Express vol6 issue1 for upload by Young African Express

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PR I N S T 1 ED O ITU UC V TE AT E N

Vol. Y6A no. 1

Chanuka Express vote d one of the “world’s top 25 educ ation programmes ” by Unesco Wor ld Conference

Vol. 6 no. 1

L e a r n i ng fo r a b e t t e r l i fe

Keeping safe in cyberspace Ashley had had a bad day. It was so nice to get home, throw down her schoolbag, get on the internet and chat to her new friend Josh. He was so nice and understanding, not like the boys at school. Even though she had never met Josh face to face, only on Facebook, she felt she’d known him forever. And now he wanted to meet up with her! Lucky girl! But how would she manage that without her parents finding out…

IN THIS ISSUE

bout 10 years ago, making friends and keeping in touch with people was a lot different than it is today. Back then, you could meet new friends at a picnic or youth retreat, exchange postal addresses and send one another letters. It was exciting to receive a letter from a friend in another town or country.

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Here are a few safety tips to observe when you join any internet social network:

Today, things have changed. When you meet new people, the first form of contact they will ask for is your mobile phone number or the name you use on a social networking site like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. The internet is fun to use, but be careful. There are devious people out there and not everyone is who they say they are.

Be friends only with people whom you have met face-toface. Never accept friendship requests from strangers, friends of friends or people whose profile picture Story by li do Sarah Ra

Art by lonzo Bella Ki

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Vol. 6 no. 1

CREDITS Publisher Jacaranda Designs Ltd Technical Advisers Experts from our sponsors Executive Director Susan Scull-Carvalho Creative Director Peta Meyer Art Director Katherine Moir Senior Editor Helen van Houten Writers Charles Bodo, Peta Meyer, Katherine Moir, Sarah Radoli, Susan Scull-Carvalho, Julia Wanjeri Graphic Designers Samuel Gachie, Grace King’ori, Mbula Makaa-Kinuthia, Katherine Mamai Artists Cyrus Gathigo, Bella Kilonzo, Gabriel Maithya, Katherine Moir, Harrison Muriuki, Martin Ngugi, Benjamin Ondiege, Nkrumah Ondiek, Tony Siema, Celestine Wamiru Photographs Charles Bodo, Roberto Fiadone, Mark Karstad, Sarah Radoli, Cop Richard, Julia Wanjeri, CDC, IRIN, NASA, UNEP, VSF, WMO, World Agroforestry Centre, www.en/wikipedia.org, www.sxc.hu Contacts info@youngafricanexpress.net subscription@youngafricanexpress.net marketing@youngafricanexpress.net website: www.youngafricanexpress.net

Dear Readers, I’m wishing you a great year ahead in 2011! Are you making plans? Having a goal or a dream helps shape our choices on what to do and what not to do. Learning more about your particular interests is a great place to start. In this issue we introduce a new series focusing on the arid and semi-arid regions stretching across 4 countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda. As you compare the daily lives, cultures and innovations of people living in various environments, we hope you’ll want to learn more about the rich diversity of human, plant and animal life around us. Learning how people depend on our natural resources can help us discover ways for us to make our world a better place. A more peaceful place, too. Did you know that most wars have been and are still started by people fighting over access to natural resources? What do you think should be done to change this? With all your Young African Express issues this year, we’re encouraging everyone to think about

Thank you for “adopting a school” by sponsoring subscriptions for others. AgriFRESH Kenya Ltd • Braeburn School • Nicky Blundell Brown • James Finlay (Kenya) Ltd • Hopcraft family • Kitengela Glass • Diocese of Lodwar • Malewa Ranching Initiative • Nairobi Pentecostal • Ole Moi Yoi family • Tara Consultants • VVOB education for development

what each of us can do to make our world fair, peaceful and healthy. Don’t miss the pages on Health, Peace & Me, Going Green and Careers. Put to use what you learn and begin building your own dreams and goals.

This year, let’s get all YAE readers to share stories, experiences and dreams—and discover new SMS, Facebook or pen pals too! Learning about how others live will help us learn more about our own selves. Speaking of Facebook, stay safe—and avoid cyberbullying—on the internet. Follow our tips and learn from others. Send us your thoughts. SMS 0722-667747 or 0733-960757, write to PO Box 1202 - 00606 Nairobi, email info@YoungAfricanExpress.net, or visit our Facebook page.

We asked a number of pupils from Catholic Parochial Primary School and Aga Khan Primary School to tell us what they think makes a good leader. What qualities should a good leader have?

Jacaranda Designs Ltd PO Box 1202–00606 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 (0)20 374-4737 Fax: +254 (0)20 374-9171 Cell: +254 (0)722 667747 Email: info@jacaranda-africa.com

Readers are encouraged to contribute. They must include a self-addressed envelope if they want their materials returned; we cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to alter materials in any way deemed necessary. Young African Express is not responsible for unsolicited material. All articles and material submitted must bear the contributor’s name if they are to be used by Young African Express. The opinions expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of Young African Express.

SHARE WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED WITH THE YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS. WE’LL SEND YOU A SURPRISE GIFT IF YOU TELL US HOW YOU’RE USING WHAT YOU LEARN—SO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS WITH A PHOTO IF POSSIBLE!

We say…

Printed in Nairobi, Kenya

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YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EXPRESSIONS

Tracy Ayuma, Class 7 Hobbies: Reading who is A go od lea der is one ul. He or thf tru respectful an d people’s er oth w kno she sho uld r is cruel problems. A ba d lea de uld say sho rs an d unkind. Lea de ism. pot ne d an n tio no to corrup

Penuel G Hobbie athechere, C s: Sw im lass 7 m watchin g TV, p ing, laying In scho ol, a go o d lea d o ne w h er o to pup is quick to re is ils an d spon d teache is resp rs an d ec Such a tful towards them. person to mak s e go o d ho uld be able decisio ns to o.

lass 7 n de, C e w ying, M ing, pla Janet n r a e L s: d Hobbie , sing ing an g in m im sw g dancin share a ders Go o d le r peo ple he w ith ot the lp e h an d ho uld 7 They s . Winfred Njoki, Class y d e e g n min im sw o s, t vie hful Hobbies: Dancing, mo uld be fait corrupt, o. I wo not is o wh one s is r r e als der who h t A go od lea de o a lea d is discipline d. A is honest to people an cho ose kin d. ds. en fri st an d ir the e is hon ba d lea der favours

Ikhran Oostdalm, Class 8 Hobbies: Movies

I think Kalonzo Musyoka is a good leader because of the way he speaks. Bad leaders talk badly on TV and make people fight against each other.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

EXPRESSIONS

Keeping safe in cyberspace continued from page 1

is, for example, a frog or who have a funny name like Frog Jump.

Friends Requests

Friendly Fred wants to be your friend

Add

Avoid using your regular email address. Limit what you say about your activities. Telling people details may give a stalker clues to your whereabouts and enable them to plan what to do. CHED WE WAT THEN A MOVIE OM HOME FR WALKED L. AL M THE

Ignore

Know your friends.

Don’t allow just anyone to access your information. Restrict your information to people you know in real life. If you have a Facebook account, use the privacy settings to control who can see your status, photos, contacts and personal information.

NOW, GOTTA GO JUST MY MUM ME. HO CAME

Never post your residential address anywhere online.

How drought affects me

Vets Without Borders (VSF) is working with pastoralist communities in arid and semi-arid areas on the Improved Community Response to Drought (ICRD) project. They asked Keem and Nali from Moroto District, Uganda, how drought affects them.

Keem Nakacol, 8 years old Primary 3, Rupa Primary School During the dry season the food stocks in our home run low. My elder sisters and mother move to Moroto town in search of casual labour, and I have to stay at home to look after my younger siblings. This makes me lonely. I cannot play with other children since I am too busy. Depending on the weather, my mother and sisters can come with food from town. We cook only one meal, usually supper. We do not have any other meals in the dry season because we want to conserve our small food stocks. In the dry season, the river that we depend on dries up. This leaves only one functioning borehole, which is shared with livestock. I spend a lot of time at the borehole so I am not able to get to school in time. Sometimes I miss school entirely.

If you decide to meet someone you befriended online in person, make sure you go with a friend. Let somebody else also know where you will be and for how long, in case of an emergency.

SHE LIVES CLOSE TO THE MALL.

HER MUM GETS HOME AT 5. BEFORE THAT SHE IS ALONE.

Strangers can learn a lot about you the net.

from

Nali Esther, Primary 5 Naitakwai Primary School During drought the land dries up and there is less pasture for livestock. Seasonal water points dry up so the livestock have to wait longer to drink, reducing their grazing time. The cattle give very little milk; some stop producing milk completely. We have to make the calves share cows that have milk. Some calves die of hunger. The family can also not benefit from cattle products because of the drought. There are many people fetching water from the boreholes and we have to share them with the animals, so the boreholes run dry. We have to move longer distances in search of water.

