SKY Magazine Issue 33

What is SKY?

SKY is a sisterhood of teenage girls all across Botswana that supports, empowers, and celebrates being true to ourselves.

Becoming a SKY girl means taking the pledge to define your Sures (things you love) and Shapos (things you don’t need in your life)

What sets SKY girls apart?

We are not swayed by peer pressure, instead, we make choices that are true to ourselves and we stick to them. Whatever our Sures and Shapos are, we stand by them, because those choices define us, and make each one of us unique. To become a SKY Girl you need to take the pledge and live by it.

How do I take the pledge?

Inbox us on our Facebook page @skygirlsbw with the following details: your name, surname, date of birth, location, 3 Sures and 3 Shapos! We will get right back to you to confirm you are now officially a SKY Girl, and you can start getting the benefits of being a member of SKY Girls!

Where can I find SKY?

Socials

I will say SHAPO KA YONE to the things

I will say SHAPO KA YONE to the things

I��m��o�� ��t��u��like negative vibes, smoking and peer pressure

I��m��o�� ��t��u��like negative vibes, smoking and peer pressure

t��t��r� true t��m�

Ke sure ka kindness, Clarke Griffin, summer

Ke shapo ka smoking, being broke, misogyny

re ka acting, dancing, ood grades

e shapo ka back stabbing body shaming, beauty standards

re ka dreaming big, aith, baking e shapo ka negativity, omparison, judgment

Ke sure ka my talent, my vision, my best friends

Ke shapo ka negativity, cold weather, fake friends

Ke sure ka good food, sneakers, confident vibes

Ke shapo ka smoking bullying, entitlement

Ke sure ka self-discipline, kindness, financial freedom

Ke shapo ka self-sabotage dishonesty, tobacco

e sure ka dancing, content eation, adventures e shapo ka entitlement, hubbly, littering

e sure ka dancing, entures and Nachos :) e shapo ka entitlement, vaping, Fanta

Ke sure ka photography, nature, success

Ke shapo ka cats, pineapple on pizza, city life

Hey SKY fam!

It’s your fave, Arona, A.K.A Seneo from Sure Ka Rafiwa. I hope ntse le lebile Rafiwa and her crazy life with her family, Minks and her crush, Bo.

First of all, I’d love to say how excited I am to be writing this. And congratulations to the girlies that won the cover competition. Y’all looking so good!

Yoh but guys, a lot is happening around the world and re lebile hela yaana from a distance. Eish, even with all of that going on let’s not forget ourselves and our mental health neh?? Luckily, in this issue of the mag we explore just that: living a happy life and all things related to happiness. We talk all things mentalhealth related, from sadness, depression and cyber-bullying, to honing happiness. Eish re le tshwere ga monate mahn!

I don’t know about you guys but as for me, ke sure ka my food and my music because they make me super happy (especially my food, don’t play with me lol). There’s just something about having good food that makes me want to get up and dance. P.S. don’t tell anyone neh? Talking about good music and good food, in this issue of SKY we explore feelgood music and we also read through ice

cream reviews because wow, go hoto. Yei! Thee Megan a re something like hot girl summer?

Speaking of hot, it’s time for summer fashion. Personally my go-to summer look consists of ripped jean shorts and a simple T-shirt because I guess I’m a simple girl. So, you can head over to page 10 and tell us what your favourite look is on IG, Facebook and TikTok @skygirlsbw. We also took it upon ourselves to chat a bit with our local celebs too! So head over there for the lovely lovely stuff.

Wait. Before I sign out, y’all remember how I said we are putting you on? Yah! Only four words; A. GIRL. MUST. GLOW! You have to look good to feel good, right? Read our advice on how to get that glow. While you’re at it, give your bedroom a glow too because re bua gape ka DIY bedroom decorations. We also continue on trends! Stay updated girl!

Anyways, that’s it from me. Hope you enjoy reading this issue of the SKY magazine.

Love you loadddsss. Do you always!

Arona Bonolo Masoso

SKY Spotlight 5

2022 was THAT year! Koore, so much happened in the world; from the Will Smith slap at the Oscars to the Ukraine x Russia war, to floods in Pakistan. COVID is still around, there was an emergence of Monkeypox, the Queen’s death, and we saw an increase of armed robberies right here at home!

Other than that, we got to experience some positive things happening too; from the release of amazing black-centred movies —The Woman King & Black Panther 2—to Letsile Tebogo breaking world records, and Botswana hosting Forbes 30 Under 30 with guests such as Elsa Majimbo! SKY Girls BW also had an amazing year.

Check out some of what we did in 2022:

The Mix Season 3

Everything is BIGGER and BETTER on SKY’s lifestyle TV show!!! Our guests range from Uua Murangi to African Oats! We brought in all the faves for our SKY Sisters!!! Catch it on BTV and on our YouTube channel.

Sure Ka Rafiwa

Botswana’s first ever family TV sitcom launched and we were honoured by how Batswana received it. The BTV run is now over but you can catch it on our YouTube channel!

SKY Schools Tour

We got to speak heart to heart with so many different SKY Girls. Sadi Dikgaka, Lone Botshelo and Waone Makobo AKA Puuureeeereeeee tagged along too!

Social Media LOVE

From rocking your new SKY merch, to using our magazine in dance videos, we love seeing y’all rep the sisterhood!! #StayTrue

Influencer Magazine

Distribution Bri Baby and Letang went out to distribute our Influencer Mag Issue at different schools around Gabz!! And signed some for y’all too ;)

Got a SKY Wristband?!!

It isn’t just a fashion statement �� All SKY Girls get discounte prices when you present your SKY wristband at Fifi Fab Beauty to get your nails on fleek, or any other services you’d prefer from them!

Miss Botswana visits SKY

She came by to share her Sures (authenticity) and her Shapos (fake friends)! Did you catch her guest appearance in a Sure Ka Rafiwa episode?

The Mix Live Sessions

We LOVE these live versions of our favourite songs from Khoisan, Samantha Mogwe and Jinger Stone <3 They are perfect for a journaling sesh in your bedroom! Watch on our YouTube channel.

Covergirl Competition

The BEAUTIFUL SKY Girls on the cover of this mag issue are WINNERS from one of our many online competitions this year! Go ne go le maza!

Lobsters pee out of their faces

If not don’t worry, you’re about to be that girl because we gotchu. Read on for some tips on what makes someone glow from the inside out – re sure ka sharing wisdom and building each other up.

THE PHYSICAL HEALTH ELEMENT…

To boost your natural glow from the inside, eat healthy, get enough sleep, drink lots of water and exercise. If this sounds like too much work oska wara, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Just make sure to include fruit or veggies in every meal (apples, oranges, spinach and butternut are all easy low-cost options), sleep at least 7 hours a night, drink at least 2 litres of water every day and stay reasonably active.

Did you know that walking to a combi stop and doing chores counts as exercise? Most teenagers probably get our daily dose of exercise just from that, lol. But if you want to do more, dancing or taking up a team sport are both great ways to get fit, and the glow will surely follow.

And what dulls our physical glow? Smoking (another reason gore re shapo ka smoking), pollution from traffic fumes, and eating too much junk food.

Glass balls can bounce higher than rubber balls (do not try this at home)

THE MENTAL HEALTH ELEMENT…

One reason ‘that girl’ glows is that she has confidence. When someone has self-confidence and self-love, they always glow from the inside out. The thing is, when you’re a teenager there are so many things that can affect our confidence levels – from comparing ourselves to others online or at school, to hormones doing crazy things to our brains, even to adults insulting us! So how can we build confidence in ourselves if no one is helping us? Firstly, be kind to yourself.

