Onspot magazine Issue No: 9 (January - March 2014)

Page 1

TOPICS

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CONTENTS 12

44

18

33

8

Cool Page

6

Notice Board

5

Readers’ Mails

16

Page Turner

13

Movie Review

14

Music Review

12

Gizmos Gallery

18

OMG

24

Career Profile

33

15 Minutes

58

Mr. Events Eye

34

H ealth

26

Cover Feature

54

Moment On Top

52

Young Movers & Shakers

41

Kampus Buzz

38

Dating World

44

Culinary Talk

45

Mad Man’s Diary

51

Writer’s corner

8

58

22

Reach us at: P.O. Box 32055,Dar Es Salaam. Tanzania -East Africa Plot 492, Garden Road, Mikocheni | email: info@onspotmagazine.com. www.onspotmagazine.com. 2 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

CONTRIBUTORS

What do Holidays mean to you?

Brain Behind

inspiration from our scbscribers MANAGING DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHY

Amin Swai

Black & White Visual Studio

MANAGING EDITOR

GENERAL MANAGER

Michaelmas Anne Marie

Athanas Yohana FEATURES EDITOR

Dorice Mollel

Jessam Jeremiah

‘Miss Ilala’

‘Sales Executive’

The holiday season is the most amazing moment where one can sit and see the achievements obtained in the previous year. Happy New Year!

May your life be colorful

and Joyful. Happy New Year to you all!

Peter Muthamia

MARKETING & PR DIRECTOR

FASHION EDITOR & STYLIST

Nsia Swai

Rio Paul

UP COUNTRY DISTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTORS

A3N Company Limited

Benny Nkini Michael Mkwelele Monica MsMoDy Ruqaiyyah Almar Travis Kisamo Zulekha Ibrahim Greyson Onesmo

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Black and White visual Studio OUR PARTNERS

CREATIVE & ART DIRECTION

onspOt Team

Disclaimer: Dr. Faustine Ndugulile

Redemptha William

‘Kigamboni MP’

‘University Scholar’

As conclude the year, we give thanks for our many blessings and as we wait for the arrival of a New one. Happy New Year.

Be proud of what you have done in 2013 towards your dreams and May the 2014 be another year of success. God is good. Happy New Year!

The authors and publisher declare that they have compiled this document/publication to the best of their knowledge. However no warranty of representation is made to the accuracy of this information. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the mistakes that may arise from this document or the content therein the publication. All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part without written permission of the Editor is strictly prohibited.

Like us at Facebook.com/ onspOtmagazine Follow us on Twitter @onspOtmag

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NOTICE BOARD

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TOPICS

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COOL PAGE

Horoscope Aries (March 21-April 19) Aries would have an eventful year. Though the pressures would be high and even the position might be threatened till the middle of the year. The year might start off with some challenges but improvement will start after the March 2014.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Taurus will have a good year. There would be a continuation of business and professional success as you saw last year too. Financial gains would continue to be very good till the middle of the year.

Gemini (May 21- June 20) Gemini could have a challenging year. There would be negativity as experienced in the last year but the overall outlook would turn positive after 14th July 2014.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Michelle Obama January 17 Aries 8 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

Cancer will have a challenging year. Domestic

be high pressures till 3rd March 2014. Some improvement due to your own efforts, positive thinking and hard work will change your life.

COOL PAGE

Leo (July 22- August 22) This is once again a bumper year for you. You will make excellent progress, growth. New areas will open up for you. Travel will bring in a lot of progress and growth. Your income will be very high.

Virgo(August 23-September 22) Virgo has a better year than before. Your mind would be at ease comparatively although pressures will be very high till March 2014. Negativity will give way to hard work

you are facing in life.

Libra ( September 23 – October 22)

While hard work will be present and you will be persistent and focused in all you do, still the level of success might slowdown a little bit.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) Scorpio will make a very positive turnaround in luck and fortune this year. While the year will start with challenges and some amount of "#

$

should give in to a better period.

Capricorn ( December 22 – January 19) Capricorn would have an interesting year as the high activity in career will continue. Pressures will be very high. Hard work would have to be exceptional too. But all this will give you very good growth and returns eventually.

Tiger Woods December 30 Capricorn we do it for the youth | onspOt | 9

OMG

It’s Wired but True

5

crazy Ideas that turned into fortune

For those who constantly dream of making it big, of being an entrepreneur, of becoming a self-made millionaire, take heart. The next time some crazy idea pops into your head consider the notion that it may not be so crazy after all. Despite what your friends, loved ones, may tell you, sometimes, a seemingly ridiculous notion can turn into the proverbial goldmine.

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Santa Mail Just having kids write to Santa wasn’t enough. Some brilliant entrepreneurs decided that, for around $10, they would write back, posing as the man in red himself. With hundreds of thousands of parents taking part each year, these letters are making a bundle.

The married man who created an affair website for married people Ashleymadison.com is a dating website with a difference; it only accepts married people, or someone wanting to date a married person. The site’s slogan is “Life is short. Have an affair�. The site founder is a former attorney Noel Biderman, who is interestingly a happily married man. Although his mission can be perceived as very wrong (for the record: cheating is bad!), the fact that the site claims 3.2 million members suggests that it’s also doing something right

The guy who created a company that provides excuse letters to miss work Do you need an excuse to miss work? A company has launched an excuse absence network service for U.S. employees and students which offers a load of excuses you can use to be absent from work. The Excused Absence Network provides all your excuse letter needs for just $25 per excuse note. These can be notes which appear to come from professional doctor or hospital and even fake jury summons and authentic-looking funeral service program with poems and pallbearers. The founder started the business for $300 and currently runs it off a laptop in a small Oklahoma town. The site gets about 15,000 hits a month.

It’s Wired but True

OMG

Rent-A-Chicken I know what you’re asking: why on earth would someone want to rent a chicken? Well, some people who are interested in urban farming want to get chickens. However, that’s a big step. What if they don’t like caring for chickens? Then, they’re stuck with a coop and several chickens they don’t want. This is where Rent-A-Chicken comes in. This husband and wife team in Traverse City, will bring you everything you need to care for a brood of hens for the summer. For $250, you can see whether or not you really want to try raising chickens on your own. In fact, there’s another business just like this in Australia called Rent-AChook.

Wacky? Yes. Useful? You bet

Here’s the situation: You and your friends were up all night partying. Now, you’re suffering from a horrendous hangover, you’re dehydrated, and your apartment is trashed. The thought of having to make yourself something to eat and then clean up that colossal mess is just too much to handle.

Hangover Helpers

So what do you do? You call the Hangover Helpers. These two college guys in Boulder, CO help their hung over clients crawl back into the land of the living with as little pain as possible. The guys show up at your house armed with a breakfast for you. They then clean every room where the party happened. This includes cleaning dishes, pots, and pans, and recycling all of your beer bottles.

Think this idea is too crazy to actually work? These guys have already been featured in Forbes Magazine, on CBS, and on the talk show, Regis and Kelly. They have enough business to keep them busy as long as they want.

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GIZMOS & GALLERY

Cool Gadgets to watch in 2014 ! " # $ !

# % & ' " &

#

Google glass

PS4

Smartphones are amazing gizmos, but for those who have

are a bit unwieldy. One approach would be to relax a little and

and thus we have Google Glass. It’s a headset with a projected display, touch feature, a camera and a data connection that could revolutionize the mobile device industry having features like video call, message, voice recognition, reminder and Google map Imagine holding the DUALSHOCKŽ4 wireless controller features familiar controls which incorporate new ways to interact with games and other players online with operating system that puts Windows 8 to shame. At the top of the screen

" # % & & ' *

% % + forget feed of everything you and your friends have been doing. This is new generation of gamers you can post video, stream and share a game challenge with your friends online.

