Ushahidi to the rescue ! by Young African Express

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

Vol. Y6A no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

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Kenya to the rescue!

Thanks to Ushahidi, this woman was rescued from the rubble 5 days after the earthquake in Haiti. This is how information about her situation would have been used:

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Kenyan citizens and residents Ory Kolloh, Juliana Rotich, David Kobiah and Erik Hersman devised this unique tool. ABOUT JUST

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Did you know you can send an SMS to get information or help in such a situation, using a tool created extensive (mainly al system an d crop nagement in Kenya? Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, is a website Lo dw ar initially created at the beginning of t M ar sa bi 2008 to map reports of violence in Kenya, after the disputed elections.

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the information is logged on the map and rescue teams are alerted;

a search and rescue team goes to the location and rescues the trapped person.

The Ushahidi website gets information from volunteers via text messages, email, Twitter and the internet. It uses its own software to plot the information on an up-to-date Google map, available on the internet.

continued on page 3

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Vol. 6 no. 3

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Vol. 6 no. 3

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 Clare Barasa, Charles Bodo, Lee Diani, 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, Katherine Moir, Harrison Muriuki, Martin Ngugi, Benjamin Ondiege, Nkrumah Ondiek, Celestine Wamiru Photographs Charles Bodo, Glenna Gordon, Mbula Makaa-Kinuthia, Susan Mboya, Katherine Moir, Sarah Radoli, Julia Wanjeri, Ray Wilson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Navy, VSF, World Agroforestry Centre, www.sxc.hu, www. ushahidi.com, en.wikipedia.org Contacts info@youngafricanexpress.net subscription@youngafricanexpress.net marketing@youngafricanexpress.net website: www.youngafricanexpress.net Printed in Nairobi, Kenya 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 Copyright© Jacaranda Designs Ltd 2011 Young African Express is published by Jacaranda Designs Ltd, under a registered trademark. All rights reserved. While every attempt has been made to verify all facts, instructions and procedures, the publisher claims indemnity against results of any nature whatsoever arising from the application/s thereof. 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.

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

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EXPRESSIONS

Dear Readers,

I‛M ENTERING THE COMPETITION—ARE YOU?!

Getting excited? School holidays are coming soon! I’m sure you’re dreaming of what to do or exploring productive ways to use your talents, skills and energies. To extend your thinking, this issue is filled with great features, stories, cartoon strips and interviews. And, to excite your creativity, we’re starting a competition. Valuable prizes are on offer for the 1st place winner plus 2 runnersup. The prizes are beautiful, well-made wedding dresses—all the way from Europe! The winners will be those who come up with the best income-earning and creative ideas. Details are on page 23. Use your time in August to get started! Enter by yourself or as a group. Start by doing some market research, and read the business section on page 20 and the career interview on page 21. If you can, visit a tailor or dressmaker nearby and ask them questions about their businesses. Use this to come up with your own ideas on

how you could make some money if you were to win. Would you add some decoration and sell the wedding dresses? Or use the fabric to make something different and new? Let your imagination lead you. Stretch your maths, writing and creative thinking skills. Use your social, cultural and fashion knowledge. Go for it; and have fun! Make sure you keep getting Young African Express. More competition news will appear in the next issue, and the winners will be announced before the end of this year! Send your entry to Young African Express, PO Box 1202 - 00606 Nairobi, or email your entry to info@YoungAfricanExpress.net

We say…

What do you think should happen when a teacher sexually abuses or harasses a pupil? These Young African Express readers had strong views on the subject. Michael Wamunyinyi, 14, class 7. Likes football, watching rugby The teacher should be sacked and imprisoned. It is not right for such a person to be transferred to another school since that teacher may do the same in the other school.

Lyson Lloyd, 13, class 8. Likes football, movies, Playstation Such a teacher should be castrated as a lesson to the rest of society. If the student is a girl and she gets a baby, she should keep it. Half of the teacher’s salary should be used to support the baby.

Amina Ismail, 13, class 8. Likes swimming, tennis, violin It once happened to me and I reported it to the principal. After being investigated, with the help of the matron and other teachers, the teacher was sacked. I think this is what should be done to such teachers. I also think they should be punished by being taken to jail.

Regina Adhiambo, 12, class 7. Likes singing, dancing, basketball, listening to music The teacher should be sacked because he should not treat children that way. If the teacher was hired to teach, he should not disturb pupils. I would stand up and speak for a friend if she was scared to do so. Such a child will be depressed and find it hard to concentrate in class. That is why such a teacher should be severely punished.

Elizabeth Awinja, 13, class 7. Likes swimming, shopping, basketball and hanging out with friends They should be sacked first, fined, then imprisoned for life. It does not matter if the teacher was good in teaching, since it is against the child’s rights. A pupil who goes through such an experience feels left out and will not be able to continue with school if she ends up pregnant.

Turn to page 8 to read what Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act says about defilement or attempted defilement of children.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

EXPRESSIONS

Help! Kenya to the Where has it been rescue! used?

continued from page 1

People can log on to find out what is happening at a particular place.

During the post-election violence, eyewitnesses sent SMSs to Ushahidi, using codes to give brief news from their locations.* The website plotted the information on a map so that people could monitor the violence and tell which parts of the country were most affected. Ushahidi was a good tool for accountability, keeping track of who was doing what.

“In Kenya,” Linda says, “we are testing a project aimed at promoting service delivery and good governance. If it works well, we hope to expand the program to other parts of the country.”

How the pilot program works

You can report on anything—if the hospital you go to does not have drugs or your area does not have water, you send a text message to the code provided by Ushahidi. The information is logged according to the number of people sending in messages and the authorities are informed. In the case of a water shortage, the water board will be able to determine if your area needs more boreholes or taps. It is important that the sender gives the right information.

According to a web developer at Ushahidi, Linda Kamau, the concept worked so well that their software is now used in other parts of the world. “Since Ushahidi is all about sharing information for the public good, its software is open source—anyone can get and use the source code (the set of instructions for a computer program).”

Not all news is bad news—Tanzanians could expressly map positive events during their elections.

In Tanzania and Nigeria, Ushahidi was used to monitor the elections. The Nigerian elections were postponed after people sent SMSs about the lack of voting materials in some polling stations. In the American city of Atlanta, Ushahidi maps crime-related issues to monitor the crime rate in the city. In Malawi, Ushahidi monitors the distribution of medical drugs. After the earthquake in Haiti, citizens and relief workers used Ushahidi to communicate. Rescue teams were thus able to find people in need of critical supplies.

*The SMS codes are 4-digit numbers provided by Ushahidi to help them quickly sort incoming information. For example, after the Haiti earthquake, they created different codes for “evacuate”, “safety status”, “help me”, and so on.

BOARD

Bulletin

We were surprised and very pleased to get this letter all the way from Sierra Leone in West Africa! Thank you, Mr Ngombu. -Editor

Durbar Grounds Community Development Organization [in Bo City, Sierra Leone] is a community-based organisation (CBO) formed to take care of the inhabitants of the community. The CBO works in cooperation with other ministries, departments and associations to improve the

Young African Express is getting around! livelihoods of men, women and the young ones in the community. I found a copy of the Young African Express magazine (September 2008, vol. 3 no. 7), which was in the office of Nova Scotia–Sierra Leone, a para NGO. Having gone through its pages, I realise the magazine would be very useful in improving the youth population of our community. -David A Ngombu Community Secretary

A report that malaria drugs have run out at a clinic in Malawi. A person can click on the bubble to get details.

Imagine getting all that done—just by sending an SMS! Check it out on www.ushahidi.com. Hey, maybe you can invent something as useful as Ushahidi—you won’t know till you try!

Kenya’s Ushahidi was voted one of the 50 anies most innovative comp s ett us ch of 2011 by the Massa y’s Technology Institute of Technolog rican Af Review, proving that ss! innovation is world cla

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. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

staying healthy

Undernourished children Children need energy to play and grow. But if a child’s diet contains little or no energy foods, the child is likely to suffer from a nutritional deficiency disease like marasmus or kwashiorkor.

arasmus is a severe form Being weaned onto a poor of malnutrition diet can cause marasmus. caused by a lack of protein and calories. It usually occurs in the first year of life.

Children who suffer from marasmus experience lethargy (are slow physically and dull mentally because they are always tired), behavioural changes, stunted growth, muscle wasting and weight loss. Most children who suffer from marasmus never recover to grow normally. To avoid marasmus, a weaning child needs a balanced diet that includes protein, vegetables and fruit. A child with kwashiorkor needs a balanced diet to recover.

Marasmus occurs most often when children are being weaned—when they stop breastfeeding and start eating other foods. Too frequently, these new foods are starch and little else.

How to clean your ears “What’s that you say? Speak up!” We are lucky if we have naturally good hearing.

owever, if you have occasional difficulty hearing, it could be that you are simply neglecting your ear hygiene. Ears need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of wax and dirt that can lead to infections and temporary loss of hearing. The human ear is composed of 3 parts: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Cleaning the ear should involve only the outer ear. outer ear

ear canal ear drum

ear wax

Eustachian tube

How to clean

Don’t put anything sharp in your ear because it can cause bleeding or serious damage. Young children should ask their mum or dad to help them clean their ears. Scrub your outer ear with a clean cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. The cloth should not be sopping wet. Use a cotton swab to clean the inner part of the outer ear. If you want, you can clean the opening of your ear gently with a washcloth or cotton swab. Then make sure that you dry the ear properly.

washiorkor is another severe form of malnutrition in children, caused by a lack of protein-rich foods such as eggs, meat, beans, fish. Children suffering from kwashiorkor have the following symptoms: failure to gain weight, stunted growth, oedema (fluid retention causing swelling such as swollen feet), swollen abdomen, diarrhoea, peeling skin, white spots on the skin, reddish hair and muscle wasting. Mental changes include lethargy and fretfulness. Children who suffer from kwashiorkor fail to produce antibodies following vaccination against diseases including diphtheria and typhoid. Generally, the disease can be treated by adding protein foods. If kwashiorkor remains untreated, it can have a long-term impact on a child’s physical and mental development and can lead to death.

