Express vol7 issue5 for upload by Young African Express

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

Vol. Y7A no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

™

Vol. 7 no. 5

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

Designing the winner What comes to mind when you think of fashion design? Fashion capitals like Paris and Milan, perhaps? Faith Silantoi— the winner of the Young African Express Business Plan Competition—thinks of the place she calls home: Kajiado County.

ajiado County is the home of many Kenyan Maasais and it is through the Maasai culture that Faith first met with the world of design. “Growing up in the Maasai community, I was exposed to creativity at an early age,” says the form 4 student at Noonkopir High School. Maasai costume has always fascinated Faith, as there are Maasai outfits for almost all occasions. Since she was small, Faith has loved designing such attire, with here a bit of stitching, and there a touch of beadwork, the signature of Maasai style. Meyer By Peta

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Faith deemed her designs a hobby until 2009 when she joined high school. “I got to show my designs at the school’s

Your free poster!

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continued on page 3

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Vol. 7 no. 5

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 , Sarah Radoli, Susan Scull-Carvalho, Julia Wanjeri Graphic Designers Jessica Atieno, Samuel Gachie, Stephen Kibe, Grace King’ori, Mbula MakaaKinuthia, Katherine Mamai Artists Cyrus Gathigo, Bella Kilonzo, Katherine Moir, Emily Moir, Harrison Muriuki, Martin Ngugi, Benjamin Ondiege, Nkrumah Ondiek, Celestine Wamiru Photographs Charles Bodo, Becco Eliacik, Eric Guinther, Vilaiti Keekar, Maarten, Sarah Radoli, Dr Ray Butler, CDC, Send a Cow (www.sendacow.org), Virunga National Park (www.gorilla.cd), WildlifeDirect (wildlifedirect.org), www.sxc.hu 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

Dear Readers, This Young African Express issue will excite you to explore your dreams! On the cover and in the Meet the Boss section we’re highlighting two enterprising teams who are making their dreams come true. Their excitement is infectious!

I‛M GOING TO MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE! FIRST I MUST …

that causes a person—like Richard Turere on page 17—or a group to take action in creating change. Look for their dreams! Talk with your friends, parents and teachers too. What are their dreams and what pushes them forward? What are they doing to make their dreams come true? What’s your dream? What steps will get you closer to it? What do you hope for and why?

Setting personal goals is part of making your dreams come true. Try to think of your goals as the steps you will need to take to reach your dream. Breaking down into smaller steps what may seem like a difficult or impossible dream will actually inspire you to keep going. Hope helps us to have dreams—and achieve them.

We want to hear from you too. Text us and we’ll reply by publishing your views, advice and questions in upcoming issues. Sharing your experiences will be encouraging others to have hopes and dreams. Include your name, age, address or contact—and photo if possible!

As you read, identify the process (the series of actions or steps) that was used to solve a problem, build something or achieve a success. Look for the feeling of hope, inspiration or reason

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…

Recently the Ministry of Education directed that no tuition should take place during holidays. What do you think? Should there be holiday tuition? Boniface Mong’aya, 17. Class 8. Likes playing, watching football No. We need to relax and play so that we are ready for the next term. I usually spend time with my parents during holidays. I get to ask them other things that I need to know, about life and their experiences when they were young.

Harriet Akinyi, 13. Class 8. Likes singing, playing football We should have holiday tuition so that we expand our knowledge. At home, our peers may influence us to do bad things. If I were the headmistress I would make tuition obligatory for 2 weeks. Pupils would then balance 2 weeks at home with 2 in school.

Nelson Pingo, 15. Class 8. Likes motocross (off-road motorbike racing) No. We need to digest what we have been taught and spend time with parents. These recent holidays I visited my relatives. We shared what we learned at school with each other. Dorcas Mazune, 13. Class 7. Likes singing, reading storybooks Yes, because we need extra revision. We gain more knowledge when we come for tuition than those who stay at home. Also, there are more expenses at home than at school.

