Making money the green way

AP

KE

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

Vol. Y7A no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

OF

™

IO

N

Vol. 7 no. 4

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

Making

money the green way Green Gen is a group of talented young people who do projects that are environmentally friendly. For example, they plant trees, and make greeting cards from recycled paper. Their idea to make fuel briquettes from waste paper also won them an environmental award.

M

ichael Muli dreamed of a clean environment right from primary school. At university he is studying environmental and bio-systems engineering.

“I wanted to do something that would help find solutions to problems,” the 18-year-old states. He told us more about Green Gen’s briquettes.

“We had an old briquette-making machine. It was quite heavy and could make only 3 briquettes at a time. We wanted a machine that continued on page 3

gns randa Desi Kenya d by Jaca Publishe 06 Nairobi 1202-006 P.O Box 20 374 4737 com +254 (0) rica. randa-af info@jaca

Your free poster!

want what i . i know in my life to achieve ut you? how abo

isuse Don’t m

your

... o nets mosquit

le em whi s o use th ead, D ep mosquitoe ... Inst p to ke alaria! ee sl u m yo d curb away an NT WE CA UGH RO GET TH RGH! ... AA

r

is e health eproductiv ntal and social me physical, g relating everythin n health in s. Betwee ive system ies change uct rod to our rep 10 and 18 our bod ecting aff of s s nge the age The cha ny ways. driven by in so ma ce tem are uctive sys also influen the reprod those hormones and hormones— We can be up and ns. otio in em n our minute, dow happy one the next. At ps have the dum time, we the same lings mixed fee “new” about our bodies.

Poster

S

exual interest and desire is normal lescence during ado common to feel and it is feelings although se the to about confused mean. The trick is ’t y sibly. Don what the h them sen raction wit deal with sexual att also does e fus con ual desire e to love. Sex you hav not mean . have sex

2 W e sa y

Thika, school in a private share.

Academy, of Photo at Bethlehem ey, courtesy A schoolgirl by Sean Hawk Kenya. Photo

11

bi, near Nairo

14 23 a C ro u p s o to y m s atch Are & Don’t n? your soil s e o iz t D i c d u al

having means not Abstinence urse until you’re rco sexual inte in a committed y or t and onl married as the bes , ship relation HIV, other . to avoid pregnancy sure way unplanned STIs and have had sexual Even if you before, you can e m now on. intercours abstain fro decide to ide u must dec

D

Bodily

8 excret io n s

2

Vol. 7 no. 4

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, Jill Ghai, Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam, Peta Meyer, Katherine Moir, Carole Muriithi , 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, Matthew Moir, Harrison Muriuki, Martin Ngugi, Benjamin Ondiege, Nkrumah Ondiek, Sandie Smith, Celestine Wamiru Photographs Clare Barasa, James Farmer, Nikolay Maximovitch, Frank Plitt, Sarah Radoli, Stanley Wambugu, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Green Gen, US Department of Agriculture, VVOB, www.sxc.hu, www.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 2012 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.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EXPRESSIONS HMMM ...

DO YOU SHARE SOME PERSONAL VALUES WITH YOUR FRIENDS? I DO!

Dear Readers,

Why is it important to make decisions and live your life according to your own values?

Let’s explore life skills—your own skills for life.

In this Young African Express you’ll discover many of these skills. Make a list of them and talk about what they mean with your friends, teachers and parents. Here’s one example: Personal values are important life skills.

They define who you are and guide you in making decisions. If you are for or against something, it’s your personal values that are shaping your opinion. Think of something you feel strongly about. Now explain the personal value that shaped your opinion or action. Read chapter 2 of Choices and Challenges on page 21. What are some personal values that guide the choices of the people in the story?

The fact is, only you can choose your personal values—no one can force these on you. Your family, friends, religious teachers, the media and others may influence you, but your values can only be chosen by you. Your personal values define the qualities of who you are as a person.

The things you choose to believe in and are willing to stand up for tell you what your values are. Talk about this at home and at school:

In this conversation, ask each person to list their own values and describe how their values shape who they are. Read with them some of the sections you find on life skills in this and other copies of the Young African Express and talk about them.

Did you know? People who make decisions based on what they value often feel happier about their decisions. Making your own positive choices helps you succeed, and this helps you to keep on shaping your values too.

Has this ever happened to you? Tell us about it. We’ll publish your views in future issues—so include your name, age, address or contact—and photo if possible!

Write to the editor: Young African Express PO Box 1202 - 00606, Nairobi, Kenya.

Email info@YoungAfricanExpress.net SMS 0722-667747 or 0733-960757

We say…

We recently asked pupils in Machakos, Kiserian and Kajiado what they have learned from reading the Young African Express. Here are some of their responses.

Which section do you enjoy most and why?

“I have learned the importance of washing my hands after visiting the toilet and before eating. I no longer have diarrhoea.”

school stationery like chalk and dusters.”

“The hygiene section is very informative. From this section we have learned how to clean our latrines to keep away flies and bad smells.”

“From the hygiene section, we learn that it is important to keep clean and wash our clothes.”

“Home gardening has helped because now we plant crops in our school garden and sell some of the surplus to buy tree seedlings or help pay fee balances for some students. We also buy

Kathiani Prim

ar y School

“Through the home gardening page we have learned how to harvest water at school and also at home. We use this water during the dry season.”

“The story about Wangari Maathai inspired us most.

We have decided to plant trees and sell some of them to the community to replace the trees that are cut for firewood or for building.”

Naro Moru Primary School

What have you learned about nutrition?

“It’s important to eat a balanced diet to avoid deficiency diseases.”

Mu

rimary S u man d u P

cho ol

“We have developed a school feeding programme in our school and now there are more pupils in class.”

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

money the green way continued from page 1

was more efficient and less bulky. We

discussed how we could improve the old machine and gave our ideas to the designer, who helped us come up with the new machine,” says Muli.

The machine was much better than the older one in many ways.

Old briquette machine

New briquette machine

Made of wood

Made of light metal

Heavy (can carry 1 in a pickup)

Light (can carry 5 in a saloon car)

Slower—makes only 3 briquettes at a time (has 3 disc moulds)

Faster—makes 6 briquettes at a time (has 6 disc moulds)

“The many stories help build my vocabulary, which is important when I am writing my exam composition.”

“The experiments in the magazine are easy to follow because of the illustrations.”

3

From this …

Making

How has the magazine helped in your learning?

“Some of the things we read in the magazine come up in our exams.”

Vol. 7 no. 4

EXPRESSIONS

… to this!

Their project aims to replace firewood and charcoal as the household cooking fuel with briquettes made from dried foliage and waste paper.

4 winners. The other 3 award winners were from Ecuador, Indonesia and the Philippines.They were selected from 800 applicants.

A briquette is a compacted block, or cake, of flammable matter used as fuel to start and maintain a fire. Common types are made of charcoal or sawdust.

A briquette machine is a compressor that makes cakes that can be burned instead of charcoal.

“I was very pleased that our group won the award, given the high standard of the other projects. It was good to see how developing countries are working towards a common goal as concerns waste disposal. We come from very different backgrounds, but the challenges faced by developing countries are similar, such as waste management and meeting energy needs,” Muli smiles.

The project has clearly been successful as it won a major award last year. The Young Environmental Leader Award honours environmental projects that demonstrate originality, have potential impact and can last a long time.

Green Gen’s project, the only winning project from Africa, was one of the top

Which Young African Express topics have been most helpful? hool Sc “In the y ar im Pr i Kalilun agroforestry section, planting trees, the use of gabions and building terraces. In the home gardening section, mulching, contour farming and planting cover crops like sweet potatoes.”

Kathiani Primary School

“

My dream is to see a recycling plant in Kenya. I want to encourage other young people to find out what they are passionate about and make the most of it. Do something that will help you and the people in the future.

”

BOARD

Bulletin

Letters Poe ms Art Stories

We want to hear from you! Send us your writing, drawings, paintings and opinions and you could see them in Young African Express!

Teachers, why not make it a class project? to them ess at Send x E pr i, frican 606 Nairob et A Attention Educators: Follow the colour band at the top of each page for curriculum links g n 0 s.n You 0 s 1202 - fricanExpre Expressions: English language and literacy Our World: Civil society, social sciences and human rights Business and careers x o B PO oungA Staying Healthy: Health, hygiene and nutrition Going Green: Agroforestry, home gardens and environmental conservation info@Y il a m Practical Science: Maths, science and technology Critical thinking, puzzles and brainteasers e

4

Vol. 7 no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

staying healthy

Government of Kenya

Get under the skin Your skin says a lot about what is going on inside your body. If you do not eat a balanced diet, your skin will tell. Dry skin, oily skin, acne and inflammation (skin rashes) are all signs of poor internal health.