What about the rest of the ear?

The middle ear is responsible for removing dirt and debris from the ear canal. It does this through wax. Once the wax has trapped the contaminants, the middle ear actually pushes the wax out toward the outer ear, where it generally expels itself.

Even tho u gh earwa x seems yuc ky, it ser ves a purpose. After it is pro duce d, it slowly makes its w ay to the o pening. T ear hen it eit her falls remo ve d o ut or is when yo u wash. If you need a thorough cleanup of the middle ear, have a doctor do it, because doctors have tools at their disposal to make ear cleaning safe and painless.

Be careful when using a cotton swab. You may push the wax deeper in your ear, where it can get stuck. Irritating the ear canal with a cotton swab can even lead to infection.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

DISEASES

Zzz—feeling sleepy? amantha and Paul have travelled to an area known as Kathekani in Eastern Kenya. This is a tsetse fly–infested zone. They are going to see their grandparents.

Do not let anyone frighten you by claiming you have sleeping sickness. Your first symptoms would be quite different if you did!

shade (trees, shrubs)

Samantha: I am so excited to be here in the village at last! It will be nice to see our grandparents again. Paul: There they are. Hallo there! How are you, Grandpa and Grandma? It’s been a long journey. Grandpa: We are fine except for the tsetse fly infestation in the area. A few people are down with sleeping sickness as a result.

tsetse fly

Grandma: Within 1 to 2 weeks the person may have fever, headaches, joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and itching, and later, when it reaches the brain, mood swings, changes in behaviour, confusion and poor coordination. Paul: Why is it called sleeping sickness? Grandma: In the last stage of the disease the sleep cycle is disturbed—the person can’t sleep at night but is so tired during the day that they keep falling asleep. The victim slips into a coma and dies if there is no treatment. Grandpa: But don’t fret, Samantha, you’re not at risk. Our community has started using a trapping technology using odours that attract and kill tsetse flies.* We spray surrounding vegetation and cut back all brush within the compound—tsetse flies like shade. Did you pack long-sleeved shirts and long trousers as we suggested? Tsetse flies can bite through thin fabrics, so our clothing is thick. Tsetse flies are attracted to bright and dark colours, so we wear khaki or olive-coloured clothing. Grandma: Medicine for treating trypanosomiasis is available. Anyone with symptoms should be tested and treatment must be started as soon as possible. * Read more about tsetse fly traps at http://www.stepin.org/casestudy.php?id=tsetsefly.

animal reservoir (wildlife, livestock)

human

Samantha: That’s scary. Are we at risk? What are the symptoms?

The sleeping sickness infection cycle. A tsetse fly absorbs Trypanasoma parasites after biting an infected mammal. When the fly bites another animal or person, the parasite enters the host. frican trypanosomiasis (tri-PAN-oso-MY-a-sis), also called sleeping sickness, is a serious parasitic disease characterised by inflammation of the brain and the covering of the brain (meninges). It is caused by protozoan parasites.

The disease is spread by the bite of tsetse flies that carry the parasites. Trypanosomiasis occurs in 2 forms: East African, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and West African, caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

The tsestse fly bites cows and other vertebrates, including humans, to suck blood. In humans the parasites first enter the lymphatic system, eventually passing into the bloodstream, which carries them to other parts of the body. In the 2nd stage, the parasites cross the blood–brain barrier into the spinal fluid to infect the central nervous system. East African trypanosomiasis occurs in parts of eastern and central Africa, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire and Zimbabwe.

What is a tsetse fly? T

he tsetse fly (genus Glossina), found only in Africa, occurs in forests and wooded savannah, and along the edges of lakes and rivers. The adult flies, which are about 2.5 cm long, are brown above and brown with yellow stripes or spots below. The heavily veined wings, unlike those of other bloodsucking flies, are held crossed over the abdomen when not in use. The female produces one egg at a time that grows inside her until it is a full-sized larva, which she deposits in the ground or among decayed leaves to pupate and develop into an adult.

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

hiv & you

Dear Phyllis,

Not knowing what to expect can be frightening. In fact, fear leads many people to avoid HIV tests altogether, so you are sensible to ask. Let’s go through the process step by step: • Go to a VCT clinic for the test. Some are separate clinics, others are found within hospitals and health clinics. • You get pre-test counselling explaining what to expect. If you have any questions, ask the counsellor. You will be asked whether you want to be tested right away or at another time. • You give your informed consent for the test to be performed.

Dear Counsellor, After my mum died recently, we were told she’d had AIDS. My brothers and I have been advised to go for HIV testing but I’m nervous. Can you tell me what to expect? Phyllis, 13 • The counsellor takes a blood sample from your finger, using a syringe to extract a small amount of blood. You will feel a prick but it is otherwise quick and painless.

• If you are HIV positive, you will get advice on living with HIV in which you will be told what treatment you can get, how to stay healthy and ways to avoid spreading HIV.

• A rapid test is done on the sample right away. The results will be ready within 15–20 minutes.

• If the test results were not clear, you may have to have another type of blood test. The results will take longer but they should be available by the next day at the latest.

• You receive post-test counselling, during which the counsellor tells you your results. If they are negative, you will be told how to avoid HIV infection. If your results are positive, a 2nd test is done for confirmation. If the 2 test results are different, a 3rd test is carried out.

the friends have been talking about the new student, and now she comes to join them ...

Please remember that a positive result does NOT mean you have AIDS. You can live with HIV for many years without developing AIDS if you stick to your treatment and live healthily.

hello.

melissa, this is angel.

everyone, i’d like you to meet melissa, who’s new.

hi, welcome to soma! please join us!

Story by Peta Meyer Art by Bella Kilonzo thank you, it’s good to be here. i had to leave my old school because i’m ...

hiv positive ...

angel! are you okay?!

i’m KOFF fine ... thanks.

you have hiv?

KOFF, KOFF

yes. i was born with it. after my parents died i went to live with my uncle. he made sure i got medication.

did you have to leave your old school because of hiv? that’s not fair! no, i left because the other students blacklisted me when they found out ...

... so now i tell people up front, and they can decide if they want to be friends with me or not.

huh?!

yes, we will!

we’ll be friends with you!

thank you! and don’t worry, you can’t catch hiv from me—it’s not contagious.

TALK ABOUT IT! how would you feel if your friends avoided you because you were sick? hiv isn’t contagious … what does that mean?

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

bodyworks

Vol. 6 no. 3

Those awkward questions Many young girls have questions about menstruation they would like to ask but feel too embarrassed to do so. We try to answer some here.

Girls, how will you know if you are starting periods? Ask your mum when she started, as girls often follow the same pattern. Get to know your body. If you see the changes that mean you are starting puberty (breasts developing and feeling tender, weight gain, curvier body, hair under arms and in the genital area), talk with mum about getting some pads. Some girls get occasional tummy pains in the couple of months before their periods start. What if you start when you’re not at home? You will not start with a great flood, so you will have time to ask a teacher or the school nurse to help you. Will you have mood swings during your period? Some girls and women have PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), which could mean that they feel • a bit tired and tense

Do you get cramps when you get your period? Many girls get stomach cramps as their periods begin. A hot water bottle on the tummy may help. There are medications that help really bad cramps. Do you always have a period every 28 days? When you have your first period, it may last only 1 or 2 days, and then you might not have another for several months. If you mark the dates on a calendar you should be able to work out when your period is due. It may not be every 28 days but it is usually somewhere between 21 and 35 days. It varies with different people, and some girls and women never have regular periods.

• a bit irritable or easily upset

• as if they are coming down with a migraine headache

• bloated (like their stomach is full of air) for a few days before and at the start of a period Not everyone has all these symptoms, and some girls do not have any of them. Sometimes girls find they have a lot more energy just before their period starts. These feelings usually do not last for more than a day, but if they bother you, talk to your mother or doctor, because you can do things that can make a difference in how you feel.

Carry a pad with you when your period is due so you are prepared. What colour is your period when you first start? It is reddish-brown blood when you first start; later periods become redder. This is the blood and tissue that your body has prepared in the uterus for a possible baby to “nest” in. Not pregnant? No baby? So your body cleans out the unneeded tissue and blood. How long do periods last? Some girls have short periods (about 3 days) while others have ones that last up to a week. Your pattern will usually stay the same once your periods get regular, i.e., in 6 to 12 months. If your period suddenly gets shorter or longer, you may have a health problem.