Your subconscious should be your own best friend, not tearing you down. If you notice your inner voice criticising yourself, take note of this, and consciously think of a positive thing about yourself instead. Try to really focus on the things you love about yourself –trust us, there should be so many! You’re unique and valuable in this world, you are worth no less than anyone else. If you’re just not able to force yourself to think positively about yourself yet, read on to the ‘cheat code’ section.

THE SOCIAL ELEMENT…

Glowing also comes from our interactions with others. People who glow radiate positivity and warmth, and this transmits to other people. So if you want to light up a room when you enter, make sure to be warm and friendly to everyone, whether you know them or not. People who glow never tear each other down with negativity and criticism, they build each other up with positivity and light. They know there is space on the throne for everyone. Avoid gossip and negativity – if it happens around you, either ignore it or change the subject back to a positive one. Try to be a positive beacon of light for your friends – the one they can turn to when times are tough, just to be there for them and help them feel happy again.

This doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help when you need it though, and it doesn’t mean you have to pretend to like people. It’s possible to be assertive, but still polite and friendly. Also, consider taking up a hobby if you don’t already have one – it’s a great way to bond with friends, it builds self-confidence and gives you something to talk about too!

THE CHEAT CODE…

All our tips so far have been pretty deep – it’s worth it but it will take a bit of time and effort to bring out that genuine glow in you. So here are a few tips for ways to help you glow up today! Firstly, the superficial things: exfoliation, lotion, highlighter, gloss, maybe some hair oil… all of these will help your physical self reflect more light, so you will literally look like you’re glowing. It’s that simple.

Wearing a little jewellery can help too because it’s also reflective - especially gold jewellery if this suits your skin’s undertones. Now for the other physical cheat codes… in a 4-step process, first take a deep breath, then stand up tall and straight, pull your shoulders back, and smile. That’s it – 4 simple steps to looking and feeling confident. The best thing about this trick is that not only does it make you come across as more confident (even if you’re just faking it!) but it is also proven to have a positive effect on your mood.

So next time you’re feeling less than sparkly, try those 4 steps and feel the glow begin to radiate from within you!

That’s it, our top tips on ‘how to glow’. Do you have any to add? Hit us up on any of our socials @skygirlsbw to share yours!

There are more chickens in the world than there are people

Music SKY’s Feelgood

They say music is a universal language. Wouldn’t you agree with us when we say music just has a way of expressing our feelings as well as emotions, yeah? It could be the melody, harmony, the lyrics, or even the beats on their own. TikTok has truly given us feelgood bangers to do challenges to jaaka bo ‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel and Tekno le bo ‘About Damn Time’ ya ga Lizzo. With that being said, we asked the SKY nation what their feelgood music is, let’s see what you said.

1. Break My Soul Beyonc é

I mean who doesn’t love THE queen? Queen Bee! Her music embodies different genres— R&B, Pop, Hip Hop, Club, even some blues! The lyrics of this track hit us right in the feels when she says “you won’t break my soul”. A I’m looking for motivation, I’m building my own foundation’’… She talks about looking for inspiration & building herself up and re sure ka this entire inspiration. Finding your own ground and not letting anybody take away your shine. Such a motivational upbeat song, go listen to it right now haha.

Nominated by Osiame Mokgothatsi

2. Unstoppable

When we speak of Sia we are speaking of a woman whose music always, and I mean always, wants you to get your dancing shoes and let it all out. Her popular songs include Chandelier & Cheap Thrills. This songUnstoppable - is such an inspirational & uplifting song which you can always listen to when you feel unmotivated and like you wanna give up. Great choice sis!

Nominated by Naomi Searobi

3. Scars to your beautiful Alessia Cara

This song goes out to all the SKY sisters out there who feel insecure about their looks & want to change. The world should change, not us. The powerful message she sends out to all girls is that you are the only one; there is no one like you so accept your scars because they make you unique and beautiful in your own way. Don’t wish to be more than yourself ‘cause it eventually put scars to your beautiful. Yet those scars are in your beautiful soul. What a powerful song!

Nominated by Våttíêllyñ Bw

Feelgood

Danko

If you feel like you’re at your lowest and have lost hope on everything, this song right here is the one for you! This up-and-coming gospel musician released a song ‘Danko’ which is a popular slang meaning ‘thank you’ and it got everyone singing their hearts out. He talks about how grateful HE is for what his creator is doing in his life & what he’s about to do as well as how he deserves only the big things!

Nominated by Kealeboga Ramosesane

What a beautiful way to describe grief. Losing a loved one is never easy, and no words can describe how you are feeling but this song has put the words together well. In one of the lines Justin mentions how he misses his loved one more than life itself and since he can’t be close to them, memory is all he’ll be playing in his head repeatedly. Sending love to everyone who has lost a loved one.

Nominated by Catherine Nkwalang

Sam Smith truly has one of the most angelic voices out there - this artist right here hits all the high notes that exist (haha). Sam’s lyric writing is so poetic and imaginative. Fire is seen as a symbol of passion and love so in this song, Sam expresses support for everyone going through something, and goes on to state that nothing should stop us being true to ourselves.

Nominated by it’s_chubby_thami

The talent we have in B-dubs is unimaginable. This banger here has been around for a while, but it looks like it made the SKY Girls’ feel-good music list. With artists Dato Seiko, Han C, Jordan MoOzy, Charma Gal, Gaone, and KhoiSan, and produced by Dj Kuchi, this December track is all about staying true, being yourself, and removing doubt from your life. A re ‘Maikutlo a sirelediweng…’ choss!

Nominated by Kelly Nicky Legaswa

5. Ghost

Justin Bieber

4. Ezra Neethings

6. FIre on Fire

Sam Smith

7. SKY Anthem

Dj Kuchi ft Dato Seiko, Gaone, Khoisan, Han C, Jordan Moozy & Charma Gal

Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman

Summer

Summertime is a vibe - doing what we do, living our best lives and looking fly! This issue is all about being happy and we know for some of the girlies out there, nothing makes us feel more confident than a cool fit! That’s why we are bringing you 4 attainable summer looks in 4 different styles to inspire your wardrobe choices this season!

Streetwear: Giving us 90’s tomboy realness right here. The combo of the shirt and the gold jewellery is everything. Has wearing slides and socks ever looked so cool?

Shirt: Cotton On P250

Shorts: Mr Price P180

Slides: Mr Price P180

Accessories: ‘Chinese’ stores and Mr Price P60

Girly: This fit reminds me of that song ya “Let’s go to the beach beach…”

Totally giving fun in the sun with all the colour and floral patterns going on. We STILL love ourselves a cute off shoulder top am I right?

Top: ‘Chinese’ stores P100

Skirt: Mr Price P150

Shoes: Mr Price P170

Accessories: ‘Chinese’ stores P50

All clownfish are born male

Baddie: Did somebody say hot girl summer?? We love to see it! This look is sweet and simple with a cute bodycon dress, sneakers and accessories!

Dress: Mr Price P120

Shoes: Urban Soul P1000 (ish)

Accessories: The Fix and ‘Chinese’ stores P80

Edgy: Doesn’t she look like she is going to a festival or something? A cool edgy look for those days when the sun is trying to cook us, lol. Also, peep the SKY meeeerch!

Shirt: SKY Girls BW (you win it on the SKY pages)

Shorts: Mr Price P150

Shoes: Mr Price P180

Accessories: ‘Chinese’ stores and Mr Price P90

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sures &

HUGS: It's the quickest way to make us feel better.