Galaxy 5s Next year will deliver awesome time for Samsung users with galaxy s5 on their hands with killer features like 64-Bit Exons 6 Processor with 14nm architecture and 64-bit support. ,Android 4.4 KitKat OS which is Android’s latest mobile operating software dubbed as 4.4 KitKat. Flexible Screen Display and Fingerprint Sensor -Just like its rival iPhone 5S. With all the added features such as a more powerful processor, Samsung Galaxy S5 will include a battery with higher capacity.

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Apple iWatch 2014 is going to awesome in technology world with a 1.5-inch screen similar to the old iPod Nano, iWatch could launch with three different screen sizes of 1.3-, 1.4- and 1.5-inches, all " / 7

+ " could also launch with a curved design, helped by the curved Earlier in 2013, it was reported that Apple has a 100-strong team working on the iWatch, made up of “managers, members of the marketing group, and software and hardware engineers who previously worked on the iPhone and iPod, will be answering ya call, reading mail all that in iwatch.

MOVIE REVIEW Must see movies this Holiday season? Be sure to check out these movies!!

TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS (2013) THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (2013) 9< " 7 ushered in a new era of comedy. When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited. Director: Malcolm D. Lee Stars: Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs

Madea dispenses her unique form of holiday spirit on rural town when she’s coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas, but the

" = " arrive. Director: Tyler Perry Stars: Tyler Perry, Chad Michael Murray, Tika Sumpter, Larry the Cable Guy

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (2013)

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (2013) +

& %

' * = autobiography, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Director: Justin Chadwick Stars: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto, Robert Hobbs

+ Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. They become targets of Capitol after victory which sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem. Director: Francis Lawrence Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman

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MUSIC REVIEW

Beyonce’s self-titled album BeyoncÊ hasn’t been exactly low-key in 2013: she dropped a spiky track on Tumblr (Bow Down), triumphed with the live extravaganza of The Mrs Carter Show World Tour and has generally hinted she’s been building up to this statement for ages.

he ‘ambush’ stunt (which only a rich superstar could make work) seizes mega-selling attention. More crucially, the quality of music (with BeyoncĂŠ credited as co-producer alongside the likes of Timbaland and Pharrell) succeeds in holding it.

T

She has released ambitious projects before – take the split personality discs of her 2008 third album, I Am‌ Sasha Fierce – but BeyoncÊ /

@ because of the gorgeously lavish videos accompanying each track. It seals the 32-year-old’s headstrong image: a mother, a lover, a survivor

project of her music Svengali father, Mathew Knowles. I Am‌ Sasha Fierce Q – but BeyoncĂŠ feels more tender than ever, belting out the body like her most fully mantras of opener Pretty Hurts but also pre vision and not just senting Heaven less as a break-up song than because of the goran elegy for a lost child. geously lavish videos There is plenty of raunchy – on the sinewy Partiaccompanying each tion (‘he Monica Lewinsky-ed all over my gown’) track. and via her public display of affection with Jay-Z on Drunk In Love. Further cameos come from Drake (Mine), Frank Ocean (the slinky electro-doo-wop of Superpower), BeyoncÊ’s infant daughter Blue Ivy and, best of all, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Flawless (a brilliant revamp of Bow Down). BeyoncĂŠ grandly rounds off a year of mainstream razzle-dazzle and mass consumption – and it does make you think pop might eat itself in 2014.

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PAGE TURNER

Faraja Kotta’s Best Reads of 2013 RULE OF LAW vs. RULERS OF LAW (Justice Barnabas Albert Samatta’s Road to Justice)

THE FUTURE by Al Gore This is what I am currently reading with just a few pages to go. For anyone, who has also read Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ will clearly appreciate Gore’s depth of the subject matter at hand and how he can deliver tough knowledge with clarity. I could not resist this one when I saw it at a newsstand at Schiphol Airport. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the emergence and shift in global powers, trends in science and technology and how human evolve, disrupt and drive global change. He has also covered a thorough discussion on ecosystems.

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I bumped into this book at a street vendor at Posta in Dar while looking for another legal book. The book has been compiled and edited by Issa Shivji and Hamudi Majamba. Justice Samatta had a legal career of forty one years and retired from the bench on a very high note. I am glad that his life, his career and his great judicial decisions have been documented, as should be the case with other great leaders of Tanzania. He served with high standards of ethics, professionalism and integrity. This book is great for inspiration to serve. For lawyers, it is like a behindthe-scenes coverage of his judicial statements and legal principles.

PEACE FROM BROKEN PIECES by IYANLA VANZANT I got this e-book as a birthday present and almost hated a friend who gave me this. I read the prologue which was too heavy for me. The prologue was about a mother narrating the death of her daughter and so much more that died with her daughter; the pain, the dark days and the emptiness. The book was about to give me the blues and I had to let go. I eventually gathered enough courage and returned to it and I am glad I did. This is the only book on this list that made me cry; I cried so much. Several snorts later, it was a great reminder that I should always count my blessings. Great for soul searching!

GOD’S POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE by RICK WARREN I had been admitted in a hospital for a few days and had requested a family friend to buy for me a Christian book. This is what he got for me. At that point in time, I did not understand the message he was conveying by bringing me a book that implies I have to change. After reading it, I understood. There is always room for improvement. Human beings are constantly evolving, we are not meant to remain the same. It is a powerful book that uses the Bible to convey that power. The book has amazing words that speak to the heart, soul and mind all at once.

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GLITZ & GLAMOUR

By Ruqaiyyah Almar

k o o L o t 5 Ways ! y x e S y l t Instan Slip Into High Heels This sounds like a real no brainer. Because it really is. Just remember the next time you’re getting dressed and feeling too lazy to wear high heels, get over it. It’s so hard not to feel sexy in a pair of heels; they change the way you walk and straighten out your posture.

Wear Something Unique

Wearing a hat or unique accessory that suits your style or clothes with unusual logos are all great / +

that you’ll stand out from the crowd, and the unique piece could even be a conversation starter.

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A little skin A little cleavage is a tantalizing turn-on, but too much cleavage shows that you’re trying too hard. The key is to look sexy and classy not trashy. Be a little more creative with other modest means of showing skin if you have a fuller chest like bare shoulders for this year must have item: cut-out shoulder skirts. If you work out or been blessed with a slim waist go the exposed midriff with a crop top and a high waisted skirt. Or pull an Angelina with a long dress or skirt with a high slit that plays peek-a-boo with those fabulous gammes.

GLITZ & GLAMOUR

Just aliitle roughness can make your outfit classy and elegant

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GLITZ & GLAMOUR

What’s Trending 2014

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GLITZ & GLAMOUR

URBAN MEN’S WARE

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GLITZ & GLAMOUR

URBAN MEN’S SUITS

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CAREER PROFILE

Anita Urasa: Architecture who rose above gender stereotyping

Give us a brief account of your upbringing and educational background? I was brought up by parents who put great emphasis on education and hard work. I studied Architecture in Tanzania at the then Ardhi Institute, from where I proceeded for a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Cape Town. I have also done various courses in Urban Planning, Environmental management and Climatic design. I am registered as an Architect in Tanzania, and as a Landscape Architect in South Africa and Tanzania.

What is your career background? I am an architect, who has also specialized as a Landscape Architect. I initially trained as an Architect. Work experience led me to pursue further studies in Landscape Architecture and become a registered Landscape Architect, because I felt that the spaces between the buildings were not receiving adequate attention. To my mind, the public space in urban environments should be as important as the private spaces, because that is the realm on which we all interact and all have access to.