Do a background check of every friend request, check out what friends you have in common, what they like, what kind of photos they put up—then make a sober decision. Some people just want to be friends; others want to get something from you. Ask yourself, “Why be friends with this person?” Don’t post embarrassing photos, comments and updates. Once they are online, they are there to stay. They could spoil your chances of being hired for a job or accepted at a university in later years. Be genuine online, but be careful. Operate online as you would in real life. Those thieves and pickpockets are there in social networks, just as they exist in real life. Take care how you interact.

schoolmates have dropped out school because of the many chores at home. During drought we also have to move to the bush in search of firewood or to burn charcoal for sale. The distance we travel for wood increases during the dry season and raiders lurk in the bush. Some women have been killed or raped as they collected firewood. However, on a positive note, the dry season helps me to reach school faster because the seasonal rivers that may have blocked my path to school are dry.

ICR D Dra win g Com pet itio n u, class 4, What drought means to Stephen Ekir Kenya rict, Dist lbi Cha ool, Sch ary Illeret Prim

The sorghum stocks in our home become very low and we have to move to town in search of casual labour. Unfortunately there are also many other people looking for work, so sometimes we come home empty-handed, or only with local brew residues to feed to the young children to stop them crying. I am forced to miss school when I move in search of work. Some of my

We want to hear from you! Write to Young African Express at PO Box 1202 - 00606 Nairobi, email info@YoungAfricanExpress.net Attention Educators: Follow the colour band at the top of each page for curriculum links Expressions: English language and literacy Staying Healthy: Health, hygiene and nutrition Practical Science: Maths, science and technology

Our World: Civil society, social sciences and human rights Business and careers Going Green: Agroforestry, home gardens and environmental conservation Critical thinking, puzzles and brainteasers

Vol. 6 no. 1

Obsessive desire to lose weight It is school holidays again and you and your girl friends meet to go for a picnic in the public park. You each carry a picnic basket and some cards so you can play a game. You notice that Sonia hasn’t carried anything to eat save for an apple and a bottle of water. Then you notice that Sonia eats only half of her apple and gives away the other half. You offer her a healthy sandwich, but she says she has eaten enough for the day. Looking at Sonia, you realise that she is pale and has lost weight since you last saw her a week ago.

• No biting! Biting and chewing nails promotes infections.

• Keep your nails short using clean nail clippers or scissors, not your teeth.

• Scrub the underside of your nails with soap and water. Use a nailbrush if you have one. If you don’t have one, use the fingernails of your other hand. • Do not cut cuticles (the hard skin at the base of nails) as they protect against infection. Push them gently back. • If you tear a nail, cut it with clean clippers or scissors.

Although eating disorders are more common in girls, boys may suffer from them too. How do you know if a friend has an eating disorder? Sometimes it’s hard to tell, but here are some signs:

• They know how many calories each food item contains and will always point that out to you when you give them something to eat.

onia has an eating disorder. Anorexia1 and bulimia2 are eating disorders where a person (male or female), due to a distorted self-image, refuses to maintain a healthy body weight and is afraid of gaining weight.

• They want to exercise all the time, even when they are sick or exhausted.

During puberty, many boys and girls watch what they eat. Girls don’t want to be overweight, and guys want to build

People with eating disorders can get very sick if they don’t get treatment. To help them, talk to your parents or teacher.

• They spend a lot of time in the bathroom, especially after eating.

1 Anorexia—refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.

2 Bulimia—restraining of food intake for a period of time followed by a period of overeating, followed by feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. The person forces themself to vomit, or to exercise to get rid of the excess calories they ate earlier.

You know how important hand washing is. But do you realise that some dirt, germs and parasites like pinworms and jiggers may still remain under your fingernails and toenails? Dirty nails can infect you and spread infection to others. Infection can also develop around dirty nails if you have a small cut or wound, causing swelling and pain.

lean under your fingernails regularly with soap and water. Keep nails short, too-long fingernails can harbour more dirt than short ones.

muscle. As a result, they end up skipping meals or eating the wrong meals to attain that “perfect” body they see on TV or read about in beauty magazines.

• They are obsessed with weight and food, especially how much they eat in a day. Your friend constantly talks about food, weight and wanting to be thin.

Clean nails Fingernail hygiene

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

staying healthy

r Your nails reflect you lack in you at health an d wh nails r you eck Ch t. your die what see n the ns— sig se for the d. nutrients you may nee Eat more:

Sign * White lines across nails

protein

Dry, brittle nails

calcium

Ridges on nails

vitamin B

White spots on nails

* Some may also indicate

zinc and iron

health problems.

Toenails, jiggers and fungus

oenails should be cleaned and trimmed too, like fingernails. Jiggers and fungi infect feet more often than hands so take precautions. If jiggers are widespread where you live, avoid walking barefoot and clean your feet regularly. Inspect your feet daily for signs of jigger infestation— small, itchy black spots. A fungal infection may start as a small whitish spot under the nail but can spread into the nail itself. It is easy to pick up fungi when walking barefoot around changing rooms, bathrooms and swimming pools. Wear slippers (patapatas) in these areas. Do not wear closed shoes too long as fungi love dark, damp conditions and do not need air! Slip your feet out of your shoes from time to time. Dry your feet well after washing, too.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

DISEASES

Leishmaniasis? Kala-azar? The parasitic disease spread by sand flies that nobody knows about

The disease found in hot, dry areas

Faiza is excited. She and her best friend, Sasha, are packing to go to Lake Turkana during the holidays. They are visiting Sasha’s mother, who is a scientist with the National Museums and doing research near the Rift Valley lake. Sasha: Look, you can share my bed net. It’s big enough for both of us. It’s a treated net with really small holes, to keep out the sand flies. Faiza: Thanks, but what’s so bad about sand flies? I’ve seen them at the coast, and no one is afraid of them. Do sand flies cause malaria too, like mosquitoes? Sasha: There are different types of sand flies. The ones found in hot, dry areas like Lake Turkana can carry a disease that’s as bad as malaria. It’s called leishma... ma... leishmaniasis.

Faiza: Leesh-ma-who? I’ve never heard of that!

Sasha: Leesh-ma-NAI-isis. My mum says many people don’t know about it. Sometimes it’s called kala-azar, which means “black disease” in several Indian languages including Hindi and Urdu, because the disease affects your internal organs and turns your skin black. Faiza: Eugh!! How does your mum keep herself safe?!

Sasha: Well, like any disease, once you know about it you can defend yourself. Here is a leaflet my mum sent me—why don’t you read it, then you’ll know all about leishma… leishma... Faiza: Let’s call it kala-azar. I can remember that.

ala-azar is found in hot, dry areas below 1500 m, such as parts of Sudan, Ethiopia and eastern Uganda. In Kenya it is found in places like Turkana, Baringo, Wajir, Kitui and Kajiado.

The disease is caused by the Leishmania parasite, which spreads from person to person through the bite of an infected sand fly. Every year the disease infects thousands of people in tropical areas, mainly in Asia and East Africa. Leishmaniasis is prone to epidemics, for example when previously unexposed people are forced by civil war or famine to move into areas where the disease is present. Among parasitic diseases, only malaria has a higher death rate—yet governments have no programme against it (maybe because nobody can remember the name).

There are 2 main types of leishmaniasis:

the cutaneous1 form, which affects only the skin, causing sores that heal slowly and leave big ugly scars

the visceral2 form, which attacks the immune system and causes the failure of internal organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Patients have fever, weakness, anaemia3, an enlarged liver and spleen, and darkening of the skin. Untreated leishmaniasis can be serious, and the visceral disease can be deadly. Treatment is expensive and can have toxic side effects. The best way to prevent the disease is to protect yourself from sand fly bites. 1 Cutaneous—relating to the skin, such as cutaneous nerves, or subcutaneous fat (under the skin). 2 Visceral—relating to the viscera or internal organs of the body, such as visceral bleeding. 3 Anaemia—a shortage of red blood cells, so the blood is less able to transport oxygen, resulting in tiredness and lack of vitality.

Protect yourself from sand flies

and flies are difficult to see because they are much smaller than mosquitoes and make no noise when they fly. People often don’t realise they are present until they get bitten. Sand flies are less active during the hottest part of the day but will bite if disturbed, for example if you brush against a tree where they are resting. Sand flies breed in rotting vegetation, so keep them away by cleaning up rubbish around the areas where people live. Like mosquitoes, sand flies are more active after the sun goes down. If you go outdoors after dark, wear socks and shoes and keep arms and legs covered. Sleep under a treated bed net, one with very small holes to stop the tiny flies from entering.

Don’t expect to see a sand fly this big—they are only 3-5 mm long, smaller than a mosquito!