T

o ensure that your skin says healthy, you need to eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.

During puberty, some boys and girls develop acne—a sign that their diet lacks zinc. This mineral controls the production of oil in the skin and may also help control some of the hormones that create acne. Your diet should include foods rich in zinc such as pumpkin seeds, ginger and eggs.

If your skin feels dry and scaly or inflamed, you are lacking the fatty acids that help maintain the moisture content of your skin and also help repair the skin. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as tilapia and Nile perch.

Vitamin A is also important because it helps your skin to build new tissue.

Vitamin A helps in healing bruises and other skin wounds. Good sources include eggs, leafy green vegetables, milk, carrots, pumpkin and liver.

Vitamin C and selenium are both antioxidants. This means they can help you fight signs of aging.

Fast foo ds like chips d an d sausages are ba se cau be n for yo ur ski they contain too much fat an d salt.

Vitamin C helps stimulate the production of collagen in your skin. Collagen is the protein responsible for making your skin soft. Selenium is responsible for tissue elasticity. It protects the skin from damage by excessive ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight.

Another antioxidant, vitamin E, helps fight free radicals (chemicals that get into your body) caused by smoking, pollution or excessive exposure to the sun. Good sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, peanuts and leafy green vegetables.

Most important of all is water. Water helps transport oxygen and nutrients through the blood. It also helps the body eliminate wastes through urine and faeces.

Zoonotic diseases

Zoo-who?

Zoonotic diseases, are infections that can pass from animals to humans. Examples are rabies, hydatid disease, ringworm, ebola and anthrax.

How can you avoid getting a zoonotic disease? To do so, you need to ensure proper human and animal hygiene.

Sick animals can make us sick too! dies suddenly for no reason. Read more about anthrax on page 5.

People

• After you have handled an animal, wash your hands thoroughly. Even your puppy may carry worms, fleas or lice.

• Animals should not share the same water source as humans. Avoid coming into contact with contaminated materials (animal bedding, feed bowls).

• If you eat meat from an animal that was sick, you can become ill too. Boil or roast all meat thoroughly to ensure that it is properly cooked.

• Avoid close contact with sick animals. An animal can easily transmit diseases like swine flu or bird flu to human beings.

Animals Avoid keeping chickens and other animals in your living quarters.

Both types of flu spread among people living in close contact with their poultry or livestock. Don’t keep chickens or other animals in the house you live in.

• If a cow dies of anthrax, burn the carcass immediately to ensure that the bacteria do not spread to humans.

Burn the carcass of any animal if it

• Cattle and other livestock should be sprayed regularly to control pests like ticks.

• Vaccinate your dogs, cats and farm animals against rabies once a year.

• Keep sick animals separate from healthy animals so that the sick ones don’t infect the other animals.

• If you get a new animal that has not been inspected for disease, keep it separate from the others for a few weeks to check it for diseases.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 4

Diseases

What is anthrax?

5

Government of Kenya

Jack and Jill are at a party in a village near their home.

Jill: Mmm! Smell that meat. I love nyama choma!

Jack (whispering into Jill’s ear): Don’t eat it.

Jill: What! Really? But … it’s nyama choma!

Jack: There have been some anthrax cases in our county lately. Just don’t take chances.

Jill: But the meat’s been cooked—any bugs will have been killed.

Jack: You shouldn’t eat any meat from a sick animal. I don’t know much about anthrax but I know that cooking meat over a fire does not always kill the bacteria.

Jill: I think I just became a vegetarian for the day!

A

nthrax is an infection caused by bacteria (a type of germ) called Bacillus anthracis. These bacteria make spores, a form of the germ that can live for years in the soil. The spores cause anthrax when they enter the body of a human or animal.

We get anthrax from animals—it is a zoonotic disease, a disease that is spread from animals to humans. Anthrax is most common in farm animals like sheep, camels, cows and goats. It does not spread from person to person.

Bacillus anthracis bacteria

How do people get anthrax?

People (and animals) exposed to the spores can get anthrax in 3 ways.

“Exposed” means that a germ that can cause disease is close enough to you to come into direct contact.

Cutaneous anthrax: the most

common cause of infection. Spores enter through a cut or scratch on the skin.

Cutaneous anthrax most often occurs when people handle contaminated animal products like anthrax spores wool, bone, open sore hair and hide.

• Starts as a red-brown infected animal horn spot that forms a blister and hardens. Lymph glands close to the spot become swollen.

• Later symptoms include aching muscles, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting.

• It is easy to treat with antibiotics but without treatment, the person may die.

What about ebola?

Gastrointestinal anthrax: the form humans and animals get if they eat meat contaminated with anthrax or if they are exposed to anthrax and then eat without washing anthrax their hands.

• Causes nausea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhoea and fever followed by abdominal pain.

spores

infected meat anthrax enters digestive system bacteria move from intestines to bloodstream, spreading toxins

• The bacteria move through the walls of the intestines and spread through the bloodstream, causing septicaemia (blood poisoning).

• Half of all patients die if they don’t get treatment immediately.

Ebola spreads from animals to humans when an infected wild animal is eaten for food (bushmeat). Ebola can also spread from one person to another when a healthy person comes into contact with the blood, saliva or other body fluids of someone infected.

Good hygiene protects us from diseases that can spread from animals to humans.

Treatment

The incubation period for anthrax is from 1 to 7 days and early treatment can cure anthrax. Treatment is a 60day course of antibiotics. If someone has been exposed to anthrax, the same course of antibiotics will prevent infection. However, take antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor.

Inhalation anthrax: the form people get if they inhale (breathe in) anthrax spores into their lungs.

• This form of anthrax is the most dangerous but is rare.

• The first symptoms are flulike.

anthrax spores lymph node spores are breathed in spores develop into bacteria in lymph nodes

• In a few toxins are released by bacteria and spread through lymphatic system days the illness worsens and affects the whole respiratory system (your breathing). The spores produce deadly toxins (poisons) that spread throughout the body.

• Although antibiotics kill the anthrax bacteria, they do not destroy the toxins that the bacteria have already released.

• The inhalation form of anthrax is a medical emergency. Early treatment with antibiotics through a drip can save lives.

Anthrax is dangerous and difficult to treat so it is important to prevent it in the first place. Read how to protect yourself against zoonotic diseases on page 4.

6

Vol. 7 no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

hiv & you

STIs are some of the most common infectious diseases in Kenya, especially among youths.

A

sexually transmitted infection (STI) spreads through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, oral and anal sex. STIs are often easy to sort out but leaving them untreated can result in serious damage to your long-term health.

Example

Symptoms

Treatment

Pubic lice

Itching in genital area

Over-the-counter medication

Gonorrhoea Chlamydia

Early symptoms are abnormal discharge and burning when urinating. Most women and some men have no symptoms.

Antibiotics

Syphilis

1st stage—painless open sore on mouth or genitals. Followed by period with no symptoms.

2nd stage—symptoms include non-itchy rash; flulike illness. Symptoms then disappear, sometimes for years. Late stages—symptoms include madness, blindness and paralysis and may lead to death.

Penicillin treatment during the first 2 stages will cure syphilis before permanent damage to heart or brain occurs.

HIV

Early symptoms are extreme tiredness and fever.

Herpes

Painful blisters in the mouth or genital area, which come and go. Women may show no symptoms.

Genital warts

Begin as hard painless bumps in genital area.

Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause some cancers. Often no symptoms.

These are all virus infections that cannot be cured but can be controlled. There are vaccinations for HPV, the cause of genital warts and some cancers, and for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B

Often no symptoms; early symptoms are similar to those of the flu.

How can I avoid STIs?

• Abstinence (not having sex) is the most effective method of avoiding STIs. Delay sex until you are much older.

• Once you become sexually active, use condoms as they are the only contraceptive that protects against most STIs AND pregnancy.

If you think you may have an STI

• Talk to someone you trust—don’t feel ashamed of anything that is happening in your body.

• Go to a health clinic and tell the doctor all of your symptoms so that they will know what to test you for.

• Urge your partner to get treated.

wazzup, jade? … bad news?! it’s moshi... i think it’s the end of our relationship!

Story by Peta Meyer Art by Bella Kilonzo

what happened?

what made you ask him that? did you guys have a fight?

i asked him if he still loves me, and he said his feelings have cooled.

well, i always ask him if he loves me ...

whoa, don’t you know that guys hate being asked that all the time?

angel is right. it makes you appear needy.