Peninah Kemunto, 12. Class 7. Likes reading storybooks, swimming I don’t think we should have holiday tuition. Boarding pupils such as me get to see their parents only during school holidays. These last holidays I helped with house chores, taught my younger siblings and got advice from my older relatives. By spending more time with my siblings I act as a role model for them. Joseph Nduati, 15. Class 7. Likes rapping, drawing No. Families need to connect and we need to know our relatives. Imagine not recognising your own cousin. In addition, there are things that we need to know outside school. We also need to just take walks with friends—it is important.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Designing the winner

“My daughter Faith came to me with a business plan she had written. She briefed me about the competition and together we came up with the final version and submitted it. Months later, we got a call informing us that ours was the winning entry! “Thank you, Young African Express, for helping our children discover and nurture their talents. Keep it up! To all the fathers out there, be in touch with what is happening in your children’s lives. Support them not only in their academic studies but in developing their talents too.”

Faith also enjoys organising functions so she was torn between careers in design or in event planning. After pondering it over, she realised that she could have her cake and eat it: organise special occasions like weddings and design clothes for the people involved.

It was then that Faith stumbled upon the Young African Express Business Plan Competition. “I had borrowed the magazine and immediately I saw the

BOARD

Bulletin

Letters Poe ms Art Stories

nce upon a time, there lived a girl called Nanjala. She was afraid of boat rides because she was afraid of water. Every time she saw a lot of water in one spot, she would scream, “Aah aah, Mum, there is a very big ocean over here.” For her birthday, her Uncle Musioka arranged a trip to Mombasa to a place called Milele Beach. She thought that it was a place where people go to play with things like slides and swings. When they arrived, she saw a beach and screamed, “Aah aah, Uncle Musioka, there is a very big ocean over here!”

The other half of the winning team: Jonathan Mwatumi, Faith Silantoi’s father.

continued from page 1 annual talent show. That made me think of making a career out of my hobby,” says Faith, who was the winner of the talent show this year.

Faith talked to her father about lending her a piece of his land to rent out for garden weddings. “My dad is always supportive. So when I told him my idea, he said that he would help me turn my idea into reality.”

Vol. 7 no. 5

EXPRESSIONS

Congratulations, Faith and Jonathan! competition, I knew that I would enter,” says the eloquent 18-year-old. She was not happy with the first business plan she wrote, so she wrote another one and another until she was satisfied. “My dad helped me revise it, then we submitted it.” Now that she has won the first prize—10 wedding gowns and a year’s subscription

to Young African Express—Faith intends to rent out the gowns to brides in her home area and use the money she makes to start her event-planning business. “Most event organisers are in the urban areas and it’s hard for the rural community to get their services. Therefore, setting up my business in our area will fill this gap.”

Nanjala’s scary boat ride wanted to go home. She cried and cried and said, “There is only one thing to cheer me up.” Uncle Musioka asked, “What is that?” “It is if you buy me an ice cream, chocolate flavoured and with strawberry chips on it.” So her uncle bought an ice cream for Nanjala. She stopped crying and swallowed the ice cream in one gulp. This is how it sounded.

It suddenly started raining and the storm became heavier and heavier. She screamed and her siblings held onto one side of the boat. They didn’t scream but they cried. A huge wave rose. All knew how to swim except Nanjala. She leaned on her uncle’s back and the wave came and smashed the boat into pieces. They swam very fast until they reached the shore.

And then she burped this way.

On another day, Nanjala’s father asked, “Shall we go for a boat ride?” All, including Nanjala’s siblings, said, “NEVER EVER, OVER OUR DEAD BODIES!”

Eeearh!

Then they laughed, “Ha, Ha, Ha!”

Her big sister said, “Nanjala, where are your manners?”

The end.

Gooah!

Her uncle said, “You didn’t mean to do that on purpose, did you?”

Ashley Wairimu Macharia 10 years old

We want to hear from you! Send us your writing, drawings, paintings and opinions and She was now forced to go on the boat ride you could see them in Young African Express! celebration. She was lifted up high in the sky Then her uncle said that this is where they Teachers, why not make it a class project? were supposed to celebrate. She said that she and put on a big boat. to them at Send n Express bi, Attention Educators: Follow the colour band at the top of each page for curriculum links a ic a N iro Afr Young 202 - 00606 Express.net Expressions: English language and literacy Our World: Civil society, social sciences and human rights Business and careers an x1 Staying Healthy: Health, hygiene and nutrition Going Green: Agroforestry, home gardens and environmental conservation PO Bo @YoungAfric info Practical Science: Maths, science and technology Critical thinking, puzzles and brainteasers email

Vol. 7 no. 5

Hairy food Did you know that your hair grows between 6 and 12 millimetres every month? And that the foundation of all of your new hair, skin, and nail growth is the nutrients you eat? Even his hair needs nutrients!

