitioned to cooperatives and taught them how to weave or how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Gahaya Links became the first Rwandan handcraft export company to benefit from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by exporting to the United States departmental stores like Macy’s Anthropology and other upscale boutiques. Gahaya Links is now the leading of Rwanda’s one-of-a- kind baskets commonly known as “Peace Baskets”. However, the journey was not easy due to post genocide consequences. It was very challenging to bring women from both isles of genocide under one roof, majority were dealing with highest
Gahaya
bringing hope & restoring trauma and memories of their loved ones killed in cold blood while others felt embarrassed because of what their husbands or family members did to their neighbors. Today, Gahaya Links is a growing network of over 4,000 women artisans across the country organized in 52 savings cooperatives.
Using our weaving innovation and creativity as the voice of expression, Gahaya Links shares the beauty, vitality and artistry of Rwanda with the world. Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, Gahaya Links’ energetic and visionary designers, inspires master artisans to create sophisticated designs. Each luxurious piece is beautifully
GENDER
Gahaya Link’s women at work
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doing and has always given gift of the Rwanda Peace baskets to many guests visiting Rwanda and indeed he is the CEO of Rwanda as Andrea Redmont outline in her book Rwanda Inc. Today the livelihood of artisans and their families have greatly improved, they can afford to pay their health insurance, their children go to school with all required materials, they have started small businesses, and women have regained their dignity and values in their communities. Our peace basket brand has indeed created peace in homes and communities, so many women weavers have found courage to ask for forgiveness from fellow women whose families were killed during the genocide against the Tutsi by their family members and were forgiven. Women weavers do not only earn income for the wellbeing of their families but have also taken the lead in being part of Rwandan solutions by joining different levels of leadership in their communities and they are testimony of women empowerment and role models to many.
a links
g women dignity in Rwanda handmade and enriches the contemporary lifestyle while telling the story of hope of their beautiful Rwanda. At Gahaya Links, we take pride in the fact that we are a socially responsible firm. We believe that giving back to our community and sharing our wealth of knowledge and experience, is a very sustainable way of building a healthy
and economically sound future. However, we wouldn’t have managed to be where we are today; our success was built on best policies favoring women put in place, great leadership of President Paul Kagame and his team. He is a unique detailed leader, who knows even what basket weavers are
Our cooperatives proudly contribute to the economic growth of our country through paying taxes and through their saving scheme in Umurenge SACCOs. They can confidently apply for loans and many have started small business for their children, husbands and have created jobs for many in their communities. Today, Gahaya Links has now completed building a fully-fledged garment and fashion accessories production Center in Kigali with capacity of 400 people that will be offering trainings to women and men in artisanal and tailoring skills. I would encourage women who still think that we can’t compete in the male dominated business environment that “Yes we can” it’s just mindset. I can assure them that Rwanda has the best business environment for us, we have the best leadership in the world and the sky is the limit.
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
The Strength o
is key to national d By Noble Muyenzekazi
W
hatever it takes, I will always stand as a woman who speaks and stands for her womanhood. Did you know that Africa makes 11% of the world’s population but it accounts for 50% of maternal deaths? Did you know that the probability that an African woman will die when giving birth is a third in Sub Saharan Africa compared to a fourth in developed regions. This has all been found out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the recent past. We have not been given our right to education in the past and even today in some parts of the continent. This is due to the beliefs that all we can do is house work. We have not been given freedom of speech on many occasions because it is believed a woman should not speak in public. But when God created us, did He say women are not humans? So why are we denied our human rights? Culture has done it all and beliefs have hidden this gender under the males. With today’s generation, we shall not accept culture to bring us down; we shall not let people’s perspective of women put us down because God did not forget to give us anything when He created us. We are seeing women in power today and we see women making vital decisions for society today. That is because some of us have acknowledged women as key to development. Women have been educated and productive as the well-being of families gotten boosted.
GENDER
of a Woman
25
student’s
voice
development Putting women in political positions has pushed the world of politics a far. Look at our Beloved Rwanda, our Motherland, out of the 86 members of parliament, 51 are women. This is 63% of the legislators in parliament which has been the highest in the world up to to-date. So do you see where our country is now? I am sure we can all agree, women have had a role in this drastic development. A woman shall be the flower in a garden and her husband the fence around it. A woman shall have her say in the matters of the world today. A woman will do whatever is in her ability. I once worked with aircraft engineers. I was the only lady around. They told me I could be the only lady doing this course in future at University but this didn’t and will never discourage me. We need to be seen in such fields as well because there is that part of us that God gave us that you are yet to see.