You lose little blood during your period and it lasts for only 2 days. Is that normal? Everyone is different. If this is the normal pattern for you then there is probably no problem. If you are underweight or an athlete in training, this could be the cause. Talk to your doctor to make sure that everything is okay. Do you always get pimples when it’s your period? Some people find that they get more spots around the time their period is due, but everyone is more likely to get pimples during their teenage years because the skin gets oilier. How do you know if your period will be light or heavy? Your period may be light (a small flow of blood that lasts a couple of days) or heavy (a bigger flow that soaks your pad more quickly or lasts longer). Your periods may be heavy for the first day or 2 and then become light. You will learn their pattern over time. Is it OK to go swimming during a period? Exercise is good for you during your period (as at any other time) but a tampon works best for swimming as it is used internally.

Another worry

I am concerned about having accidents and getting blood on my clothes or the bed sheets. You can ask for help from women or girls around you. You can also use your school sweater tied around your waist to get you to where you can get some help without being embarrassed.

ven though they may look okay, people who are HIV positive may feel scared, angry, unhappy or depressed. They may feel afraid that people at school or work could find out and start treating them differently. It is important for all of us to remember that usual social contact, like eating or sitting together, with people who are HIV positive does not bring any risk of infection. Your companionship gives them crucial emotional support.

Young children and the elderly have special nutritional needs and we can take particular care of their diet. Pregnant young girls with HIV or AIDS need additional nutrients for their baby’s growth as well as their own.

Support and care for people living with HIV or AIDS involves counsellors

HI GUYS!

By Peta Meyer and Martin Ngugi K.

HI GIRLS, I’M JUST ABOUT TO ORDER DRINKS. WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?

YOU ORDERED ALCOHOL? A VODKA ORANGE FOR ME PLEASE!

BUT HE’S UNDER 18—AND HAVING A FAKE ID IS AN OFFENCE! HE COULD GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE. BESIDES …

HEY, DON’T WORRY, JJ CAN GET ALCOHOL ANYTIME. HE HAS A FAKE ID. … AS TEENAGERS OUR BODIES ARE NOT YET MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE SO MUCH ALCOHOL. UMM … MAYBE I’LL HAVE A SODA AFTER ALL!

LET’S SEE YOUR IDS —NOW! IT’S LIKE DRINKING POISON. LOOK WHAT CAN HAPPEN!

t en

The Sexual t c Offences A o you know that stringent laws have been put in place in Kenya to protect children against sexual abuse? These are found in the Sexual Offences Act, which sets out what action is taken against sex offenders.

When any adult has sexual intercourse with a child, with or without their consent, this is considered defilement. In Kenya, a child is defined as anyone below the age of 18 years. If proven guilty, the accused person is sentenced to life imprisonment if the child is 11 years or younger, at least 20 years if the child is 12–15 years old and at least 15 years if the child is 15–18 years old. When an adult attempts to have sexual intercourse with a child, this is considered attempted defilement and if found guilty, the offender will be jailed for at least 10 years. If 2 or more people defile someone, this is gang defilement and the sentence is at least 15 years in prison.

THANKS JJ, I’LL HAVE A SODA.

SURE! WHY NOT?

e, child abus e, rap

Bullying,

People with HIV may suffer from poor health, from loss of appetite, difficulty in eating and poor absorption of nutrients. We can help by persuading them to eat frequent small meals when they have no appetite, ensuring they have nourishing foods and plenty to drink, and cooking for them when they are too sick to cook for themselves.

e, us

Say

and personnel but we also have a role in supporting them as friends and relatives. Encourage them to stick to their medication as ARVs are critical for their health. When they are ill, help them to get medical help, and care for them when they are at home.

! o nto violence

Emotion al ab

ort of

.M .G

p Care and sup

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

LIVING RIGHT

violence, d ef il

Vol. 6 no. 3

al xu Se

The accused person may be acquitted (found not guilty) if they can prove that they believed that the child was over 18, as long as they are not related. If a child has defiled another child, the Children’s Act and the Borstal Institutions Act (used to rehabilitate child criminals) are used to determine the sentence. If you are sexually abused, never be afraid to speak out so that action is taken against your abuser. • Childline Kenya 116 -One Hotline • Liverpool VCT One-2 0800 22 11 121 Uganda • Action for Children 00 111 222 08 0800 111 333 or ) 152243 (51 a ani anz N-T • ANPPCA

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

Human rights

amela and her friends have met for a volleyball game when Abdul comes running towards them. “Hey guys! Can I play?” he asks. “Heck no!” Pamela shouts back. “Why not?” “Duh! You’re a boy!” “But I’m really good at volleyball.” “Puh-leez! Volleyball is not football! Go chase a ball somewhere else!” Does this sound familiar? Has someone ever refused to play with you because you are a girl or a boy? Or you are short or tall? Or you come from a rich family or a poor one? That’s prejudice! Ever heard someone say, “Girls are poor at sciences and boys are poor at languages”? That’s prejudice! Plenty of girls are good at sciences and plenty of boys are good at languages. Ever seen a leader treat people who come from a particular region or tribe differently? That’s prejudice! Having a preconceived view about a person based on gender, age, tribe, race, and so on is being prejudiced. Prejudices are bad because they lead to discrimination—the unfair treatment

DO THE

H G I T R

Do not be tempted into taking anything from a shop without paying. This is shoplifting!

of a person based on age, gender, tribe, race, wealth, social status, religion, and so on.

A 10-shilling coin and 2 5-shilling coins may not look alike but they amount to the same because they are equal in value.

To fight prejudice and discrimination, you need equality. When 2 things are equal, they are treated in the same way. For example, a 10-shilling coin and 2 5-shilling coins may not look alike but they amount to the same because they are equal in value.

Equality works in the same way. Boy, girl, fat, thin, tall, short, darkskinned, light-skinned, young, old—we have lots of differences, but we are all equal because we have the same value. We’re all people! Thus we all deserve to be treated in the same way—equally.

THING

Pay for everything you have selected, however small.

And because they’re equal (you can buy the same things with either) you treat them the same.

Shoplifting

Return excess change if the cashier makes a mistake. Do not let anyone stop you.

Shoplifting is a crime. When you are caught, you will be in serious trouble.

Vol. 6 no. 3

our world

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Who is a good leader? What is a state officer?

A state officer is anyone employed or elected to hold a position in the state. This includes the president, cabinet ministers and MPs, everyone who works in a government ministry or hospital, ambassadors, teachers and the police. A state officer is also anyone working in the new county governments. (Where’s your county? See the page opposite!)

An MP represents his or her constituents and has the responsibility to serve them.

ave you read Mr Mwamba’s questions on the qualities of a good leader in “Leading the Way” on page 24? What he’s talking about is found in chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution. If you wish to be a state officer, what attributes should you possess? Let’s find out! Qualities of a state officer State officers have the responsibility to serve people rather than the power to rule them. Whether in private or official life, they should avoid conflict between personal interests and public duties. They should serve the people with commitment and discipline. A state officer should • Respect the people • Bring honour to the nation and dignity of the office

• Promote public confidence in the integrity of the office in matters concerning resources, legislation, environment and leadership • Be a leader of integrity who is selected on the basis of a free and fair election • Be objective and impartial in decision making, ensuring decisions are not influenced by nepotism, favouritism, or

other improper motives or corrupt practices

People have a right to selfless service from a state officer, based on public interest demonstrated by • Honesty in the execution of public duties

I CAN‛T FIND MY MU ... MY MUM ... MY MUMMY!

IT‛S OKAY, DEAR, I‛M HERE TO HELP.

People have a right to selfless service from state officers.

• Declaration of any personal interest that may conflict with public duties • Accountability to the public for their decisions and actions Who isn’t eligible to enter state office? One who is not a Kenyan citizen, or someone holding dual citizenship A person dismissed before or facing disciplinary action DON’Ts of a state officer A state officer shall NOT • Maintain a bank account outside Kenya except in accordance with an act of parliament • Seek or accept a personal loan or benefit in circumstances that compromise their integrity • Hold office in a political party • Compromise any public or official interest in favour of a personal interest A gift or donation to a state officer on a public or official occasion is a gift or donation to the republic and belongs to the state unless exempted under an act of parliament.

If a state officer goes contrary to the rules laid down in the Constitution, they may face disciplinary action and eventually be dismissed from office.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

our world

Mandera Turkana Marsabit

Wajir West Pokot

Samburu

Elgeyo Trans Nzoia Marakwet Baringo Uasin Bungoma Gishu

Isiolo

Busia Kakamega Siaya Vihiga Nandi Kisumu Homa Bay Migori

Laikipia

Kericho

Nakuru

Nyandarua

Tharaka Nithi Nyeri Kirinyaga Embu Muranga

Nyamira Kisii

Meru

Bomet

Garissa

Kiambu Narok

Nairobi

Machakos

Kitui

Tana River

Makueni Find your county and its headquarters in the list below. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grouped them under the former provinces. Central Kiambu Kirinyaga Muranga Nyandarua Nyeri

Kiambu Kerugoya Muranga Nyahururu Nyeri

Coast Kilifi Kwale Lamu Mombasa Taita Taveta Tana River Eastern Embu Isiolo Kitui Machakos Makueni Marsabit Meru Tharaka Nithi

Lamu

Kajiado

Nairobi Nairobi

Nairobi

Kilifi

North Eastern Garissa Mandera Wajir

Garissa Mandera Wajir

Malindi Kwale Lamu Mombasa Wundanyi Hola

Nyanza Homa Bay Kisii Kisumu Migori Nyamira Siaya

Homa Bay Kisii Kisumu Migori Nyamira Siaya

Embu Isiolo Kitui Machakos Wote Boma Marsabit Meru Chuka

Rift Valley Baringo Bomet Elgeyo Marakwet Kajiado Kericho Laikipia Nakuru

Kabarnet Bomet Iten Kajiado Kericho Nanyuki Nakuru

Taita Taveta

Kwale

Mombasa Colour key

Nandi Narok Samburu Trans Nzoia Turkana Uasin Gichu West Pokot

If you want more information about your county go to https://opendata.go.ke and click on the county name.