TALK ABOUT IT!

what shall i do now ... i hate not having a boyfriend.

were you only with moshi because you didn’t want to be alone?

how long can a relationship like that last?

jade, you’re such a good artist.

... feel good, because you'll be happy with yourself just the way you are! develop your talents, and have confidence in yourself. you'll soon see that you don't need a guy to make you ...

yeah, and when moshi wants to come back, you can tell him your feelings have cooled!

what is the basis for a healthy relationship? if having a relationship is so important, what would you do to keep your partner? could this make you do something you’d regret?

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Reproductive health

until you (boy or girl) are emotionally and economically prepared and girls are physically mature makes safe motherhood more likely.

When we do start having babies, what can we do?

One every 2 minutes—that is the rate at which women die in childbirth, worldwide. e can change these sad facts by preventing unwanted pregnancies, delaying marriage and pregnancy, and spacing children out.

Having a child as a teen is risky—see our poster. Waiting to have a baby

H

ave you have ever thought about how many children you would like to have when you’re older, and maybe even when you will have them? This is called family planning.

Plan when to start your family.

Modern couples use family planning to make sure they have children at the right time, for instance when they are financially stable with a regular income and a comfortable place to live. Children bring joy but each child brings about 20 years’ worth of expenses in feeding, clothing, housing,

Have a healthy pregnancy: • Have regular medical checkups.

Health workers keep track of the health of the mother and the unborn baby. Any problems will be noticed and dealt with early on. Get immediate medical help if problems come up, like bleeding or headaches.

• Find and attend classes for mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be to get advice on nutrition, hygiene, childbirth and childcare.

Knowing how to look after a baby means the baby is much more likely to survive.

• Eat a healthy diet, rich in proteins,

Vol. 7 no. 4

vitamins and minerals (especially iron). When using salt, choose iodised salt.

• Do not smoke or drink alcohol.

• Keep exercising—fit mothers recover faster after childbirth.

Walking is good, safe exercise and costs nothing.

• Get enough rest.

Have a safe labour and delivery.

Whenever possible, have the baby in a clinic or hospital: • There is less chance of infection in a well-run health centre.

• Health workers will know what to do if there are complications.

• Medical staff will take steps to prevent a baby getting HIV from an HIV-positive mother.

Across the world, 4 babies are born every second.

education and medical treatment.

What if the parent has an illness that can be passed on to the child? Or their job doesn’t pay enough for education? These are YEAR 7 YEAR 1 YEAR 4 3rd child all things to consider 1st child 2nd child Good child spacing means healthier mothers and babies. before deciding to have Many people say they want 2 children children. at least, maybe more. Remember when planning your ideal family that And what about your partner? a mother needs time to recover after Raising children is hard work (just pregnancy and childbirth, so it is best ask your mother!). A strong, healthy to plan your children 3 to 4 years relationship between the parents apart. This is called child spacing and makes the job more rewarding and it gives the parents more time, energy provides a loving environment for and money to look after their children. growing children.

There are several means of contraception (preventing pregnancy) to choose from, once you are old enough to have sex. (Charting a woman’s fertile days is one method—see the last issue of Young African Express.) Contraception is an important part of family planning and is the responsibility of both sexes.

7

8

Vol. 7 no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

bodyworks

What goes in...must come out!

A

s your body performs the many functions required to keep itself alive, it produces wastes from the food you eat.

Your body gets rid of waste such as excess food matter, carbon dioxide, water and salt by excretion. The body’s main excretory products are sweat, urine and faeces (2 liquids and 1 solid).

Your body is about 70% water.

Water keeps your blood flowing and brings nutrients to each cell.

The excretory system also uses water to keep the cells’ waste products from building up to dangerous levels—it transports the waste out of the body by making urine. Healthy urine is a light yellow colour. If your urine is dark yellow and concentrated, it means you are not drinking enough water.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and forms part of the excretory system. Yes, sweating is an excretory process. hair skin surface

sweat pore

sebaceous (oil) gland

sweat gland duct

dermis (lower layer of skin)

sweat gland

Sweat comes out through the pores on your skin. When you sweat, your body is getting rid of metabolic wastes such as water, sodium chloride (salt), and urea. Sweating also helps your body to stay cool.

Do you know that your liver, which is part of the digestive system, is also part of the excretory system? Your

The kidneys filter all the blood in your body. They remove toxins like urea from your blood in the form of urine. It takes about 45 minutes for your kidneys to completely filter all the blood in your body. The waste carried in the urine and filtered out in the kidneys trickles down through the ureters—the Sweating is part of excretion thin tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. The kidneys of a healthy adult can process 15 litres of water a day.

Your bladder holds the urine until you are ready to go to the toilet. As the bladder fills up, your brain tells you that you need to urinate.

To do this the bladder relaxes a muscle called a sphincter, and the urine travels down to the urethra—another small tube—and out of your body.

Your digestive system processes the food you eat into stuff your body can use, which is absorbed, and stuff it does not want, which is excreted as solid waste—your faeces or stools. Faeces vary in colour and texture, depending on your diet and state of health. liver filters your blood and sends toxins and waste to your intestines in bile. The liver changes some of the waste into urea and sends it to your kidneys in the blood.

Also known as the large intestine, the colon is the last part of the excretory system. Your colon processes, transports and removes solid waste from the body.

It also absorbs water that can be reused. Your colon is between 6 to 7 metres long.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Feeling upset?

Talk about it

Emotion al ab t en

m

violence, d ef il

e

that make you happy provide a big lift to your spirits and help you start to see things in a more balanced way.

Unresolved anger causes resentment which can lead to violence, depression or even addiction. Express your feelings of anger in a positive manner. Learn to make clear what your needs are and how to get them met without hurting others or yourself. This means being respectful of yourself and others.

OOOH!! WHAT THE…!!

HI GIRLS!

OVER HERE!

WE SAVED YOU SEATS.

I’VE GOT AN IDEA! .... (WHISPER WHISPER) ...

THERE HE IS…

IT’S SO CROWDED, MAYBE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

I’M SURE IT WASN’T, BUT WHAT CAN I DO … ?

al xu Se

s e i d d a Sugar d

WHAT WAS THAT GUY DOING?

WHAT A CREEP! HE TRIED TO TOUCH ME.

F

Bullying,

By Peta Meyer and Benjah Ondiege

e, child abus e, rap

.

Here is an easy way to start feeling positive about life—decide to notice 5 good things every day.

This can be something simple like noticing a pretty flower, or sharing a joke with a friend. Small things

e, us

.M .G

Talk to an adult you trust about any feelings of anger, sadness or depression that you may have.

9

!iolence nto v o

Say

D

uring puberty, young people sometimes become sensitive or easily upset. Feeling uncomfortable about how your body looks and is changing is one of the things you are most sensitive about. It is common to lose your temper, get angry with friends or family members, or feel sad and depressed sometimes.

Vol. 7 no. 4

Living right

I’LL COME WITH YOU!

F!

OO

DON’T LET YOURSELF BECOME A VICTIM.

Wanja had always called him “Uncle” because he was a friend of her parents, and she’d known him since she was little. Now that she was a teenager, Uncle Joe would still drop by, sometimes with small gifts, which he would give her when nobody was looking.

One day Uncle Joe gave Wanja a really cool smartphone and said he had many other nice things for her if she would meet him regularly after school. Oh Wanja, be careful!

When an older man goes out of his way to make friends with a schoolgirl, he often wants to be her “sugar daddy”. He will give her money and gifts, take her for meals in fancy hotels, and sometimes even pay her school fees. In return she will be his secret girlfriend, his “sugar baby” for sex.

Unfortunately, when one side has all the money and the power, it creates an unbalanced relationship, open to abuse. Wanja doesn’t know who else Uncle Joe is sleeping with, can’t force him to use a condom, and might end up pregnant or with a disease (even HIV).

Having a sugar daddy spoils a girl’s relationships with boys her own age, who can’t bring her expensive gifts.

She starts to judge people by their money and what they can give her.

Her friendships do not last long.

If you find yourself in an unbalanced or abusive relationship, call one of the hotlines below.

… AND DON’T TRY THAT AGAIN! KNOWING A BIT OF SELF-DEFENCE CAN STOP YOU BEING BULLIED!