Kala-azar an d HIV

Both kala-aza r an d HIV attack th e bo dy ’s im mune system , so an HIVpositive person has more chan ce of develo ping th e dangerous form of kala-azar. Trea tment is also less effective. Co -i nfection of H IV an d kala-aza r is a grow in g problem in pa rts of East Africa.

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

hiv & you

Dear Martin,

cough and an aching body. We may get very ill but most people recover from flu.

You ask a very important question. Having HIV does not mean your brother has AIDS. HIV goes through various stages from when someone first becomes HIV positive, progressing through stages with no symptoms, mild symptoms and then more serious symptoms. A symptom is a sign of illness, like pain, fever or rash.

HIV, on the other hand, does not go away and has no known cure. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It damages the human immune system, which in our bodies finds germs, cancer cells and other intruders that do not belong and fights them. Someone with HIV can develop serious illnesses and cancers because their immune system is weak.

Dear Counsellor,

I’m in Standard 7 and I hope you can help me. My friend Jacinta says that flu and HIV are the same because they are both viruses. I told her they’re different but couldn’t explain why. What do I say? Cindy

AIDS is the last stage of HIV when symptoms become worse, the person’s immune system declines fast and dangerous infections and cancers occur.

I hope this helps you to give Jacinta the right information.

Do not panic. Your brother can take drugs called antiretrovirals (ARVs) that will delay the development of AIDS for as long as possible. People with HIV can stay healthy for many years by taking these drugs, eating a healthy diet, exercising and sleeping well. It is also important for them to stay cheerful and for that they need the support of the people they love. So give your brother the support and love he needs.

Dear Counsellor,

Dear Cindy,

Jacinta is wrong because flu and HIV are different viruses. The flu virus causes influenza (flu) in humans, giving us a runny nose, fever, sore throat,

I am very scared—my brother has just learned that he is HIV positive. He doesn’t seem sick but does he have AIDS? Martin

and he’s invited me to go away for a long weekend … just him and me!

he looks nice, angel, have you known him for long?

umm … well, not really, i mean yes, quite long. why?

Story by Peta Meyer Art by Bella Kilonzo

… and here’s another one of gideon and his new car. you are lucky, angel!

ooh, he’s so handsome!

… for instance, how does he treat his friends? what happens when things go wrong—does he lose his temper?

why should i care about things like that?

because they show how he’ll treat you. it’s not wise to get involved with someone who might be violent, or even …

a guy like that must have lots of other girlfriends. what do you know about his background?

gideon’s a great guy and he loves me. nothing else is important. it might be important one day, angel. don’t rush into things. get to know gideon better first. you are making me doubt gideon because you wish you had a boyfriend like him!

well, it won’t work!

you are jealous!

TALK ABOUT IT! do you agree with nuru? what could be the dangers of getting involved with someone you don’t really know? why does angel get so angry?

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

bodyworks

Food factory good idea). Fats stay in the stomach longest.

mouth

ur fo od t or drink, yo ea u yo n he W om yo ur ansporte d fr tr is nk ri d or ach. into yo ur stom mouth down od w ith fo g in lves mix Digestion invo es, moving igestive juic saliva an d d act, an d e digestive tr it thro ugh th ules of n large molec breaking dow es. aller molecul fo od into sm

oesophagus

stomach

liver

pancreas large intestine

small intestine

rectum

igestion begins in the mouth when enzymes in your saliva start breaking down carbohydrates as you chew. Swallowed food then enters the stomach. The stomach has 3 tasks. First, it stores the food and liquid you swallow. To do this, the muscle of the upper part of the stomach relaxes to accept the large volumes of food you swallow. The 2nd job is to mix the food, liquid and digestive juice the stomach produces. The lower part of the

stomach mixes these materials by its muscle action. The 3rd task is to empty its contents slowly into the small intestine.

Digestion is completed in the small intestine. As the food dissolves in the juices from the pancreas, liver and intestine, the contents of the intestine are mixed and pushed forward to enable further digestion. Most of the material absorbed through the small intestine is water in which salt is dissolved. The salt and water come from the food and liquid you swallow and the juices secreted by the many digestive glands. Finally, the digested nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls and transported throughout the body. The waste products left behind include undigested parts of the food, known as fibre, and older cells that are shed from the intestinal walls. These materials are pushed into the colon, where they remain until you experience a bowel movement and pass your stool.

How the stomach empties depends on several factors, including the kind of food being digested. For example, carbohydrates spend the least amount of time in the stomach, while protein stays longer (that is why eating nyama choma for lunch and then again before going to bed is not a

How your body digests

enzyme

starch

maltose

to the liver

protein

glucose

pancreas

Enzymes break starch down in 2 steps, from starch to maltose to glucose.

Fats Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body. Digestion of a fat such as butter is done by dissolving it into the watery content of the intestine. The liver produces bile acids that dissolve the fat into tiny droplets that allow pancreatic and intestinal enzymes to break down the fat molecules.

stomach

small intestine enzyme

blood

mouth

large protein molecules

enzyme

small intestine enzyme

stomach

enzyme

mouth

Proteins Meat, eggs and beans consist of big protein molecules that must be digested by enzymes before they can be used to build and repair body tissues.

enzyme

Carbohydrates Foods rich in carbohydrates include bread, potatoes, dried peas and beans, rice, fruits and vegetables. The digestible carbohydrates (starch and sugar) are broken down into simpler molecules by enzymes in the saliva, in juice produced by the pancreas, and in the lining of the small intestine.

blood

to all parts of the body

amino acids

pancreas

Enzymes in the stomach start the digestion of protein. The protein molecules are broken down into small molecules called amino acids.

Vitamins Vitamins are classified by the fluid in which they can be dissolved: water-soluble vitamins (all the B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body, but the water-soluble vitamins are not easily stored and you flush out excess amounts of them in your urine.

You can live a healthy life by eating well, exercising and having a positive attitude towards life. The body also needs proper nutrition for energy and to continue to work effectively. It is important to eat a balanced diet every day, a diet that includes carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and water. By providing the body with the right fuel, the right environment—which includes physical activity, regular rest, clean WHAT?! BEN SAYS I’M FAT AND UGLY… I’VE NEVER EVEN MET THIS GUY!

By ByPeta Peter Meyer Meyerand Martin and Ngugi K. Martin Ngugi K.

air and water—you enable your body to perform well. Cleanliness is one defence against disease. Washing your hands with soap and water, taking showers, brushing your teeth, washing your clothes and keeping your environment clean are also good for your physical health.

I’LL UNFRIEND HIM AS WELL. LET’S TELL ALL OUR REAL FRIENDS TO UNFRIEND HIM!

Emotion al ab t en

friends while Steven fetched water and then cooked the evening meal with Father.”

Gender roles are fine so long as gender is not used as an excuse to harm someone or deny them their human rights. That leads to genderbased violence (or GBV), which is any kind of physical or psychological harm done to a person as a result of the unbalanced power of gender roles.

HOW CAN YOU BE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T MET?

I’M ALSO FRIENDS WITH BEN, BUT I’VE NEVER MET HIM EITHER.

HEY, MAYBE BEN ISN’T HIS REAL NAME—MAYBE THAT’S A FAKE PROFILE ON FACEBOOK! I’VE HEARD THAT CYBER BULLIES DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

NO IDEA!

FIRST, DELETE THE MESSAGE AND UNFRIEND HIM. THEN CHANGE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS, SO ONLY FRIENDS CAN SEE YOU ONLINE.

“Lily went out to play with her

If this sentence sounds odd, it is because we usually expect boys to play while women and girls do the work in the house—in other words, we expect people to take on certain roles depending on their gender (whether they are male or female).

WELL, HE’S NOT A STRANGER. HE’S FRIENDS WITH OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW ON FACEBOOK.

IF YOU HAVEN’T MET HIM PERSONALLY, THEN HE IS A STRANGER. DO YOU KNOW WHICH SCHOOL HE GOES TO?

hildren and teens should have one hour or more of moderate to energetic physical activity at least 3 days a week. A day’s exercise can be split up into a few bouts lasting at least 15 minutes each. Try to avoid being completely inactive for more than 2 hours at a time.

Bullying,

! o nto violence e, child abus e, rap

Physical fitness is part of good bodily health. It is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery.

Say

e, us

.M .G

Do you exercise?

WHAT SHALL I DO?! THIS IS AWFUL!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

LIVING RIGHT

violence, d ef il

Vol. 6 no. 1

al xu Se

THERE, I’VE UNFRIENDED THAT CREEP. NOW TO CHANGE MY PRIVACY SETTINGS …

YOU KNOW HOW TO AVOID THIS IN FUTURE…?