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Rt. Hon, MUKABALISA Donatille (Right) with women parliamentarians from Zanzibar
Believe me or not, if we empower women, it will be a world of wonders. If we want a world of wonders, value culture, empower women and move together. With women in power, development will rise to levels beyond just men’s work. With women in power, it will be a world of wonders. Just watch the space. The writer is a student at Riviera High School
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Meet Sab
a Rwandan voluntarily By Richard Mugarura
I
t was in 2006, when sabuhoro set out to help the local community improve its livelihood, a program which started as a farming program before growing into a nonprofit, the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, which helps families generate income through tourism. Rwanda has several communities working directly with rangers to educate poachers but sabuhoro has decided to do this work voluntarily. Sabuhoro understands the need to protect the gorillas whereby he educates poachers that this is their park and their reason to protect it. In their cultural village, they share with tourists their local food and traditional culture, through their ways of living. Tourists give back to the community, and the local communities have an incentive to conserve the park. We also train villagers how to do crafts, products that they can sell in markets. And that money they take back to their families. They’re able to send their kids to school; they’re able to buy food; they’re able to start businesses and many have benefited. In an interview with CNN recently, sabuhoro said he thought of the idea to turn poachers to farmers with $2,000, the money he had saved through his work in the park. He decided to withdraw all that money from the Bank and decided to divide all the poachers into groups to rent land, buy seeds and start farming. Six months later, they had harvested enough that they had enough food at home and they were selling the rest in the market.
According to him, it was so emotional to see how the little that he had made a huge difference in people’s lives. Later, he thought he could do more whereby he built a cultural village in 2006 but before its completion they had tourists coming to visit the village, and that gave communities a lot of hope and expectation. Sabuhoro says his parents and grandparents left Rwanda as refugees after the killings and tumult that took place.
ENVIRONMENT
27
buhoro,
y protecting gorillas this nature needed an advocate.
Sabuhoro with a cultural troupe at his cultural center
But in a country which was still suffering from the aftermath of war and genocide, wildlife protection wasn’t a priority for most Rwandans. That’s why he realized that in order to keep gorillas safe, they needed to help the villagers. He is passionate about protecting gorrillas because during his time at the park, he grew fond of the gorillas and built relationships with them and it’s unbelievable to see them every day. After being away for some time to pursue his master’s degree in the UK, he came back to the park and one of the gorillas recognized him.
According to him the gorilla came over him almost like to ask, “How have you been?” He showed him a wound on his foot from getting caught in a snare, and that was very touching to him. From there, he began to understand that gorillas are so similar to human beings and he wanted to make sure the gorillas can survive and live with the same dignity. Finally sabuhoro says that if we don’t do anything, they will go extinct and we can’t afford to fail the wildlife because it was passed on to us by our ancestors, and we have to work hard to make sure that we pass it on to the next generation.
Therefore, it was so painful as a kid growing up in absolute poverty whereby he would spend two, three days without food. Their mom kept giving hope that tomorrow it was going to be better and different that’s why they grew up with that idea and kept happy in themselves which kept them going. Sabuhoro got his law degree in 2001 and was interested in pursuing environmental law because he thought
A gorilla relaxed in Virunga National park
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Dr. Mukankomeje calls
protect regio
A typical wetland between the hills
By The Link writer
I
n a bid to protect regional wetlands from citizens, East African Member states recently gathered in Kigali for a two day workshop to discuss on how to preserve and protect regional citizens from settling in such risky zones. Among the participants who attended the workshop include EAC member Countries under the Ramsar Centre for Eastern Africa (RAMCEA) like Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and other Ramsar Administrative Authorities.