SELF-CARE SUNDAY: Our minds and bodies need to charge up so that we can take on the week. Clean up your space, put on a face mask and jot down the plans you have for the following week.

GOOD FOOD: The fastest way to a SKY girl's heart is through her stomach. We have a soft spot for good food and the foodie in us cannot resist a wholesome meal.

MUSIC: This is our number one mood uplifter. Playing our favourite jams is our vibe.

GOOD GRADES: Re sure ka passing and being on track of reaching our dreams. Though studying can be boring, we keep up to make sure we do well in our exams.

MONEY: Sometimes money CAN buy you happiness. Not having money sucks, and if you have it, you are able to purchase something you've always wanted or that you really need.

FRIENDS: One of our favourite things to do is kick it with our friends. Friends that love us, that make us feel good and make sweet memories together.

GIRLS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER: A sisterhood is awesome because it creates a community for support in every aspect of our lives. We’re all about lifting each other up.

GOOD TV SHOWS: A great show can work wonders on your mood and make you happy.

STANDING OUT: A SKY girl loves to be different. We are bold and brave enough to stay true to ourselves.

Things that make us happy! RE SURE KA! RE SURE KA!

Shapos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

RE SHAPO KA!

RE SHAPO KA!

CYBERBULLYING: Re shapo ka bullies anywhere. It affects our mental health negatively. Going online to mock, spread lies, hate, and harass others is not okay.

ANXIETY: It is known that moderate anxiety is good; it helps you stay alert and aware. However, too much often causes extreme uneasiness and distress. Which is in no way fun. Re shapo ka yone.

LIES: Better hurt us with the truth than comfort us with a lie. The truth always reveals itself.

MEAN PEOPLE: Being mean and hiding behind “I speak my mind as it is” is not cute. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all, right?

GASLIGHTING: Manipulating us into second-guessing our reality is not welcome. If someone asks you why you react a certain way, first ask yourself what they did to make you react like that.

LACK OF CONFIDENCE: It goes without saying that we value confidence here at SKY, but sometimes confidence is hard to find! Hopefully being a SKY Girl can help.

IRONING: This has to be the most tedious chore. We would rather change our outfits altogether than iron.

HARASSMENT: Being catcalled (pspsps shosho) by boys and men in the streets when we’re just minding our business and trying to go by our days! The stress of being a girl!

HORMONAL ACNE: We hate it when we use skincare products but our skin doesn’t care. Sometimes the problem is not the skin itself but the hormones, and that's the worst. We’re just growing fam!

PERIODS: Bathong gatwe where can we run to? *Cries* Month in month out we’re bleeding, cramping, paining, and our moods are all over the place. Just give us some chocolate, tea, a hot water bottle, pain killers, a movie and we’re good to go.

Things that don't make us happy

Thomas Harvey stole Einstein’s brain after he died

happiness

If there is one thing that all people on planet earth chase, no matter their race, gender, religion, or creed, it’s HAPPINESS! We can all agree gore joy is an unmatched sensation and it is almost Dezemba guys! Asibe happy for sure. That’s why SKY decided to make this issue about happiness. We ran a cover competition where we asked the SKY nation, what are your top 3 tips to being happy? We received so many entries but could only pick 3 winners. The cover girls gave us some strong answers okuuurrr! Here are their 9 tips all together.

Kimberly Mahloe, 16

Ke sure ka: Reading novels, education, nurturing true friendships

Ke shapo ka: Smoking, fake friends, peer pressure

says: Enjoy your own company

Kimberly

There is only one person in the whole wide world who is with you from the day you are born till the end: you! Learning to enjoy your own company will ensure a happy life because you spend the most time with yourself. If you don’t really like yourself, then that is a great place to start working on this skill. Schedule time occasionally to sit down and do some free personality quizzes online to find out more about yourself. Treat yourself like your best friend! Go on solo dates and be kind to yourself. Once you learn to enjoy your own company you discover new things about yourself. Not only does this feel amazing when you love yourself, but it also means that you can grow and glow into the woman you want to be. You can also easily be true to yourself and not feel pressure to follow crowds.

Maintain good habits

Habits are important because they give you a sense of routine. According to a study done by researchers at Tel Aviv University, having a predictable, repetitive routine can be calming and help reduce anxiety. And anxiety is a common obstacle to happiness. Having good habits can help lead to happiness because you are doing positive things that benefit you and removing an obstacle to your joy, and in a sense, practicing self-care. This is why I heavily recommend maintaining good habits for yourself.

Crows can hold grudges due to their ability to remember human faces, especially those who treated them badly

Tsotlhe Tumisang, 16

Ke sure ka: Achieving my dreams, dancing, a healthy body

Ke shapo ka: Smoking, negativity, fake friends

Emma Marope, 15

Ke sure ka: Education, inspiration, peace

Ke shapo ka: Smoking, bad energy, peer pressure

Tsotlhe

says: Practise self-care

For me it’s food!! Food really fills me with joy. When I am down in the dumps, chocolate and ice-cream comfort me. Eating routinely and properly is also a good way to take care of your body, and a healthy body = a healthy mind. Nothing really puts a smile on my face like a good, tasty meal guys. Dancing and moving my body also make me energetic and all bubbly too. Another means of self-care I practice is sleeping well! Your girl LOVES her beauty sleep. Re shapo ka di eyebags. My room is my happy place after a long day for real. Just choose things that make you feel relaxed and at peace, because that is how happiness will find you. Part of self-care is surrounding yourself with positivity and this includes the people you surround yourself with. Good friends and supportive family create a conducive emotional environment for happiness!

Be an original

The first step I take to being happy is being myself. I do not commoditize myself trying to imitate others, nor do I compare myself to them. I know that I am the only me that exists and I do not have to change myself in exchange for acceptance. This serves as a source of happiness as I do not have to fake who I truly am to impress other people and to ‘fit in’! I don’t want to invite a lot of unnecessary pressure into my life and end up attracting the wrong crowd when I don’t show up as the most authentic version of myself. Me being myself, invites abundant peace and happiness into my life. I walk with confidence wearing my invisible crown knowing I’m an original. Nothing makes me happier than staying TRUE to myself because I am comfortable in my own skin.

Emma says: Accept yourself

Happiness comes with staying true to oneself. The best way to do this is to maintain a positive attitude. Having a positive mentality or positive thinking helps attract positive things. Growing up I have learnt that happiness is a choice you make as a person. Learn to be content with yourself and always look on the bright side. We were born different and it’s something we should understand and accept. To choose happiness you need to stay true to yourself because what makes the next gal happy might not be for you and that’s OK. Everyone has their own journey. But it takes guts to walk yours even when you are alone. Even the richest people in the world long for happiness. So, it doesn’t entirely rely on what you have and don’t have.

Believe in yourself

Happiness comes from within and believing in yourself. Take control of your life and make sure that nothing comes between you and your happiness. Nobody is the captain of your life but you. Don’t be afraid to make a move because you worry you might not be enough to get yourself through it. Making yourself your first priority is an act of self-love. Give yourself some credit. Happiness is not always getting what you want all the time. Sometimes it’s about what you need. Life only comes around once so do whatever makes you happy as long as no one suffers in the process. Believe in yourself and do you boo!