GBV includes rape and sexual violence, child abuse, and mental and emotional cruelty and abuse. Women and girls suffer the negative impact of GBV far more than men and boys. Using force to get what you want, or using violence to solve problems, is never right. It is against basic human rights and against the law. Here is something to think about—countries in which citizens respect the rights of others develop faster than those where sections of people are repressed. Gender violence holds a society back! If you are facing GBV here are some numbers to call.

YES, I WON’T FRIEND PEOPLE I DON’T PERSONALLY KNOW!

• Childline Kenya 116 -One Hotline • Liverpool VCT One-2 121 11 22 0800 Uganda • Action for Children 00 111 222 08 or 3 33 0800 111 ) 152243 (51 a • ANPPCAN-Tanzani

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

Human rights

Do you remember what happened on August 25, 2010 in Kenya? Kenyans had a referendum and passed a new constitution.

he new constitution sets out both the general rights for all citizens and those of specific groups like children, persons with disability, older members of society, etc. The specific special rights of children are under article 53. Key aspects of children’s rights in the new constitution include:

Social and economic rights

Healthcare, education, nutrition and shelter are the socio-economic rights. The new constitution emphasises that every child has the right to free and compulsory basic education and to basic nutrition, shelter and health care.

Right to parental care and protection

On parents’ duty to support their children, the constitution now specifies that both the father and the mother, whether married to one another or

DO THE

H G I T R

“It’s not fair!” you cry, as your brother gets a much bigger helping than you. Our inborn sense of justice makes us quick to notice when we are not treated fairly.

not, have an equal responsibility to provide for their child. Previous laws did not hold the father of a child born out of wedlock legally responsible for the child’s maintenance.

Also, a child born outside the country to either a Kenyan mother or father becomes a citizen by birth. In the previous constitution, only a child born overseas to a Kenyan father was accepted as a citizen by birth.

To protect the rights of lost children, the new constitution states that a child found in Kenya who is, or appears to be, less than 8 years of age, and whose nationality and parents are not known, is presumed to be a citizen by birth.

Note: The new constitution conforms to international law as it notes that in every matter concerning children, the best interest of the child will decide how any case involving a child is handled.

Right to nationality

Fairness

THING

However, when someone else is treated unfairly, we often don’t notice or care. How do you react when your brother is accused of breaking something he didn’t break?

Fairness includes giving everyone the same opportunities. It is unfair to exclude someone because they are different from us.

If we ourselves try to treat everyone fairly, we encourage them to behave fairly too. Our fair treatment of others can have unexpected benefits, too!

Vol. 6 no. 1

our world

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

You come from where? Migration is the temporary or permanent change of residence as people move from one region to another, as when people move from rural areas to settle in big cities, or from one country to another. Migration may be voluntary or forced. For example, during colonial times in Africa, people were often forced off their land and had to migrate elsewhere. Today, many East Africans have migrated away from their homes in search of education or jobs, and now live all over the world.

ost of East Africa’s main tribes share common ancestors, who migrated into their current lands from other parts of Africa. The main ancestor groups were the Bantus, the Nilotes and the Cushites.

Bantus from central Africa

The Bantu are thought to have originally come from central Africa in the area between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. By the 15th century many of these people were living in eastern Uganda, between Mt Elgon and the River Nile. These were the ancestors of the Abaluyia, Abagusii and Abakuria. Some groups went south to the west coast to Angola and then moved across the Congo highlands to Lake Tanganyika. These were mostly tribes without cattle.

Bantu languages Nilotic languages Bantu migration Nilotic migration

Although nobody is sure exactly where the Bantu and Nilotic peoples originated, scholars have worked out the most likely migration routes based on oral history and on language groups.

Post-election violence caused these Mombasa residents to flee — a form of forced migration.

One group migrated north and formed the Taveta, Dawida and Akamba. Another moved along the coast, settling on the hilltops behind the coastline. They became the Mijikenda. A 3rd group migrated westwards into the highlands of today’s Kenya, becoming the Agikuyu, Aembu, Chuka, Tharaka and Ameru. Another group moved across what is now Sudan to the region of the great lakes and the Rift Valley. Mostly cattle owning, they eventually moved south into the area of present-day Tanzania. They settled between Mt Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean coast. During the 13th century they gradually moved out.

Nilotes down the Nile

Cushites from the north

The Cushitic people originally migrated chiefly from what is now Ethiopia and Somalia, north and east of Kenya. Cushites in Kenya and Tanzania form many small tribes that include the Somali, Borana, Rendille and Galla. And what about the rest of East Africa’s residents? Colonialisation brought a new wave of migration, starting in the late 19th century. Together with the missionaries and the colonial officials came the white farmers and also Asian labourers from India and present-day Pakistan, brought in to build the railroad. The children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of all these migrants also call East Africa home.

The Nilotes moved out of their original homeland west of Lake Turkana between the 10th and 14th centuries AD. They moved in different groups—the Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana, Iteso and Luo. The Kalenjin moved southwards into Kenya.

The Maasai, who are thought to have originated from North Africa, migrated south along the Nile Valley and arrived in northern Kenya in the middle of the 15th century. They continued southwards through the Rift Valley, conquering all tribes in their path, and arrived in Tanzania at the end of the 19th century.

The Cushitic ancestors of this Swahili fisherman came south from north-eastern Africa.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Reading is fun

The lesson “

Now’s our chance! Teach me now, please, Kim,” whispered Bea. “You promised.”

“Oh, okay,” said Kim reluctantly. “Just don’t bash it.” Bea was out the back door and into the driver’s seat in seconds, “Quick, what do I do? We must get it back into the garage before Dad comes back.” “Step on the clutch,” said Kim, thoughtfully scratching his chin. “Then put it into first gear.” Bea’s face glowed. “I’m driving. I’m actually driving!” she thought. “Oh, this is great!” Bea stepped on the accelerator and released the clutch as Kim had instructed her to do. The car shot forward suddenly, hit the side of the garage door and came to a sudden stop, dying as fast as it had come alive. Brother and sister looked at each other with wide eyes. No words were needed. They were both in deep trouble. Already they could hear Dad’s footsteps approaching. “What’s happened here?” he growled, his face as dark as thunder. Bea still sat in the driver’s seat where, she knew perfectly well, she ought not to be. Silence was the wisest plan. It was obvious what they had done and Bea was sure Dad really didn’t expect an answer. So she bowed her head and tried to look as sorry as she felt. “I’m sorry I bashed the car and I’m sorry I got

Kim into trouble. But it was so much fun driving,” she thought. Dad was in front examining the damage while Bea and Kim sat glued to their seats, not daring to move, waiting for the worst. Later, Bea tried to concentrate on her maths homework. Dad had given them both the scolding of their lives. He had cancelled their trip to their grandmother’s and sent them to their rooms. Then he had driven off by himself, probably to the garage, to repair the damage to his car. Bea didn’t really mind studying—she loved maths. She wanted to be top in maths, so some extra studying might help. But she was sorry to miss the trip to her grandmother’s house. Worst of all, Dad had cancelled Kim’s driving lessons. “Oh dear! Poor Kim,” she thought. “I’m always getting into trouble. I know Dad will forgive me,

Vol. 6 no. 1

but I don’t think Kim will teach me to drive again.” Bea was right about her dad. When he came home that evening, he had forgiven them. He gave them a stern lecture and told them the cost of the damaged light would be paid from their pocket money. Then he made the most amazing announcement. “Since you have apologised and learned a lesson, I have decided it is important for you to know what you are doing in a car. I’ll show you how the car operates, and when you are older, Bea, you will have lessons too. But, you must first promise never to drive the car without my permission.” “Oh Dad,” squealed Bea in delight, running to hug him. Kim grinned for the first time since their morning adventure. It certainly was great to be alive!

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Drought & me

Why is there drought? D rought is a long period (of months or years) when there is no rain or less rain than usual. Streams dry up and plants and animals die because of lack of water and pasture.

What causes drought?

Overpopulation—too many people leads to more demand for food and natural resources like firewood or charcoal. Deforestation—cutting down the trees in the area. Trees store water and carbon, protect the soil and provide food for livestock and people. Climate change—The climate changes naturally over thousands of years but it is now changing faster than before, mainly because of human activities. Overstocking—keeping more animals than a particular area can support, which leads to … Overgrazing—when animals graze the pasture to the point where it does not recover and grow back, leaving the soil exposed. Bare soil is easily eroded or becomes hard so that rain runs off, instead of soaking into the soil to replenish ground water.

Drought in East Africa

North-eastern Uganda and most of Kenya are arid or semi-arid, with low rainfall and periodic droughts. Nomadic pastoralism—keeping animals for milk and meat and moving from place to place to find water and pasture—has been the main form of livelihood for people in these dry areas. Agro-pastoralists grow crops as well as raising livestock. In the past, droughts came approximately every 10 years. This gave pastoral groups time between droughts to recover and bounce back to normal.