• Childline Kenya 116 nce) 1195 • Antirape (gender base d viole ne 0800 221 1121 • Liverpool VCT One-2-One Hotli 111 333 0800 da Ugan ren Child • Action for or 0800 111 222 243 • ANPPCAN-Tanzania (51) 152

10

Vol. 7 no. 4

Human rights

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Your rights as a voter

I

n the last 2 issues Teacher Lima tackled the qualities and responsibilities of a good leader.

However, for good leadership to prevail the voters have to play their part. Their first role is to elect good leaders and to do that they must understand their political rights: a voter’s rights in an election. If you are in a school where the students elect their prefects, then you should know that as a voter you have a right: 1 To vote: You have the right to elect any of the candidates who’ve qualified to vie in an election.

Therefore, don’t be misled into electing someone just because they are from your class or tribe or because the senior or popular students say so. Only elect the person who has the good qualities of a leader we discussed in our last issue.

2 To be elected: Elective posts are not for a selected few, i.e., the popular students or those who come from well-off families. All students who wish to become leaders have a right to vie in an election provided they meet the electoral requirements.

3 To endorse a candidate: You are allowed to campaign for your preferred candidate. However, this should be done respectfully, as the other students have the same right to support whomever they want; thus no one should force their preferred candidate onto others.

4 To a peaceful election: The election process should be free from violence and improper influence, for example, intimidation or vote buying.

5 To a reliable voting method: The voting method used should be simple,

accurate, verifiable, secure and transparent.

6 To petition: If you have any concerns in regard to the elections, be it the character of a candidate or issues like vote buying or rigging, you should report the matter to the electoral body.

A voter’s rights are the same whether you are voting for prefects or for a national MP. In the next issue we look at other responsibilities of a voter.

Save on YAE for your school To find out more, call us on +254 (0)20 374-6277, 374-4737, 260-4433 Email: info@YoungAfricanExpress.net

Learn

for life

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 4

our world

11

In the previous Constitution, if a Kenyan citizen acquired the citizenship of another country, they had to renounce their Kenyan citizenship.

Each country has is own laws that define who its citizens are, and how one can become a citizen. Generally, people gain citizenship in two ways: • Marriage (for example, Cynthia is a Kenyan citizen. She gets married to Badawi, a citizen of Ghana).

D

• Blood (Cynthia and Badawi have children. These children are citizens of Ghana because of their father, and they are also Kenyan citizens because of their mother). o you know that the new Constitution of Kenya allows dual citizenship?

Dual citizenship, also called dual nationality, refers to a person who bears legal citizenship of two countries at the same time. For example, Cynthia, a Kenyan citizen got married to Badawi, a Ghanaian citizen. Both Cynthia and Badawi can hold dual citizenship because both Kenya and Ghana allow it.

A person can only be a citizen of two countries if both countries allow dual citizenship.

In Chapter 3, Section 16, the Constitution states that “A citizen by birth [in this case Cynthia], does not lose her citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country.”

Unlike in the previous Constitution, where children acquired citizenship only through their father, the current Kenyan Constitution, allows women to pass their citizenship to their children, especially when they get married to foreigners. This is found in Chapter 3, Section 14, sub-section (1) of the Kenyan Constitution.

Road signs and markings

part 3: Where are we going? Guidance signs Guidance signs help us to find our way around. Some tell us where we are, like the location signs below: River name

Street name

Hospital

Airport

We use direction signs to navigate when on a journey. On them you

may find place names, route numbers and distances to destinations.

Kenya’s newest and widest road, the Thika Highway, has many exits and entrances, which would be confusing without signs like these: Exit sequence sign— tells us what exits are coming up and the distances to them Exit sign—tells us where the next exit will take us

Direction signs are found on other roads too.

Destination distance sign—tells us the distance to towns on our route

Advance direction sign—tells us of exits and junctions before we reach them Roundabout direction sign—tells us which exit to use from a roundabout

12

Vol. 7 no. 4

ecosystems

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Older sesbania plants attract bees and can be harvested for poles.

Fertiliser runoff in Lake Naivasha is affecting fishing catches as well as plant and animal life.

W

hat comes to mind when you hear people talk about water pollution?

When sources of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater get contaminated, we say that they have been polluted. Contamination can come from simple human activities like washing clothes to complex activities such as cooling machines in large manufacturing companies—like a company that manufactures soaps.

Do you know that heat can cause pollution? This happens when hot water is allowed to flow into rivers and lakes. It kills the fish and other animals in the water. Another example is the fertiliser or pesticide that your mother uses on her vegetable garden to make sure that she gets a good harvest.

Why is water pollution bad?

Water pollution is dangerous because every living thing in the food chain depends on clean water to live. Water pollution is bad for our lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater, wetlands and marshes. These sources provide us with food and with water to drink and to use in the home or in factories.

Ecosystems are being destroyed and some wildlife is becoming extinct because the animals lack clean water to drink or to live in.

How can we reduce water pollution? • Use less water Yes! When you reduce the amount of water you use while taking a bath or when cleaning the utensils, you reduce the amount of water that flows into sewage treatment systems. Some simple things to do

include turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, and bathing in a basin instead of taking a shower. • Use natural fertilisers and pesticides The use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, whether in small or large amounts, leads to water pollution. These chemicals seep into the soil and further into groundwater, contaminating it. The fertilisers also run off into water sources such as lakes and rivers and contaminate them too.

Use compost manure because it will nourish your soil so that you do not use chemical fertilisers. You can

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

WHO HAS BEEN DIRTYING OUR DRINKING WATER?

By Clare Barasa and Benjamin Ondiege

Vol. 7 no. 4

ecosystems

THAT’S LIFE! DO YOU MEAN WE DON’T HAVE A RIGHT TO USE BOWA SPRING FOR OUR CATTLE? OF COURSE WE HAVE. WHERE ELSE SHOULD WE TAKE THE CATTLE?

INSTEAD OF ARGUING, LET’S RESOLVE THIS WHOLE AFFAIR AMICABLY.

I HAVE COME TO DRAW WATER FOR COOKING BUT IT’S SO MUDDY—AND THERE’S COW DUNG IN IT!

BUT BOWA IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF CLEAN WATER FOR THE VILLAGE’S HOMES.

SOME DAYS LATER …

CATTLE CAN CONTAMINATE THE WATER AND TRANSMIT DISEASES TO HUMANS.

I HAVE LISTENED TO BOTH SIDES OF YOUR CASE. WHILE YOU SHOULD HAVE WATER FOR YOUR CATTLE, WE NEED TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM WATER SOURCES USED FOR HUMAN.

WHY?

YOU CAN ALSO DIG A SMALL DITCH TO DIVERT ANIMAL MANURE AWAY FROM THE WATER.

I WILL ASK CONNIE CONSERVE TO COME AND ADVISE US.

IT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US SO I’M HAPPY TO HELP SET UP THE PIPE AND TROUGH.

HMM. ALRIGHT ... BUT WHERE SHOULD WE TAKE OUR COWS TO DRINK?

AND HOW?

also use predatory insects like the larvae of ladybirds, which feed on aphids.

• Use environmentally friendly household products

To clean your house, do not use bleach or chemical cleaners.

Use vinegar instead. Do not use household products that contain chemicals. As much as possible, try to use biodegradable soap while washing clothes, utensils or even as you bathe.

• Dispose of toxic waste products carefully It is important to make sure that you dispose of toxic products such as paints, solvents and polishes in the right

SINCE IT’S NOT A BIG AREA, YOU CAN BUILD A FENCE TO KEEP ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE SPRING.

13

USE THE STREAM ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE VILLAGE. YOU CAN ALSO PUT IN A PIPE TO LEAD WATER FROM THE SPRING TO A TROUGH OUTSIDE THE FENCE.

THANK YOU. I SUPPOSE IF EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES, WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK!

To demonstrate how water pollution happens, here is a simple experiment your class can do during your science lesson.

You will need • 2 small basins • 1 litre of water, 500 ml for each of the basins • An ink pen • 30 ml blue or black ink places. Do not pour them down the drain, be it in the house or in the ditch outside your house.

• Do not litter Avoid littering in rivers, lakes, oceans and even wetlands.

You can gather other youth in your neighbourhood and organise a clean-up day in the neighbourhood, near rivers or picnic sites. Make sure that after you have collected the litter, you dispose of it in a correct place.

What to do • Pour half a litre of water into each basin; label the basins A and B. • Using the ink pen, put about 10 drops of ink into the water in basin A. Leave it for about 2 minutes.

What do you see?

• Pour the whole 30 ml of ink into the water in basin B. Leave it for 2 minutes. What do you see?