Kapsabet Narok Maralal Kitale Lodwar Eldoret Kapenguria

Former province Coast Kilifi County County headquarters Malindi Western Bungoma Busia Kakamega Vihiga

Bungoma Busia Kakamega Vihiga

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

our world

Same age? Same age set! M

any traditional communities in East Africa were organised into clans and age groups. A clan was formed of people who descended from a common ancestor. An age group consisted of people who were born about the same time and grew up together. Later, when those in the age group were initiated (usually by circumcision), they formed an age set, with a name and a collective identity. Members of an age set were considered equal and age sets emphasised sharing. An age set increased in seniority as older sets died off and new ones were formed. The bonds of relationship were strong so that members of an age set became warriors or elders together, or became eligible for marriage at the same time.

Maasai morans take part in a competitive jumping dance

Some communities still practise this tradition today, for example:

murran (warriors), who do not marry and keep away from domestic life.

Junior warriors among the Maasai live together in a circle of huts called a manyatta where they learn the arts of survival. This period generally lasts 5–7 years, although 8–12 years is not uncommon.

Among the Karamajong of Uganda, around 6 age sets are active at any one time. Young adult men are initiated into the most junior set, which is closed after 5 or 6 years and a new one opened. Many of these age sets overlap, leading to confusion and breakdown of rules. When this happens, the ruling generation is succeeded by the next generation in line.

The Samburu, who are closely related to the Maasai and speak a dialect of Maa, are grouped into age sets. Women automatically become members of the age set of their husbands.

This young Karamajong boy’s future age set will rank lower than older age sets.

The outstanding characteristic of these communities is the tradition of moranhood. After their initiation, which happens between the ages of 7 and 14 years, young men live as

These age sets are further grouped into generation sets, each permanently named and recurring once every century. Two generation sets, one senior and one junior, are usually active at the same time.

by Cyrus Gathigo and Katherine Moir

Right of way “Right of way” is the legal right of any road user to pass a particular point before other road users. Do you know who has right of way, where?

Pedestrians have right of way at a pedestrian crossing—a zebra crossing or traffic lights when the “man” is green. All vehicles must stop and wait for pedestrians to cross.

Pedestrians have right of way where a driveway connects with a road. Vehicles entering and leaving a driveway must wait for pedestrians to cross the driveway.

Drivers and cyclists have right of way on all roads where there are no specific pedestrian crossing points. Pedestrians must stop and wait for traffic on a road to pass before crossing the road.

Drivers and cyclists have right of way over pedestrians at road junctions where 2 or more roads meet. (Bicycles and motorbikes are vehicles and must follow the same rules as cars, buses and trucks.)

Even if you have the right of way, be cautious. Those vehicles are bigger than you are, and if a poor driver breaks the rules, it’s the pedestrian who suffers the injuries.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Drought & me

Vol. 6 no. 3

Raising livestock in drylands

n the vast arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa it is difficult to produce crops. Most people depend on the sale of livestock products (milk, meat, hides) and livestock for their livelihood. Livestock is the main source of food and people keep different species that cope well with the harsh dry environment.

Camels are a very important animal in dry areas because they are best adapted to survive under harsh conditions. They produce milk even during dry seasons and drought. The milk is high in vitamin C and protein. Some highland farmers use camels for ploughing. They are important assets for pastoralist families and valuable as dowry. Grazers like cows and sheep feed mainly on grasses and softer vegetation close to the ground. Donkeys are both browser and grazer, feeding on grass but also on shrubs and bushes.

How are different species adapted to dry areas? Animals and plants develop special qualities over time to help them survive Well-adapted livestock in these regions in their environment. All livestock breeds in dry areas are adapted to— are breeds of sheep, goats, camels, cows Heat — for example, sheep have hair and donkeys. These animals are kept for different purposes but all support coats that release more heat than wool; donkeys’ large ears release heat; lightpeople’s livelihood. coloured coats reflect heat. Different animals also feed on different Water shortages — camels, sheep and plants, so they use the existing goats have dry droppings and thick urine so they lose little water through vegetation in a more balanced way than only one animal species would. The their waste; camels can go without water for 2 weeks. animals could be browsers or grazers. Food shortages — donkeys, camels, Browsers and grazers sheep, goats and Boran cattle can all Browsers, like goats, donkeys and digest coarse vegetation; donkeys have camels, feed mainly on the leaves, special teeth to help them grind rough pods, fruits and other nutritious parts food; the fatty tissue in camels’ humps of a large variety of plants including and sheep’s tails provides energy when bushes, shrubs, trees and at times grass. necessary; goats and camels are very active foragers and can cover a wide area in Transport Hides & search of plants. They Species Milk Meat & draught skins power have mouths adapted to browse even thorny plants. Goats can even Sheep climb or stretch up, standing on their hind Goats legs, to reach higher leaves. Disease — local animals Cattle are more resistant to local diseases than Camels crossbreeds or exotic breeds; the smooth coats of Boran cattle Donkeys protect them from ticks.

Galla goats, common in nothern Kenya, are well adapted to dry areas. Their highly nutritious milk is important for growing children.

Like goats, red Maasai and blackheaded Somali sheep supply cash income—they are easy to sell because they cost less than bigger animals. Sheep and goats provide manure in addition to meat and hides, and serve in dowry arrangements and other traditional uses.

The most common cattle breed in Kenyan drylands is the Boran. Cattle in pastoralist arid areas are mainly reared for meat and milk production. Although treasured as assets, they may be sold in time of need (for example, to pay school fees).

Donkeys are used by pastoralists in search of grazing and water and by farmers transporting farm produce to markets or water and feed from farms to homesteads.

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

ecosystems

How we classify animals Do you collect pictures of animals or things you like? Do you have a cupboard at home for storing cups and plates? If you do, you have to arrange them in some kind of order. It is a way of organising our world. Sorting out objects and putting them into specific groups is called classification.

Most people do not normally think of a coral or a starfish as an animal, yet they are classified as belonging to the animal kingdom. The science of classifying organisms is called taxonomy.

nimals too are classified in a number of ways. This helps scientists to study the relationships in animal groups and to see how the whole group has evolved through time.

Moths and butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera, so people who study them are called lepidopterists.

In the study of living things, scientists classify each organism according to taxonomic groups, groups with shared characteristics or features, starting with kingdoms and

By Clare Barasa and Benjamin Ondiege

ied and Scientists have identif 00 described abo ut 1,750,0 gdo m kin l ma ani the in s specie as be y ma and think there nown unk 000 00, 14,0 as many species.

dividing each group into ever smaller groups.

On the shores of Lake Victoria

Carl Linnaeus is the father of the modern classification of flora and fauna (plants and animals). Before Linnaeus, many biologists gave the species they described, long Latin names. For instance, the common wild briar rose was referred to by different botanists as Rosa sylvestris inodora seu canina. After experimenting with various alternatives, Linnaeus simplified naming by using one Latin name to indicate the genus, and one as a “short hand” name for the species. The two names make up the binomial (“2 names”) species name. So the briar rose became Rosa canina.

The fishing party sets off. Suddenly ... WHAT‛S HAPPENING? WE‛RE STUCK.

BYE, MUM!

DON‛T PANIC. YOU SEE THOSE WEEDS? THEY‛RE CAUGHT IN THE PROPELLER SO THE ENGINE HAS STALLED.

MAYBE WE‛RE RIDING ON TOP OF A HIPPO!

LET‛S TRY TO CLEAR A PATH THROUGH THIS WEED, BOYS.

BRING BACK LOTS OF FISH!

WHAT IS THIS? WATER HYACINTH. IT OFTEN BLOCKS WATERWAYS. WHY‛S THAT?

BECAUSE IT‛S NOT FROM AFRICA, IT HAS NO PESTS TO CONTROL IT.

WHAT‛S MORE, IT THRIVES IN POLLUTED WATER. WELL THEN, LAKE VICTORIA MUST BE VERY POLLUTED! BUT HOW CAN IT BE? THERE‛RE NO BIG FACTORIES AROUND HERE, ONLY FARMS.

... USE LOTS OF CHEMICAL FERTILISER, NITROGEN AND PHOSPHATES RUN OFF INTO WATER BODIES. AND HYACINTH GROWS FAST WITH THOSE EXTRA NUTRIENTS. HOW CAN WE AVOID USING FERTILISER? WE NEED FERTILE SOIL!

AH, BUT WHEN FARMERS ...

WE CAN REPLACE AT LEAST SOME CHEMICALS WITH ORGANIC FERTILISERS—COVER CROPS, GREEN MANURE, COMPOST.

THEY RELEASE NUTRIENTS MORE SLOWLY SO MORE OF THE NUTRIENTS END UP IN CROPS INSTEAD OF WASHING INTO WATER BODIES.

LET‛S TRY COMPOST IN OUR SHAMBA, DAD!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

ecosystems

Arthropods (animals without a backbone, but having an external skeleton) of the phylum Arthropoda make up 80% of all known animal species.

Follow my pawprints to find out where I fit!