Now cycles have become much shorter, with droughts occurring almost every 1-3 years. Arid areas are becoming hotter, drier and windier. Traditional coping methods are not suited to handle such frequent droughts well. Pastoralists do not have time to recover.

How does drought affect us?

People in areas such as Karamoja, Wajir, Isiolo, North Horr and Marsabit are affected by the current drought in several ways: Hunger and famine—with no rainfall crops fail and animals die. There is less food for humans and animals and food prices rise. Many people go hungry.

Wildfires—dry vegetation and strong winds make it easy for fires to burn out of control.

Conflict—when people compete for food and water, they may fight, rustle cattle, and even kill to survive.

Days

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Every 14 days Every 1–3 days Every 5–7 days Every 1–2 days

How often different animals get water during drought.

the periods between drinking for their livestock; household water is also reduced.

Migration in search of food and water takes communities away from schools, clinics and other services. Children drop out of school to tend livestock.

Disease—lack of clean water for drinking, sanitation and personal hygiene can lead to disease.

Thirst—people can live for only a few days without water. To cope with water shortage, households lengthen

A pastoralist recipe

Nyirinyiri is preserved meat traditionally made for special occasions. Some women’s groups are producing it for sale.

You need:

• • • •

1 kg meat 500 ml (2 cups) cooking oil Spices to flavour 1 teaspoon salt

This page is sponsored by

To make it:

• • • • • • • •

Cut meat into long strips Hang in sun to dry for 30 minutes Cut into small pieces Place in pot with salt and place on heat Stir meat for a few minutes so that the pieces do not stick together Add the oil to the meat and stir Cook for 30 minutes Place meat and oil in jar and seal to use when needed

Class in progress in Wajir. School for nomadic children is often interrupted by the need to migrate in search of water and grazing.

What can we do?

Pastoral communities can adapt their traditional drought-coping methods and prepare better for drought. They can protect natural resources—soil, water, plants and animals—and reduce deforestation and overgrazing. In our next issue we will look at how to prepare for and reduce climate change and drought.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

agroforestry

Growing trees in arid areas

he plants and animals in an area must be suited to the local climate to thrive, so it is important to know your climate before choosing trees or crops. For most of us in East Africa, it is likely that our climate is dry. What is the climate where you live? Look at the table. Climatic zone*

Dry subhumid

Semi-arid

Annual rainfall

500−1,200 mm

300−800 mm

Vegetation Evergreen scrub

Arid 100−300 mm

Woodland savannah Semi-desert

Trees can impr

Hyper-arid

ove pasture in dr

Less than 100 mm

ylands

Desert

If you live in a dry climatic zone, the conditions are probably very much like these: Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti are the driest countries in eastern Africa, but drylands (lands fitting the climatic zones in this table) cover 75% of Kenya, 50% of Ethiopia and Tanzania, and 30% of Uganda.

Rainfall

The amount of rainfall in dry areas changes from one year to the next. Climate change is making rainfall even more unpredictable.

Farming systems for drylands Although conditions in dry places make farming difficult, it is still possible to raise crops, livestock and trees.

C F 50

120

100

30 20

Nomadic pastoralism is common in East Africa—raising livestock as the main source of food and income and moving around to different grazing areas. During drought, the few areas with grass become overgrazed. Pastoralists can improve grasslands for grazing by planting trees that do not need constant care. Agroforestry—planting trees as part of farming—in arid regions can improve soils, reduce wind, improve incomes and boost the supply of fuel, fodder for animals and building materials. Some options are • Silvipasture, a farming system suited to arid zones. Trees are raised along with livestock on grazing land. • Agri-silviculture or agri-horticulture, mixing field crops like sorghum and vegetables like beans with useful trees. Useful in semi-arid regions. • Windbreaks and shelterbelts, a mixture of trees planted across the direction of the main wind to break its force, sheltering crops. • Woodlots, raising fast-growing trees for firewood. The trees you select must suit your climatic zone. The trees most common in your district are probably the best species to plant. Ask farmers around you for advice—they have experience and a wealth of traditional knowledge.

80 60

10 0 10

40 20

Temperature

Temperatures in dry parts of East Africa can reach 45 °C in the day, even in the “cool” season. Extreme temperatures harm plants. Hot soil loses water through evaporation and plants lose more water through transpiration (releasing water vapour), stunting plant growth.

Humidity

When the amount of moisture in the air (the humidity) is lower than the amount of moisture in the soil, water evaporates into the air. Humidity is usually low in arid places so unprotected soil may dry out fast.

Wind

Dry regions are usually windy because of the lack of vegetation. Wind has a drying effect on soil and crops.

Soil

Soil in arid regions tends to be sandy and low in organic matter. Soil erodes easily in dry conditions because of a combination of dry, loose soil, wind and sparse vegetation. The lighter parts of the soil—silt, clay and organic matter—are blown away, leaving the heavier sand behind. In our next issue, learn about some useful trees for dry areas.

*Climatic zone—a region (zone) of the earth identified by features of the climate like the average temperature and rainfall.

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

ecosystems

What’s your climate?

limate is what we call the typical weather in a place over a span of many years. Climate also includes other statistics such as changes that occur day to day or year to year. The world’s climates are classified into 5 different categories: 1 Tropical moist: all months have average temperatures above 18 °C. These climates extend northward and southward from the equator to about 15–25° latitude. Annual rainfall is more than 1,500 mm. 2 Dry: extend from 20° to 35° north and south of the equator and in large continental regions of the mid-latitudes often surrounded by mountains. 3 Mild mid-latitude: generally warm and humid summers; zone extends from 30° to 50° latitude, mainly on the eastern and western borders of most continents. 4 Cold mid-latitude: cool to warm summers; the average temperature in the warmest month is 10 °C, the coldest drops to –3 °C; winters characterised by snowstorms, strong winds and bitter cold. 5 Polar: extremely cold winters and summers; year-round cold temperatures, the warmest month less than 10 °C. Polar climates are found on the northern coastal areas of North America, Europe, Greenland and Antarctica.

The Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania have a

tropical moist climate.

What causes different climatic conditions to exist around the world? • Latitude—how near to or far away from the equator a climate zone is, determines how much sunshine that zone receives at a time. 90°

North Pole 90° N

North

Tropic of Cancer 23.5° N

60° 30° 0°

Equator Tropic of Capricorn 23.5° S

30° 60°

South

South Pole 90° S

90°

Lines of latitude

• Air mass—a body of air whose temperature remains the same over hundreds, even thousands of kilometres. Air masses are classified according to their temperature.

Climate change is a long-term change in the distribution of weather patterns over short or long periods of time. Climate change may be limited to a specific region or may occur across the whole earth. The change may be in the form of more extreme weather conditions such as long droughts—as are being experienced in Turkana, Kenya; or very cold winters as are being experienced in Europe and parts of America—said to be the coldest winter in the last 60 years; or the floods that were experienced in Pakistan in 2010. The causes of climate change can be divided into 2 categories: human and natural.

Human causes of climate change

• Location of global high and low pressure zones (atmospheric pressure) • Heat exchange from ocean currents onto dry land • Mountain barriers • Wind patterns Polar bears are specially adapted to life in the snow and ice.

• Distribution of land and sea • Altitude

Gases produced by industries contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Deforestation, the burning of fossil fuels (coal, petrol) and other human activities have all led to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and warmer temperatures.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

ecosystems

Methane is another important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It is released from dairy and beef cattle, goats, buffaloes, camels, horses and sheep. Methane is also emitted during oil drilling and coal mining, and from leaking gas pipelines, landfills and waste dumps. Global warming can be seen through the effect on crops and extreme weather conditions around the world, such as the shrinking arctic ice cap and the melting ice shelf in Antarctica.

Natural causes of climate change Volcanic eruptions—when a volcano erupts it throws out large volumes of sulphur dioxide, water vapour, dust and ash into the atmosphere. Ocean currents—move vast amounts of heat across the planet. Winds push horizontally against the sea surface and drive ocean current patterns. Periodic changes in ocean currents lead to El Niño weather patterns, bringing extreme droughts or rainfall. Rotation of the earth around the sun—the earth rotates around the sun once a year at an angle of 23.5 °C. Changes in this tilt affect the strength of the seasons; more tilt means warmer summers and colder winters, less tilt means cooler summers and milder winters.

Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted in 1883 with an explosion so loud it was heard almost 5,000 km away. The next 4 winters were unusually cold worldwide as a result of the ash and gas hurled into the atmosphere.

The sun releases energy onto the earth. The amount of radiation given off by the sun changes with solar activity like solar flares (sudden eruptions of high-energy hydrogen gas from the surface of the sun).

By Katherine Moir and Benjamin Ondiege

I DON’T BELIEVE IT. EVERYTHING IS DYING!