Building capacity on the Ramsar Strategic Framework was the main aim for the organization of the workshop by the RAMCEA Secretariat based in Uganda, in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Dr Rose Mukankomeje,the Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) expressed her gratitude whereby she highlighted that RAMCEA should be aligned with the existing East African Community framework, instead of operating alone in order to help the region mobilize resources as a whole. According to Mukankomeje, the
meeting was also another opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and sharing lessons that will lead to the better management of regional wetlands. The workshop was also an occasion for East African member states to reach a united position on the new Ramsar Strategic Framework before it is adopted at the 12th Ramsar Conference of Parties scheduled to take place later this year. RAMCEA Coordinator Mr. Paul MAFABI also called upon the participants that as East Africans they should have a voice to protect the Wetlands. Speaking at the event MAFABI said
ENVIRONMENT
s for joint efforts to
onal wetlands
Rugezi one of the many protected wetlands in Rwanda
Wetlands are an important ingredient for all regional developments which are centred on energy got from water and also playing a vital role in this development process because the region cannot afford to lose them. The Ramsar Convention also called “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance” is an intergovernmental treaty which provides a framework for national action and International Corporation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands resources as a means to achieving sustainable development throughout the world and it was adopted in Ramsar (Iran), on February 2, 1971. Rwanda signed this convention on the 29th of December
2003. Rwanda’s economy suffered heavily during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, but has since strengthened alot under the leadership of H.E President Paul Kagame hence rapid development around the country. Since Rwandan economy is based mostly on Tourism, technology, Mining, and subsistence agriculture whereby Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export, the government has managed to relocate its people from these wetlands in order to favor activities which work in jointly with the agricultural sector. Apart from these sectors, Rwanda is one of the countries in which mountain
gorillas can be visited safely, and visitors are prepared to pay for gorilla tracking permits due to the favorable hospitality that exists in the country. However, due to its mountainous geographical location and existing of some wetlands, the government becomes so serious and tight on settling its citizens from deadly risk zones and that’s why some residents are relocated and compensated by the government in the right way. Today, hundreds of Rwandan citizens have been relocated and resettled from the dangerous wetland areas where they have been living before.
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
A blood donor giving blood as the state Minister looks on during the campaign
Technology in blood transfusion launched at RBC
R
wanda is now the fifth sub-Saharan country where apheresis technology is available and used for purposes of blood donation. The two apheresis machines were officially launched by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, on the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) celebrated every 14th of June. Apheresis is a medical technology in which the blood of a donor is passed through an apparatus that separates out desired particular blood constituents and returns the remainder to the circulation. The previous method of blood transfusion consisted of taking the whole blood and separating it through laboratory procedures. Since all blood constituents don’t have the same properties, hence, their conservation conditions not being the same for all, it is imperative to separate them. But also, patients are given selected constituents according to what damages their illnesses have caused in their bodies. Apart from being endowed with a high precision system, apheresis reveals even more efficiency in terms of
performance and cost reduction. “It always required 18 donors to have enough platelets doses for 3 patients. But with apheresis, only one donor is able to give those three doses at once,” said Dr Swaibu Katare the Ag. Division Manager of Center for Blood Transfusion in RBC. The Minister of State in MoH, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi said that donating blood is identified with the call of the Government of Rwanda for its people to have outstanding actions. “Rwanda appreciates the gift of life that you are giving to those in need,” he said addressing blood donors. He also added that donating more blood will help Rwanda to achieve the fourth, fifth and sixth millennium goals more especially dealing with reduction of child mortality, improve maternal health and combat malaria. “Thank you for saving my life“ was at the same time the theme of the day and the exact words used by a resident in Masaka Sector, in her testimony recalling how donated blood rescued her while she was operated half a decade ago. Story by Health Communications-MOH
HEALTH
Myths
About Metabolism You
Need to Stop Believing The Link Magazine Publications Ltd.| Web: thelinkmagazine.org
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
It’s time you know the burning truths about your metabolism.
M
ost of us know the basic formula for weight loss: If calories out exceed calories in, the pounds will fall off. But what sounds so simple can actually be a bit complicated when you consider the “calories out” half of the equation. Obviously, physical activity — whether a workout at the gym or simply walking up stairs — requires energy. But our bodies also use calories to keep the lights on — our heart needs energy to pump, and our lungs need energy to enable us to breathe. This is called our “resting metabolic rate,” and along with the calories we burn through exercise and digesting food, it makes up what most of us refer to simply as our “metabolism.” Your resting metabolic rate is responsible for about 60 percent of the calories you burn. As a result, “it’s really the main target of both substantiated and unsubstantiated weight loss [strategies],” says Jonathan Mike, PhD, an exercise scientist and strength coach. Yet most of us don’t really know how our metabolism even works — we simply characterize our internal engine as “fast” or “slow,” and if it’s slow, we want to speed it up. The result? We eagerly buy into mainstream myths about metabolism that may do more harm than good.
mythONE Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it wakes up your metabolism. We’ve all heard it before: A substantial breakfast is the key to waking up a sluggish metabolism after a night of sleep. But a giant plate of eggs and bacon may not be all it’s cracked up to be: In a 2014 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, dieters who ate breakfast lost no more weight than breakfast-skippers did.