Emma

says: Spread happiness

Empowering yourself and others every day helps spread happiness. When you encourage another person to “keep going”, to “hang in there” you find an unending source of happiness and it’s so amazing knowing that those words can change how someone thinks about themselves. Happiness is also contagious. If you make it a habit to make someone smile, that beautiful feeling comes back to you. But trying to tread the line between kindness and people-pleasing not only takes courage but strength. Make sure you don’t give away so much love, energy and positivity that you end up with nothing left for yourself. Make sure that you choose your own path so that you don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations. My older sister has taught me the principle of giving, now nothing brings me joy more than giving and knowing that I might consider it small but to another person it’s huge.

Tsotlhe says: Let go

Be it a toxic relationship, unmet expectations, or a grudge, holding onto things that hurt me has proven to be a big fat waste of time. One of the most important things I do is to ‘let go’. My happiness comes first before all things and if it means letting go of certain things that block me from being happy, then I will not hesitate to do so. Letting go of toxic friendships that are emotionally draining, letting go

of the pain from the past and being free from negativity in all sorts of ways. I wouldn’t want to live my whole life in regret, sorry for wasting my time worrying or constantly crying over things I couldn’t change or couldn’t have. I have to accept, let go and move on. Some ways I do this are writing a letter about how something made me feel then ripping it up and choosing to let it go. Or meditating. It takes guts to let go, but once you do you are free to feel all sorts of things, including happiness.

Kimberly says:

Do the things you love

If you surround yourself with things that you enjoy and make you feel good, they bring out happiness. Including hobbies in your daily routine is a great way to do this. For example, I enjoy reading novels and it makes me happy when I finally get to sit and read one. You can reserve 15 minutes every day to do something you love like dancing, drawing or listening to music. If you feel under pressure to do things you don’t enjoy, just say no (but this doesn’t include house chores!).

Understanding Depression

sad?

It can be confusing to know the difference between these two things, because they both involve feelings of sadness. But think about it like this: if sadness is like weather, then depression is like climate. Sadness is a normal feeling we all experience – it doesn’t last long, it is usually triggered by a specific thing that happened, and it should be relatively easy to stop yourself feeling sad, for example by distracting yourself with something happy or just by waiting for it to pass. On the other hand, depression can last for months or years, it isn’t usually triggered by external factors, and it can be very difficult to shake off.

What are the symptoms of depression?

As well as generally ‘feeling sad’ other symptoms of depression can include insomnia (not being able to sleep), lack of appetite or eating too much, being unable to perform basic tasks like getting out of bed and bathing, low energy levels, irritability, suicidal thoughts and changes in behaviour. But not everyone who has depression has these exact symptoms, which is one reason why it can be really hard to diagnose. People living with depression can also have bad days and good days, meaning that they are not always sad and distant, sometimes they have all the energy and they socialise. So it’s not something anyone can just diagnose by looking at a person.

If you or a loved one feel you have a mental illness including depression, do visit a licensed professional mental health care provider for them to diagnose, because it is not possible to diagnose yourself. You will be helped.

How can I prevent depression?

Depression can be genetic, meaning someone is much more likely to get depressed than most people, and there is unfortunately not much they can do to prevent it. But there are steps we can all take to help protect against depression. One thing that is proven to help is physical exercise, of any type. Also, creative hobbies such as painting and writing can help. Having a healthy and supportive community also protects against depression, so do try to cultivate good friendships. Sleep is important too – try to practise ‘good sleep hygiene’, meaning

We all know depression is a real thing that can affect anyone at any age and from any background. It’s a mental health issue, and we are beginning to see that it can seriously affect physical health too. But what exactly is it, how is it different from ‘just being sad’ and what can we do about it?

getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night in a comfortable, dark, quiet room.

Even though there are ways to protect ourselves against depression, someone who is depressed didn’t cause it to happen, it’s not their fault.

How can I help someone who is depressed?

People with depression need good friends who are stable and supportive of them, so the number one thing you can do is let them know that you are there for them, whatever they might need help with. Sometimes people with depression are unable to do simple things like washing their clothes or tidying up, so offer to help with that type of thing and it could make a big difference to them. Secondly, let them know you understand what they’re going through and that they are not a burden on you. Tell them you are happy to help, you love them and that things will get better. If they are irritable or negative, try to forgive them and remember it’s not their fault.

If someone is having suicidal thoughts, they require urgent help from a mental health professional. Help is available by request at any clinic, or by calling Lifeline on 391 1270

Depression can be managed. If you think you might be depressed, seek help from a trained, licensed mental health professional or call Lifeline on 391 1270 for advice.

What should I do if my friend is being abused?

Firstly, let your friend know it’s not their fault, and that they have the right to be safe, happy and protected from harm. Often people who are abused blame themselves and can’t see a way out, so it would be really helpful to your friend if you can show them that whatever is happening, it’s not their fault and there always IS a way out. At the same time, remember that it is not your responsibility to fix the situation because you are young too. There are people out there who are employed to solve problems like this, and they are experts at it! So the next step after consoling your friend is to encourage them to call the experts, or if they don’t feel ready, you can call on their behalf.

Childline Botswana has a phone number that is free to call from any network – 116 –and they are specialists in this type of thing, as they have dealt with hundreds of cases over many years. They make reporting abuse safe and not scary, and they handle the next steps for you, so you and your friend don’t have to worry. They will talk to the police on your behalf if that’s what is necessary, and they will make sure that only good things come out of reporting, and that the situation never gets worse. They even give free advice if you’re not sure whether to report something yet or not. So always stand up for your friends and for yourself, give Childline a call on 116 to report any concern you might have about the welfare of anyone under 18. Good luck, you sound like a great friend!

What should I do if I need to access sexual health services but I’m not sure where or if I’m allowed?

The first thing to say is WELL DONE for knowing you need to access sexual health services. If you’re planning on having sex any time

soon, it’s a great idea to get all your information first and take advantage of the free services out there, to avoid unwanted pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia or herpes. We always say knowledge is power, so do access as much information as you can before becoming sexually active, and while you’re sexually active, it’s important to access sexual health services regularly.

In Botswana, the law says that you can access sexual health services without your parent’s consent once you turn 16 years of age. So if you are 16 or over, the best people to talk to are Tebelopele – they have a range of completely free sexual health services specially for adolescent girls, they are in 18 places all over the country, and they are friendly and experts in the issues we face as teenage girls. Think of them as your nice auntie who’s a doctor – it’s expertise and friendly vibes rolled into one. Call Tebelopele on 395 8014 to find out where your nearest location is.

If you are under 16 and you want to access sexual health services, you need the consent of your parents (this basically means one of your parents would need to go to the clinic with you). But you don’t need your parent’s consent just to access information, so if you feel you can’t speak to your parents to get more information about sexual health, you can use what is available to you like asking your school nurse, a trusted auntie, teacher or family friend, or even the internet (but stay safe!). Everyone at every age has the right to information!

Lady Gaga once spent $50k on a ghost detector

Limit what you share about your life. The internet is a public space and if your social media accounts aren’t set to private, A-N-Y-O-N-E has access to your life. What you post is open for the public to see and use however they want. You can stay anonymous online by not including any personal information when creating an account. Do not check in everywhere you go, you never know who might be monitoring your moves. Sometimes it’s safer to post about something only after it has happened and not during. Don’t share your private cellphone number (unless it is for business purposes). Learn to spot scams and do not jump at every message that promises “opportunities” for prizes, jobs or business. A lot of these messages can’t be trusted, and girls have ended up in human trafficking situations because of fake overseas job offers or modelling careers. NEVER share intimate images of yourselves, even with someone close to you, because devices can get stolen or that person might use that to harm you when you are no longer on good terms even if they promise you they won’t.