SUCH LONG FACES! WHAT’S WRONG? …

I THINK YOUR MISTAKE WAS CHOOSING CROPS THAT NEED LOTS OF WATER.

… OH. I SEE. WHAT HAPPENED? ONLY THE MORINGA SEEDLINGS ARE GROWING.

WE DON’T GET MUCH RAIN. WE USED TO GET MORE … WE CAN’T CHOOSE THE WEATHER, CONNIE!

YES, CLIMATE CAN CHANGE OVER TIME, TOO. YOUR CLIMATE IS SEMIARID. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD DO WHEN SELECTING CROPS?

NO, YOU CAN’T. BUT YOU CAN PLANT ACCORDING TO YOUR CLIMATE. WHAT IS IT LIKE HERE? HOT!

TOO LITTLE RAIN HAPPENED!

EXACTLY! LIKE MORINGA. LABLAB BEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE DRY AREAS—WHAT’S MORE, THEY’RE NUTRITIOUS, FERTILISE THE SOIL AND PROVIDE FUEL AND FODDER TOO.

HEY … WE CAN GET A COW! CHOOSE ONES THAT DON’T NEED MUCH WATER?

WELL, LET’S SEE HOW YOU DO WITH YOUR PLANTS FIRST!

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

home gardens The first day of term ...

Welcome back, children. I hope you haven’t forgotten what you learned last year. My sisters and I are growing our own vegetables at home now.

Last year, children at Furaha Primary School started a school garden. What will the new year bring?

We haven’t, Mwalimu!

Later they visit their garden with Mkulima Halima.

Oh, look—weeds everywhere.

Come on, everyone, pull them up immediately!

Hold it, hold it … that is green manure*, not weeds! * Green manure (also known as a cover crop) is planted to protect the soil and then dug into We’ll dig it in before we the soil to add plant more vegetables. nutrients.

Now to decide what to plant ...

Good! I hope all of you are. And we’ll be growing more here, too. Will we plant everything where it grew last year?

We turn them around?

Not exactly! You need a lesson on crop rotation. Crop rotation is a good idea! What are the plant groups?

Crop rotatio

is the planting of different crops in a planned order in the same bed or field. Once a crop has been harvested, we plant another from a different plant group. We plant the first crop again after 2–5 seasons.

Advantages

• Keeps soil fertile as different plants take different soil nutrients.

Onion, leek, garlic, chive Gourd, pumpkin, cucum ber, watermelon Cabbage Cabbage, cauliflower, bro ccoli Legume Beans, cowpeas, peanut s, peas, soybeans Nightshade Potato, tomato, peppers, eggplant Leaf Spinach, kale, amaranth , lettuce Tubers and roots Sweet pot ato, cassava, carrot, cel ery Cereals, grasses Sor ghum, millet, wheat, ma ize Gourd

• Starves pests out after each season because different pests eat different crops. • Controls disease—diseases of one crop left in the soil will not attack unrelated crops. • Controls weeds because weeds cannot compete against healthy crops growing in fertile soil. • Healthy soil and fewer pests, diseases and weeds means less fertiliser, pesticide, fungicide and herbicide.

Mkulima Halima has some advice ...

... and Mwalimu has a plan.

1 Legumes are the core of crop rotation

Here are my crop rotation rules.

because they add nitrogen to the soil. 2 Never plant the same plant in the same place. Follow one crop with crops from different groups for at least 2 seasons. 3 If a crop doesn’t grow well in a bed, plant a green manure for a season.

And now I have exciting news—we are getting a pregnant goat!

Rains in semi-arid regions like ours aren’t reliable so we may need to adapt the plan as we go. We will keep a record of what we plant in each bed.

People group them in different ways—here’s one.

Group Onion

• Makes better use of soil water and nutrients because the roots of different crops reach varying levels in the soil.

• Mixed crops are harvested at varying times so we have a regular supply of food.

No, no. We must rotate crops!

Season 1

This is what we’ll plant during our rotation cycle. Season 1 was last year.

Season 2

Season 3

Bed 1 Beans

Kale

Onions

Bed 2 Amaranth

Cassava

Cowpeas

Bed 3 Pumpkin

Lablab beans Sorghum

Bed 4 Cowpeas

Sorghum

! Wow

Yippee!

Amaranth Baaa ! We can feed our goat from our garden.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

practical science

s= H M n + a actio in

STOP! I CAN‛T KEEP

EH? BUT MY LEGS HAVE TURNED

PLAYING. I HAVE

TO JELLY. WHERE‛S MY ENERGY?

NO ENERGY LEFT!

IT‛S CHANGED INTO ANOTHER FORM OF ENERGY.

An easy way to minus numbers

our mother has sent you to the shop to buy some milk. It costs Ksh 23 and you give the mean old shopkeeper Ksh 30. Your mother will be cross if you come home with the wrong change. What is 30–23? How much change should the shopkeeper give you?

AH, COME ON, KIWANUKA, THAT‛S JUST AN EXCUSE FOR SLACKING. ANYWAY, YOU CAN‛T EVER HAVE NO ENERGY.

Energy is the ability to do work.* Energy can change or transform from one form to another but the amount of energy stays the same. Energy forms can be put into 2 basic classes: Potential energy —the energy stored in an object or system. Gravitational energy, elastic energy and chemical energy are forms of potential energy. A ball held in the air, a stretched elastic band and food have potential energy. Kinetic energy —caused by motion (movement). A waving hand, a glowing light bulb and lava exploding from a volcano have kinetic energy. Thermal or heat energy is the kinetic energy of tiny particles in a bigger object, like molecules in the air. *In science, work is motion (movement) against resistance (something that may block another thing from moving). Picking up a ball against the force of gravity is work. I THINK MY ENERGY IS ALL “POTENTIAL” RIGHT NOW!

I SHALL NOW

KAMWENDE HAS ONE …

DEMONSTRATE THE

You may already be doing algebra and fractions in school, but it’s still easy to get basic minus sums (subtraction) wrong because most people try to count backwards from the bigger number. Here’s a tip—it is much easier to count forward from the smaller number. Use your fingers and count forward, starting from 23, which is the smaller number. Keep your thumb closed when you start. 25 23 24

TRANSFORMATION OF ENERGY FROM ONE FORM TO ANOTHER.

KAMWENDE, MAY WE

BORROW YOUR BALL THIS EXPERIMENT WILL LIVEN

FOR AN EXPERIMENT?

YOU UP. WE NEED A TENNIS BALL AS WELL AS OUR BASKETBALL.

I HOLD THE BASKETBALL IN ONE HAND AND PLACE THE TENNIS BALL ON TOP OF IT, HOLDING IT WITH THE OTHER HAND.

INTERESTING! WHAT IS IT?

TENNIS BALL

NOW I AM

BOUNCED SO

EH? THE

28 29

HIGH!

GOING TO LET GO OF BOTH BALLS AT THE SAME TIME.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT WHAT ENERGY IS TRANSFORMED?

WHILE I WAS HOLDING THE BALLS, THEY HAD POTENTIAL

ENERGY. WHEN I DROPPEDTHEM, THEY HAD KINETIC ENERGY. WHEN THE TENNIS BALL HIT THE BASKETBALL, A LOT OF THE

BY THE WAY, GUYS, SOME OF THE KINETIC ENERGY WAS TRANSFORMED INTO HEAT ENERGY AS THE BALLS PUSHED THE AIR ASIDE, WHEN THE BASKETBALL HIT THE GROUND AND WHEN THE BALLS HIT EACH OTHER.

KINETIC ENERGY IN THE BASKETBALL WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE TENNIS BALL, MAKING IT BOUNCE HIGH INTO THE AIR. Experiment from www.sciencekids.co.nz

NOW I KNOW ABOUT ENERGY TRANSFORMATION, I KNOW WHAT I NEED—CHEMICAL POTENTIAL ENERGY IN THE FORM OF A SNACK!

Can you tell potential energy from kinetic energy? Go to page 22 to test yourself!

You have 7 fingers up, that means the difference between 23 and 30 is 7 (or 23 + 7 = 30). That means Ksh 30 – Ksh 23 = Ksh 7 change.

Once you know the trick of counting forward, you can solve even big sums like 656 – 647… try it!

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

practical science

ile

f t c a f y g Technolo

moves across the paper, the ball rotates and gravity forces the ink down from the reservoir and onto the ball, where it transfers to the paper as the ball rolls.

If you’ve ever used a fountain pen and had it splatter ink all over your homework, you’ll know what an amazing invention the ballpoint pen is. But how exactly does a ballpoint work?