In fact, downing a big breakfast may actually be a bad thing: It may delay your body’s shift from parasympathetic mode — the rest-and-restore half of your nervous system — to the more metabolically active sympathetic mode, says Roy Martina, MD, author of Sleep Your Fat Away. “During the night, the nervous system is in parasympathetic mode,” he explains. “That’s where we digest food and restore our body.” If you start your day with a big breakfast, you divert your body’s attention back to digestion and rest — and as a result, the calories you consume are more likely to be directed to your fat reserves, he says. His advice? Don’t eat first thing after waking up if you’re not hungry. “Postpone breakfast as long as you can,” Martina tells Yahoo Health. “The reason for that is this: We can store unlimited amounts of fat, but we can only store a certain amount of sugar in our body.” So if you delay consuming carbs, your body will burn through its sugar reserves — then move on to torching fat. Of course, if you’re famished come 7 a.m., you should eat, but try to keep it light. “Just eat enough that you feel OK,” advises Martina.
mythTWO You need to eat every three hours to boost your metabolism. You can blame bodybuilders for the sixmeals-a-day gospel. “Bodybuilders eat 5,000 calories a day — and most aren’t going to have three meals of 1,500 calories each,” says Mike. “They’ll typically break it up.”
a day, with the same total number of calories, they lost the same amount of weight. “Smaller, more frequent meals do not speed metabolism, compared to the same total calories and macronutrients consumed in larger, lessfrequent meals,” Mike says. Plus, if you’re eating multiple times a day, you may end up overeating, allowing your mini meals to turn into full-size ones, says Michael Jensen, MD, an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic.
myth Skipping meals reduces your metabolism. If you don’t eat dinner, will your metabolism take a nosedive? Probably not. In order for your body’s burn to plummet, you need to restrict your calories to the point that you feel deprived, says Martina. And one missed meal isn’t enough to create a serious energy deficit — it’s only when you follow a low-calorie diet for a long time that your body goes into starvation mode, forcing it to use energy more efficiently (i.e. to burn fewer calories), he says. “Skipping one meal will never do that.” Of course, if you skip a meal, your body won’t experience the small metabolic boost that occurs after eating — but any drop in your burn rate will be so small that it’d be “difficult to detect,” says Jensen. So why are chronic mealskippers often overweight? “Skipping a meal might make you overly hungry, so you overeat at your next meal,” Jensen says. In other words, it’s a matter of subsequent meal size — not metabolism.
For serious weightlifters — and the rare people who have naturally revvedup metabolisms, who Martina calls “fast burners” — grazing all day makes sense. But for the rest of us — who eat, say, 2,000 calories a day — there’s no metabolic motivation for spreading our calories out over six meals.
mythFOUR
Need proof? In a British Journal of Nutrition study, when overweight dieters ate either three or six meals
Overweight people have a slow metabolism, and skinny people have a fast
HEALTH
one. It seems obvious: The fatter you are, the more sluggish your metabolism, right? “As a rule, that’s actually not true,” says Jensen. In fact, he adds, “there are as many skinny people as overweight people with low metabolisms.” Sure, there are slim people with lightning-fast metabolisms. “They cannot sit down for a long time — they’re kind of hyperactive,” Martina says. “They burn so much energy that they can eat much more and get away with it.” But more often, slim folks are simply in tune with their bodies — they eat only what they need, and nothing more. If they do overeat at one meal, they tend to naturally compensate at the next one, preventing them from gaining weight. And, the truth is, body weight is actually a pretty poor predictor of metabolism — body composition (i.e. how much muscle you have, versus fat) is much more important. “If you have two people, both 180 pounds, and one has 20 pounds of fat and one has 50 pounds of fat, the person with less fat, i.e. more muscle, is going to burn more calories,” says Jensen. As a general rule, however, overweight people — especially those with some amount of muscle — torch more calories per day than skinny folks, since bigger bodies require more calories for everyday functioning. So why are heavy people still carrying extra baggage if they burn so much energy? Simple: Overweight people may unknowingly consume way more calories than they torch. “Your typical normal-weight person underestimates how much they’ve taken in that day by 20 to 30 percent. Obese people will typically underestimate by as much as 50 percent,” says Jensen. “Someone with a serious weight problem may truly believe they’re taking in a very limited amount of food.”