“Through perseverance and creativity. I started my business from the spare room at home and it grew from there...”

What really motivated you to pursue Architecture? Interest in Art and design, exposure to building as a child started that spark.

Did you ever envisage that one day you’d establish and operate your own company? Always. That was always my dream

Describe some of your important career accomplishment? Starting up my own business

What setbacks did you face at the beginning? Startup capital, gender profiling; people do not take females seriously in the construction industry. One has to work hard to overcome gender stereotyping. I think it is important to dispel the myths about certain professions such as architecture, so that those myths don’t exclude young people, and especially young women, from entering into the workforce and fulfilling their dreams.

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CAREER PROFILE

How did you overcome them?

What are your future aspirations?

Through perseverance and creativity. I started my business from the spare room at home and it grew from there. I used my training, skills and experience as capital. On the matter of gender profiling, that is an ongoing battle, but one that I am determined to keep fighting.

To influence the way we look at human settlement and the environment in Tanzania. To inspire young people, especially girls.

As an Architect, what does your job entail? Interacting with people: clients, contractors, local authorities, problem solving, creativity, business management.

How would you advise someone treading your footsteps? Identify your dream and follow it. It’s not always easy, but stick to your guns and listen to that inner voice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even when it is not forthcoming. Make the calculation and take that plunge. Keep learning. Be patient. Be creative. Persevere. Learn as much as you can, don’t stop dreaming and always aspire to be the best that you can.

Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My parents

SO YOU WANT TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT? What skills should I possess? Artistic Creativity, being able to think critically and logically. What degree do I need for this? A degree in Architecture. One can also start from diploma level and work your way up. What are the hours like? Long and grueling, so this is not a job for the faint-hearted. But, it is also very rewarding to see a project take shape and come to reality from the drawing board. Is the pay competitive? That’s relative. The construction industry is a hard one and at times Where can this lead? Your imagination and skills are the limit. The industry is opening up and growing. There are various aspects and branches of Architecture: Landscape architecture, Interior Design [not to be confused with interior décor] Marine architecture, specializations in architecture into Hospitality, Health, Industrial architecture and so forth.

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COVER FEATURE

Sarah (Shaa) Kaisi 7 things you didn’t know about her- musical genius 26 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

COVER FEATURE

Her sense of style, her articulate English in an American twang and an easy character, along with her entire charming disposition gives any interviewer a refreshing interview time. In addition, her rather eccentric hair style is a brand and a loud statement – a kind of branding for herself and her music. Shaa agrees that she has a rather peculiar sense of style that sets her apart from the crowd. She believes in good carefree grooming. Shaa believes that style easily

her life stands for. She can style.

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COVER FEATURE “What I throw in mainly depends on how I feel. Sometimes, I spot a rock leather jacket, girly pink with loud owers, African prints and many other trends that caress my moods at that particular time. While I am in love with makeup and can go to the deepest of makeup, I have no love for excessive jewelry – I wear very little accessories, a maximum of two that could be a ring and a necklace, a watch and good chandelier earrings,â€? says Shaa.

and still remain the only female artist from Tanzania to be nominated for this award. I admit that I was lined up with the very best and the category was very tight. It was unbelievable in that it was my ďŹ rst year of my solo career,â€? said Shaa.

Sarah has in a number of occasions been nominated for Museke Kili Awards in the various categories, including best Afro Pop video, best songs and many other categories. Indeed, she has been nominated for the awards more than six times something that she Musical career attributes to her growth in her career and extensive Since the moment Sarah Kaisi, fondly known as “Shaa� learning from other music gurus. made her debut entry into the music world through East “It is very important to learn the ropes, work very hard Africa Coca Cola Pop Star under the group ‘Wakilisha’, and be focused since music is a career like any other. hers has been an upward trend with several singles The thumb rule in music is to work, work and work. under her hat sighed under Also, I have managed to master the different labels. In her own studio lingo, grown vocally and I words, when she took off Shaa is a talented bear in mind that unlike the widely musically, piracy was a serious held view in this country that things problem and therefore it was can be done ad hoc, any artiste logical to release singles and artiste, with her worth their salt must have a good perform rather than produce manager,� added Shaa. hands deeply in love albums. Shaa’s singles include ‘Zamu Yangu’, ‘Mwache with the paint brush, In the footsteps... Nyumbani’, Crazy, ‘Shoga’, ‘Siri ya

As the year has begun, she has Mapenzi’, Promise, Lover Lover on greater things in emtered a new deal of Mkubwa na and ‘Sugua Gaga’. a project led by the serious her musical career as Wanae, managers including Saidi Fella and Daughter of a well. Babu Tale. Indeed, these are the professor heads behind the most successful A daughter of a renowned artistes in the country such as gynecologist Prof. Malise Kaisi Temba, Chegge, Keisher and Diamond Platinamz. In and the ďŹ rst woman Administrator General with the the deal, she hopes to shift her trends to conform to Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, one would the African in her. She confesses that this year she has have expected her to have taken the path that is not as her hands full with various shows lined up for March, far-ung as being an artist, a songstress and a socialite. June/ July with trips and performances across the Instead, she took on ďŹ ne arts in her college studies and country. has been in the limelight as a great artiste.

...and the awards Her greatest musical achievement is her nomination for the MTV Base Mama Awards with her single Zamu Yangu in 2009 after going solo. This feat formed the basis of her career and forever remains etched in her memories as a milestone in her career. “I truly hold dear the memories of MTV Base Mama Awards that gave me the opportunity to link up with Africa’s best artistes including AY, P-Square, Wahu, Nameless and other large artistes. Indeed, I was the only

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Where it all begun Shaa had her path in musical well lined by her family who had ear for good music – they sung in the church choir. Her father had avid love for old school music while her brother is a reggae artiste and her sister, who is a base guitarist, have all along had their hands full with music. She however, complains that one big challenge in her artistic life is that people, especially close relatives, and friends, are unable to tell apart Shaa and Sarah

COVER FEATURE

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COVER FEATURE

– they cannot distinguish her private and professional life. “Sometimes, people cannot separate the real Sarah whom I reserve for family and friends and Shaa who is the diva and stage personality, a persona reserved for the fans. For instance, in a family occasion, people have expectations that I should perform, forgetting that I do it for money – that music is business like any other”, says Shaa.

What turns her off Shaa, like any girl, feels that investing too much trust in people who later turn out disappointing can be very annoying. She agrees that in her life, nothing makes her more annoyed than putting so much trust in people- that is eventually taken for granted. Her roots... Born to Prof Malisei and the late Christabel Kaisi, she is the last born among four chillren. She grew up in Upanga, attended her primary education at Upanaga Primary School followed by her lower secondary at Kisutu Girls’ Secondary School. Thereafter, she took her “A” level exams at Academic International and later enrolled in a College in Washington DC.

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TOPICS

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TOPICS

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15 MINSUTES WITH

Dr. Issac Maro MD, MPH First Car Toyota Carina 3 Station wago

Dream CAR Range Rover

CURRENT CAR Toyota Carina 3 Station wago

Favorite Tanzanian Meal

Toyota Carina 3 Station wago

If you could spend Christmas anywhere, where would it be? Paris, France

Favorite Perfume Issey Miyaki and CK we do it for the youth | onspOt | 33

HEALTH

“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; so take good care of it”, so says the holy book the Bible. Well, folks I couldn’t agree more hence the adage GIGO-Garbage in garbage out. Ironically we Tanzanian youths are a lazy lot. Unlike our western peers, a huge chunk of Tanzanian youths don’t have a clue what the term ‘working out’ means. Anyways don’t sweat it for today I intend to enlighten thee.