A fountain pen must have watery, slow-drying ink because it would otherwise clog the pen. Ballpoint pen ink, on the other hand, is thick and dries quickly so you are able to write fast without smudging your work. The pen does not clog because the tiny rolling ball acts as a stopper and prevents air from entering the reservoir to dry out the ink inside. The ballpoint pen was invented by Hungarian journalist Lazlo Biro, who got the idea while watching a newspaper being printed and seeing

ball

ballpoint pen has a tiny ball in a socket for a writing point. The ball is made of brass, steel or (nowadays) tungsten carbide. There’s just enough space for the ball to roll in the socket. As you press on the point and the pen

HoIw ... do

The first low-cost ballpo int pens were ma de by French man Marcel Bich, who develo ped a manufacturing process tha t lowere d costs dramatically . He called his pen “BIC” wh ich was an easy-to-remember version of his name.

reservoir socket

Parts of a ballpoint pen. Rollerball and gel pens work in the same way but use different inks.

A new year is here! Time to move to a new class with more to study. Use the 6 steps below to create a practical study plan. 4. Set a specific study task for a particular study time. Example, Tuesdays 5–6 am—English; Saturday 10–11 am—Science, group study. Allocate more time to tougher subjects or topics.

...make a ? study plan 1. Make a list of the material you need to study for a particular period. Example, first term 2011: Mathematics—algebra, fractions; English—tenses, vocabulary, etc.

h t a

how the copies were delivered from the press instantly dry and smudge-free. He wanted similar ink in a pen. The Biro pen with a rotating ball that he patented in 1943 was widely used by the British military during World War II because of its toughness in a battle environment.

Eng

2. Find out how much time you can devote to studying each day. Be realistic—allow free time for family, friends and recreation.

lish

6. Reward yourself every time you accomplish a study goal. Example: after a period of efficient study, allow yourself to watch an hour of television.

e c n

e i c S

3. Have a regular study time and place. Doing so helps you establish a studying habit.

i l i h swa

5. Set clear, measurable study goals to track your progress. Example, I’ll learn one new word each day to expand my English vocabulary.

adjustment, revise it. After a few revisions, you will have a realistic, practical study plan that you can follow honestly.

When unexpected events occur, do not simply cancel your study hours. Find time to make up for any study time missed. If you find that your schedule requires constant

WOW, I HAVE ANOTHER TEST COMING UP...!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

business & careers

! s s e in s u b a t r a t s 's t Le THEY’VE RETIRED AS TEACHERS BUT THEY’RE STARTING A BUSINESS?

WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I LILY, HER DON’T WANT TO DEPEND BROTHER, ON OUR PARENTS NOW MARTIN, AND THAT THEY’RE THEIR FRIEND SEMI-RETIRED. JAMILA WERE GLUM. THEY HAD WANTED TO STUDY FURTHER AFTER SCHOOL BUT COULD THEY NEED THEIR NOT GET MONEY FOR THEIR UNIVERSITY TREE NURSERY. PLACES.

HEY! WHY CAN’T WE START A BUSINESS, TOO?

HMM …

WE DON’T NEED A DEGREE TO EARN MONEY! SO, WHAT WILL WE SELL?

THE FRIENDS AGREED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND MEET A WEEK LATER.

l in starting Research is essentia s is an a business. A busines . The ity tiv ac income-earning s or od go s ge an business exch y. ne mo services for sale, • Go ods—products for es to tch fro m apples an d ma ho uses an d cars. offered • Services—anything a physical t no is for sale that nkers an d ba rs, pro duct. Docto pro vide all s er we dding plann a service.

What are others doing?

The friends started by looking at what families, friends and neighbours were doing to earn money. This is a sensible task for anyone wanting to start a small business because it provides clues to what may work in your area.

What do people want?

What are your skills?

In choosing a business, look at your skills—what you are good at—and your temperament (character). Are you shy or confident, adventurous or careful? Are you decisive or not? Skills and character affect what you choose to do. Someone who cannot do a handstand should not start an acrobatic troupe! Lily, Martin and Jamila each made a list of their own skills and attitudes:

Lily—good at maths, likes facts and figures, careful

Martin—good at making things, likes working with his hands, enthusiastic

They also studied what things or services were missing in their community. If you sell the same

LILY HAD NOTICED THAT MOST PEOPLE USED WOOD, CHARCOAL AND PARAFFIN FOR COOKING. COULD THEY MAKE SUBSTITUTES?

things as other businesses around you, there will not be much demand (need) for your goods or services.

AH! BRAINWAVE! WE CAN MAKE CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES FROM WASTE!

HMM, OUR TOWN IS FULL OF RUBBISH.

Jamila—outgoing, good with people, thinks she will be a good salesperson EXACTLY! WE CAN USE WASTE PAPER AND OTHER WASTE TOO.

AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T MAKE TOXIC SMOKE.

Needs

Study 2 businesses in your area. What skills and materials (resources) do they need? Where do they get them? Furniture makers need wood, tools and manual skills. They need a supplier who will deliver good quality wood when they need it. Lily, Martin and Jamila discovered that some resources were cheap and easy to come by, like the paints and brushes Jamila’s house painter neighbour uses, while others were expensive or hard to find. A WEEK LATER THE 3 MET AGAIN TO DISCUSS THEIR FINDINGS. JAMILA HAD THOUGHT OF SELLING FOOD FROM A KIOSK, BUT SHE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE ALREADY MANY FOOD KIOSKS AROUND. MARTIN HAD INVESTIGATED SOAPMAKING BUT SOMEONE WAS ALREADY DOING SO—AND HE HAD COMPLAINED OF A LACK OF LYE FOR THE SOAP.

WE’LL BE MAKING MONEY AND CLEANING UP AT THE SAME TIME!

FIRST LET’S DO SOME RESEARCH AND PLANNING. IF WE’RE WELL PREPARED, WE’LL HAVE MORE CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

WHAT DO THE FRIENDS FIND OUT? WAIT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE!

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

business & careers

t s i a i g l o u l o J h o c b y s m p Ojia

You could be a

We need to fight the stigma associated with mental illness, Mumbi Njoroge and her colleague agree.

“

Do you easily empathise with others? Do people find it easy to confide in you? Do you like being with people? Are you a good listener? Then you may want to be a psychologist, like Mumbi Njoroge!

A psychologist is someone you go to when you have troubles with your emotions, feelings or the way you act. For example, you can’t sleep at night or you feel afraid or anxious for no reason. The difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that a psychologist specialises in treatment through psychotherapy whereas a psychiatrist specialises more in treatment through medication. We complement each other. This is why I run a centre with a psychiatrist colleague. In psychotherapy, a patient discusses their feelings and experiences with the psychologist in order to identify problems. The patient is then given a treatment plan to help them cope with their problem. Where medication is needed as part of the treatment plan, the patient is referred to a psychiatrist, who prescribes it. My job is not only satisfying (I help people get better), it perfectly fits with who I am—easily empathising with others, easy to talk to and confide in.

Growing up, I wanted to be an engineer but this changed in high school when I came across a publication known as Psychology Digest. Later I joined St John Ambulance, where I met professionals working in the field of psychology. I did a bachelor of Psychology degree at the University of Nairobi and later, a master’s in Christian Counselling. I’m now planning to do a PhD in Mental Health Promotion. I’m passionate about treating mental health problems. We need to fight the stigma associated with them, as poor mental health is an illness like any other and can affect anyone.

”

CAREER FACT FILE • Study hard in sc ience subjects • Earn a certifica te or diploma in co unselling or a bachelor’s degr ee in psychology • Lo ok for opport unities to help people, which will help yo u un derstan d them

Born in pre-independent Kenya, Julia Ojiambo fought hard to get an education. Girls were denied a chance to study beyond class 4 back then and discrimination by the colonialists halted many girls’ pursuit of education.

espite her academic brilliance, Julia too had initially been denied a chance to study beyond class 4. But Julia’s father, the late Paulo Okello, was determined to see his daughter proceed to upper primary—never mind that there were no schools with upper classes in their home district, Busia. The nearest school was Butere Girls, located about 50 km away, but it had no classes for African girls. It took the combined efforts of Julia’s father and his fellow Anglican Church leader Jeremiah Awori (the father of former Vice-President Moody Awori) to win Julia admission to Butere. Julia never looked back. She reached for the academic stars, attaining a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University in the US and a PhD in Human Nutrition from the University of Nairobi. She became a pioneer in several paths: the first female African lecturer at the University of Nairobi, the first female MP from Western Province, and later, the first woman assistant minister. She is the current Chair of the Labour Party of Kenya.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EET

THE

Do you realise that you can make a career out of your hobby? 27-year-old Erick Nyabayo Isaac turned his love for fitness into a career.