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mythFIVE
faster — and assume their lack of weight loss is because their metabolism has stalled out.
Some people must eat fewer than 1,000 calories a day to lose weight.
mythSEVEN
Unless you have a sluggish thyroid, you probably don’t need to drop down to the 1,000-calorie mark in order to lose weight, says Martina. In fact, “the only people I’ve seen who burn that little are people with long-standing anorexia, who weigh about 70 or 80 pounds,” Jensen says. So why do some dieters insist severe calorie-cutting is the only way to move the scale? Because they expect rapid results. “You’d probably lose weight if you cut back to 1,200 or 1,400 calories, but it wouldn’t be quick and it wouldn’t be consistent,” he says. Read: Your weight will drop even if don’t crash diet — but the number on the scale may stay the same for days at a time, leading you to believe the diet isn’t working.
You have no control over your metabolism.
mythSIX Yo-yo dieting will destroy your metabolism. Constantly gaining and losing has been linked to a number of health problems (including some serious ones, like endometrial cancer). But ruining your body’s ability to burn calories isn’t one of them. Although it may create temporary metabolic drops, “yo-yo dieting won’t permanently wreck your metabolism,” says Mike. Case in point: In a 2013 study in the journal Metabolism, researchers found that severe weight cyclers — people who’d lost 20-plus pounds on three or more occasions — were able to lose weight, shed body fat, and gain lean muscle just as easily as people with fewer fluctuations. So why do yo-yo’ers find losing weight to be such a struggle? “They’ve lost and gained, lost and gained, and each time, they give up sooner,” says Jensen. “Since they always regain, it seems harder each time, and they give up easier each time.” Read: Each time they try to diet, they feel frustrated
Yes, there’s a genetic component to your body’s burning power. “Even if you match up people with the same amount of lean tissue, you have some who burn 400, 500 calories less,” says Jensen. “And that seems to be heritable.” But that doesn’t mean you’re locked into your metabolic rate for life, says Martina. “You can change your metabolism — for example, by packing more muscle onto your frame.” In fact, gaining muscle through resistance training is one of the best ways to offset the small decline in metabolism that naturally occurs with age, says Mike. “Typically, from age 30 to about age 80, you lose about 15 percent of your muscle mass,” he says. “You can offset that if you start lifting. The earlier you start, the better off you’re going to be as you get older.”
mythEIGHT The right diet — lots of green tea and chili peppers! — will boost your metabolism. As much as we’d all like to believe the right foods can work a metabolic miracle, the calorie-burning jolt some foods provide isn’t enough to affect your weight, says Jensen. “If I was eating nothing but chili peppers, I might not eat that much — because my mouth would be hot all the time,” he jokes. “But you’re not going to lose weight because of the metabolism effect.” As Mike explains, metabolism-revving foods really only boost your burn by 4 to 5 percent — and for a very brief time. “You might see a slight increase [in metabolism], but it’s mainly due to a slight elevation in body temperature and sympathetic nervous system activity,” he says. Agencies
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
QN. My name is Samuel, I’m 20 years old, I normally get backache yet am physically fit. Is this usual to other people? What causes this dear doctor? Dr’s response: When do you feel backache? You cannot be fit with backache. Ensure the sitting position is okay so that your vertebrate is in the right position and some appropriate physicals. However, if the problem persists contact the health specialist for treatment. QN. Every time I step on a tiled floor my feet starts swelling. What causes this Dr? Yours Sydath, S. 5. QN. It was my first time to have sex and eventually I can’t stand the pain up to now. My penis hurts to the point of failing to sleep. Am so confused. Dr what could have gone wrong? And what should I do? Deo, 20years, form 6. Dr’s response: Sorry for the pain Deo, you only need to go and see the doctor for treatment and I advise you to abstain or not to have unprotected sex. With unprotected sex you can contract the STIs which can cost you your life. But do not worry the moment you see the doctor you will get well. QN. I stay with my cousin brother in the house. He works and he is the one that provides everything that I need. I was surprised recently when he threatened to stop lending me a hand for my necessities including paying my school fees, if I don’t sleep with him. I have no choice because am an orphan and I need to continue schooling. But still I don’t want to have sex at my age. What should I do dear