Cyber Smart Tip 2:

Protect your accounts

Maintaining privacy can save you the pain of cyber-attacks. You can protect yourself by restricting access to your accounts and content. Most social media networks have privacy and security settings that you can set to prevent access from other internet users—so basically, set your accounts to private. This reduces the chances of you connecting with the bad guys. You get to choose who can follow you, and your content—especially your pictures and videos—would get protected from anybody that may want to use it maliciously like editing deep fakes(using your photos to make fake but realistic-looking videos).

It’s better to be safe than to have so many random accounts following you just to have a high following. Yes, social media platforms are also meant to enable connections with new friends, and it’s easy to make friends with people that you share the same interests with, but to protect yourself you can go private using your personal account or opt to have a separate account from your personal one.

Cyber Smart Girls!

Unfortunately, some good things also have the bad within their spaces so using your personal account in these instances can make you vulnerable to targeted harassment. As the internet becomes increasingly used for malicious purposes, you need to be cautious and do thorough screening before allowing anybody in your network. Some people have lost money, data and even their lives because they connected and became too close to the wrong people.

And of course, the basics of protecting your account - NEVER share your login details and password with anyone, even your best friend or boyfriend.

Former One Direction member, Liam Payne, has a phobia of dirty spoons

Cyber Smart Tip 3: Create Strong Passcodes

The strongest passwords usually comprise a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Weak passwords include details that can be guessed easily or be accessed in other places such as names of loved ones, places of residence, home villages or towns and years of birth. Avoid using full words or names, rather use some of the letters, or mix up letters from different words or names, combined with numbers and special characters. But we all know gore we’re supposed to change our passwords every now and then, gape we shouldn’t have the same password across all our platforms and devices. Sometimes, we even forget gore what password we use for TikTok kana for IG! A trick you can use is to make easy passwords for yourself that no one can guess. This is by using information no one knows.

Example password: TT_s@mEiffel4Bey (TT for TikTok, Underscore, Sam is short for my middle name Samantha with the special character @, Eiffel because I’m afraid of heights but won’t admit it, 4 because this is my fourth password, Bey because I’m the only person in my friend group who’s not a BeyHive so no one would guess that to be in my password).

RE SHAPO KA :

CYBER BULLYING | ONLINE HARASSMENT | FEELING UNSAFE ONLINE

Social media has become more and more unsafe for everyone including teen girls. If it’s not cyberbullying it’s getting harassed by older men or even getting doxed!

There’s toxic circles and fandoms, people sending unwanted DMs and friend requests, the spread of misinformation, trafficking, targeted harassment, and even targeted inappropriate content

This can be emotionally and mentally exhausting, but also very unsafe. There are different ways to protect yourself online. Our Top 5 Ways to help you feel safe and secure are below, so read more about this hot topic, and become cyber smart! :)

Cyber

Smart Tip 5:

If your account has been hacked, report it immediately to the relevant social media platforms and you will be taken through steps to prove that indeed the account belongs to you, and then requested to reset your passwords. You can even ask a friend to report it on your behalf. All social media platforms have step-by-step guidelines on what one needs to do when they encounter such a situation.

Cyber Smart Tip 4:

The best thing about having an account is that you get to control it. You control the content you consume; the people you follow and those that follow you, what you post, and all that. If your account is public and you receive unsolicited DMs especially from men, you can choose to ignore those messages to protect your peace and they will eventually go away. You can also report that account so that they don’t do this to other girls, and you can block it so that they won’t continue harassing you. This is also true for people you know who could be bullying you or others, you can report and mute/or block them. If you don’t want to keep seeing content about something you’re not interested in, you can mute the name/or words of that particular subject and it’ll never show up on your timeline/feed. When you create an account, you get to control the algorithm by telling it what you’re mostly interested in engaging with. This includes topics such as music, art, politics and so on.

Our devices are taking up a lot of our time and we end up neglecting other aspects of our lives. Social media can distract us from studying, from spending time with friends and family, enjoying our other hobbies, and can even lead us to procrastinate too much. Once you get home from school and get straight into TikTok it’s over, next thing you know it’s midnight and you haven’t done your homework! It’s important to limit your social media time. Set a time limit on your phone and try to stay disciplined and stick to it. This helps to focus on consuming content you actually like and not scroll endlessly clicking on anything that could potentially be harmful. This can also help you from putting so much importance on social media discourse that can shape your thoughts negatively.

Before her rise to fame, Madonna worked at Dunkin Donuts. She was fired for squirting jelly on a customer.

Basadi ko pele

We love to see a rising star, shining in all her black-girl-magic glory.

In this article, we sat down with 2 of them to discuss their careers and what happiness means

Miss Teen International Botswana 2021, Miss Teen International Africa 2022

Ke sure ka:

- Education

- Good company

- Giving back to the community

Ke shapo ka:

- Bullying

- Smoking

- Negative vibes

Q: What song makes you happy?

Gimhani: Prince Kaybee. Forever and always!!

Q: What does happiness mean to you?

Gimhani: It means being content with your life and how things are unfolding. Being grateful for what you have and doing what you love.

DJ Kholi: Working out, especially because we are on the road

Khubule, was number one on the Yarona FM charts for 8 weeks. It was amazing and validating

regarding the talent and potential I always knew I possessed.

Q: What do you love about what you do?

Gimhani: I get to impact the community around me. I started a humanitarian project called The Empowering Educational Movement (TEEM) which aims to improve English literacy rates in Botswana. Without pageantry I never would have had the confidence or platform to start it and make a positive change.

DJ Kholi: I travel a lot to different diverse places, perfect my craft and meet new, interesting people every day. I grow every day. That’s beautiful and powerful to me.

Q: How did you start pageantry?

Gimhani: I used to watch the girls my age on Toddlers and Tiaras looking beautiful. I was inspired and learned more about it at 9 years old when I joined my first one. I began to understand that pageantry is beyond skin-deep. It’s about your purpose too.

Q: How did you start making music?

DJ Kholi: I was interested in music and started playing around with software and eventually began making beats. I started playing professionally in 2019, I performed in different places until after lockdown when I began working with Roc Lefatshe Records.

Q: Have you ever been cyber-bullied? How did you deal with it?

Gimhani: Yes. I came to realise

that people will always have something to say. Their words don’t affect my actual value.

Q: How do you keep yourself safe on the internet?

Gimhani: I don’t publish super personal stuff on the internet like share my phone number or respond to DMs that make me uncomfortable.

Q: What internet safety tips would you like to share with the SKY girls?

DJ Kholi: Post things that feel most authentic and comfortable to you and things that you would be okay with your family seeing. Don’t give anyone your information and be very careful when talking to strangers. Try to use the internet more for educational purposes.

DJ KHOLI

DJ managed by Roc Lefatshe Records

Ke sure ka: - Healthy living - Self-empowerment - Independence

Ke shapo ka: - Cyber-bullying - Smoking

- Negativity

How to Create a Study Timetable How to Create a Study Timetable

About Safreen: I am currently 19 years old and I go to Maru-a-Pula school. I love photography (I actually have a page on instagram @safreen._.photographs)! I like nature because it has the ability to soothe anyone who is stressed out. I am sure ka my success, it may come slowly but surely it will come. I do not like cats, sorry guys, I prefer dogs. Shapo about the idea of pineapple on pizza, and I’m not so sure I like the city life. Put me on a farm to look after cows, and I will be happy :)

by Safreen Khan

Sometimes I feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to get all my work done and as exam season draws nearer, “the pressure is getting worse!” As a well-rounded student, I must maintain my academics, while also partaking in extra curriculars because I believe that even though grades are important, they do not define who we are. Having a study timetable will positively affect not only your academics but your social life too. All of your tasks will be organized and neatly arranged in time slots and as a result, your motivation will skyrocket. Before making your timetable, it is crucial that you figure out what type of learner you are. There are 4 different types of learners: visual/spatial learners, auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and reading/writing learners.