What do you notice in both basins? If you keep adding 10 drops of ink into basin A at intervals for about half an hour, you will notice that the water continues to turn blue, just like the water in basin B. Water pollution can happen fast, like in experiment B, or slowly over a long period, like in experiment A.

14

Vol. 7 no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

home gardens

Crops to match your soil D o you want a good harvest?

Choose crops that suit your soil. The chart here shows what soil some crops need.

• Soil fertility is the ability of soil to supply plants with nutrients.

Organic matter in the soil improves soil structure and fertility.

• Soil texture affects soil structure.

Medium-textured loam soil holds adequate air and water, supports plants and harbours soil organisms.

Remind yourself about sand, clay and loam soils on page 22 of Young African Express, vol. 7, no. 1.

• Soil drainage is how much water the soil holds and how much surplus water can drain away. Soil with good drainage is usually well aerated too (it holds enough air).

The pH scale 4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

More acidic

6.5

7.0

Neutral

Neutral soils have good mineral content and host plenty of soil organisms.

It is harder for plants to absorb nutrients from acid or “sour” soil.

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

More alkaline

Alkaline or “sweet” soil loses nutrients easily and its soil structure is poor.

• The pH range shows what pH levels suit the crop. The pH level is the balance between acidity and alkalinity in the soil.

Crop

pH range

Soil texture

Soil fertility

Drainage

Other

Finger millet “wimbi” Eleusine coracana

5.0–8.0

Wide range: best in light to medium sandy loam to loam, high in organic matter

Wide range, from poor and shallow to very fertile

Well drained. Sensitive to waterlogging

Resistant to drought. Tolerates salinity (high salt content in soil)

Rice Oriza sativa

4.0–8.0

Sandy loam to clay loam.

Best on loam layer over heavy clay

Wide range, very fertile to poor soils

Paddy rice—moderatelydrained to waterlogged soil. Upland rice—welldrained soil

Most varieties are sensitive to drought. Tolerates salinity

Groundnut “njugu” Arachis hypogaea

6.0–7.5

Light, crumbly, sandy soil, rich in organic matter. Can grow in heavier clay soil but harder to harvest

Deep, moderately fertile. Needs calcium in soil

Well drained. Sensitive to waterlogging

Grows in wide range of climates.

Drought tolerant. Tolerates high temperatures

Kale/cabbage Brassica oleracea

5.5–6.8

Wide range but best in light, sandy loam soil rich in organic matter

Fertile, with good nitrogen content

Moderately well drained but always holding some moisture

Add good compost to soil. Plants need nitrogen but too much affects plant quality

Potato Solanum tuberosum

4.5–6.0

Light to medium sandy loam to loam. Add organic matter

Deep, fertile soil

Well drained. Sensitive to waterlogging

Not drought tolerant. Can tolerate low temperatures. Most varieties grow best in cool highlands

Spider plant “sageti” Cleome gynandra

5.5–7.0

Best in light to medium sandy loam to clay loam soils high in organic matter

Deep, fertile soil

Well drained. Sensitive to waterlogging

Not drought tolerant. Tolerates high temperatures. Sensitive to cold

Sweet or sour?

1 Scoop soil into a cup. Add 1/2 cup vinegar. If the mixture bubbles or fizzes, it is alkaline.

w This simple test will sho or d aci is l soi ur yo whether alkaline.

2 Scoop more soil into another cup. Add 1/2 cup water and mix. Stir in 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda. If the soil bubbles or fizzes, it is very acidic.

3 If your soil is alkaline, add sulphur or pine needles. If it is acidic, add wood ash or lime.

Compost can reduce both alkalinity and acidity!

To know your soil’s pH, send a soil sample for professional testing. Your nearest Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) centre will advise you on collecting soil samples and having them tested.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

agroforestry

Vol. 7 no. 4

15

Trees and Water D Nikolay Maximovitch CC-

Only about 2.5% of all water on earth is fresh. Fresh rainwater is lost if it runs to the sea. Trees slow water down so that more can sink into the ground. Growing leaves lessen the force of the rain, fallen leaves soak it up and tree roots both loosen the soil so that water can enter it and hold the soil so it does not erode or wash away. The water sinks down and tops up the supply of groundwater (underground water). All trees, whether in that green line along the river or in a forest, farm or garden, reduce erosion and store water.

by-S A-3.0

id you know that you can tell where a river is from the line of trees tracing its course?

Trees and water are found together because they help each other.

Doum palms along the Galana River— doum pal ms are most valued for their leaves, used for we the fibre from aving, and their fruit, bu t they also protect riverb anks.

How trees use water

Trees also trap pollution from human and animal wastes, pesticides and fertilisers carried in rainwater before it reaches the river or dam. The trees we plant to protect water provide things like food, fodder, fuel and timber too.

Trees in the water cycle Transpiration is an important part of the water cycle. The water vapour released from trees creates humidity (moisture) in the air. Clouds start to form and when they gather enough moisture, rain falls. Plants absorb a lot of the rainwater that enters the soil and so the cycle continues.

Finding water with trees Roots absorb air, nutrients and water from the soil. They grow towards water, staying shallow in moist soil and going deep in dry soil. Water travels upwards to the branches and leaves, carrying dissolved nutrients with it. In the leaves, the nutrients are absorbed during photosynthesis.

Water vapour condenses to form clouds

Water vapour transpires from tree

Water is absorbed by tree’s roots

The roots of trees growing in wet soils are shallow to absorb air near the surface. Some mangrove trees even have “knees”—roots that grow upwards from the main roots to reach the air.

Clouds become dense and the water falls as rain, hail or snow

Water soaks into the ground

To see transpiration at work, wrap a clear plastic bag around some leaves on a tree.

After a few hours you will see droplets of water on the inside.

The water vapour released from the leaves has condensed on the plastic.

Looking for water? To find water in a dry riverbed, dig near green trees.

They must be getting water under the surface. To find drinkable underground water, look for trees like the umbrella thorn and tamarisk. They grow only where groundwater is not saline (salty).

Because plants store water, some trees and shrubs can be tapped for it.

Beware, some contain poisonous sap so use only trees you know to be safe!

• Water often collects in hollows in baobabs—some are even hollowed out and used to store water. The pulpy wood in the trunk can also be cut out and chewed to extract water.

• Cut down a banana plant and hollow out the stump. Water from the roots will collect in the hollow. The water is clean although the first 3–4 “helpings” will be bitter!

• Filter and boil water collected from plants before using it, to be sure it is safe.

16

Vol. 7 no. 4 4, 2012

practical science

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

H s= M + a -tion in ac

M-Pesa maths Does your Mum or Dad send money to Grandma from their mobile phone?

Or use their phone to pay household bills?

With a money transfer service like Safaricom’s M-Pesa or Airtel’s Zap you can send money, pay your water bill, settle school fees, or buy gifts on the internet. You can do all this without leaving your chair or owning a cheque book or a credit card.

Of course, someone must pay for such a clever convenience. When Mum sends Grandma Ksh 500, M-Pesa actually deducts Ksh 525 from her account— which means Mum pays Ksh 25 to use the service (525 – 500 = 25).

Beep! Beep! Grandma’s phone displays the message that she has received Ksh 500. But when she goes to her local M-Pesa agent to collect the cash, Grandma will receive only Ksh 475. So Grandma also pays Ksh 25 for the service, which the M-Pesa agent keeps as their part of the fee (500 – 475 = 25).

Services like M-Pesa and Zap make life easier for millions, so it is right that those providing the service earn from it. How much money do you think they make?

You figure it out: The smallest charge for an M-Pesa transaction is Ksh 3 (when you send Ksh 100). M-Pesa recorded over 305 million transactions in 2010. What is the minimum amount earned in that year?

R

efraction is the bending of a wave when it enters a medium where its speed is different, for example, from air to water.

Have you ever asked yourself what a rainbow is?

Rainbows are made when light is refracted through millions of water droplets in the air. White light is made up of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet wavelengths.

When water droplets split it into

components, we see it as a rainbow.

Since the colours of the visible spectrum are at different wavelengths (longer = red, shorter = blue), the colours appear to be separated.

Most people are familiar with what a rainbow looks like but do not fully understand how a rainbow forms.

Make your own little rainbow using the same principle—follow what Kizza and Kiwanuka do below.

Kizza and Kiwanuka are looking out of the window when the sun breaks through the clouds.

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW! IT’S MAGIC.

NO IT’S NOT! THE SUN IS SPLITTING THE LIGHT INTO DIFFERENT COLOURS.