What foods promote hair growth?

Dark green vegetables

Spinach, broccoli and kale are excellent sources of vitamin A and C, which your body needs to promote sebum. This is the oily substance your hair follicles

secrete. It helps keep your hair shiny. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium. Eating oranges after eating green leafy vegetables helps your body absorb the iron in the vegetables.

Beans

Legumes like kidney beans and lentils (ndengu) should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Beans provide the protein necessary for hair growth; they also contain iron, zinc and biotin. A deficiency in biotin can result in brittle hair. Sources of

Crawling with vermin Mohamedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family has woken to a rude shock. All their sacks of cereal have holes. Cereal grains are scattered everywhere in the store. As they ponder their next move, a rat runs past. Who knows what germs the rats will have left behind?

ermin are animals and birds that harm crops and carry disease. Most rodents (small mammals like rats, mice and squirrels) are considered vermin because they are not only destructive but also pass on dangerous diseases like plague and leptospirosis. What should Mohamedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family do?

Remove sources of food

Store sacks on higher ground; erecting a wooden or metal platform prevents rodents from reaching cereals. If you store food in a granary, use poles to raise it some metres above the ground then place rat guards (metal collars fitted around the poles) to prevent rats from climbing up the poles.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

staying healthy

In the kitchen, mouse and rat favourites like beans, sugar, pasta, rice and nuts should be stored high up. Use glass or metal containers, not plastic. Rodents can chew through even hard plastic.

Seal holes

Rats can squeeze through holes only a few millimetres in diameter. They chew through practically anything, like wood or cardboard, so seal door and wall openings with cement, sheet metal, or metal screen.

Deal with rubbish properly

Rats love rubbish! Keep rubbish in closed bins. Do not put meat and fat in compost heaps. If you have pets in

Government of Kenya

biotin include whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk.

Nuts and seafood

Nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that help maintain your hair. Nuts are also rich in zinc. Zinc deficiency can lead to shedding hair, so make sure you include nuts in your diet. Fish are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Poultry and eggs

Chicken and turkey meat have high protein content that will give you good hair. Eggs contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are necessary for hair growth. Low-quality protein can lead to you having brittle hair that breaks easily, while lack of protein in the diet can cause loss of hair colour.

Carrots

Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision. A healthy scalp is essential for shiny, wellconditioned hair. Include carrots in your salad.

In the past, plague kille d many millions in waves of epidemics. During the last great pan demic, scientists realised that fleas from infected rats could carr y plague. Rats living on steamships spread it worldwi de and 10 million people died. Nowadays, plague can be controlle d by proper hyg iene and insecticides , and cure d with antibiotics.

your compound, remove their food bowls after they eat.

Keep a cat

A cat will help control rats by either scaring or eating them.

Trap the rats

Place a rat trap in the places you know rats visit, such as where there is food. Put bait, like meat, in the trap.

Disinfect

Disinfect and clean places with animal and nest droppings to prevent diseases spread in rodent urine and droppings.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

TB ina tiba!* Tamaica has had a persistent cough for the past 2 months. She has fevers, with sweating at night. Her parents are worried. They take her to the paediatrician (children’s doctor) for a thorough check-up of her chest. After examining Tamaica the doctor recommends that she undergoes a test to determine whether she has tuberculosis.

• Someone with TB symptoms. • Someone with HIV or AIDS; they have a high chance of having TB because their immune system is weak. • People who live in crowded conditions, like those living in refugee camps, nursing homes, schools, or correctional facilities. • Healthcare workers and others whose occupations bring them in close contact with those having active TB. • People injecting illegal drugs. • People sharing musical instruments like the horn.

TB is airborne and passed through respiratory secretions when a person speaks, yawns, sings, spits, coughs or sneezes. The air is filled with droplets containing the bacteria. Inhaling these infected droplets is the usual way a person gets TB.

• moodiness or irritability

• loss of appetite and weight • fatigue

• sweating at night

• laboured breathing

• in severe cases coughing blood

Treatment

Active tuberculosis is treated with antibiotics—at least 2 different ones and typically several—for between 6 and 18 months. It is very important to finish the treatment. If the bacteria are not wiped out, drug-resistant tuberculosis may develop—it is too strong to be killed by any drugs.

There are several ways to check for tuberculosis.