Kingdom Animalia Animals

Plants

Single-celled organisms with a nucleus

Phylum Chordata

Class

Vertebrates— animals with backbones

Mammalia Mammals

Fungi

Protista

Plantae

Arthropoda

Mollusca

Insects, spiders, crustaceans

Birds

Amphibia

and more

Pisces Fish

Frogs, newts, toads

Reptiles

and more

Annelida Segmented worms

Starfish, sea urchins

Reptilia

Single-celled organisms without a nucleus

Mushrooms, moulds, yeasts, lichens

Echinodermata

Snails, squids, clams

Aves

Monera

Order Carnivora Carnivores (meat-eaters)

Rodentia

Proboscidea

Chiroptera

Mice, rats, other rodents

Bats

Artiodactyla

Primates

Mammals with divided hoofs

Elephants

Apes, monkeys, bushbabies, lemurs, humans

Family Felidae Cats

Ursidae

Hyaenidae

Bears

Canidae

Herpestidae

Dogs, jackals, wolves, foxes

Hyaenas, aardwolves

and more

Mongooses

Genus Panthera Roaring cats

Acinonyx Cheetah

Leptailarus Serval

Domestic cat, small wild cats

Ah, here I am!

Species

Panthera tigris Tiger

Panthera leo Lion

and more

Felis

Panthera pardus Leopard

Panthera onca Jaguar

How do you write an animal’s scientific name? The genus name (capitalised) is placed in front of the species name (lowercase), and both words are in italics. So a human being is called Homo sapiens. In Latin, that means “wise man”. Have you found where humans sit in the table above?

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

agroforestry

Trees and livestock In agroforestry, crops or animals and trees are raised on the same plot in a way that protects the land to keep it as productive as possible. Livestock like cows, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry can be a productive part of an agroforestry system. Bees are also important, not only because of their honey and wax but also because they are pollinators—they transfer pollen between plants, fertilising our crops and trees.

ilvipasture is an agroforestry system that combines trees, pasture and livestock. It is especially suitable in arid and semi-arid areas. Grass and tree species adapted to the climatic zone provide grazing for animals like cows, goats, sheep and camels. In rangelands, scattered small groups of trees or single trees provide food for humans, fodder for animals, fuel and shade. Silvipasture must be carefully managed according to the land’s carrying capacity. What does that mean? It simply means the largest number of people and animals that can live in an area without harming the environment. The carrying capacity of drylands is low, so people must be careful not to have too many animals in one area. Agrosilvipasture combines crops, trees, pasture and animals. Mixed crops are grown under tree species that will not compete with crops for water, nutrients or sunlight— their roots reach deeper than crop roots and they do not cast a dense shade.

Livestock for agroforestry

Before choosing what animals to keep, consider what you would like your animals to provide, for example— • Food and other products for the household • Food and other products for sale • Services—pulling or carrying loads, ploughing, pollinating • Manure for organic fertiliser Keep livestock away from crops and young trees by As well as honey and wax, bees fencing them with wire or give us an important service— thorny or woven branches. pollinating plants as they move from flower to flower.

Trees were planted of Tanzania

to improve grazing

in a semi-arid region

Trees for livestock

Trees have many benefits for livestock. • Trees provide fodder when pasture is scarce (in the dry season or during drought) or when extra feed is necessary. In moister zones, tree fodder can prevent overgrazing when there is a high population of livestock. • Protein is important in helping cud-chewing animals like camels, goats, sheep and cattle to digest their food, and increases milk production These Gliricidia sepium seedlings will one day and animals’ weight. Tree provide protein-rich fodder leaves and pods provide for livestock. protein even in dry seasons. • In hot regions, animals may suffer heat stress. So trees like Acacia tortilis provide valuable shade, supporting milk production and preventing animals losing weight or dying. • Livestock can be treated with medicinal tree products when other medicines are not available. Trees grown near livestock should • Be resistant to possible damage from browsing livestock, or with high crowns (the upper parts of a tree) that are out of reach of browsers. • Not be toxic to livestock. Get advice from farmers and extension officers. • Have crowns that allow sufficient light through for pasture to grow. Trees grown mainly for fodder can be grown in a fodder lot, spaced fairly closely if branches are harvested for fodder or further apart if pods are used as fodder or animals browse directly from trees.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

home gardens

A cow will give us more milk—and Jersey cows produce lots of very creamy milk.

I thought all cows were the same.

We should get a Jersey cow instead.

Yes, but Jersey cows don’t do well here.

The Furaha Farmers are going to raise a goat in their school garden but some would rather have other livestock .... Do you remember that we researched our local climate last year?

Temperatu Altitude: 1 res: 8–34 ˚C—warm Annual ra ,100 m above sea lev No nearby infall: 300–800 mmel water supply

We found out that we live in a semi-arid climatic zone. My grandparents farm in the highlands— it’s much colder and rainier there.

Anyway, why do you want a cow instead of a goat?

What was all that noise, children?

Ah! Did anyone know why?

Watch out! Here she comes.

Uh, we were just discussing why a goat’ll be better than a Jersey cow. Not really …

Very true. We must choose livestock for our local conditions, which are very different from the highlands!

Bet there’s lots of grass for the animals!

Species are completely different animals, like camels, pigs and sheep.

That’s right. Camels, for instance, like dry climates, and some species have different breeds for different climates.

Breeds are different types of the same species. The Boran cattle breed is different from Jersey cattle, although they are of the same species. A Boran cow can deal with heat and poorquality feed at times but a Jersey cow needs a milder climate and good grass.

Next day at Mr Abdi’s farm

Tomorrow, we’ll visit Mr Abdi, a farmer. He’ll tell you more. Time for maths now!

Do you know what breed my cows are? Mr Abdi, why did you choose this breed?

I went for a local breed because it is adapted to local conditions. My cattle are likely to survive drought and have good resistance to the diseases found here.

Boran, I think.

Ha ha— look at the funny tails!

I’m not sure exactly. Let’s ask Mwalimu Makena.

Speaking of whom ...

Because animals adapt to their environment, just like plants?

Over at the goat pen

I don’t see why not?

Hey, let me through.

Quiet! You’ll upset the mothers. Mind you, our local breeds are very good mothers—another bonus!

What about the fluffy imported dairy goats?

And one kid will be special to us—it will soon be ours! Ooh!

Aah, sweet! Hah! They’d suffer in a drought. Mine are not as pretty, but to me they’re pretty special.

I read that indigenous livestock can walk much longer distances than foreign breeds, too.

Aah!

Can we get the spotty kid?

I like the black one!

The children still have a lot to learn about raising goats. See our next issue for more!

Vol. 6 no. 3

s= H M n + a actio in

Metric matters

Did you know that 1 millilitre (ml) of water weighs 1 gram? And that it fills a space exactly 1 cubic millimetre (1 mm x 1 mm x 1 mm)? It is no coincidence—that’s the way the metric system was designed.

The main feature of the metric system is the standard set of inter-related base units, which are 1. length in metres 2. volume in litres 3. weight in grams Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system. For example: centi + metre = centimetre kilo + metre = kilometre

kilo hecto deca

Base units: metre litre gram

deci centi milli

The 2nd brilliant aspect of the metric system is that it is decimal—all measurements are calculated in 10s. For every “step” to the right in the diagram, you multiply by 10. For example, to go from a base unit to milli:

1 metre = 10 decimetres = 100 centimetres = 1,000 millimetres (1) (1 x 10 = 10) (10 x 10 = 100) (100 x 10 = 1,000)

An easy way of multiplying and dividing is to move the decimal point one place for each “step” you take. If you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the right. For example, to change metres to centimetres:

A hop to the right, and the decimal point moves with me!

1.0

kilo hecto deca

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

practical science

Base unit: metre

10.0 100.0

deci centi milli 10 dm

100 cm

If you move to the left in the diagram, you divide by 10 or simply move the decimal to the left. For example, to change grams to kilograms:

5.000 50.00 500.0 5000.0

kilo hecto deca

Base unit: metre

5 kg

5,000 g

A jump to the left, and the decimal point moves left!

deci centi milli

Here’s a good way to memorise the metric order. The first letters of each word, going from left to right, are K, H, D, B (base unit), D, C, M or King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk.

n a e l c r e t a Making dirty w Although access to safe, clean water is a human right, many of us still have to make do with dirty water. To make it safe before drinking or cooking, we have to remove unwanted matter and kill harmful germs. Have you thought of the science behind the different methods of purifying water?

Filtration

Filtration is the process of separating solids from liquids by passing the mixture through a porous material—a surface that has holes or pores small enough to trap solid particles while permitting the liquid to pass through. The liquid that passes through is called the filtrate while the undissolved solid particles are called the residue. A filter paper is a special kind of paper with tiny pores but clean cloth, or sand, clay, bone char or charcoal can also be used as a filter. Dirty water should stand overnight before being filtered so the particles settle.

outlet pipe

inlet pipe

germs, as they cannot survive at that temperature, making the water safe to drink. Boiling water—bringing it to 100 °C—ensures that the water stays hot long enough to kill the organisms.

Chemical treatment

Chlorine is the chemical most often used to treat water. It works by damaging microorganism cells so that they die. The small amount of chlorine in treated water does not harm humans. The more germs there are, the more chlorine is needed to kill them. Some chlorine should remain in the water after all the initial germs are killed, to kill any new germs that enter the water. Dirty water should be filtered before being treated with chlorine. Amount of bleach solution to use in different volumes of water

Water

Bleach solution 1 litre

fine sand

3 drops

4 litres

gravel

12 drops

tap One form of simple filter.