Visual learners retain information by drawing or studying pictures. Watching an educational video with lots of graphics may be helpful to this type of learner. Auditory learners grasp information by listening to podcasts or with any form of audio. Kinesthetic learners learn best through practical work and last but not least, the most common type of learners are reading/writing learners, who - you’ve guessed itlearn best through simply reading and writing. Knowing what type of learner you are can help you plan your time better, because you can ensure you spend enough time on the type of studying that works for you.

1. Make a list of all your responsibilities

This will give you an idea of what you have to do and how much time to allocate for each task. Include everything, even the smallest things that you may deem unnecessary to be on your study timetable e.g. hang out with my little brother, clean my room, rest.

2. Prioritise

Highlight important deadlines and tests so that you know to prioritize them. Look at what subjects have more materials to study so that you can allocate them more time. And those that have exams scheduled earlier, you’d have to start studying them much earlier than others. Those that have practicals as well might require a bigger chunk of your time. You don’t want to focus too much on some subjects while neglecting others.

3. Hard copy vs soft copy timetable

Decide whether you would prefer to use a hard copy (paper) or soft copy (phone or laptop) for your timetable. I suggest you use both as hard copies are easy to follow and the digital version of your timetable can be shared and transferred. Make copies and stick your timetable at home, in your locker, and even in your study notebook.

4. Breaks and leisure

Make sure to include breaks so that you can refresh and relax for a bit between each study session. Breaks are important as you may not be able to focus for a long period of time thus affecting retaining all that information.

In order to have a balanced lifestyle it is imperative that you make time for some of your leisure activities alongside work or school. Exercising, socialising outside of a formal setting, playing an instrument, reading an interesting article, and RESTING, all contribute to easing your mind throughout the day. Remember that even though these activities may seem more exciting than doing that chemistry homework you’ve been avoiding; your education comes first, and it will take you further than anything else in life. Try your best to stick to the timetable otherwise you may fall victim to procrastination.

Below is a basic example of a study timetable that I started with. It is straightforward and neat and the “to do list” section is a necessary little touch to highlight the important tasks. One great feature of this template is that you can fill in your own times yourself. You may decide how long each interval is; I suggest having 25 minutes for each session and a 5-minute break between each session.

For this method of organisation to be effective, you must be well rested. It is extremely important that teenagers get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night and if need be, a 30-

minute power nap in the afternoon. It’s no use trying to absorb information when your bed is calling your name. One great habit to integrate into your life is reading a few pages of a fiction book before you sleep. That way, you are increasing the time away from your device’s blue light and this will help you sleep better.

A study timetable is a great first step to being an organised individual but remember that sometimes, life is spontaneous and does not go to plan and in some ways, adhering to a timetable tests your discipline. You may need to make some social sacrifices in order to follow the timetable properly but it will definitely pay off once your A*s start rolling in.

5. Make it cute

Take pride in your work by making it look presentable, neat, and aesthetically pleasing to you. Using online platforms such as Canva is a great way to produce appealing timetables. Or you could use highlighters, different colour pens, and stickers if you are making a hard copy.

skygirlsbw 26 The

SKY Trends List for IT Girls like You! SKY Trends List for IT Girls like You!

Bo chomza! We have searched the DEEP interwebs to provide you with all the latest trends this season!! From your wardrobe to your aesthetic and self-esteem, we’ve got the tea! You’ll surely be able to stay in the loop with this Top 8 Trends List we’ve got for you here!

1. SELF-CARE

One of the main takeaways from Covid has been making time to take care of yourself! Whether that’s setting aside time to read a novel, do some yoga or journaling, we’ve been seeing a LOT of different ways we can show ourselves some love all over the internet! As we go run ourselves a bubble bath....

2. TIKTOK

This app is making all the rules and setting all the trends! Nothing seems to catch momentum without the help of TikTok these days, even Instagram, YouTube AND Netflix are trying to get on their wave!! But why is it soooooooo entertaining guys?? We can’t put our phones down!!!

3. SOFT/ CLEAN AESTHETIC

4. CLUB MUSIC

Taking notes from TikTok, loads of artists such as Drake, Megan Thee Stallion and even Queen Bey herself have been getting into the club music scene! We ain’t mad at it though! We’re FEELING THE VIBE & ready to vogue the house down, boo! Our top picks are HER by Megan and ALIEN SUPERSTAR by Beyoncé, what are yours?

#

British royal family isn’t allowed to play Monopoly

5. Neon

Neon has come back around as the number 1 go-to for adding a nice POP of colour to your style!

From nails, to accent outfit pieces and even bedroom décor —we KNOW you have a piece of neon somewhere nearby. Maybe we’re a little biased, but we think neon pink is the best & it goes with everything! *wink in pink*

6. COLOURFUL BRAIDS

Another fun way to add a pop of colour to your style is with your hair!! We are seeing more and more girlies choosing to make a statement with colourful locs, and even more shops in Botswana for us to purchase them from! We love that it’s becoming widely accepted for us to express ourselves in whichevter way we choose

7. THE MIX Season 3 is OUT and we have felt the love from the sisterhood! We heard y’all loud & clear and made sure to include more career talks and money matters tips, ‘cause we know that SKY Girls are all about securing the bag! We’re so glad you’ve been enjoying the season - Look out for it on BTV as well!

8. STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELF

One thing we’ve noticed about the advice many different celebrities are giving out lately is the emphasis on staying true to yourself and what you believe in! Koore, those Sures and Shapos you’ve set for yourself waabona. From Marsai Martin to Keke Palmer, our fave shining stars are constantly reminding us to protect our authenticity. Al w a y s. In everything that we do!! And that’s one thing us SKY Girls have mastered!

# # # #

Hot TV Shows and Movies this season

Our SKY magazine contributors—Tutsi, Laika, and Oarabile—have shared with us their favourite movies and TV shows this summer. Check out what they had to say:

DO REVENGE

I loooooove a good teen movie, and this one had e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. The cast made this movie feel like a cross-over episode of all our favorite teen shows: Stranger Things, Riverdale, 13 Reasons Why, Game of Thrones and more. The main character’s [Camila Mendes] wardrobe was giving us ‘iconic’ in the same caliber with, dare I say it, Clueless. The entire aesthetic of the show was note-worthy tota! The scriptwriting was funny, witty, and inventive. It had characters creating new words like us teens normally do. Re shapo ka ‘glennergy’ for sure, neh? Last but not least; the plot. We won’t spoil it for you but WOAW! Watch it for yourselves and see, shem. We as SKY Girls also found it funny of the scriptwriters to make the mean people smokers, lol. Catch ‘Do

Revenge’ on Netflix.

By Tutsi

TIKULA!

@SKYGirlsZed (Zambia) released their drama series ‘Tikula’ this year, and woooohoooo! Somebody give them an award! The series follows the life of Nandile after she moves from the village to the city to attend SKYWood High. She makes some amazing new friends and maaaaybe a few frenemies…? Does this sound familiar? It’s because it’s the Zambia version of Matswaka Bae— our local SKY radio drama series ya bo Lerato le bo George Nandi faces peer pressure in many different ways and struggles to stay true to herself, all while studying for her exams and preparing for the school talent show. And DON’T get me started on Ghost - her crush! We got to see the ups and downs of catching feelings for somebody and even having a boyfriend in high school. Long story short, go maza besties! Make sure YOU check it out on @skygirlszed YouTube Channel :) Season 2 is coming soon.