Getting in shape: best Gym Tips to get you in shape-faster! 34 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

HEALTH These days most of us young lads to just throw away our books and set ourselves in comfy sofas doing nothing else other than watching TV, playing video games and eating snacks. Well woe unto you, gone are the days when diabetes used to be called a rich men’s’ disease. That said you need exercise and get yourself in shape. A workout is a “session of vigorous physical exercise�. The most common place to workout at is a gym; there are several of these establishments in Dar such as Arena Gym, Colosseum Fitness club, Azura Health & Fitness, De Mag Gym, Holiday Inn Gym, Rio Quality Gym just to mention a few. Some are located in Arusha, Mwanza and other areas of the country. Just like any other undertaking, working out requires loads of preparation. For starters most of these gyms aren’t free (bills need to be paid you know).Nevertheless, don’t be deterred as the availability of plenty of gyms means you can shop around for the best deal. Just draft a list of the " \ search tool. Then choose the ones suited to your case e.g. a gym that is closely located to your home or one that you can afford (registering for membership will help a lot as membership comes with a few perks), or one where your friends workout at etc,

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST GYM VISIT.

]

Identify what you want to achieve by going to the gym, i.e. whether you want to " your health. This will help you know what you want to accomplish and also help set goals. Learn the gym hours-It is very disheartening to psyche yourself for a workout only to Learn the peak times-Talk to gym staff and know the busiest time in the gym. Most of us hate to stand in line watching others hitting the treadmill. This will also help you not have an excuse for skiving. Get a workout buddyThis can be in the form of a friend or personal trainer (for those who can afford one). They will motivate you and whenever you’re feeling tired will make the workout seem like a hangout Start out simple-Even Rome wasn’t built in one day so

toned down a bit and you can gradually up the tempo. Familiarize with protocols of the gym you plan to attend. This will help make

Different gyms have varying rules and regulations. Maybe in some you’re required to observe silence while working out while in others listening to music is the norm. Knowing the machines and

how to use them properly is a necessity. Prior knowledge of the machines and their uses is vital this can be achieved with a little help from gym trainers/staff. Gym safety procedures are also considered crucial. Educate yourself for injury prevention. Expand your knowledge base so that you know the best possible ways to exercise without injuring yourself. This will maximize the outcome of your hard work. Don’t forget your gym bag. Select a gym bag with lots of space (pockets and compartments). Fill it with everything you will need for your workout. If you intend to shower at the gym bring along some clothes to change and sandals to shower; plus some deodorant to freshen up after a sweaty workout. Don’t forget a book or your favorite music if you’re not the reading type. Wear the right clothing. Know the appropriate attire required. Since you are going to perspire a lot choose clothes that are sport friendly for exercise. Wearing the right shoes will also boost your level of exercise shun anything your feet won’t be comfortable in. Eating the right food preworkout and staying hydrated during the workout is also vital for your health. Water should do the trick or some energy drink but it should be consumed with moderation.

I hope I’ve inspired a few souls to hit the gymnasium. See you next time!

SUCCESS

Peop le small tend to settin things despise and g g a stand such as r a maki ounds for rd of life n and t g that gu decision he d ide your irection you o decis ions. f all

DO YOU WANT

to be

successful? make the right choices when you do not have a star shinning in front of you to tell you if the decision you have made is correct or wrong.Ask yourself; do you have a standard? What guides you to believe that the decision you made for the attire you wore today is correct? What is that standard that you have embedded in your head that tells you that the skirt, or the top blouse you are wearing today is ethical and morally standard? What of the makeup and the perfume you are wearing? Do you believe it’s of standard? Getting answers to these to some people, because it’s either they choose to ignore the importance of standards, or they really have and know their standards>>

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SUCCESS

A

young bird was once asked by are ready and are supposed to go its mother how high it wanted to find what you are looking for. Or to fly and how low it was ready how high you are meant to jump for to go to find food. The little bird replied a particular situation. Make a choice that it wanted to fly as high as the of status, grounds for acceptability moon is, and go as down as to the core to yourself and to your surrounding of the earth. One day, it really tried to community, and environment. Choose fly as high as the moon to set standards When you do seemingly was, and it hit to that you not know how the zone of “inadequate believe you can oxygen” then it came back manage. Don’t deep you are down. The next day it ready and are set standards said to itself, let me go as that you know supposed to down as possible. It went incapable go to find what you’re through a hole and that of achieving was the end of its life when you are looking because they for. Or how it faced a huge rattle snake will certainly cost high you are which swallowed it without you. a spark of hesitation. meant to jump for a particular Manufacturing I like this young bird over scientists say and situation. here, she was strong and so believe that a very ambitious, but she good production was too determined to push the limits. process must only be allowed to This is what happens when you do not hover within certain specified limits. have standards, when you do not know These limits are not put there to what is right and what is wrong. When make to process underperform, you do not know how neither to make it over deep you perform, or to joke around per say. They are meant to keep the process within

limits that can actually be controlled so that they do not cause harm to anybody using them. Now, what happens when the process over performs is that machines will explode, accidents will be a regular thing, people will get injured and at worse circumstances others might end up dead. On the other side, when a process under performs, end products will be of poor quality, time will be wasted unnecessarily, additional and hidden costs will be extreme, the firm will lose its customers and make losses. It will most probably become incompetent for the market and get kicked out. In short, standards are very important. They are there not to hinder your abilities but rather to improve your ability within certain constraints. On a good not, set good standards for yourself, standards that will help you speak positivity all the time, standards that will live a smirk on people’s faces when you speak, or do something. Set standards that will not frustrate you to want to prove your worth all the time you are doing something. Set standards that will not diminish you in front of your friends either.

DATING WORLD

We’re all changing all the time, in our preferences and the way we look at life. Don’t assume you know everything about each other or your romance will start to stagnate, or one of you will start to conďŹ de in some other person who seems more understanding.

Five best ways to fix your relationship problems

you wouldn’t want to take yours for granted, would you? But yet, we forget how much something really matters to us when we can’t stand to lose it. And it usually takes losing something to realize its importance and your situation.

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DATING WORLD

You need to learn to have faith in each other and in the relationship. Instead of letting negativity build inside the relationship, learn to enjoy each other’s successes. After all, your partner is your better half, and any accomplishments of theirs are your accomplishments too.

Lack of communication

1

At the start of the relationship, conversations are exciting and fun. Both of you spend a lot of time getting to know each other. But as time goes by, lovers forget to ask the same questions again. We’re all changing all the time, in our preferences and the way we look at life. Don’t assume you know everything about each other or your romance will start to stagnate, or one of you will start to confide in some other person who seems more understanding.

Trust

2

Do you really trust your partner? There are two kinds of trust in a relationship. Firstly, do you trust your partner enough to feel comfortable with them going out for dinner with someone else? If you don’t, perhaps, you’re insecure or your relationship is still too fragile. And secondly, do you trust your partner’s decisions? Do you think your partner is capable of making important decisions for the both of you? If you can’t trust your partner with life altering decisions, it’s obvious that you don’t respect your partner or their opinions. And that’s never a good sign in a long term relationship.

angry with their child because the child is having “too much fun”.

4

Space and individual growth

Now this is contradictory to the earlier problem in relationships. But it’s still something to watch out for. Too much of a good thing can turn out to be bad too. When you’re in a relationship, spending time with each other is very important. But at the same time, spending time away from each other is crucial too. By spending too much time together, you’d subconsciously feel isolated from the rest of the world. And when that happens, you’d crave for any attention from other interesting people just to feel better about yourself and your ability to communicate. And you know what could happen when that happens, right? [Read: The right way to give space in a relationship]

Time

5

Do both of you have enough time to spend with each other? These days, time is a luxury that most lovers can’t afford. When you start spending too much time away from each other, it’s only a matter of time before one of you starts asking the big question, “Do I need my partner in my life anymore?”