1 teaspoon

200 litres

Disinfection

10 teaspoons

When water is contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites it is unsafe to drink. These microorganisms are not killed by filtration so water is disinfected through methods like pasteurisation or chemical treatment.

Pasteurisation The process of heating water to kill germs is called pasteurisation. Heating water to 65 °C for at least 10 minutes kills all

20 litres

100°C

water boils

65°C

water is pasteurised

49°C

most germs can’t grow

22°C

room temperature

Household bleach, the most common form of chlorine, can be used to disinfect water. Mix 1 cup bleach with 3 cups water to make a bleach solution. Then add the solution to water according to this guide and wait at least 30 minutes before using.

Use the sun to make water safe:

If you can’t boil your water, sterilise it by putting it in a clear container (like a clean plastic bottle) and leave it in the sun for at least 6 hours.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

practical science

How do glasses work? Malaika’s maths homework was often returned with red marks all over it. ”Careless girl,” said Mrs Owina, “you wrote down the wrong figures!” But Malaika had copied down the homework from the blackboard just like everyone else … focal or had she? cornea focal

focal point

alaika is shortsighted—she can see close objects clearly, while objects farther away like the blackboard appear fuzzy. Short-sightedness, or myopia, is one of the most common eyesight problems in children. When adults develop vision problems, it is most often long-sightedness—being able to see faraway objects, like cars, clearly while having trouble focusing on nearby objects, like reading a book. Both shortand long-sightedness are easily corrected with eyeglasses.

lens

retina

point

optic nerve

Normal eye

Myopic eye

Myopia or short-sightedness occurs when light rays from a distant object do not focus exactly on the retina but slightly in front of it, so the image that the brain sees is blurred. Eyeglasses with concave lenses (thin in the middle but thick at the edges) move the focus further back. concave lens

focal point

Myopia corrected How it works: Light passing through a lens is always bent (refracted) towards the thickest part of the lens. So light passing through a concave lens, thicker at the edges, will be bent outwards—we say the light diverges.1 In the same way, a convex lens that is thicker in the middle bends light inwards, so that it converges.2

point

Hyperopic eye

In a normal eye, light focuses exactly on the retina. A myopic eye is longer than normal and a hyperopic eye is shorter, so the focal point is not on the retina.

Hyperopia or long-sightedness occurs when a close object looks blurred because the light rays focus behind the retina. Eyeglasses with convex lenses (thick in the middle and thin at the edges) bring the focus forward. convex lens

focal point

Hyperopia corrected

You may need glasses or have an eye problem if: • you have difficulty reading the blackboard • you have to strain your eyes to read a book • your eyes are always red and sore, or tear a lot • your eyes are extremely sensitive to light

Diverge – to separate, go in different directions (“humans and apes diverged from a common ancestor”) Converge – to come from different directions to finally meet at a place (“the crowd converged on Tahrir Square in Cairo”)

If you are looking up the word “bisect”, head to the pages with words that begin with “b”. Then use the guide words to know if the word you are looking for is on a particular page. There are 2 guide words per page, located at the top of the page. The first guide word is the 1st word on the page, and the 2nd guide word is the last word on the page.

DICTION ARY

BIG FAT

The key to using a dictionary is knowing that all words are listed in alphabetical order, that is, all words that start with A are in the front of the dictionary and words that start with Z are in the back. The same happens with letters within the words—so ‘aardvark’ comes before ‘aardwolf’ (the first 4 letters are the same but ‘v’ comes before ‘w’).

BIG FAT

... look up a word in a dictionary?

DICTIONA

HoIw ...

and follow the words and if the “bi” words are still too many, add the 3rd letter, “s”, and so on until you find bis your word. ty cui When you have seen the guide words that indicate that the word you are looking for is on a particular page, use the 2nd letter of your word to run down the page. With the word “bisect”, “i” is the 2nd letter. Start searching from where the “bi” starts

pic t no al u 2 p ly crisp n 1 a s , fla m but orcela t an all b in o not d s aked ro 3 g we et. unle —O a ligh lazed ther . ave RIG pot t IN ned ter Mid brow y th cak dle n co at h e, Eng lou as lish r. bee : fr nf om i r e div d Old Fre sec ide in nch de ted by to tw bis bes o int cuit o tw long part con eria . l sis o e stra s: a tin adjec la ig xac go tly ht ro ndsc f tw tive B equ ads ape o os al p . of erie tany an art d so s. r ro zoolog ws. y ar ran ged in o r

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

business & careers

Planning GUYS, WE NEED TO KNOW OUR COSTS.

Martin, Jamila and Lily’s parents had agreed to loan them money to start up their briquette business, on condition that they showed them a business plan. They needed to work out a selling price, find premises and calculate how much they will need to borrow.

LILY EXPLAINED: THEN OUR LOAN MUST COVER START-UP COSTS, AND INITIAL OPERATING COSTS LIKE MATERIALS AND THE FIRST RENT.

Business costs may be • Start-up costs—the money spent on one-time expenses, like licence fees and equipment, before a business opens • Operating costs—the recurring expenses of running a business, like salaries and rent—costs that come again and again; they can be

- Fixed costs (overheads)—costs that stay the same regardless of business activity (how much the business produces and sells), like rent and loan repayments, or - Variable costs—costs that change according to business activity, like labour, materials and packaging … HERE WE ARE! CHARCOAL DUST IS FREE; WE‛LL PAY A LITTLE FOR SOIL, WATER AND OLD MAIZE BAGS FOR PACKAGING.

BEING NEAR THE MARKET WOULD REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS.

I WROTE DOWN SOME PRICES WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT MAKING BRIQUETTES. LET‛S SEE …

The 3 friends need to find out the cost of • Materials—the ‘ingredients’ that go into making a product

• Equipment—the tools needed for making the product • Packaging—the containers or wrapping in which the product is sold

AHA! MY MUM‛S FRIEND MRS FERNANDES IS LETTING SPACE IN HER COMPOUND.

COOL, WILL YOU SPEAK TO HER? WE‛LL NEED A SMALL OFFICE AND LOTS OF OUTSIDE SPACE.

The trio worked out that their start-up costs, covering equipment and the initial materials and packaging, would come to Ksh 8,860. They would ask their parents for a loan of Ksh 15,000 to

MRS FERNANDES AGREED THAT THEY COULD RENT PART OF HER BACK COMPOUND, SO ANY MESS WOULD NOT SPOIL HER NEAT FRONT GARDEN. A SMALL SHACK WOULD BE THEIR OFFICE. WATER COSTS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RENT.

AN OLD SCHOOLMATE OF MARTIN‛S HAD A HANDCART. OGOT SAYS HE‛LL CHARGE KSH 500 TO PUSH A LOAD TO THE MARKET.

MR KIMATHI WILL RENT US PART OF HIS STALL. LET‛S MEET JAMILA AND GO THROUGH ALL THE COSTS.

cover start-up and operating costs for the first month, including Ksh 2,000 rent to Mrs Fernandes and Ksh 100 for the market space. They would repay their parents Ksh 800 monthly once they were selling briquettes.

Selling price

Next they needed to work out the selling price. Martin estimated they could make 200 bags of briquettes (enough for 1 handcart) in their first month, though they could maybe make more. Help Martin, Jamila and Lily work out their costs for the first month. Monthly costs * Transport Ksh 500 Ksh ____ Soil 1 wheelbarrow load x Ksh 100/load Ksh ____ Packaging 200 bags x Ksh 10/bag Ksh ____ Loan repayment Ksh 800 Ksh ____ Rent Ksh 2,100 Ksh ____ Total Ksh ____

KSH 27.50 A BAG IS SO CHEAP!

DIMWIT! THAT‛S JUST THE COST OF PRODUCING A BAG OF BRIQUETTES AND WE HAVEN‛T EVEN INCLUDED OUR LABOUR. WE ADD A MARK-UP IN ORDER TO MAKE A PROFIT.

NO NEED TO BE RUDE! I‛VE DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH FOR OUR BIZ.

If they produce 200 bags in 1 month, each bag of briquettes will cost: (total monthly costs) ÷ 200 bags = Ksh _____ **

The selling price is worked out by adding a mark-up of 20– 100% to the production cost, depending on the market for the product. The 3 friends set their selling price below the price of the same amount of charcoal or firewood so that they can attract customers. What do you think they should charge?

WE APPRECIATE THAT, MARTIN.

SORRY, BRO! AND WE‛LL ALL BE MAKING THE BRIQUETTES, DON‛T YOU WORRY!

WHEN JAMILA, LILY AND MARTIN PRESENTED THEIR BUSINESS PLAN TO THEIR PARENTS, THEY RECEIVED THEIR LOAN. FIND OUT HOW THEY STARTED THEIR BUSINESS IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.

* Their monthly costs are 500 + 100 + 2,000 + 800 + 2,100 = 5,500 Ksh ** Each bag costs Ksh 5,500 ÷ 200 bags = Ksh 27.50

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

e t u l a s e W

Vol. 6 no. 3

business & careers

You could be years to study a foundation course in architecture; later, I transferred to a university in Scotland.

n a s Su boya M

he was not yet born when her father, the late Tom Mboya, founded a programme that saw bright young Kenyans (including Professor Wangari Maathai and Barrack Obama, Sr, President Obama’s father) pursue further studies in the USA in the 1950s. But today, she is following in her father’s footsteps by reaching out to academically gifted girls from disadvantaged families through her foundation—Zawadi Africa Education Programme. Dr Susan Mboya chose to help girls because their literacy level across Africa is still low—most girls fail to get an education because of childhood marriage and cultural customs. Also, the lack of resources to pursue further education was so huge that she could not help all children at once. The 3rd-born of 5 children, Dr Mboya was born during the postindependence era in Kenya and was just a young girl when her father was assassinated in 1969. Despite this, she and her siblings pursued academic excellence, aspiring to measure up to their father’s imposing legacy. Today, she continues to change the lives of many young African girls through education, guided by the motto “Each one teach one”, and for this, we salute her.