“

I fell in love with the world of fitness the very first time I visited a gym as a young boy. Like many teenage boys, I went to the gym to build up my muscles so as to impress girls. After a few weeks of hitting the gym religiously, I started being more alert, relaxed and energetic. This fascinated my young mind and I decided to learn all I could about fitness from books, magazines and the gym instructor. By the time I had completed high school, I knew what career path I wanted to pursue. I enrolled at Bodywise Training Centre, where I got my fitness diploma in 2006. After college, I got employment in several established gyms so as to get

Make a

Vol. 6 no. 1

careers & fun

I’m fit! the experience, and 2 years later, I opened my own gym—PCEA Umoja Health Club. I’m both the gym manager and the instructor. As gym manager, I ensure that the gym is clean, gym equipment is working, business records are up to date and all 5 of my staff members are satisfied.

When lifting weights, it is important to start with small weights first.

As a gym instructor, my duty is to ensure that our clients reach their fitness goals. We do a full body assessment when a client first visits the gym—assess weight, blood pressure, sugar level, body mass index and medical history—which we use to create a fitness programme that best suits each person. We also advise clients on eating a nutritious diet. In future, I want to open a fitness school, as there are few around. My advice to young people—know your hobby. No matter what it is, you can make a living out of it!

”e poem Pictur

Isaac instructs a client on using the treadmill.

Express yourself in words without writing a thing! Create a collage about yourself using words cut out of newspapers, packaging materials and magazines. A collage is a picture you make by sticking photographs, printed pictures, pieces of paper or cloth and other objects like feathers and buttons onto a surface. You may paint or draw on more details. You need

• Pen and a small sheet of paper • 1 large (A3 to A2) sheet of card or paper • Old newspapers, magazines, wrappers and cartons (juice boxes, toothpaste cartons) • Scissors • Glue • Assortment of colour markers, paints, pastels, pens • Small objects to glue on—feathers, buttons, straw, ribbon, etc. (optional)

1. Write down 5 words to describe yourself.

2. Look for those words in your old papers and magazines and cut them out.

3. As you go, cut out images that you think suit your words. If you described yourself as “tall” or “ambitious”, for example, you may choose a picture of a skyscraper, ladder or clouds.

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

puzzles & fun Fun for

Youu Yo

Potential or kinetic?

li he ght a el t en ec en er tri e gy ca rgy le ne rg y

The chemical energy in a torch battery transforms to electrical energy as the electric current flows to the bulb, where it changes to heat energy as the filament in the bulb heats up. The heat energy changes to light energy and pow! We have light shining from our torch. Can you sort these types of energy into kinetic and potential energy?

English is a funny language What do these words have in common?

eight

hour

knife

bomb

talk

autumn

wrong

island

sign

listen

muscle

who

Then you may enjoy these jokes!

English is a funny language

What is a cheerl eader’s colour?

What’s the weather?

rg y

1. Two days had the best conditions for Soraya to wash her clothes. Which days are they and how was the weather ? 2. On the day in between those 2 days, Soraya visited her friend. How was the weather and which day was it?

ica em ch

All these words contain silent consonantsfavouritg;e eight: gh; knife: k; talk: l; wrong: w; sign: muscle: c; hour: h; bomb: 2nd b;Ye autumn: ller n; island: s; listen: t; who: w.

good When is a baby at basketball? ing When it’s dribbl

Feeling sporty?

Soraya experienced these weather patterns last week. Can you identify them? The days follow each other as in (1) and (2).

Monday

3. Soraya's parents use renewable solar energy. On which 2 days did they enjoy the longest periods with power?

4. “It’s not raining today, but where is the sun?” On which day did Soraya make this complaint?

Tuesday

5. One day after the day in (4) above it rained heavily, accompanied by an electric storm. Which day was it? 6. On the day in between the days in (4) and (5) it was calm and cloudy with sunny intervals. Which day was it? 7. One day of the week is missing. Which day is it?

Don’t be cruel to animals ... A..! YA

... Do be gentle and friendly to them.

Why did the golfer wear 2 pairs of pants? In case she got a hole in one.

By Harray

1. Monday (sunny and windy) and Wednesday (sunny and calm) 2. Rainy and calm (Tuesday) 3. Monday and Wednesday (they received the most sunshine THAT’S on those days) BETTER! 4. Thursday 5. Saturday 6. Friday 7. Sunday

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 1

puzzles & fun

By Bella Kilonzo www.bellakilonzo.com

CRAZY BELZO

by Cyrus Gathigo and Katherine Moir

Knoc

What is harder to catch the faster you run? Your breath

k knoc

here? t s ’ o Wh mmonia! A o? a whle kid! i n o Amm onia litt

Slow down, speed freak!

Amm

Which is my photograph? Speeding is a major cause of road accidents. As passengers, children have no control over the speed of the vehicle they are in … or do they?

Slow down, speed freak!

You can speak up if your PSV is speeding! You will probably be ignored if you are rude, so be firm but polite.

What’s the weather?

Answers to puzzles on page 22

All these words contain silent consonantseight: gh; knife: k; talk: l; wrong: w; sign: g; muscle: c; hour: h; bomb: 2nd b; autumn: n; island: s; listen: t; who: w.

English is a funny language

Chemical energy—potential; electrical energy is potential energy when the current is switched off and kinetic when the current is on; heat energy—kinetic; light energy— kinetic. Confused? Read page 17!

Potential or kinetic?

muscle sign

who listen

Form a road safety club with fellow pupils who use PSVs to and from school. Together, campaign for the matatus and buses on your route to observe road rules.

1. Monday (sunny and windy) and Wednesday (sunny and calm) 2. Rainy and calm (Tuesday) 3. Monday and Wednesday (they received the most sunshine on those days) 4. Thursday 5. Saturday 6. Friday 7. Sunday

Enlist the help of your fellow passengers. You will find that most would rather reach their destination a little later, but alive.

Vol. 6 no. 1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Civil society

Protect yourself from cyberbullying Nelson couldn’t wait to tell the boys what he’d discovered during a sleepover at Max’s place. “Max pees in bed,” he wrote on his Facebook page, relishing the gossip and wanting to generate an amusing conversation.

Cyberbullying includes:

It may have seemed hilarious to Nelson, but what he had done was a type of bullying.

• sending hateful, threatening, private or false messages about someone to others through text, pictures or videos; unkind or threatening messages are hurtful whether said face-to-face or not.

Cyberbullying is the deliberate use of technology (phones, internet or other devices used to send or post text or images) to harass, humiliate, threaten or embarrass another person.

• participating in internet polls created to find offensive qualities about others, like, “Who’s the ugliest student?” Such questions are bound to hurt someone.

• Using a person’s passwords to access their phone, email or Facebook accounts and send offensive messages to others while pretending to be that other person. Protect yourself:

• Limit whom you share your email address and phone number with; never reveal your password for your social networking site or allow others to take personal videos or pictures or compromising poses of you. • Do not respond to the bully’s messages but do save them—they can help support your case. • Tell a trusted adult about the bullying and your service provider too. If you are threatened with harm, inform the local police. • Stand up against bullying and think twice before forwarding a hurtful message.

YOU LAZY CHILDREN—PLAYING AND LAUGHING INSTEAD OF...

... DOING YOUR HOMEWORK! AND STAND UP WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!

Story by Sarah Radoli Art by Bella Kilonzo

CHILDREN,

WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN DOWN EVERY TIME THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU KILL THEIR CONFIDENCE.

BABA MIKE, IT IS NOT FAIR TO SHOUT AT THE CHILDREN. IT ONLY MAKES THEM SCARED OF YOU AND MAY EVEN AFFECT THEIR GRADES.

WHAT YOUR WIFE IS SAYING IS TRUE. I ... I ... DIDN’T REALISE THAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU HELP YOUR CHILDREN TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE. THAT MAKES THEM STRONGER.

OF COURSE. PLAY WITH THEM TOO—WE ALSO LEARN THROUGH PLAY!

DOES THAT INVOLVE HELPING THEM WITH THEIR HOMEWORK?

ISBN 978-9966-33-084-0

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE, WATOTOMAN. FROM NOW ON, WE WILL MAKE SURE WE ENCOURAGE JOAN AND MIKE.

Adopt-a-School: give 50+ youth a chance in life!

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I’M SORRY, CHILDREN. I DIDN’T REALISE THAT MY SHOUTING AT YOU AFFECTS YOUR SELF-ESTEEM. I JUST WANT YOU TO DO YOUR BEST.

MIKE, JOAN, PLEASE COME BACK HERE.

�

WHY DON’T YOU GO TO YOUR ROOMS!

�

DO YOU THINK I PAY FEES FOR YOU TO BRING POOR GRADES TO MY HOUSE? WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL I WAS ALWAYS TOP OF THE CLASS.

The Young African Express is published by Jacaranda Designs Ltd, PO Box 1202 - 00606, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 (0)20 374-4737. Registered at the GPO as an educational magazine. The throu Young Africa gh your schoon Express l by contais now The throu Young Africa cting in Uchum gh your i super mark scho n Express