By Laika

RELATABLE TOPICS:

• Fitting in

• Smoking

• Crushes

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY

• Backstabbing

• Parties

• Abuse

TV + Black excellence combined! If you enjoyed Modern Family and The Office, you might wanna try Abbott Elementary because Quinta Brunson decided we were starving and fed us a masterpiece. The cast is on point, the script is top tier, and the story is authentic. Abbott has won three Oscars this year and rightfully so! This story follows a group of dedicated, passionate teachers at a low funded public school facing many challenges but who are determined to help their students have a positive school experience and succeed in life. The principal, Ava Coleman [Janelle James] will have you falling off your seat multiple times—may I say, she’s a comedian for sure! You can watch the show on Hulu or HBO Max.

By Rabie

OTHER TV SHOWS AND MOVIES TO WATCH THIS SEASON:

RELATABLE TOPICS:

• Bad friends and mean girls

• Wanting to be popular

• Boyfriends and nudes

• Revenge and anger

• Loyalty, Jealousy and betrayal

• Careers

RATING INFO:

SKY rates it suitable for: 15+

Displays of drug and alcohol abuse

Sexual and romantic content

Language

Positive images and role models

RATING INFO:

SKY rates it suitable for: 13+

Displays of drug & alcohol abuse

Sexual and romantic content

Language

Positive images & role models

RELATABLE TOPICS:

• Friendships

• Parents

• Community

• Identity

• Determination

• Tolerance

RATING INFO:

SKY rates it SKY rates it suitable for: 10+

Displays of drug and alcohol abuse

Sexual and romantic content

Language

Positive images and role model

The Woman King in theaters

on

Bedroom

Hey besties!! Holidays are coming and we have time on our hands to level up our lives. What better way to do it than to refresh our personal spaces? Our rooms are the most sacred places because mom lets us keep it how we would like, from the colour scheme to the pictures to the bed covers, this is all you.

If you’re wondering how you can revamp your room, don’t worry we got you! We have a few ideas that will not make us splurge a lot, because we are girls on a budget.

Makeover

Affordable ways to revamp your room into your dream bedroom!

DECLUTTER

First things first, just remove unnecessary things all around the room. If you want a minimalist look (meaning less is more), this helps. It makes your room seem bigger and more spacious and gives it a classy feel. If something does not bring joy or you don’t really use it, give it away or trash it.

HAVE A COLOUR SCHEME IN MIND

You will want to plan the colour and theme you are going for. This helps you budget better and to avoid buying unnecessary things that may not go well with your theme despite how cute they look. Create a mood board/vision board for your room. It helps you discover cool new things you can try for your room. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration too.

CHANGE BEDDING AND CURTAINS

This is the oldest and best trick in the book. Just change the color of your bedding/curtains/carpet. It gives the room a different feel and can make it look brand new, either by bringing colour or warmth to it.

Fairy lights/LED lights ‘Chinese’ store P40

LIGHTS

Fairy lights/LED lights are a girl’s best friend! These are so cute, they bring a cool ambience to the room. Either hang using hooks or tape around the room or above the bed. One of the cool ways to use them is to stick them around the mirror, that way you have a cheaper ‘’vanity mirror’’ look.

ADD A PLANT OR 2

Plants add some life to a room. If you love nature this is a good investment. There are beautiful and cute plants sold at a very cheap price. Or if you have a garden at home, you could transplant your preferred plants into pots and place them in your room. Put one at a corner of the room or by the chest of drawers, it’s up to you girl - your room, your choice. 5

FLOWER WALL

Instead of a painting, you can decorate your wall with flowers. Get a styrofoam board, stick flowers on it, then pin it on the wall. Either above your bed or by your study table. You can get the fake flowers from Chinese stores/Bahumi and then use hooks from Pep to hang it.

Plant Mr. Price P50

Don’t stress about your room being perfect or compare it to others. Do what you can do best, just switch it up to your absolute best and have fun with it. This can be a project you do with your bestie or sibling or friends. And it can happen over time, not all at once!

GOOD LUCK GIRL!!!

Flower Wall Hooks ‘Chinese’ store P20

Flowers per pack ‘Chinese’ store P10

Cue in Black Pink and Selena Gomez ��“ice cream chilling chilling ice cream chilling’’�� haha. Summer is here and it’s HOT HOT HOT! Heelang, let’s stay hydrated grrrls! And some of us with a sweet tooth re ka itsidihatsa ka ice-cream.

So here’s the deal; there’s a huge debate on which ice-cream is the best and of course at SKY, we just had to take on the challenge. We got our SKY sisters - Faith and Hadassah - to come on a #GirlsDate to help us settle this.

Here’s the debate: KFC vs Chicken Licken vs Milky Lane, joh! All good choices though. Re tlaa bona what the girls have to say.

KFC

You can go for a quick drive-thru experience or have a seat inside. Either way, it’s good for inhouse dates and dates just @P9.90 each

Chicken Licken

We got cool cone choc, which is vanilla sprinkled with chocolate toppings @P10.00 each

There was enough space to sit and enjoy, and it didn’t delay coming.

Hadassah

Taste: 3/5

Price: 5/5

Total:10/15

“A bit too creamy but I like it. The appearance is too plain and not enticing but the price is good, and I like their ice cream’’

Faith

Appearance:2/5

Taste: 3/5

Price: 5/5

Total: 10/15

“It tastes heavy and overwhelming yet nice. If you have a heavy ice cream craving, this is it.’’

TOTAL SCORE: 20/30

Milky Lane

The place is aesthetically pleasing to sit and enjoy your treats. They also have a variety to choose from. Faith opted for mixed spice and Hadassah for Oreo popsicles @P18.00 each

Hadassah

Appearance: 5/5

Appearance: 2/5

Taste: 2/5

Price: 4/5

Total: 9/15

“The toppings were tasteless, and the vanilla was a bit light for me. The ice cream tastes like frozen yoghurt.’’

Faith Appearance: 2/5

Taste: 4/5

Price: 5/5

Total: 11/15

”Overwhelming on the tongue because of the sprinkles. But in my experience, Chicken Licken has the best ice cream - just don’t have it with sprinkles.’’

TOTAL SCORE: 20/30

Taste: 3/5

Price: 2/5

Total: 10/15

“The Oreo is nice, the chocolate coat is good, the vanilla part is a bit plain but overall enjoyable.’’

Faith

Appearance: 5/5

Taste: 4/5

Price: 2/5

Total: 11/15

“The mixed spice was surprisingly tasty. Popsicles are cute to hold and easy to handle.’’

TOTAL SCORE: 21/30

CELEBRITY QUOTES

Humming birds are the only birds that can fly backwards

Happiness Quiz

Did you know that how you feel about yourself is one of the biggest influences on your happiness and how you tackle living life? A lot of people look for happiness from external things: new clothes, how many likes they get on their Instagram post, how many followers they have. But none of this lasts. Your happiness depends on how you see yourself, what you want from life and how well you relate with others.

Take this quiz to see where you rate yourself, and remember there’s no right or wrong answer. The most important opinion about you, is your own.

Answer A, B, or C. Add up the points at the end to see what you can do to improve your happiness levels!