Skin test—a tiny amount of inactive TB bacteria is injected into the skin. If the result is positive, the skin becomes raised and red. Sputum test—the phlegm that you cough up is examined under a microscope to check for TB bacteria.

person with TB coughs or sneezes, spraying droplets with TB bacteria into the air

• persistent coughing

• fever

• Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has an active case of TB.

Symptoms of TB

• weakness

ommonly known as “TB”, it is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly infects the lungs, although it can also affect other organs. Someone of any age can become infected.

Who should be screened for tuberculosis?

Government of Kenya

• swollen glands

What is tuberculosis?

How is TB spread?

Vol. 7 no. 5

Diseases

person nearby breathes in droplets

Biopsy—if the doctor thinks that you have TB but it’s not in your lungs or throat, the doctor will take a biopsy—the test of a small sample of tissue or fluid taken from where the TB is thought to be.

Culture test—your sputum sample is used to grow any TB bacteria that may be there. As TB germs grow slowly, it may take up to 8 weeks to get your results. Chest x-ray—this shows the

extent of damage in your lungs. Only the sputum and culture tests can prove if the damage is from TB.

A patient who has started TB treatment does not transmit tuberculosis to another person.

Having TB does not necessarily mean having HIV.

tuberculosis in lung

tuberculosis bacilli

* Swahili for “TB has a cure!”

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

hiv & you

Dear Counsellor My sister Prudence says that sometimes a person really has HIV but when they have a test it comes out negative. Why? What does the test look for? Angela, age 14 Dear Angela Prudence is right; someone can test HIV negative even though they are HIV positive if they are tested during what is called the window period.

HIV tests look for antibodies to HIV. Your immune system makes different antibodies to fight different viruses, so if HIV antibodies are found in your body, you have the virus. The most common

test is the rapid test, which gives results within 20 minutes. Your finger is pricked and a drop of blood is tested. If the results are not clear, another type of test may be done. Someone who is HIV positive has a regular blood test called a CD4 count, which measures the number of diseasefighting CD4 cells in their blood.

The window period is the time between when a person is infected with HIV and when their body develops the antibodies that indicate they are HIV positive. This is the first of 5 stages of HIV (see box). The antibodies usually take 4–8 weeks to appear but may take up to 1 year. Someone who thinks they have been infected but tests negative should repeat the test 3–6 months later.

Primary stage—when HIV antibodies develop. Most people develop flu-like signs of illness in about a week. Treatment with ARVs (antiretroviral drugs) can reduce the amount of HI virus in the blood to low levels. Asymptomatic latent stage—the

silent phase, when symptoms disappear. A few people have swollen glands but are otherwise healthy. This stage can last for many years, especially if the person takes ARVs.

Minor symptomatic stage—minor but

not serious symptoms of illness appear.

Major symptomatic stage—more serious symptoms develop, making the person sick a lot of the time. “Opportunistic diseases” take advantage of the weak immune system to attack.

Severe symptomatic stage—AIDS: develops about 18 months after the start of stage 4. The immune system gets weak and diseases and cancers arise.

vic, ol’ buddy, have you been doing things i don’t know about? oops!

you mean, did i go for an hiv test? yes, i did.

Story by Peta Meyer Art by Bella Kilonzo i would rather know my status than live in fear like you.

really? me, you won’t catch me near that place!

hey, who says i’m afraid?!

the more people go for testing, the less others will talk, because it would be normal!

… you just can’t be seen at the vct place; people will start to talk!

why not? hiv is a fact. girls won’t believe you. they’ll think you’re a player!

actually i went together with my chick … she liked the idea.

TALK ABOUT IT! of his behaviour?

then go in a group!

she says it shows how responsible i am, and that i love her enough to want to protect her.

here, you forgot your leaflet.

you keep it, man, i think you need it more than me!

why does leon have so many objections to hiv testing? what is he afraid of? what could be the consequences

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Family planning Method

Male condom: Prevents sperm from entering vagina. Most are made of latex rubber. Female condom: Made of thin, transparent soft plastic and inserted into the vagina.

Effectiveness

Requires insertion before sexual intercourse. Expensive. Condoms should be used only once, then disposed of hygienically.

Can be put in 2 hours before sexual intercourse. May help protect against STIs.

Requires initial fitting by clinician. May cause bladder infections for woman. May be hard to put in and take out. Spermicide may cause some irritation.

More than 99% with correct and consistent use.