WAIT UNTIL THE SUN’S OUT PROPERLY AND I’LL SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS.

WHAT YOU NEED

• PIECE OF WHITE PAPER OR CARDBOARD • WATER • A GLASS WINDOW WITH DIRECT SUNLIGHT COMING IN, OR • A SUNNY DAY OUTDOORS

IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NO SUN, USE A TORCH.

OH, THAT’S BEAUTIFUL! IT’S OUR OWN MINI RAINBOW! DIRECT SUNLIGHT IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS EXPERIMENT TO WORK. IF YOU ARE USING A TORCH, SHINE IT ON THE SIDE OF THE GLASS—WHAT DO YOU OBSERVE? WHAT HAPPENS?

When light passes from one medium to another, for example from air to water, its speed and direction change. This is called refraction. The different colours of light are spread out and separated, and we can see the spectrum. Violet light bends the most. Red light bends the least.

The minimum amount is Khs 305 million x Ksh 3 = Ksh 915 million.

In reality M-Pesa made Ksh 11.78 billion in 2010 (Central Bank of Kenya report), because most people send amounts larger than Ksh 100.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 4

PRACTICAL SCIENCE

17

How digital TV works Have you ever been watching your favourite TV programme when suddenly the screen goes fuzzy?

Analogue TV signals are transmitted like radio signals—the video (picture) part is transmitted in AM, while the sound is transmitted in FM. Just like any radio signal, analogue TV is prone to interference from bad weather, tall buildings and other radio signals, leading to ghost images and “snow”. This does not happen with digital signals.

N

o wonder, because television was invented nearly 50 years ago and the broadcasting system of analogue signals sent out over radio waves has hardly changed since then.

Now that many countries are officially switching over to digital TV, we can expect sharp pictures and perfect reception—all the time! Let us find out how.

It is no accident that new flat-screen TVs look like big computer monitors.

They are designed to receive a digital signal, like computers do. Digital TV signals are sent as binary information (sequences of 0s and 1s) the same

way information is sent in an email or stored in a computer. Each tiny bit of information represents a small part of the picture sent, and these combine in your TV set to reproduce the original picture, with the same high quality picture, sharpness and sound.

takes up less bandwidth, so TV stations can broadcast 2, 3 or even 4 channels in the space of 1 channel before. And digital signals can be carried by fibre-optic cable, which is how cable TV providers can offer so many channels at once.

Apart from better quality picture and sound, sending TV signals digitally

d

a ga dget calle ig ital signal s, yo u w ill need en pp TV can ha Receiving a d TV l yo ur analogue r to digita at ve th ho e itc on sw to e n th gnal al Whe e digital si e a digital sign to convert th TVs can receiv n ee cr gnals.

-s a set-to p box at fl l) up the new si ost (but not al ur TV to pick yo e un un derstand. M -t re u w ill need to already—but yo tenna. need a new an Yo u might also

Digital pictures are sent as binary information so they display on your TV exactly as they were sent.

in a t s k in e h t w e o ov H ... .. .r e m ?

I m r o o if n d u y m on

That ink stain on your school uniform can be removed!

There are 2 types of ink stains: water-based and permanent.

Permanent-ink stains are stains from markers, highlighters, ballpoint pens or gel pens; they are difficult to remove without special chemicals. You can try dabbing and rubbing the stain with alcohol. If it is ineffective, try using foaming shaving cream, toothpaste or bleach.

However, water-based stains like the one from your fountain pen, water-soluble marker or roller-ball pen are easy to handle. To remove a water-based stain:

1

2

3

4

Lay the uniform on top of a clean dry towel or cloth.

Apply water—hot or cold­—to the stained area and blot with another clean cloth. The stain will begin to transfer onto the clean cloth.

Apply a small amount of detergent onto the ink stain and leave for 3–5 minutes. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the stain a bit. Make sure you do not scrub so hard that you permanently damage the garment’s fibres.

Using the hottest water recommended for the fabric, wash normally.

5

Before drying, check to make sure the entire stain was removed. If any trace remains, repeat the steps above. Drying before the stain is completely removed will make it nearly impossible to remove later.

18

Vol. 7 no. 4

business & careers

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

! k r o w r e p a p e h t t e Don’t forg had saved from his sofa repairs. The materials include wood, nails, hammers, pliers, sponges and varnish.

He does an excellent job on his first order. He makes a beautiful cupboard. This job leads to others. Villagers start streaming in, ordering different items. In 6 months his business makes enough money for him to employ 2 people to assist in the workshop.

After 6 months he reviews his business records. He has made

I

n the village, he consults Mzee Odera, who was a carpenter for many years before he retired. He knows what the villagers like. He offers Tim the use of his old workshop as an incentive to start his work.

Tim is extremely grateful to Mzee Odera for his help.

After weighing his options, Tim decides to start by repairing old sofa sets, making them look like new. His business picks up quickly. After 3 months he estimates what he will be earning and makes a rough estimate of his budget. He can make • • • • •

•

sofa sets beds cupboards stools chapati rolling pins and boards cutting boards

When he was in school he learned basic business skills. He knows how to keep records of purchases and sales.

portant Records are im help because they yo u— • monitor the yo ur progress of ss ne busi • prepare yo ur ents financial statem w of hat • keep track an d yo u have paid received of • keep track penses ex le ib ct du de tax • prepare yo ur returns more • get a loan easily

To get a fair selling price and make the business a success, he calculates the price of the wood he will use to make a specific item plus labour (which involves his carpentry skills). He will keep records of these costs.

Keeping records will help him see when he needs to change selling prices, to reflect changes in the cost of raw materials.

He purchases his first materials with capital he

• • • • •

•

5 sofa sets 10 beds 30 cupboards 200 stools 200 chapati pins and boards 50 cutting boards

Prices sofa set Ksh 7000 Be d Ksh 5000 Cupboard Ksh 4000 Stool Ksh 300 Chapati pin an d board Ksh 200 Cutting board Ks h 100

How much has he made in sales?

His sales records help him know what his strengths and weaknesses are. He discovers that stools are his most-sold item, so he will allocate more money for stoolmaking materials in his next budget.

He buys petty cash and wages books, which help him keep track of money

paid out of petty cash (small amount of money kept for small expenses, for example office tea supplies or office stationery). The wages book helps him record salaries, taxes and payments to funds like the insurance scheme and health insurance.

One day Tim makes a surprise visit to Mzee Odera and brings him a gift. “Mzee Odera, please accept this gift as a way of saying thank you for your encouragement and wonderful ideas that have made me successful,” says Tim. “Thank you, Tim. This stool with its beautiful carvings is perfect for me,” replies Mr Odera.

Tim makes furniture from trees that are not endangered species.

Tim has made a total of Khs 310,000

Tim has gone back to his village in Nyanza. He has just finished a course in carpentry in a vocational school in Nairobi and is ready to put his skills to work. He has decided to return home because he feels his services are needed in his village.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

We salute

n a r m a K l u k k a Taw

B

Karman had openly challenged President Saleh’s authoritarian regime for years—this had led to her being imprisoned several times.

In 2005, she co-founded Woman Journalists without Chains to fight for press freedom.

Two years later, she started organising weekly protests outside government offices to advocate for the

rights for women and protest against injustices in society including campaigning on behalf of a group of villagers evicted from their land by a tribal chief. And at the beginning of the Yemen uprising in 2010, Karman, a young Muslim mother of 3, emerged as the leader of the protest against President Saleh’s regime.

Because of her leading role in the struggle for women’s rights, democracy and peace in Yemen, Karman was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize—alongside Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee— becoming the youngest winner of the prize.

Born in a country where women are neither seen nor heard, Karman epitomises defying all odds.

19

You could be a...

t s i s o n g o c a m r a ph

”

In 2011, Karman became the first Arab woman and second Muslim woman to win a Nobel prize and the youngest Nobel Peace Laureate.

orn in 1979, Tawakkul Karman is known among Yemenis as the “Mother of the Revolution” because of her role both before and during the 2011 Yemen uprising that led to the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule.

Vol. 7 no. 4

careers & Fun

A pharma-what? Studying pharmacy could take you in unexpected career directions. Read what pharmacognosist Peggoty Chepkoech Mutai has to say!

Do you know that when you use lemon to cure a cold you are actually practising pharmacognosy?

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicine derived from natural sources (plants, animals and microorganisms) and then developing new drugs from these natural sources.

Growing up in scenic Kericho County where green tea plantations meet your every stride, I have always loved nature.