Relationship with self

A. I am my own BFF - I’m always hyping myself and I speak to myself with love.

B. I speak to myself with love sometimes, but other times I can be critical.

C. My inner voice is critical, I often focus on my flaws and mistakes I think I’ve made.

Decision-making

A. I make great decisions and trust the decisions I make, no looking back!

B. I usually make good decisions, if I think about them properly.

C. I don’t trust myself to make good decisions, I often make bad ones and regret it.

Hobbies

A. I take time out every day to do things that put me in a happy mood (this could be a favourite hobby, playing music, reading, journalling, etc.).

B. I take time out to do things that put me in a happy mood at least once a week, but not every day.

C. I hardly ever make time for myself and the things that make me happy.

Exercise

A. I enjoy exercising and keeping fit at least three times per week.

B. I’m not that into exercise but I still do it at least one or two times per week.

C. I hardly ever exercise.

Diet

A. I eat a healthy balanced diet with very little junk food.

B. I know a healthy balanced diet is important, but only manage to eat well some of the time.

C. I eat whatever I feel like, even when I know it’s not good for me.

School

A. I look forward to going to school because I enjoy it.

B. I enjoy being at school some of the time but not always!

C. I hardly ever enjoy being at school.

Family

A. I have a family that I love being around whenever I can.

B. I have a family that I generally like being around.

C. I hardly ever enjoy being around my family.

Friends

A. I have friends who I trust and can confide in. I can be myself around my friends.

B. I have good friends but sometimes I feel I can’t be myself around them.

C. I don’t have friends who I trust and can confide in. I’m afraid of being myself around my peers.

Worry and anxiety

A. I’m hardly ever worried or anxious about things in my life.

B. I sometimes worry and feel anxious about certain things in my life.

C. I worry and feel anxious frequently in my life.

Self-esteem

A. I feel good about myself most of the time.

B. I feel good about myself some of the time.

C. I hardly ever feel good about myself.

Self-confidence

A. I am extremely confident in my life and always willing to try new things.

B. I am quite confident and sometimes I’m willing to try new things.

C. I don’t feel confident, and I don’t like trying new things.

Standing up for myself

A. I can say “No” to others and “Yes” to myself without feeling guilty.

B. I can say “No” to others and “Yes” to myself, but I feel guilty when I do.

C. I can’t easily say “No” to others.

Add up your points

A = 5 points Each

B = 3 points Each

C = 1 point Each

45+ Points

You are a happy person; you know your values and what you stand for. Keep doing what you’re doing! Also, as a happy person full of confidence and self-love, please help those around you who struggle to achieve what you have achieved. Look out for friends who seem unhappy and guide them in the right direction; give them tips about what has helped you, and use YOUR strength to lift them up too.

33 - 44 Points

You are happy most of the time, so you’re on the right track, keep it up! But you might need to look at the areas in your life where you’re unhappy (where you answered C) and think of some changes you would like to make, to lift you into the happiest category! Read through some old SKY articles to help you with this, or reach out to your friends and family who give great advice too!

33 Points & Less

You deserve to have more happiness in your life. You’re an amazing unique person and soon you’ll be able to see that for yourself. Read through some old SKY articles to get confidence tips. Don’t just read them but put their suggestions into practice – when we say it’s helpful to write down 10 things you love about yourself, we mean it. So do it! Stay true to yourself and we love you sis!

SPOT THE 6 DIFFERENCES

Pigs can’t look upwards

REFLECTION Section

It’s the end of this issue of the SKY mag. But o ska wara bestie, we have a few fun questions to help you reflect on this issue of the magazine and maybe learn a thing or two about yourself.

We hope that you enjoyed this issue of the publication. Go ahead and answer some of these questions on our socials.

P4 Arona talks about how she hopes the SKY nation is still watching Sure Ka Rafiwa. When was the last time you watched an episode? Do you want to go rewatch it on the SKY Girls BW YouTube channel? Go ahead and re-watch an episode or two, you can even watch it with some friends!

P5 Can you spot your favourite celeb in the ‘SKY spotted’ section? Go comment on a post of theirs (on social media), tell them that you saw them in the SKY mag and tag us!

P6 - 7 We gave various tips on how to glow from the inside out in this issue’s body beautiful article. Which one can you start implementing in your day-to-day life?

P8 - 9 Do you have a feel-good playlist? What songs are on it? Do you wanna add any of the songs we mentioned to your playlist? Go create a feel-good playlist or update the one you have with some songs we put on ours.

P10 - 11 We showed you 4 summer outfits in the fashion piece. What outfit did you like the most? Is there anything stopping you from dressing like that? What is it?

P10 - 11 Go make a mood board of your dream summer wardrobe. You can do it on Pinterest or the old-fashioned way with magazines, manila and glue.

P12 - 13 We shared a lot of tips on this page and we know you might have some of your own to write. Add to the list two more things that make you happy and 2 more things that don’t.

P12 - 13 What things on the list can you relate to? Are any of them your Sure’s or Shapo’s?

P14 - 17 All the cover girls gave some really useful tips. Whose tips did you relate to the most? Why? Which do you think would be most impactful in your life?

P18 The topic of depression vs sadness requires some thought. Have you ever experienced any symptoms of depression? What was the effect on your life? What would be the best next step for you?

P19 We shared with you that you can go to Tebelopele without the consent of a guardian for any sexual health information and resources *IF* you are above the age of 16 years. Do you think you will be going to see them anytime soon? Why or why not?

P20 - 21 Have you ever experienced any online bullying, harassment, toxic fandoms, being targeted, or getting random DMs from men? How did it make you feel? What did you do?

P20 - 21 Everyone always wants to make a social media password that they can remember, but we learned from this article that it’s not always safe if the password is easy. Do you think you need to change your passwords? Come up with a new password using the tips in our article for all your social media accounts and emails.

P20 - 21 Breaks from social media can be good for your mental health, especially if you are experiencing some kind of cyberviolence. When was the last time you took a break from social media? Schedule a break from social media for an entire day or even afternoon. You can plan to spend that time outside, with friends/family or doing something you love.

P22 - 23 Are you interested in the Music industry? Have you ever wanted to be in a pageant? How did our featured celebs inspire you?

P22 - 23 Gimahani and Kholi both answered the question ‘What does happiness mean to you?’. What does happiness mean to YOU, wena as an individual?

P24 - 25 Some of y’all SKY sisters are writing exams soon. Which study tips are new to you from our article?

P24 - 25 Are you done writing exams? What is your game plan to pass your next exams? Are any of our tips included in your plan?

P26 - 27 We have a list of hot new trends for you! Did any of them surprise you? Which ones? Which are your favourite trends at the moment? Do you dislike any of the trends? Which one?

P28 - 29 We love us a cute living space! Make 2 cute changes to your room inspired by our article, post the before and after and tag us on social media.

P30 I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream in this BW heat. What is your favourite ice cream? Get the squad together and go on an ice cream date. Or you can even go solo.

P31 There is so much to learn from the celeb quotes. Which one spoke to you the most? Why?

P32 - 33 We put in a little quiz to determine how happy you are. What was your score? Are you okay with your score? Why or why not?

P32 - 33 Don’t worry too much about getting a perfect happiness score. We learn, grow and glow a little more every day. Choose 1 thing to work on to increase how happy you feel this festive season.

P34 We love to end our magazine with some fun and games. Did you spot all the differences in the picture? Create your own puzzles and games to do with your friends and send us pictures on WhatsApp!

Human bodies contain small traces of gold