Simple and easy to use. Less bleeding and cramping during period. Protects against ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Must be taken every day without fail. Small chance of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure. May cause weight change, moodiness, spotting, vaginal infection.

85%

Provides emergency contraception if used within 120 hours after unprotected sex. Can be purchased over the counter.

Not meant for repeated use. May cause vomiting. Must be used with care by women with heart disease, migraines or liver disease.

More than 99%

Does not interfere with sexual intercourse. Lasts 3 months. Can be used while breastfeeding.

Should not be used by women with liver disease, heart disease, breast cancer, blood prone to clotting. Irregular bleeding, amenorrhoea and weight gain may occur. May affect bone development in girls under 18.

More than 99%

Can stay in for 5 years. Can be removed any time. Pregnancy possible immediately after removal. Always in place. Does not interfere with sexual intercourse.

Periods may be irregular. Expensive. Minor surgery required to insert or remove. Should not be used by women with liver disease, heart disease, breast cancer or blood prone to clotting.

97–99%

Always in place. Does not interfere with sexual intercourse.

Increased chance of tubal infection (which may lead to sterility) Can puncture womb. May have more bleeding and cramping during period or spotting during periods.

91–97% with correct and consistent use.

Improves knowledge of reproductive system. No cost. No devices or chemicals.

Needs cooperation of the couple. Requires daily record keeping and training. Requires periods of abstinence or use of other methods. Cannot work if woman has irregular periods.

ID IC M

Emergency contraceptive pills: Taken within 5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse. Prevents ovulation and inhibits transport of the egg and/or sperm through the fallopian tubes.

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5

Injectables: Artificial hormones injected by a clinician. Stop ovaries from releasing egg each month. Thicken mucus so it’s hard for sperm to enter womb.

Implants: Tiny capsules of artificial hormones put under skin of arm by a clinician. Slowly release hormones into bloodstream and stop ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Also thicken mucus so it’s hard for sperm to enter womb. IUCD (intrauterine contraceptive device): Small device put inside the womb by a clinician. Stops sperm from joining egg or fertilised egg from implanting and growing in womb. Natural family planning: Methods to determine when woman can and cannot get pregnant (includes charting temperature, vaginal mucus, menstrual bleeding); can abstain from sex or use contraceptives during fertile time.

Disadvantages

95% with correct Immediately effective. and consistent Gives woman control. Easy use. to use with little practice. Highly protective against HIV and STIs.

P S

Pills: Made of artificial hormones. Stop ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Must be prescribed by clinician.

Advantages

Must be put on during sex. Some men say it reduces sexual feelings. Condoms should be used only once, then disposed of hygienically.

Diaphragm with 94% with correct spermicide: Small and consistent rubber cup fits inside use. vagina, over opening to womb. Used with contraceptive cream or jelly that kills sperm. START

In our last issue we discussed waiting for the best time to have children, and the importance of family planning. Here is a guide to contraceptives— keep it for future use.

97% with correct Easy to buy, use and and consistent carry. Immediately use. effective. Highly protective against HIV and other STIs.

R E

Vol. 7 no. 5

Reproductive health

Remember, it is important to talk to your doctor before trying any of the hormonal methods of family planning. The doctor will perform a medical exam and advise you on the best method for you to use to avoid complications.

Vol. 7 no. 5

Respiration is the act of breathing: inhaling (inspiration), and exhaling (expiration). The respiratory system is made up of organs involved in the transfer of gases in and out of the body. It consists of nose, mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi and lungs. Your lungs also play an important role in the circulatory system. Let’s learn about the important role the lungs play in respiration.

he lungs are a pair of coneshaped organs made up of pinkish-grey tissue. They take up most of the space in the chest or the thorax (the part of the body between the base of the neck and the diaphragm). The lungs expel mostly carbon dioxide. You inhale air through your nose or mouth and the air travels down the throat through the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe). Then it goes into the lungs through tubes called the bronchi. One bronchus leads to the right lung and one to the left lung. In the lungs, the bronchi split into smaller bronchi and then into even smaller tubes called bronchioles. The bronchioles end in tiny balloonlike air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are surrounded by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Oxygen from the inhaled air passes through the alveoli walls and into the blood. Your body cells need oxygen to live and carry out their normal functions. When you breathe, your lungs expand, taking in oxygen and contract, getting rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product from the cells. For your lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open and free from swelling and abnormal amounts of mucus. Your right lung is bigger than your left. It has 3 lobes, while your left lung has only 2 so that there is space for your heart.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

bodyworks

capillaries nose mouth pharynx larynx trachea

superior lobe bronchi bronchioles main-bronchi (right and left)

superior lobe

middle lobe inferior lobe

inferior lobe

diaphragm

The respiratory sy

You breathe about 12 to 20 times per minute.