doctor? Yours desperate Mary, aged 17years old, S. 4. Dr’s response: Dear Mary, it’s unfortunate for the care taker trying to force you into that. Am happy you are not interested in sex at your aged culturally it is an abomination above all the moment you do it, it will affect your studies and your bright future as well. Please keep refusing to sleep with him and explain to him that it is wrong to do it. Should he continue bothering you, contact the nearby elder or a local leader for help. Try this strategy it will be helpful for you. QN. It takes me too long to go to the toilet though yet I eat well. What would be the problem and how can I solve it? Mutoni grade
Dr’s response: Dear Sydath, You seem to walk on tiled floor without shoes, I advise you to always wear shoes whenever you are on that tiled floor. Try it and I believe it will help avert your swelling problem. QN. My sweat is horrible yet I shower normally using a bathing soap. Sometimes my friends can’t stand the bad smell of my sweat. I’m puzzled what should I do to end this bad smell on me? Yours Dickson, 19years in grade 6. Dr’s response: My friend Dickson, I understand the situation you are in but my simple advice for you is that you should see a dermatologist for tests and for the possible treatment. QN. I’m Teta, aged 18years and in form 5. I feel itchy in my private parts so often. Dear doctor what could be the problem? Am
5, 18years old. Dr’s response: Dear Mutoni you need to Verify the food you eat, you could be eating hard food, so if it is the case try soft food and plenty of water up to 2 ½ litres of water. If the problem persists see the doctor.
confused. Dr’s response: Dear Teta, the problem could be as a result of; the soap you use, or the toilets you use
HEALTH
35
Twice is too much and dangerous to your health. At the time you feel you want to do it, let you stop it at that time it comes to your mind. Should it not stop seek counseling from a nearby health center and I am sure this will stop when you get counselled. The effects are diverse and they include but not limited to; the nervous system gets affected the most, besides the heart, the digestive system, the urinary system as well as the other systems are adversely affected and consequently the whole body becomes the museum of diseases with profound weakness, the eyes become sunken, the cheek bones protrude and there is a black rim round the eyes, continuous headache and backache, dizziness and loss of memory, unable to perform any heavy physical or mental work, the person dislikes any company and activities and rather likes to sit in seclusion and suffers from weakness, the victim’s Vision becomes dim, the tongue begins to stammer and ears tend to become deaf and Impotency is yet another effect.. Therefore, those young men who are or have been engaged in the regular habits of masturbation should not ignore the necessity to consult the qualified homoeopaths to avoid sexual embarrassment at the time of marriage.
could be another cause, or else the hygiene of your panties. If you are fat, it could be high temperature around the thighs. However, you need to see the nearest medical doctor.
you will have to see the doctor for the check up and the necessary treatment.
QN. I never took a lot of sugar and still I don’t but what worries me most is that my blood sugar is always high. What should I do about it? Yours desperate Victor, 17years old.
Qn. Dear doctor, I am 19 years old, and I have a problem of masturbating to the extent that I now do it twice a day. I have tried to stop it but it seems I am failing to stop it. What can I do? Furthermore, what are the negative effects of masturbating? Yours’ Tom, S.5.
Dr’s response: If your blood sugar is beyond the normal range which is 4.4 to 6.1mmol/L (70 to 110 mg/dL)
Dr’s response: Dear Tom, masturbating is a bad practice, and I advise you to try your best and stop it.
Qn. I am called Jacky, aged 18 years old. I have missed my monthly periods twice now. I’m too scared and I have a feeling something is wrong with me since I had sex once with my boyfriend. What should I do dear doctor? Dr’s response: My friend Jacky, you need to go to the nearest medical clinic for a pregnancy test for you to get the right information about your status. Missing your periods twice should worry you indeed, it’s not normal. And my other advice to you is to abstain from sex since you are still young for that.