The current project—a

house extension

Deborah Donde, once one of Kenya's top swimmers, is now pursuing a career in architecture. She shares her experiences so far.

I have been interested in architecture since I was 7. I was inspired when an uncle who is an architect transformed their small house into a beautiful mansion. Although I achieved good grades at school, my focus then was competitive swimming. However, in form 3, I started to think about my future career. My desire to study architecture resurfaced when I was working on a school project that involved making a plan of a house. Initially, my family didn’t appreciate my career choice. At age 15, after completing my O-levels, I went to Malaysia for 2

CAREER FACT FILE

After a year, my parents told me they could no longer afford to pay my fees, so I had to work part time or get a scholarship. In my 2nd year, I worked 20 hours a week. Juggling school and work was tough. I managed to get a scholarship in my 3rd year. We were advised to drop everything else we were doing and concentrate on our studies. This was a great challenge because I still had a huge amount of fees to clear. I sold kikoys to pay part of the fees. Instead of taking the bus, I cycled to and from school. In 2010, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. I wanted to practise here in Kenya. Planning Systems, an architectural and planning firm in Nairobi, fit well with what I wanted to do. I applied, was called for an interview and was successful. My portfolio enabled me to get the job. I have designed buildings and taken part in many projects. With a degree in architecture, you can take up any career—for example, community development or project management. My advice to youth is to never get discouraged. If you put in effort, you will get results.

Kenya Architects work with • KCSE level quantity surveyors, • 5 years at university project managers and • 2 years’ experience, before you can eng ineers to draw up register with the Architects Asso ciation plans for clien ts. They then work on all of Kenya and practise as an arch itect the necessar y docu ments for gett ing Britain building permission and tenders, and • A-levels manage the building contract. • 3 years at university Architects nee d: • 1 year’s work experience • Imagination; the ability to orga • 2 years master’s program me nise ideas and com municate them to • 1 more year work experience others before • Creativity (not necessarily arti you can be a registered architect stic) • Problem-solving skills An architect designs buildings and • An interest in human behavio ur and often the spaces around building s. the natural environment One project Deborah has worked on is the Community Cooker, which uses rubbish to create heat for cooking—read what Sweetie is doing with it on page 23!

Vol. 6 no. 3

T MEE

Flying high

s e h t o l c Selling

THE

George Githinji had just finished high school when his big brother asked him to help out at his clothes shop in Nairobi. Having been brought up in Nyeri, he could not resist the chance. He hopped into the next Nairobi-bound bus for what would be the start of his career.

“I

fell in love with the clothes business when working at my brother’s shop. I started envisioning myself in my own clothes shop and when I told my brother about my newfound aspiration, he readily taught me the ropes—where to buy the clothes, how to price, market and keep the books.

When I was ready to fly solo, I used the few thousands I’d saved to buy clothes at Gikomba market, which I later sold along the road in Hurlingham, Nairobi. Neither the scorching sun nor the dusty footpaths could kill the joy of having something I could call my own. I held on and today, I have my own clothes shop in Hurlingham—Jorge’s Wardrobe—where I employ 5 people. As for any business, raising the capital to expand my business is quite a challenge and maintaining a substantial clientele is another (the clothes business is cutthroat). But nothing works wonders like referrals. When

Our new business operators Jamila, Lily and Martin decided to make briquettes—blocks of flammable matter used as fuel—from waste. Why don’t you give it a try?

5. Leave them to dry in the sun for a week

make.

Newspaper briquettes

Charcoal briquettes are easy to • Charcoal dust • Tub • Soil

clients are happy with your product or service, they spread the word and keep you in business. This business has helped me pay for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Nairobi, a course that I’d always wanted to do, and enables me to travel the world (I import clothes too).

”

“To aspiring entrepreneurs: there is no small business or big business—just small and big minds. Though you start small, think big and apply the magic called hard work—and everything you touch will turn into gold.”

Briquettes George Githinji with the staff of his shop in Hurlingham.

You need:

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

business & careers

• Water • Large sieve

1. Collect charcoal dust from places where charcoal is sold. Pass dust through sieve into basin 2. Mix with enough water to produce a thick paste 3. Add a small amount of soil to bind the dust 4. Mould paste into balls

They are now ready to use—you will use less than with normal charcoal.

You need: • • • •

Tub Old newspapers, torn Water Large pestle and mortar

Binder: Waste materials like wood ash, dry manure, pond slime (algae), mango or banana skins help to bind or hold the paper together. 1. Nearly fill the tub with newspaper 2. Cover with water 3. Let soak for an hour or until thoroughly wet and mushy 4. Pour into mortar and pound into mush

5. Mould a handful of the mush into a ball the size of a golf ball or a little larger. The smaller the balls, the faster they will dry.

6. Squeeze out as much excess water as possible. If the ball falls apart, add some binder. 7. When the balls are completely dry, they are ready to use.

Newspaper briquettes burn roughly twice as fast as charcoal. If you add a little charcoal dust the briquettes will burn longer.

Careful! Never make briquettes from waste products that give off toxic fumes when burned, like plastic.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Exc it ing c om p e t it io n !

n w o r u o y St a rt s s e r d g n i we dd b us i ne s s ! How would you make money if you owned 10 wedding dresses? Rent them out? Make and sell patterns from the designs? Hold a modelling camp? We are looking for your best business ideas! The best concept will win 10 NEW wedding dresses and our 2 runners-up 5 dresses each.

What to do

To enter this competition, write and send us your business plan. The best 3 will win! • Describe your business idea • Target market—who will your customers be? • Price range—read about calculating selling price on page 20 • Marketing plan—how will you advertise your business?

Your entry must include:

• Full name and age • School and class • Phone number • Postal address • Email address (if any) • Write and sign the following statement: “I agree to be interviewed and photographed for Young African Express if I am the winner or a runner-up.” Note: if you are under 18 your parent or guardian must sign your entry.

• Your profit goals

About the dresses

Who can enter?

Anyone 18 years or younger may enter, whether in school or not. You can enter as an individual, or as a group. At least one member of the group The 20 wedding dresses to be should be 18 or under. Boys, a wedding dress business can won in the competition have been work just as well for donated by an exclusive fashion you as for girls! house in the Netherlands.

Enter and win!

Vol. 6 no. 3

The competition closes on 30 September 2011! No late entries will be considered.

Send your entry to Young African Express to arrive no later than 30 September 2011. Post your entry to Young African Express PO Box 1202–00606 Nairobi, Kenya or email it to info@YoungAfricanExpress.net The winners will be notified by phone on 17 October 2011 and announced in the vol. 6 no. 6 2011 issue of Young African Express.

Wi n !

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Reading is fun

g ! n i y d a a w Le e th

“

by Lee Diani

Chapter 2: Who is supposed to sort out the mess?

What makes a good leader?” Mr Mwamba asked his class in his usual challenging way. He liked to make his students think for themselves. “Someone we can look up to.” “Someone who can provide for us.” “A person with a lot of education who is respected by many people.” “The one chosen by our elders.”

title ‘Leadership and integrity’, but I am not sure what it means. Does it mean honesty?”

“Well,” said Mr Mwamba, “and what does NOT make a good leader?”

“Yes,” said Mr Mwamba, “but it means a bit more as well. A person with integrity is whole or complete, like mzima in Kiswahili. If I have integrity, I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I have an inner compass that shows me the right and good way to think and act. Then I can be a good leader.”

“Stealing public money!” “Grabbing land!” “Paying people to vote for you!” “Inciting violence!”

“Then will you run for office, Sir?” came a cheeky voice from the back, and everyone laughed, including Mr Mwamba.

“And what does the constitution say?” he challenged them again. There was silence for a moment. “Well”, he said, “can you remember anything from Chapter 6? Yes, Sweetie?”

“No,” he said, “I shall just continue doing my job, with integrity. What chapter 6 of the constitution does not explain is that good leadership requires the ability to solve problems. And, at higher levels of leadership, the problems that must be solved are bigger. What you learn in school

She had put up her hand hesitantly. “I like the word ‘integrity’ in the chapter

is how to solve problems, through cooperating with others, and with integrity—doing what you think is right.”

weetie was thinking of the stories she had heard about leaders stealing money allocated for the local Constituency Development Fund. She found the class interesting. When it was over, she went to ask Mr Mwamba for advice. She was worried about how the project of waste management at the school would work. Her friends Mercy and Veronica had said they did not want to have any connection to the people at the waste dump she had met, although she thought it was important to learn from what they were doing there. She especially liked the idea of the community cooker. “You see,” she explained to her teacher, “it is a really good idea to burn waste to create energy for cooking for the people who live at the waste dump. But smoke can be toxic if the temperature is not high enough or if they burn things like batteries, glass or rubber. So they have to manage the sorting and burning. I thought we should have a look at it. I mean it would be useful in our science class,” she finished hopefully. “It sounds most interesting,” said Mr Mwamba. “Let me see what can be done. I have to see how to manage our time and resources this term.”

weetie’s mother noticed her daughter staring blankly at her school books. “What is troubling you, Sweetie?” she asked. “Why do people do bad things sometimes?” replied Sweetie, and sighed. “Do you think you have done something bad?” asked her mother, “or is it someone you know?”