Jealousy and insecurity

3

Insecure couples are forever locked in a cycle of jealously and anger.

When you feel jealous about the attention your lover’s getting or their recent promotion, you’re not helping them become a better individual. It’s like a parent who’s

Don’t drift away so far that both of you don’t need to be with each other anymore. Find ways to indulge in exciting hobbies or spend evenings going out on little coffee or ice cream dates. They make for great conversations and it’ll bring both of you closer too.

we do it for the youth | onspOt | 39

HEALTH

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K A M PA S ZZ BU CAMPUS DIARY YOUTH & FINANCE MAD MAN’S DIARY

KAMPUS DAIRY

Cash strapped Johnny becomes “creative�

A

nyone who has been to any university with " signboard at the gate reads something like this: “This is a drug and alcohol free area�. The Technical University of Mombasa (formerly Mombasa Polytechnic), having undergone a series of transformation from a Muslim to a secular institution, has such a signboard at the main gate that students like me who are given to swallowing an occasional beer do not like.

richest student of the ilk of Bill Gates, for his cubical has the longest queues of students seeking to photocopy, type, print or scan their assignments and theses. Slightly before the end of last semester, he came up with a master plan – to include beer services in his cubical for the few who can afford a couple of drinks. The condition was that lights be dimly lit. When he disclosed to me the idea of opening a mini “bar�, I was a little worried. He, however, reasoned with me, that so long as we kept our mouths shut, nothing would happen. For a couple of months, we enjoyed drinks in the dimly lit “bar� and even girls got a wind of it and became regular revelers, too.

Johnny in the department of Business Studies is the “creative� type. He reckons that one does not have to wait until the end of the course to make money.

This does not mean that all the students are religiously inclined – some enjoy occasionally wetting their throats with real alcohol besides tea, coffee and soda. The only difference here is that, unlike Kenyatta University where I took my undergraduate degree, you do not meet staggering students in the corridors after midnight. In Kenyatta, there is an adjacent slum called KM-one where all manner of illegal drinks are sold to students and other revelers. That is to say in my current college, and even if people occasionally drink, they do not show off their excesses for one and sundry to see. My friend Johnny in the department of Business Studies is the “creative� type. He reckons that one does not have to wait until the end of the course to make money. Being a proud owner of a desktop computer, a printer and a scanner makes him the

42 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

They say that what goes around comes around, because within a short while, the university management knew about it and was laying strategies to catch the “entrepreneur� red-handed. It might have taken a while but one weekend, while we were having drinks, the security guards led a lecture stormed into the cubical and six of us were facing cases of illegal selling and consumption of alcohol within the university premises!

YOUTH & FINANCE

Cash strapped? Here is how to " Peter Massawe (24) graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration two years ago. His attempt at securing employment has hit the rock bottom. He has also attended numerous interviews and now feels that he has come to the end of his tether. It is time to try his hands on self-employment. How does one go about it? Armed with a beautiful business proposal, he has approached several bank managers with no success. While his business proposal may be viable, the bureaucracy has always bogged his efforts down.

T

here is nothing that has bedeviled growth in this country other whatever projects one may want to start. Indeed, start-up capital problem is not just a youth problem, it traverses the entire age spectrums. The matter is made worse because most youth own no assets that can guarantee loans as collaterals in the The matter is aggravated by the fact that Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with approximately 70 percent of its population living on less than USD 2 per day, while a whopping 60 percent live on less than USD1 per day. According to Opportunity International report of 2012, one out of every three Tanzanians is self

population has access to formal banking

Create meaningful context For your ideas to get funds you need to improve your chances of creating meaningful context. Yes, you need to understand things like market opportunity, competitive advantages, business models, etc. Get to know the funding sources Different funding sources have different missions and different goals in terms of advancing a particular agenda. So identify the funding source which has the greatest overlap with your research interest and invest heavily in getting to know more about their interests. Get to know the right people + " they will often know about upcoming opportunities at both their foundations and others. Don’t waste their time just send them an email with your idea and connect it to their mission.This could be a nice introduction Get to know your competitors There might be other people doing the same business. It is therefore important to gather enough knowledge on the business you intend to undertake Write well and have a focus In your opening paragraph, state your focus. Write clear style that assumes the reader is an expert, but not necessarily deeply rooted in your project. You should have a clear and logical beginning, middle, and an end to your proposal. You can cite other. Ask for suggestions It’s very important to get others to read your proposal and make vital suggestions so that you submit the strongest possible proposal to the funder.

we do it for the youth | onspOt | 43

CULINARY TALK

Chocolate chip cookie Here are simple mouth-watering culinary delights that are easy to prepare. The microwave Chocolate Chip cookie is simple recipe that takes less than 10 minutes that’ll save the day. The amazing thing about this recipe is that the ingredients are easily accessible and the result is out of this world!

Quickest steps to prepare c hocolate chip chip cookies cookies chocolate

Add the sugar to the melted butter and mix till smooth. Add the

INGREDIENTS: # 1 tablespoon of melted butter (salted/unsalted) # A pint of vanilla extract # Pinch of salt # 2 tablespoons of whole milk # 2 tablespoons of sugar # 3 tablespoons of all pur # 2 tablespoons of Semi sweet/ dark chocolate chips

44 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

$ % $ the chocolate chips into the mixture. With a microwavable saucer or plate place the dough, preferably thicker at the centre than at the edges. Microwave the dough for intervals of 30 seconds for two minutes checking if the centre is well set. The cookie will

% $ & of ingredients is needed if more cookies are to be made. Can be served with milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Happy New Year!

MAD MAN’S DIARY

Of empty pockets and views from a daladala

I

magine the situation of bending over inside a daladala in a mile-long @ _ " ` " { + heat? It is even more maddening because, whether deliberately or by coincidence, and to my annoyance too, the loudspeaker blaring above my head is playing Lady Jay Dee’s Joto Hasira. It is a sad reminder that I am a " " mission – suffocating, not just from the heat inside the daladala, but also from lack of money.

I am frothing in the mouth, madder than ever before. My stone-thick head feels more like a real pressure cooker boiling on a charcoal stove. I owe no apologies to anyone for the misfortunate of being madman I am who is very sane. Indeed, I feel like a candidate for Mirembe in Dodoma where they store mad people like me. However, do not blame me for it but blame the circumstances that life is people.

The fact that I woke up this morning with not more than a thousand shillings in my plastic wallet more than drives me to the edge. But what is worse, is that my stingy boss thinks that by paying me the little coins he owes | @

/ |

vehicles are supposed to give way to the lucky man, it means that we will

+

/ * cedes cars and other huge cars motorcade speeds past you. Sometimes, you wonder why they don’t use helicopters. All that time, I will be crouched, looking out through the window, sweating like a pig. Since the daladala is a lot higher than the car next to you, you will be treated to the most amusing sights. Sitting behind the steering wheel in the car next to our daladala is a woman chatting away on her mobile phone. She is really chatty and you can tell that she is not talking to her husband. Women talking to their hubbies are normally alert and not so chatty. Her low blouse reveals her nice cleavage and her short skirts pulled backwards reveals thighs that are no at all bad. Your mind shifts to the guy pushing you from behind and you are not amused. You shift your weight to a woman who is rubbing against you. That too does not feel so comfortable for she gives you a look reserved for a rapist who just ran away from Segerea jail – as you just developed some horns. She stares at you as if you are deliberately rubbing yourself against her. You start saying a silent prayer, hoping that when you get back home in the evening, your wallet will not be lined with obsolete business cards. You close your mind to the world around you as the daladala starts moving.

we do it for the youth | onspOt | 45

MEDIA PARTNERS of possibilities and opportunities that they had never thought existed before; we gave them role models and heroes they never had, people to look up to.