alveoli

stem

Thinking of lighting up? Think again! Smoking cigarettes harms your health in many ways, such as damage to your lungs. Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals, including at least 50 substances that cause cancer, like nicotine. Lung cancer is the most common fatal cancer. carbon monoxide exhaust fumes

acetone nail polish remover

ammonia cleaning products

Mucus in the trachea and bronchial tubes traps dust and germs. Tiny hairs called cilia line your nose and upper airways. As you breathe, they wave back and forth and sweep the dirt-holding mucus out of your airways, making you cough. chemicals found in cigarette smoke irritate the trachea and bronchi. Smokers constantly get bronchial infections. • Destroys alveoli, causing shortness of breath and emphysema. • Increases mucus, causing “smoker’s cough”, • Paralyses cilia, allowing tar to build up in your lungs. Habitual smoking kills the cilia.

butane lighter fluid cadmium batteries toluene paint thinners

arsenic rat poison

benzene petrol

Some of the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke

Smoking also • Stunts the growth of lungs— teenage smokers’ lungs will be smaller and weaker than those of their non-smoking friends • Causes wheezing and worsens asthma attacks—some of the

healthy lung

smoker’s lung

That may be enough to stop you smoking but keep away from smokers as well—breathing in the smoke from their cigarette and the smoke they breathe out is dangerous too!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

By Peta Meyer and Benjah Ondiege

OO S

THERE‛S SO MUCH TO DO, I CAN‛T FINISH IT TODAY.

TSK! SOLO, WHY AREN‛T YOU WORKING? HAVE YOU FINISHED ALREADY? BRO, YOU‛RE A PROCRASTINATOR CUBED!

Vol. 7 no. 5

Living right

“PROCRASTINATE” MEANS TO KEEP PUTTING THINGS OFF TILL LATER.

PRO-CRAS… ATI? WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?

I’m lonely … not!

I‛LL DO IT TOMORROW.

IT‛S A HABIT THAT WASTES TIME. IN THE END YOU FEEL BAD BECAUSE YOU GET NOTHING DONE!

ou and your family have moved to a new neighbourhood, and you’ve just been to a new school. You have no friends at home and almost none at school either. As you settle in, you realise that you feel really lonely. We all feel lonely at some point in our lives. The important thing is how we handle the loneliness. What can you do?

OH!! … BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO OVERCOME IT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR HOMEWORK SEEMS TOO MUCH TO TACKLE, BREAK IT DOWN INTO SMALL TASKS AND DO THEM ONE BY ONE.

YOU MEAN LIKE I COULD REVISE 1 PAGE AT A TIME…? YOU GOT IT!

AND AS YOU FINISH EACH TASK, THE SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT WILL GIVE MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE TACKLING THE NEXT! I THINK I CAN HANDLE THAT… THANKS, GUYS!

Join a class or club It can be an exercise class, an art class or a book club. You will meet people who share at least one of your interests. It can also provide a sense of belonging that comes with being part of a group. This can stimulate creativity, give you something to look forward to and help you feel less lonely. Volunteer Volunteering for a cause you believe in provides the same benefits: meetingothers, being part of a group, creating new experiences; it can also help you findmore meaning in life. Working with others who have less can help you feel a deeper sense of gratitude for what you have in your life.

Honesty in exams

End-of-year exams are stressful, especially for pupils writing their final primary school exams. They need good results to get into good high schools.

Pressure to do well tempts some children to cheat. If they are found out, both they and their school get a reputation for dishonesty.

Prepare as well as possible for your exams. Revise diligently but do not skip sleep or meals to study. A tired, hungry student cannot concentrate or remember facts during an exam.

Make every test a personal challenge. Each time you use your own knowledge and skill to pass an exam honestly, you will build your self-esteem. Good luck to all our readers!

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Human rights

hen Antonina’s husband died a few months ago, her inlaws came around, claiming all the property that she and her husband had acquired in the 10 years they had been married. Someone also took the land title deed that was in her name, claiming that there was no way a woman was going to inherit land.