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Reading is fun “Good morning, Mingu. How is the community cooker going?” she began enthusiastically. “Hi Sweetie, fine, fine,” he said. “A committee has been formed and my uncle is on it. People are giving ideas on where to collect the waste for burning and what rules to make about who should use the cooker and when. Are you coming for another school visit? It could be soon as the cooker is almost ready now.”

“No, but we had a class on leadership today, and I think leaders who spend CDF money are bad. What makes people lie or steal if they know it is wrong?” Actually, she was also thinking about Freddy, the young friend of Mingu, who would be coming to collect the waste at their house the next day. She had seen Freddy stealing something off a neighbour’s car. “We cannot control everything other people do,” said her mother, “but we are lucky if we know what is right and wrong and if we do the right thing. Then we feel strong in ourselves.” She smiled at Sweetie and said it was time for bed. That night Sweetie’s sleep was restless. Dark shadowy things seemed to surround her and she was struggling to escape them and find her way out of a deep cave. She was following her mother’s voice as she tried to find her way out into the light.

ext morning the now-familiar banging of the waste containers and her dog Kofi barking alerted Sweetie that her friend Mingu was around as she was finishing her breakfast. She hurriedly gulped her tea and ran outside to speak to him.

Sweetie hesitated. She was still worried by her friends’ prejudice about visiting the dump site. “I am not sure,” she said. “My teacher said it sounded interesting but he has to find out if it fits in the school curriculum.” “Oh,” said Mingu thoughtfully, “I hope he is able to arrange it. The community would like to show off their new project.”

Vol. 6 no. 3

“Mingu, I am worried about Freddy,” said Sweetie. “Last week I saw him taking something off that car. I think he is stealing things. What can we do? I feel sorry for him as he has had a difficult life, but he should not grow up to be a thief.” Mingu grinned. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I am taking care of him. He caught up with me and gave me some shiny screws he took off the number plate. I made him go and put them back. The screws were new and he wanted something bright for me to decorate my leather belt with.” He showed Sweetie the smart belt he had decorated with scraps of metal that he had rescued from the waste. “Freddy just needs guidance and he is getting it from me and my uncle.” Sweetie smiled too, relieved that a crime had been averted and that Freddy was getting the support he needed. “I suppose if you live surrounded by waste it’s hard to know what does not belong to you, especially if you are just a kid.”

So what’s been happening at the dumpsite? Wait for the next issue!

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

puzzles & fun

Fun for

Youu Yo

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”

Why did the turkey cross the road?

“To get to the other side.”

To prove he wasn’t chicken.

The ants have been busy carrying away letters. They must have decided that they didn’t need any more ANTs. Can you work out what the missing letters could be?

1. T A N _ Armoured military vehicle 2. _ _ A N T Fairytale being much larger than humans 3. _ N T _ A _ _ _ This mammal likes ants! 4. _ _ _ _ _ A N T Deep purple vegetable with pale flesh 5. T _ N A Large fish often sold in tins 6. A N T _ _ _ The national song of a country

The secretary bird feeds mainly on snakes. 20-8-5; 19-5-3-18-5-20-1-18-25; 2-9-18-4; 6-5-5-4-19; 13-1-9-14-12-25; 15-14; 19-14-1-11-5-19:

7. _ A N T _ _ Horse’s pace, between trot and gallop

G H

1 Solution

Answers to puzzles on page 23

97 - 96 11 x 1

17 - 12

7 + 12

I half open a box of matches to show that it is full. I turn it upside down and remove the cover but the matches do not fall out! .

Pay attention!

E 5

Match trick 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 How did I do it? I broke a match to fit across in S T theUdrawer V and W jammed X Y it Z halfway the other 19 20 across. 21 22It held 23 24 25 26 matches in position. Now you try it on your friends!

10. A N T _ _ _ _ _ An insect’s feelers

R 7 18

9. _ A N T _ _ _ Black leopard without spots

8. A _ N T Father’s or mother’s sister

Snakey sums

Have you had days when the teacher’s words become a drone and your 1. tank; 2. giant; 3. anteater; 4. eggplant;wanders? Next time you feel that happening, remember this attention 5. tuna; 6. anthem; 7. canter; 8. aunt; true story: 9. panther; 10. antennae

2x2

4+1

16 ÷ 4

6 + 12

9x2

2+1

Match trick 13 + 6 5x1

16 + 4

7-6

36 ÷ 2

Can you make a rectangle from these black shapes?

33 - 8

...instead, DO get yourself a handkerchief and use it. Good manners!

35 ÷ 7

100 ÷ 4

Get yourself a handkerchief!

4x3

DON’T pick your nose!

2x7

Ten-year-old Tilly Smith learned about tsunamis 2 weeks before going on holiday to Thailand in 2004. On the beach on 26 December, she recognised the receding shoreline and the froth on the surface of the sea as signs of a tsunami and warned her parents. They notified the hotel staff and other sunbathers and the beach was evacuated minutes before the tsunami reached shore. Tilly’s warning saved nearly a hundred people—all because she listened in class!

15 - 6

Frantic ants

into a cobra! Match the answers to the sums below with the out what eats such food.

By Harray

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 6 no. 3

puzzles & fun

CRAZY BELZO

www.bellakilonzo.com

By Bella Kilonzo

3 5

Can you make a rectangle from these black shapes?

Match trick

Solution Imagine tucking into a cobra! Match the answers to the sums below with the key below to find out what eats such food.

1 13 - 5

35 ÷ 7

7 + 12

6-1

2+1

9x2

1x2

27 ÷ 3

6 + 12

16 ÷ 4

2+4

11 - 6

4+1

2x2

13 + 6

6+7

1+0

15 - 6

2x7

4x3

45 ÷ 3

11 + 3

23 - 4

28 ÷ 2

5x4

6 5x1

16 + 4

7-6

36 ÷ 2

4 33 - 8

I half open a box of matches to show that it is full. I turn it upside down and remove the cover but the matches do not fall out!

Tongue Match trick twisters How did I do it? I broke a match to fit

across drawer and jammed in sheets. Shy the Shelly says she shallitsew halfway across. It held the other two matches in position. If Now youwitches try it were on your friends! watching two watches,

100 ÷ 4

which witch would watch which watch?

D 4

E 5

F 6

G H 7 8

I J K L M 9 10 11 12 13

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Frantic ants

C 3

7 + 12

Answers to puzzle on page 22

B 2

17 - 12

1. tank; 2. giant; 3. anteater; 4. eggplant; 5. tuna; 6. anthem; 7. canter; 8. aunt; 9. panther; 10. antennae

A 1

97 - 96 11 x 1

Vol. 6 no. 3

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Civil society

o t t u o Reachcomers new

“My name is Shelmith,” the new girl introduced herself to the class. “Ati sell meat!” Jack shouted from the back of the class, sending everyone into a fit of laughter. “No, it’s shellfish,” Pamela shouted back.

ati sell meat!

introducing yourself, for example, “Hi. I’m Kendi. We are in the same class.” Be friendly. Newcomers tend to be uptight at first. So start a conversation by finding something complimentary to say, like, “I like your watch.” Keep the conversation going by asking questions like, “Which school are you from? What do you like or dislike so far?”

Remembering how she had struggled to fit in when she was the new kid in school, Juliana wanted to help Shelmith but she did not know how. Have you ever been in Juliana’s position?

Here are ways to help others fit in:

no, it’s shellfish!

Guide them. Navigating through a maze of unfamiliar corridors is challenging. Offer to show the new child around the school.

Include them. If there is a time a new kid feels lonely, it is during breaks. Invite newcomers to join you at breaktime.

Reach out. Everyone, no matter their age, feels nervous about being the newcomer. Ease the new child’s nerves by approaching him or her and

Newcomers depend on the go odwill of their cla ssmates to fit in. So reach out to them an d help. Yo u just might make a new frien d while yo u’re at it!

ER ... I‛LL DO THAT TOMORROW …

BUT I HEARD THAT THERE IS SOME ARGUMENT ABOUT THAT CLAUSE.

Story by Sarah Radoli Art by Bella Kilonzo

MOTHER, JOB LEFT. HE SAYS HE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME AND JAYDENE. I THOUGHT YOU TWO HAD SORTED OUT YOUR ISSUES.

GO TO THE CHILDREN‛S DEPARTMENT FOR JAYDENE‛S SAKE —JOB SHOULD PAY FOR HIS DAUGHTER‛S UPKEEP.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, WATOTOMAN.

MAGGIE, THE NEW CONSTITUTION CLEARLY STATES THAT BOTH PARENTS MUST PROVIDE FOR THEIR CHILD.

THAT IS TRUE, MAGGIE.

EVEN SO, IT‛S IN THE CONSTITUTION.

MARRIED OR NOT, BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CHILD.

BUT WE‛RE NOT MARRIED.

MOTHER, WOULD YOU ACCOMPANY ME TO THE CHILDREN‛S DEPARTMENT?

YOU SEE? THE LAW PROTECTS YOU AND JAYDENE.

Learn IN THIS

™

ISSUE

™

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