YUNA YUNA, it’s a civil society organization, Youth of United Nations Association. A youth led youth based organization,with members from all over Tanzanian Secondary schools, Universities/Colleges and out of academic institutions. YUNA has been operational for about 15 years with a membership base of youths between 15 to 30 years.

“I can proudly say that the tremendous achievement my organization has attained is to qualify to be the largest successful youth leadership academy in Tanzania.YUNA has mentored and groomed numerous young people who are not only currently in positions that have made the organization proud, but also have contributed to making a difference in the communities. “ Mr. Edward Lwidiko National Chairman

46 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

D

uring my administration, the greatest achievement has been to institutionalize the association such that it’s more accessible; more visible; providing more opportunities to its members; opening borders inside and outside the country; and most importantly living our Motto, ‘Bringing young people closer to the UN’. I am proud of the Teaching Volunteers program that we started and the positive impacts we had to the local community. We collaborated with Bumbuli Development Corporation running a form four study camp for 1 month, with about 150 students from more than 20 different secondary schools from the province. YUNA provided volunteer teachers and camp coordinators whom apart from contributing to their academic expertse, they also exposed the students to the world

The main challenge as is in many

} ~ €'

based on donor funded project, and membership fees. The collection of these membership fees have been base that we have across the country, including very remote areas. Since the organisation is not part of the UN system in Tanzania,there is no direct funding that comes to assist in running the association. The executive committees are not paid and we are transitioning to having a secretariat that consists of permanent employees of the association, and mobilizing the resources to keep the employees, has not been easy. Being the head of this renowned organization and at the same time a Medical student, has never proven to be easy. This came as a challenge, especially when it came to initiating and managing programs. The association being led by full time students volunteers meant that setting extra time to work for the association called for extra passion, the passion that my secretariat, Mr. Shadrack Msuya - Secretary General; Mr. Omary Hassan - Treasurer, and *  * % ‚ complement mine. Throughout the leadership term, we have been hearing sentences like “... You can’t do that...� or “ ...you can never mobilize enough funds to do it in time...� or even “... That’s impossible..� However, most of the times when we present concepts or ideas to pull out a miracle for the youth. The most recent endeavor that we almost

MEDIA PARTNERS baseline survey on the Livelihood Status of Tanzanian youth and women in preparation to the Entrepreneurship Development Program that will focus on youth.

despaired was the Eastern Africa Model UN Conference 2013, the Youth Energy and Climate change Conference. We had 300 applicants ready to come, two fully booked hotels, with only 10% of the resources needed and only three days to go for the opening of the conference. The main lesson learnt is that with determination and teamwork, anything you want to achieve, just say it, and go get it. Despite the challenges that we have faced, as a team, we have never given up. Having an executive committee of young, vibrant youth, we have been able to come up with alternative solutions such that our members still get the opportunity funds that might be available. + I have learnt that, “We should always use what we have to get what we want�. The devoted executive committee that is leading YUNA, with its two main branches, the UN Clubs Tanzania Network and the UN Chapters Tanzania Network function has been operating as a family and

not merely as acquaintances. that has three main focus areas:

1. Education & Employment - in which we are planning to launch the next phase of our teaching volunteers program whose applications will be opened from late January 2014; as well as the entrepreneurship culture promotion. 2. Health, focusing on youth friendly sexual and reproductive health education. 3. Environment - whereby we will be starting regional consultation on the topic of energy and climate change and its relationship to the growth of economies of developing countries, particularly Tanzania. These will go hand in hand with our better improved Model UN Program, expanding deeper into the regions, monthly leadership and capacity building trainings throughout 2014 and publication of our research results. YUNA Tanzania in collaboration with Livelihood Basix Institute under the African Livelihood Partnership Program conducted a

On behalf of YUNA we would like to extend our gratitude to the ONSPOT Magazine Team whom have played a vital role in our expansion and achievements. YUNA has become more prominent due to the diverse number of subscribers of the magazine whom have been reading our publications in the magazine and have become more aware of the endeavours as the youth. The evolution from Teenspot to Onspot has guaranteed more visibility for the organisation, and we can say we are proud to call ‚ * ~ partner in print. As a youth, who has been inspired by other youth, I believe changes begin from within. As an organization, YUNA has always been a leadership academy for the youth to dream and achieve those dreams. The notion that extracurricular activities are a waste of time is true when one engages in irrelevant activities. I advise fellow youth to engage in activities that will not only enlarge their horizon but will also have an impact to the communities around. It does not always take money to make an impact, all that is needed is the heart of willingness and commitment to making that positive difference. I urge the youth to fully utilize the opportunities that are available for them to learn and become a positive change to their communities. It is our responsibilities as youth to make ‘The world we want’ and this can only be achieved if we are all open to ‘Learn, Earn and Return’.

we do it for the youth | onspOt | 47

MEDIA PARTNERS

are constantly doing new things and pushing themselves to learn and grow but it is so rewarding to see that after this experience they are preferred in the job market – recognition of their hard work and the organization’s success.

Any lessons learnt? Kindly share with us.

“we provide young students the opportunity to experience living and working in a different country to understand and appreciate cultural diversity, whilst developing both personally and professionally and having a positive impact on society.� Jacquie kinyanjui President for AIESEC, Tanzania

What are your organisation’s biggest achievements?

I have learnt that if you want to differentiate yourself from other young people you have to be willing to commit to something that will challenge and develop you.

AIESEC is the world’s largest youth leadership development organisation which What are your runs a global exchange program entirely organisation’s plan for driven by students and recent graduates. the next year? Any great |

event/project we should of humankind potential, we provide young expect? students the opportunity to experience living and working in a different country to ] Career Fair – an event run in April understand and appreciate cultural diversity, to bring employers and prospective whilst developing both personally and employees together; through this professionally and having a positive impact event a large number of companies on society. are brought together in one location where students get to explore their career options. This event has proved to be a great success for over 11 years, consistently companies alike. The event includes skill workshops, CV writing competition, speed interviews and exhibitions.

This year, we have delivered 347 exchanges, partnered with over 100 companies and NGOs, have a membership of up to 400 in the 7 universities We operated in and represent Tanzania in international conferences in Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya.

Share with us challenges you faced to achieve them (Moments you were about giving up) AIESEC develops responsible leadership for our members through giving them practical work experience in marketing our opportunities to other students, managing projects, company partnership management or other activities that we run. This is challenging for them as individuals as they

48 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

]

Annual Stakeholders Dinner – an event run in June to showcase the success and impact the organization has had over the past year, a chance for our members to network with our alumni and the companies we have worked with over the course of the year.

MEDIA PARTNERS

]

Youth to Business Forum – an event run in March; Youth to Business (Y2B) is an initiative powered by AIESEC and aims to connect young leaders and businesses around the relevant topics in the world to generate new, actionable ideas and thoughts about the future. This year, we are discussing youth unemployment.

]

Global Community Development ProgrammeWe run projects to provide young people from all over the world the opportunity to volunteer in Tanzania and create positive impact in society.

]

Explore Beyond – AIESEC gives young Tanzanians the opportunity to travel abroad and develop themselves by working in another country to create positive impact.

]

(For more information, contact siobhan. connelly@aiesec.net, www.aiesec.or.tz, Facebook: AIESEC in Tanzania)

How has your organization enjoyed the partnership as our media partners? We believe that our collaboration continues to enable us to achieve the shared vision of empowering Tanzanian youth to drive positive change in the country by providing them with opportunities to gain exposure, learn and develop through participating in the AIESEC programmes and/or engaging with us through our events and community development projects.