However, my childhood dream was to become a shopkeeper so that I could be in charge of all the sweets and sodas. But when I joined Alliance Girls High School, my love for sciences drew me to a science-based career. It was while doing my bachelor’s degree in pharmacy that I decided that I would specialise in pharmacognosy.

Answers do not come easily in this career.

So being courageous enough to pursue new ideas and determined enough to keep pushing even when you do not get the expected results are important qualities for pharmacologists.

Having integrity and being a team player are also important. This is because developing a new drug entails working with researchers from

For her ground–breaking work, Dr Mutai was recently awarded an international fellowship for women in science.

different fields and you must respect people’s intellectual property.

Currently, I am a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. I am also working on finding a way to eradicate parasitic worms that cause diarrhoea in children. Worms are a common problem in Africa and this needs to be dealt with because worms affect the intellectual development of children. They can cause anaemia, intestinal obstruction and may even lead to death.

Though this is a sciencebased career, you apply all the other subjects you learned in school.

Therefore, I advise aspiring pharmacognosists to take every subject in school seriously.

”

CAREER FACT FILE

• You will need good grades to pursue a degree in pharmacy before you specialise; pay special attention to mathematics, chemistry, biology and languages.

• Earn a degree in pharmacy then a master’s specialising in pharmacognosy.

20

Vol. 7 no. 4

Be the change! ”

Ever heard of a social entrepreneur? They are people who turn social problems into business ventures. Dr Kibata Githeko is one such!

When my father, who had been living with diabetes for 25 years, became blind, the doctors could not explain why.

Determined to find answers, I decided to become an ophthalmologist.

For 9 years, I dedicated my life to understanding the human eye: I became a retina surgeon and looked for opportunities to work in the best eye hospitals so as to learn from the best. I learned that diabetes is the biggest cause of retina complications and blindness in third world countries,

even though the blindness can be avoided through laser treatment. But there is no laser machine in any government provincial hospital in Kenya.

So I decided to make laser treatment available to Kenyans by 1) opening a world-class eye centre for those who can afford to go to hospital, and 2) setting up a mobile eye clinic to offer free treatment to diabetic patients who cannot afford it.

MEET

Maria has started her perio ds but she cannot afford disposable pads and she does not want to miss school.

What options does she have?

I work with 2 other doctors at the eye centre. A team of 8 staff runs the mobile clinic and the eye centre.

So far we have screened 5,227 Kenyans with diabetes and given laser treatment to 300 through the mobile clinic!

”

“That we can reach so many people proves that all you need to achieve the change you want to see is the will to take action and a heart to serve.”

To raise funds, I submitted a business plan to a number of investors. Acumen Fund loaned me US$300,000 to set up Upper Hill Eye and Laser Centre (UHEAL) in Nairobi, and the World

Have you heard of reusable cloth pads? You can make them from clean cotton cloth like an old kanga—old cotton is softer. Avoid synthetic material as it does not absorb and also irritates.

2

Cut 4 strips 40 cm long and 2 cm wide. Fold them lengthwise and stitch down the sides to make 4 straps.

Place between the rectangular pieces at the 4 corners.

3

Stitch together along 3 sides with the ends of the straps inside. Leave one end open.

Tie the straps around each thigh so that the pad stays in place between your legs.

Alternatively, simply fold a cotton cloth neatly to make a pad. Use safety pins to fix the pad to your panties.

Washing the pad

used pads in a bucket of cold* ° Put water with disinfectant, baking soda or soap and leave them to soak until you wash them.

How to make a cloth pad

not mix pads with other ° Do clothes. Wash them separately.

From your cloth, cut 2 pieces of equal size measuring 27 cm by 12 cm. Place one on the other.

4 27 cm

12 cm

THE

Diabetic Foundation gave me a grant of Ksh 10 million to set up the UHEAL Mobile Eye Clinic: buy a big lorry and transform it into a clinic by fixing sinks, cabinets, working surfaces, air conditioning, power supply, public address system (for awareness campaigns), a motorised bed and a laser machine.

Reusable pa ds

do

1

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

careers & Fun

Cut a cloth 25 cm by 48 cm, fold lengthwise twice and tuck it into the cloth “pocket”.

* Cold water removes blood stains better than hot water.

Remove the folded cloths from the pockets and unfold for easier washing and drying.

thoroughly in ° Dry the sun. Store dry cloths in a clean dry place.

When at school, put used pads in plastic bags, tie closed and store in your school bag to wash at home.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 4

Reading is fun

21

A Mingu and Sweetie adventure story

By Lee Diani and Jill Ghai

Then Mingu found another clause that says that anyone can go to court and complain about the Constitution being breached and people’s rights being affected. Sweetie knew where the run-down old courthouse was. Mr Mwamba agreed to accompany the friends to the court, which they found had been cleaned up, with toilets that work and a sign saying “Customer care”.

An information officer listened to their story and said yes, they were allowed to start a legal case.

What will happen next? Will Mingu and Sweetie appear in court?

Chapter 2: Citizens have rights

S

weetie was frustrated. She had tried to persuade her friends Mercy and Veronica to do something about the school’s playground being grabbed by the local politician but they were afraid. “Politicians are too powerful—we can’t do anything,” they said.

“But the Bill of Rights in the Constitution says we have some fundamental rights and freedoms, including education and sanitation!

That bulldozer destroyed our latrines and playground. Politicians do not give human rights to us and they can’t take them away!” fumed Sweetie.

On her way home she saw her friend Mingu collecting waste*. When she told him what had happened, he pulled a copy of the Constitution out of his pocket. “I found this in a rubbish bin,” he told her, “and I’ve been reading it.”

“I can’t believe someone would throw away the Constitution,” Sweetie remarked. “It’s too important.”

“Well, I read that everyone has the right to petition the authorities,” continued Mingu.

“You mean ask for something from the authorities?” replied Sweetie. “Mr Mwamba taught us about petitions. We can write one with his help. I am sure we can get many people to sign it.”

Talk about it: “And look at this,” said Mingu, pointing at another clause in his battered document. “Everyone has the right to assemble and to demonstrate peacefully!”

“Like a demonstration in science?” asked Sweetie doubtfully.

“No,” replied Mingu, “a public demonstration where many people make their complaints known. I’ve seen pictures—people march and carry signs with messages about what they want.

We can make our own signs!”

The next few days were full of activity as Mingu and Sweetie put their plan into practice at school. The teachers at both their schools saw it was a good way of learning how to implement the constitution—and getting back the playground at Sweetie’s school.

O

n the day of the demonstration, the children and many of the parents and teachers marched to present their petition at the DO’s office.

The police appeared and tried to stop them, but they waved Mingu’s copy of the Constitution and declared, “We have the right to assemble and demonstrate and present petitions to the authorities.”

Next the DO came out and accepted the petition politely. Success! Or so they thought. But two weeks later nothing had changed.

1. Why do you think some people feel unable to do anything “because politicians are too powerful?”

Discuss some of the reasons why people may think this way. Which are correct? Which are not? How can people learn not to be afraid of political leaders?

2. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution says citizens have certain rights and freedoms. Write them down. Under each one, write what this means to you and others in your group.

3. The Constitution also says that everyone has “the right to petition the authorities.” Sweetie wants to write a petition and get many people to sign it. Why does she feel this is important? How does getting many people to sign a petition make a difference? *See our stories “What a Waste” and “Leading the Way”.

22

Vol. 7 no. 4

Reading is fun

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

e j h o urn e y T Chapter 3

to leave my phone. My beloved phone, the treasured gift from my Dad, before he left to work in Dubai. A phone that I could never afford to replace; never in a million years. What if the plan backfired and the police didn’t locate the poachers? Was it worth losing my phone? Mum would never believe me and even if she did I knew that she could not afford to buy me another phone like that, either. What should I do?

Chapter 3 of our story by Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam

When the girls decided to steal a ride in first class, they never expected the train to break down, leaving them stranded in the night and having to be rescued by Vas and his men. But their rescuer has a nasty secret, and the girls are now in his way.

Read on...

O

nce again the lorry turned on its lights, almost blinding me. I quickly slipped round the side again, back into the darkness. Had anyone seen me?

I made my way back to the Land Rover, my heart pounding. “Hurry up!” called Grace, “He wants to leave now.”

She moved over to the middle to sit next to Vas. I got in beside her and closed the door.

The interior of the car, in stark contrast to the ancient exterior, was full of expensive-looking navigation equipment.

A handset on the dashboard rang, its shrill sound startling me. I couldn’t hear what the caller was saying, but Vas sounded furious. I warily turned my head to find him glaring at me. He barked a few more unintelligible words and hung up. “I will drop you girls off at the road.”