The Link Magazine Publications Ltd.| Web: thelinkmagazine.org
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The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
student’s
voice
A young woman struggling with an early pregnancy (Net Photo)
Parents to blame for THE
Early Pregnancies among youth
By Jolly Mutesi
T
he term early pregnancy refers to the situation where a girl gives birth below the age of 21, a tender age which is even below the legal consent age according to the constitution of the republic of Rwanda. So early pregnancies among youths today, are generally as a result of lack of parental guidance. Today, most parents have taken their children particularly girls to be vision children, a new version of dotcom. They do this not knowing that their children are undergoing maturity changes that drive them with different perceptions, thoughts and desires most especially about sex. Therefore, girls are driven by the adolescence force leading them to satisfying their sexual desires and they consequently get pre-marital and early pregnancies. Living a luxurious life as influenced by the modern technology exposed to the youth is yet another cause of early pregnancies among the youth. Due to lack of empathy from parents, girls end up engaging in early sexual behaviors that lead them to early and un wanted pregnancies. This comes with its associated consequences like school drop outs, getting infected with STIs, deaths during or after giving birth because of their
young age, shame, to mention but a few. Though there are other causes of early pregnancies to the youth, none the less lack of parental guidance stands out to the major cause. In my conclusion, I call upon parents to take on their responsibilities and initiative to keep in touch and close to their children especially adolescent girls to guide, direct and make them aware of the dangers and risks involved in any premarital sexual tendencies. By doing this youth will become aware of what it takes to be strong and wise for them to have a good future where they will become responsible mothers of our nation. Once this is done well by our lovely parents, we shall have a generation of productive women not only to Rwanda but to the whole world. The writer is a student at King David Academy, S.6 HEL
HEALTH
Prostitution greatly contribute to early
37
student’s
voice
pregnancy cases today By Kabarebe Bill William
W
hen I talk about prostitution, it is very well known as the commercialization of sex. Well we know that people have sex for the sake of earning income. However, this is a negative way of earning income which has affected a big number of population in the youth which denies them a lot of their life opportunities one having sex and
suddenly having un expected pregnancy automatically these are high chances of school dropout, and also be affected with sexual transmitted diseases . Well it is very simple for one to avoid such activities and still earns a standard of living. We as the youth face such challenges we very well know that we can prevent ourselves the fact that we are still young and can be able to work hard and think critically on how our future should be built, in very many ways like job creation participating in the country youth activities. Youth are always known as the power and the country’s strength and I don’t really think the country would develop with such negative activities that’s why its high time for change. The writer is an S.5 student at Kagarama S.S
A school dropout with her 1st born at the health center
The Link Magazine Publications Ltd.| Web: thelinkmagazine.org
38
The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
student’s
voice
Early pregnancies cost lives
&
deny a good future By Nathan Shema
I
strongly believe that todays’ youth are the future generation from whom we have lawyers, doctors, political leaders, and engineers among others that we look up to for a better future of our country. Early pregnancy is a vice that is as a result of the need for a luxury life and early marriages due to poverty. This vice has affected girls’ education and destroyed lives of many youth and because of its nature today, it needs to be tackled through serious legislations and sensitization by the government. The government should introduce and reinforce strong laws against early marriages and sugar daddies as well as conducting sensitization campaigns to the youth against this vice of early marriages with its dangers. Also, parents need to apply an iron hand to their children especially girls to bar them from loitering around un necessarily, mingling with strangers, watching pornographic movies and other immoral activities that may lead them into sex and consequently early pregnancies. Joyce mayor, a very respectable lady, once said that in the darkest night comes the brightest light. I write this as a word of encouragement to those that have already
fallen victims to the vice. In life we get to learn that the problem is not the problem but the problem is our attitude towards the problem. Some victims are lost in despair; others commit suicide while others drop out of school. My advice is that you cannot turn back what has already happened but you can accept it move on and life will be meaningful after than getting held captive of the situation. Do not throw away your child or try to commit suicide or drop out of school completely but learn to cope up by balancing situation and life. Your child and your education are equally important. Therefore, attend to both with utmost enthusiasm not despair. I finally recommend sensitization campaigns by government and all the concerned citizens to fight the vice that is causing our dear sisters to drop out of school and leave a miserable life. The writer is an S.6 student at King David Academy.