This year, we have delivered 347 with over 100 companies and NGOs, have a membership of up to 400 in the 7 universities we operate in and represented Tanzania in international conferences in Ethiopia, Egypt and Kenya.

Any advice to the fellow youth? To become the right person for the market todaywhether you want to start your own business or gain employment, you need to have experience that enables you to be competitive. AIESEC offers Tanzanians a chance to live an adventure, learn from a new culture and develop both personally and professionally through our international internships.

I advise young students to sign up today (opportunities.aiesec. org) and Explore Beyond!! we do it for the youth | onspOt | 49

MEDIA PARTNERS

Mr. Awadh Milasi, Executive Director YOA (centre) and the guest of honour Hon. Januari Mwakamba (on his right) poses with some of the winners at the UNDER30 YOUTH AWARDS, 2013.

YOA’s Biggest Success

Plan(s) for next year

Youth for Africa (YOA) has been existing for over 4 years now. As people say; The best things are not things’ and so our most celebrated success could not easily be measured but it lives in the young people we have empowered to earn more, get employed or inspired to act enterprising. However, for the past 4 years, I feel our organizing, the Under-30 Youth Awards 2013 successfully has been a paramount achievement.

Alot on the table for 2014 but one is a bigger Under-30 youth Awards 2014 with national coverage and more categories (up to 30 awards to be given out).

Moment I felt like giving-up. That moment was at the infant stages of the YOA, establishment was quite frustrating sometimes it felt not sure if it was worth doing. So was the situation when we were organizing something as big as the under-30 youth awards 2013 but giving up only happens when we keep our eyes off our goal.

Lesson Success is not 100% absence of failure.

50 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

How has your organization enjoyed the partnership as our media partners? What else could i say about the no 1 youth Mag in Tz..? Onspot Mag has been a very strategic partform for YOA to meet the youth in EAC and Central Africa.

Advice; Success is a staircase. Nothing like an overnight making.

WRITER’S CORNER

Grandma’s

graduation day

to the brim with grandaunts, visitors and well-wishers. Saadiya was one of the grandaunts.

S Her hands felt wet with sweat and her mouth dry with fright. She glanced at where her grandmother was seated and gave her an uncertain smile. The old woman’s grey hair and wrinkles bespoke of many years of struggle and determination but today it was her big day.

he was reaping what she had carefully sown over the years of tending to Saadiya. This was the moment she wanted so much to take part in for she knew she did not have much time left. Her granddaughter, Saadiya, was graduating at the top of her class with a 4.7 GPA and that was a reason enough to make her heart glow with pride. Saadiya wished her parents were still living. She wished that she had a sister or a brother to share the day’s joy with Saadiya whispered a short prayer and hoped that her parents were happy with her achievements, wherever they were. She tried not to remember how the cold hand of death had snatched her parents in a fatal accident, leaving her under the care of her grandmother. She was only fourteen years when it occurred. She, however, vaguely recalls the car veering off the road. The rest is history. Save for the smiling pictures of her parents on the wall, Saadiya could not exactly recall how they looked like. Saadiya’s philosophy, just like Plato’s, was

" and important part of any work. This had been inculcated by her grandmother. Since her parent’s death, her life had taken a & a nervous breakdown that was a traumatic experience to bog her down but she did not give in to it. Tough choices had to be made for she left school for a while and went to live with her grandmother in the village so as to recover. Her grandmother was realistic

enough to counsel her and she soon recovered. Saadiya’s grandmother struggled so hard to provide for her although it wasn’t that easy. Her decision to go back to school paid off. That is why everyone was gathered at the graduation grounds. A simple girl she was, her hope was to change the lives of those around her with her experience. She was a composed, shy and smart, armed with the desire of becoming a diplomat. In college, no one knew one bit about her background, but people talked about her daily. The room was silent when Saadiya’s grandmother walked inside and all eyes moved slowly to follow her slow moves and you could hear people say “What is that bibi mzee looking for here?� After Saadiya’s name was called to receive her honour as the top student in her course, she was asked to give a few words. Her heart beat so hard in her ribcage from the fear of addressing too many people. Finally she spoke, “I really do not have much to say but my grandma will speak on my behalf. I am so overwhelmed. As people listened to the old granny, they were nodding their heads in appreciation. No one, not even those trained in the art of public speaking could have spoken better. It was grandma’s graduation after all.

we do it for the youth | onspOt | 51

YOUNG MOVERS & SHAKERS

Lwidiko Edward Mhamilawa

National Chairperson Youth of United Nations Association 52 | onspOt | we do it for the youth

YOUNG MOVERS & SHAKERS

Lwidiko Edward Mhamilawa (25) has been among the most

/ aspiring leaders among the youth not only in Tanzania but also across the globe. A medical graduate from Muhimbili University of Health Allied Sciences, he has been able to demonstrate a talent of coordinating and interacting among his peers, which has led to positive impacts within the community. His ability to play as a team member and at the same time a leader is evident through the various organizations and positions he has held within those organizations. Dr. Mhamilawa has been a member of Youth of United Nations Association of Tanzania (YUNA) since December 2008 to present. He is also the member of the Youth Climate Activists Network (Youth - CAN Tanzania) as well as Save Life Club.

He attended Kibo (JK Nyerere) Primary School in Moshi, before spending four years at St. Anthonys Secondary School, where he had various leadership positions, from a class monitor to a Deputy Head prefect, from a leader in Debate club in English Community, to Chairperson of Tanzania Young Catholic Students, (TYCS). After good academic performance in O-Level, he was selected to study PCB at Kibaha Boys Special School, with aspirations to become a Medical Doctor. During his studies there, he led the TYCS Members into buying a Piano for their Choir, the fundraising was through community service, bob a job and singing in the church. Upon successful graduation he got admission at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences for a Degree course in Medicine, (MD). Despite attending medical school that is perceived by many to be a challenging course, Dr. Mhamilawa has been able to show excellent time management skills and hence being an inspiration to those around him. His ability to balance both being a leader and a student is evident through his commitments and ability to accomplish his duties accordingly which started since his childhood which is evident when he was awarded as Runner-up by the Florida State in Collaboration with Moshi Municipal in the International Junior Essay Competition 1999. He has continuously been recognized by various organizations. For instance in 2013, he was awarded " paper presented in Win and Learn Academic Event and awarded the best business proposal during I Have a Vision for Africa Conference in Ghana in 2013; in 2008, he was awarded as the best delegate and delegation in the EARMUN conference. His contribution further goes to the government institutions; for instance in the Government’s ˆ

= ‚ * University Curriculum Review.

The ability to set examples and passion for change that Dr. Mhamilawa has is evident in his initiatives including organising for a Form Four Teaching Camp ( 150 students for one month) in rural areas like Bumbuli in Lushoto to set an example that youth can have

efforts to resque the education sector. Mr. Mhamilawa has been able to work with his peers in order to bring youth not only in Tanzania but youth from all over Africa. For example in the Eastern Africa Regional Model United Nations Conference 2013,he served as the President of the conference, leading more than 200 youth as they practice diplomacy as well as coming up with solutions towards issues related to energy and climate change in the world. Mr. Mhamilawa has also been on the frontline in the coordination of events such as International Peace Day, International Youth Day among many others, working together with government and non government organizations - such as ILO, UNESCO, UN and President’s ‚ % ˆ

these aimed at creating awareness as well as building leadership and entrepreneurial skills to other youth. In Nov. 2013, he participated in Conference of Parties (COP 19) on Climate Change, as part of the Tanzania Government delegation, organized by UNFCCC in Warsaw Poland. In the COP 19 the President of United Republic of Tanzania was the speaker for African Countries. His ability to play as a team member can also be seen in his ability to work with peers from across the globe for instance in I Have A Vision For Africa organized by IHAV Ghana (2013); Global Model UN Conference I (Switzerland, 2009) and Global Model UN Conference III (South Korea, 2011).