Vas put the vehicle into gear and took off abruptly; I was violently jerked forward and almost hit my head on the windscreen. He drove at breakneck speed; the other vehicles followed close behind. I closed my eyes and thought of the elephants that had died to fill the lorry with the all those tusks. I wondered if they had killed them first or if they were still alive when their tusks were hacked off. I could feel bile rising in my throat.

Vas and his crew needed to be stopped, but how? Once he had dropped us off he would disappear into the bush and there would be no way for the police to find him.

The sun was now beginning to rise, spilling a paint box of colours over the African savannah. I shifted in my seat as a hard object in my pocket dug into me. It was my cell phone. I was struck with an idea: If I left my phone in Vas’s car, the police would be able to trace his location!

I knew that mobile service providers were able to use satellite-positioning technology to detect SIM cards. It was a brilliant plan and I couldn’t believe that I had come up with it all by myself.

All I had to do was to hide my phone under the seat.

Then it hit me; I would have

Vas suddenly brought the vehicle to a screeching halt and announced brusquely, “Get off here.” I realised I only had seconds left to decide what to do.

“But we are in the middle of nowhere!” Grace protested.

“The road is only a few kilometres away. Out, now!”

“We’re going,” I replied. I already had the car door open and was yanking Grace and our luggage out. She and I watched in silence as the convoy disappeared from view, until all we could see of them was a cloud of dust on the plains.

Grace glared at me. “What’s the matter with you? I could have made him drop us off in Mombasa; I was going to tell him that my father would have paid him.”

“You don’t know how lucky we are to get away from them,” I said shakily, hoisting my small rucksack over my shoulder. “We have to find a police station.”

“Why?” “I’ll tell you while we are walking.”

Will the girls find the help they need? Look for chapter 4 in the next issue.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 4

puzzles & fun

Fun for

Tee hee word search

You

The things we do when we are amused!

cackle chortle chuckle giggle grin guffaw laugh smile smirk snicker snort titter

E W S H T C O G M E

T L W M A U T S F L

I G T C I R C G A K

T G K R O L R H J C

T L I N O I E G W U

E V S G N H F U R H

R B S G G E C A W C

K R I M S L L L V M

G U F F A W E I Q G

E S N I C K E R K L

The 4 Isabwa siblings want to divide the family farm into 4 different plots, all the same size and each with a pond.

Can you help them?

ANSWER

E W S H T C O G M E

Mango time

T L W M A U T S F L

I G T C I R C G A K

T G K R O L R H J C

T L I N O I E G W U

E R K G E V B R U S thereNis cheese somewhere in SMousie S knows I F this maze but can he get to it? Help him find GtheG F I tastyM snack.

N G S A C H E L W K F C L E E U A L I R R W V Q K H C M G L

These children will have a tasty meal if their goats don‛t get to the fruit first! Can you find 12 differences between the 2 pictures?

Don’t misuse your mosquito nets ...

WE CANT GET THROUGH ... AARGH!

Answer:

Answers

snicker snort titter

M F A J W R W V Q K E L K C U H C M G L

Tee hee word search

In the 2nd picture, there is an extra mango on the tree; one mango on the ground is orange; the mango tree has a branch missing; there is another bush in the background; the tree has a root showing; a goat has one horn missing; the other goat has black patches; the tree has a root showing; the girl on the left has pink trousers; her sleeve has a stripe missing; the boy on the left has a blue stripe on his cap; one of his sleeves is blue; The boy on the right has shorter hair; his stick splits into 2; the girl on the right has stars on her skirt.

Mango time: 1. In the 2nd picture, there is an extra mango on the tree. 2. One mango on the ground is orange.

3. There is another bush in the background. 4. A goat has one horn missing. 5. The other goat has black patches.

6. The girl on the left has pink trousers. 7a. Her sleeve has a stripe missing. 8. The boy on the left has a blue stripe on his cap. 9. One of his sleeves is blue. 10. The boy on the right has shorter hair. 11. His stick splits into 2. 12. The girl on the right has stars on her skirt.

E W S H T C O G M E

T L W M A U T S F L

I G T C I R C G A K

T G K R O L R H J C

T L I N O I E G W U

E V S G N H F U R H

R B S G G E C A W C

ANSWER

K R I M S L L L V M

G U F F A W E I Q G

E S N I C K E R K L

By Harray

... Instead, Do use them while you sleep to keep mosquitoes away and curb malaria!

23

Fair share

24

Vol. 7 no. 4

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Civil society

Reach out &

reconcile!

Disagreements are normal, but they shouldn’t lead to relationships or even communities breaking up. So how do you reconcile with family, friends or even neighbours?

sending them a note explaining why you’re contacting them.

1. Make the first move. The other person may never have the courage to approach you. Therefore, do not wait for them to contact you; contact them instead.

2. Start small. The hardest part of reconciliation is finding a place to start. So start with a simple contact like calling the other person or

3. Own your part. Look at the disagreement from the other person’s perspective, that is, try to see how your actions may have been hurtful or misunderstood. If you honestly can’t find anything wrong with what you did, ask the other party to tell you.

4. Say sorry and mean it. It’s not easy admitting one’s fault;

apologising for the hurt you may have caused is a sign of maturity.

5. Rebuild. Once you have acknowledged each other’s perspectives, it’s time to regain each other’s trust. This can be awkward at first and may take some time.

Therefore, don’t rush it. Start with little things like helping with small tasks or having a simple “how have you been” chat.

Remember, while you’re ready to let go and move on the other person may not. So be patient with them.

Reach out to someone you’ve been at odds with for whatever reason and try to make amends today!

GOODNESS!

SHE’S OBVIOUSLY A FOREIGNER. SHE’S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

Story by Sarah Radoli Art by Bella Kilonzo MOTHER, WE FOUND THIS LITTLE GIRL ON THE ROAD CRYING FOR HER MOTHER. SHE LOOKED LOST SO WE DECIDED TO BRING HER HOME WITH US. BUT MOTHER, YOU ALWAYS TELL US TO BE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER. WE COULD NOT JUST LET HER WANDER THE STREETS.

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA? WATOTOMAN, WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT CITIZENSHIP FOR ABANDONED OR LOST CHILDREN?

EVEN IF SHE IS A FOREIGNER, SHE HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP IF SHE’S BEEN ABANDONED.

EVEN IF THEY LOOK EUROPEAN?

WELL, FIRST THINGS FIRST: SHE NEEDS A MEAL AND THEN I MUST REPORT TO THE POLICE THAT WE HAVE FOUND HER. SOMEONE MAY BE LOOKING FOR HER. QUITE SO. THE CITIZENSHIP QUESTION WILL ONLY COME UP IF NOBODY CLAIMS HER.

THE CONSTITUTION STATES THAT...

“ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 8 YEARS FOUND IN KENYA IS KENYAN.”

IT ALSO PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM BEING TRAFFICKED! RIGHT, LITTLE NAMELESS ONE, LET’S GET YOU FED!

ISBN978-9966-33-092-5

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM OR WHAT COLOUR THEY ARE. SO LONG AS THEY ARE FOUND IN KENYA, THEY ARE CONSIDERED KENYAN.

NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NECESSARY FOR CHILDREN TO BE REGISTERED. THIS ENSURES THEY HAVE AN IDENTITY.

Special savings! YAE subscriptions

THANKS, WATOTOMAN.

Learn IN THIS

™

ISSUE

™

�� � ��� ��

���� ���� �

�� � ��� ��

����

Lea �������� rni ng ™ f o r �������� MARC Lif Lea e ������H–AP rni ��� RIL 2009 ng for MARC H–AP Lif e � Lea �������� RIL 2009 rni ng for MARC H–AP Lif e RIL 2009

��������

��������

���������

�

���� Turn ���� ���� ing Tu rn ga ing gagarbage rd Tu into rn rbK ga s in ag ing en rd eer ib in sga to rbK gardLenen in a ag in L s in K ibeer ibera ato L ���������

ISSUE

����������

IN THIS IN THIS

������� � ��

To find out more, call us on +254 (0)20 374-6277, 374-4737, 260-4433 Email: info@YoungAfricanExpress.net

for life

ISSUE

�

WE DON’T KNOW IF SHE’S FOREIGN. THERE ARE MANY ASIAN AND WHITE KENYANS TOO.

�

SHE’S OBVIOUSLY BEEN LOST FOR A WHILE. AND SHE CAN’T EVEN TELL US HER NAME.

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