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With Global Fund assistance, SFH scales up the fight against HIV & Malaria
S
FH-Rwanda is Rwanda’s leading non-government and non-profit social marketing organization that provides health products, and services as well as behavior change communications to the population. The organization is an affiliate of Population Service Inter¬national (PSI) global network.
It has operations in Rwanda’s 30 districts under the general guidance and supervision of the 5 regional offices in Central, Huye, Kayonza, Musanze, and Karongi; currently its headquarters are in Kigali City, Gasabo district.
doms and services. The organization alongside behavior change communications both for malaria and HIV, socially markets condoms and this year alone with funding support from Global Fund and support from the Ministry of Health estimates to distribute or social market more than 3 million condoms. “We have success stories under the Global Fund that have contributed to prevention of HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI’s) and unwanted pregnancies. And as you know, since 2010, HIV/AIDS has remained stable at 3%,” Wandera explained. He also remarks that like other institution, SFH still has a number of challenges, such as the knowledge gap in Rwanda’s public health, with people often not understanding how they can take care of themselves.
With Global Fund, the organization runs two programs supported by the fund through the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 23 districts of the country for Malaria and HIV prevention.
“We still have people with HIV/AIDS and malaria, and we believe that with more strategic health measures, people can be better informed about these diseases,” the Executive Director remarked.
The Executive Director of SFH Rwanda, Manasseh Gi¬hana Wandera, told The Link magazine that the organization strives to measurably improve the health of the poor and vulnerable people in Rwanda, principally through social marketing of health products such as Plaisir con-
SFH’s sustainability measures are mainly constant col-laboration with the government – in the first place the Ministry of Health, but also others such as local and provincial authorities – beneficiaries, donors and stake-holders.
The correct & consistent use of PLAISIR Condoms SFH-Rwanda strives to measurably improve the health of the poor and vulnerable people in Rwanda, principally through social marketing of health products and services, as well as behavior change communications. Roadshows and concerts are the ideal tools to reach the youth. While many of them say they already know the importance of condoms, and some even admit to have used them, providing information on the correct use of condoms in the form of entertainment will make it easier for the message to pass to youth, as they more readily identify with music and music stars.
Youth performing during a road show on Plaisir Condoms awareness.
I
“Teaching is always reminding and SFH believes the youth through behavior change events will go home with Plaisir Condoms in their minds, and eager to protect themselves of deadly sexual transmitted infections,� said one SFH animator during a recent roadshow.
n a bid to control malaria, and prevent HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and unwanted pregnancies, Society for Family Health (SFH) Rwanda uses special events such as drama plays, road shows and concerts to promote the consistent and correct use of Plaisir Condoms as well as behavior change communications especially among youth. Plaisir Condoms are socially marketed by SFH under Global Fund assistance, in addition to behavior change messages and communications to save lives. Although condoms are key to HIV prevention, SFH also, encourages young people to abstain or be faithful especially to the married couples. Plaisir condoms, distributed by SFH with the assistance of the Global Fund, displayed during a road show.
Preparations for a Plaisir concert to pass on HIV prevention message to youth in different sectors of the country.
42
The link Magazine | june 2015 | Issue No.016
Manchester United
becomes the first team to be worth
$1 billion
B
arcelona might be the best team in Europe, Real Madrid the most attractive, but Manchester United just became the richest. Brand Finance consulting firm just released their Brand Finance Football 50 rankings where they sort teams based on brand valuation. The Red Devils are the first team in history to surpass the $1 billion dollar threshold, with an estimated value of 1.206 billion dollars. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid fall
in second and third with valuations of $933 and $873 million respectively. European champions Barcelona are down to sixth this year being worth only about $773 million, behind Chelsea and Manchester City. Manchester United will continue selling jerseys and buying expensive players to try and finish in fourth place while Barcelona will hoard all the silverware they can yet still be unable to get people to invest in them.
brandvaluation 1
Manchester United
2
Bayern Munich
3
Real Madrid
$1.206 Billion $933 Million $873 Million
IZUBA NIRYA BURIWESE
2
YEAR
GUARANTEE
S2
Tel: +250 722 000 846 | www.notsrwanda.rw
S300