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MOMENT ON TOP

Aisha Maina CEO of Aquarian Consult

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Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?

Aisha Maina is the CEO of Aquarian Consult, a business development and human resources ' " the capital city of Nigeria. She has a vision of building a Business Development * that is truly global. Aisha shares with us on how she started her company with just a laptop and access to the internet to making it one of the leading development and human resources ' "

*

* |= ˆ ‰7 ‚

Abuja, Aquarian Consult Limited. I established Aquarian Consult in August Š ‹ 7

admin process formulation, power, human resources and business development in both the public and private sectors. Presently, my professional areas of expertise and strengths span across multiple areas of business development, which anchor on Business Process Re-Engineering, Knowledge Management, Staff Audit, Signature Training Classes, Job Interview Coaching, Customized Field Sales Training and Corporate Structure development. Managing all the corporate affairs of Aquarian Consult, I’ve been able to identify potential new markets based on rigorous needs assessment and created a strong national client base. I’m a self-motivated and hard-working business development consultant, who is goal-directed, and results-oriented, with a strong belief in the development of the common good. As a pioneer for national development, I designed and implemented a number of programs, based on my special social empowerment projectEmpower, which I conceived to effectively empower 30,000 Nigerians by the year 2014, with the aim of building the capacity of business owners, budding entrepreneurs, young adults, children, and women across Nigeria. Presently, the Project has empowered over 20, 951 Nigerians and counting. I’ve designed, managed and delivered on numerous business prospects for clients, whose businesses cut across several facets of the economy, leaving a trail of excellent records on multifarious projects with a strong emphasis on corporate institutional strengthening and development.

You started your company with just a laptop and access to the internet. Tell us how you made it what it is today? My core ingredients for success are based on strive for perfection in my " ΠΠ~ establishing formidable business relationship/partnerships. On the bedrock of acquired knowledge and expertise, I further laid a formidable foundation for learning and building my capacity as a business development consultant. This foundation was supported with building blocks of partnership and value

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MOMENT ON TOP

Œ | who have equally added to my success. In the vanguard of adding value positively to the lives of people further created a channel for establishing business network with prospective clients. Until date, I’ve never really advertised for business, as completed projects have been pillars of excellence, which have endeared me to my clients, and further served as referrals for new clients. I believe in paying it forward; in saying, building and developing people, enhancing my capacity and delivering projects of distinction. Speaking more practically, I developed a 5-year goal plan for my company, which was computed of immediate, mid-term and long-term goals. I also developed a vision and mission statement and commenced a viable corporate branding process. Thus, I aligned myself to people, who shared my common vision, and they served as supporting lintel in the life-building process. On this background, I was able to secure a conducive working space, hire and train staff and further source for prospective clients; exceed their expectations and obtain referrals for business. Business networking has been very vital in our success.

Why interest in recruiting? & ~

" professionalism and sustainability. A company is just a set of procedures, policies, operations, set vision and business objectives. It is the staff that animates these operations and gives “life� to the company; hence, with the best drawn out operation and ineffective staff, a company can never achieve desired corporate goals. On the background of building a formidable human resource for my clients, I decided to go into corporate and non-corporate recruitment services, so as to identify, train and place the best staff needed in a company.

What has been the reception for your services?

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The reception has been very satisfactory. This is due to the excellence in delivered projects. Committed to the entire life cycle of a project, my companyAquarian Consult focuses and pays special attention to details, using innovate and creative solutions, up to date technological tools, thus bringing out the best in any assigned task. Thus, we have always surpassed 7 Œ

have always served as “key marketers� and generated viable referrals to prospective clients.

What do you like best about being an entrepreneur? As an entrepreneur, I see myself as a “walking library�, in which have been able to build and share knowledge with others in my expertise and also gained a lot in return. Based on my conception as an “empty cup� I have been open to learning and developing my capacity; and this is what I love best about being an entrepreneur.

What has been your biggest hurdle to date? My biggest challenge is the present misplaced conception of young people, especially those I’ve tried to partner with or empower. Many young people have the conception of “making it quick�, getting “white collar jobs� and actually being “spoon fed�, especially as most of these people at times are not even employable. Such persons have at times damped my morale. However, I remain resolute in my set goals, and have become an advocate for changing the psyche of young people and building them. Thus one of the core reasons for designing and implementing my social empowerment project- Empower.

Do you have any particular work-related challenges? And how have you dealt with these challenges? I wouldn’t say I have had a particular work related challenge or challenges. I have the challenges that come with growing and sustaining a business in Nigeria. So for me, I look at these as building blocks for if you are comfy and have no challenges in business, and then surely something is terribly wrong.

MOMENT ON TOP

Tell us about the Empower initiative. Our social empowerment project was launched in February 2012, with title EMPOWER, an initiative consciously designed to effectively empower 30,000 Nigerians by the end of year 2014. With the aim of building the capacity of business owners, budding entrepreneurs, young adults, women and children across Nigeria, we are passionate about building a pipeline for growth and development for a teeming population who can initiate and sustain visible

/ ‚ this background, social, educating, and interactive programs will be conducted. These programs are designed and tailored towards national transformation through personal development, human resource development, skill acquisition and development.

EMPOWER Initiative includes: ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨

i-Empower Empower Youth Leadership Seminar Empower Young Entrepreneurs Empower Child Road Safety Program Teachers Empowerment Program Empower Biz Clinic Empower Internship Empower CV Writing & Acing Interview Training Empower Retirees Empower Growing Woman Empower Widow’s Might

believe I am very far from the mark as there are millions of Nigerians, millions of businesses and we have not positively affected enough lives.

Where do you see yourself and your Adding value and changing lives positively while striving to achieve our vision of being the Nigerian Business Development Consultancy that is truly global.

Finally, do you have an advice for young and aspiring entrepreneurs? First foremost, young entrepreneurs should never limit themselves; they should strive to continuously learn and build their knowledge-base. They should see life as a learning experience: each day ushers in a new chapter to be learnt. Furthermore, they should be goal-driven and align themselves to people who share their vision and goals. When challenges arise, they should face them squarely, and never lose motivation. I also adjure that they should believe that when one door closes, a bigger door opens.

Since its inception, we have been able to organize a series of Empower Projects in Abuja, Rivers, Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Taraba. This initiative has successfully empowered over 20,951 Nigerians and still counting.

! " and do you believe you have achieved it? *

value and change lives positively. Thus once we have = #

an empowered youth or well completed task, which will impact positively on the lives of people, I feel a little, just a little closer to being successful. But as it is, I

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MR. EVENTS

WHAT? P-SQUARE LIVE IN DAR WHERE? Leaders Club WHEN? 23rd November ATMOSPHERE Wild & Youthful

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MR. EVENTS

WHAT? Mi Casa & Liquideep Concert WHERE? Sea Cliff Hotel WHEN? 09th November ATMOSPHERE Soulful!

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MR. EVENTS

WHAT? AY Road to CHOAMVA 2013 WHERE? Club Billicanas WHEN? 17th November ATMOSPHERE Epic

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MR. EVENTS

WHAT? Bubbles & Beats – November Edition WHERE? Club Rouge, Hyatt Regency, The Kilimanjaro WHEN? 08th November ATMOSPHERE Electric

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TOPICS

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