A visit to the chief’s office gave her hope. The chief told her that the law was on her side. According to the new Constitution, she has a right to inherit land, whether from her father or her dead husband, as well as own it. The Kenyan Constitution classifies land as public, private or community. Public land Public land, as the name suggests, is owned by the public (the citizens of a country). This is land used to benefit the citizens. Public land includes places like road reserves and wetlands. Uhuru Park is also public land. Remember how the late Professor Wangari Maathai fought to keep it from being grabbed by a private developer? Community land Community land refers to land owned by an ethnic community; for example the Ogiek living in the Mau Forest in Rift Valley who use the forest as

grazing land, or the Kaya people of the Kaya forest at the Kenyan coast who use the forest as community land. They have social rules on how to use and protect the land. In South Africa, the Khoisan hunter-gatherer communities in the Kalahari Desert, ‘own’ the desert and use it to hunt and gather food.

Private land Private land is owned by an individual or by a group of people for a private purpose; for example, friends may buy a piece of land. The land is their private property. In our story today, what Antonina’s in-laws want to take from her is her private land.

According to chapter 5 of the Constitution, Antonina has a right to equal access to land. The law also protects her from gender discrimination in law, customs and practices related to land ownership. Antonina can get help from the chief to claim her land back, or go to a legal aid service such as FIDA.

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

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YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 5

e, child abus e, rap

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Vol. 7 no. 5

our world

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

n our last issue, Teacher Lima tackled one of the main duties of a citizen: voting for good leaders. However, it is not enough to just vote and remain passive till the next general elections. As a voter, you have the duty to: • Hold your leaders accountable. You need to demand transparency from your leaders, ensure that they are delivering on their election promises, and that they are not abusing their offices by engaging in things like corruption, tribalism or nepotism. • Stay informed. You should be aware of what is happening in your community so that you are in a position to voice your opinion on issues. • Participate in day-to-day activities in your school or community like clean-ups, security meetings and fundraisers, as these activities help improve the welfare of your community.

• Respect authority and the country’s cultural heritage, like national heroes.

• Put the good of your fellow citizens before selfish interests. Your actions should not harm others. Therefore, you should not pollute the environment or indulge in other antisocial activities.

• Help public officials in their duty by, for example, alerting the police as to the whereabouts of a suspected criminal or serving as a witness in court when called upon.

• Obey the law, be it school rules or the laws of the country.

• Work. As a child, it’s your duty to work hard in school so that you are

able to fend for yourself when you grow up and thus not become a burden to the government or your fellow citizens. • Pay taxes willingly, honestly and in time. Tax money is what the government uses to provide basic facilities like water, good roads and electricity.

Road signs and markings

part 4: Where are we going? Guidance signs Over the last few issues we’ve learned about the different kinds of road signs. There is another way in which messages are given to road users—markings on the roads themselves. 1. Solid white or yellow line. Vehicles must stay in their lane. 2. Broken white line. Vehicles may cross the line if it is safe to do so.

3. Double white lines, one broken, one solid. Vehicles may cross lane if the broken line is on their side of the road. 4. Stop line. Vehicles approaching a junction must stop at the white line.

5. Yield line. Vehicles must give way to traffic coming from the right on the main road. 6. Zebra crossing. Traffic must give way to pedestrians crossing at this point.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 5

ISFM competition

Primary & Secondary Schools

Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! Schools Campaign

m p ro ve d

Poster & Community Awareness Competition GREAT PRIZES!

1 i se e ds ra 2 mfeinrteilisle r 3 foerrgtailnisice r 4 pgroaocdt ice s

Scho ols—make a display of your stu dents’ posters where your com munity can see them. These can be posters entere d for the compet ition or amen de d versions follow ing fee dback fro m the judges. New material is also welco me d.

• BEST student wins a laptop ing Starter Kits • TOP 3 posters win Smart Farm Amiran Smart Farming Kit an • BEST scho ol Campaign wins can Express subscriptions! • ALL winners receive Young Afri

Competition Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! Poster

g improve d

by usin how to become a Smart Farmer Stu dents—create a poster to explain ter together. See pages 14 & 15 for an right fertiliser and organic mat see d, the explanation of smart farming.

NNER! ENTER and you could be the WI

ENTER NOW!

Farming poster Tips for making a GREAT Smart think about the poster’s purpose. 1. Choose your audience—and methods them to take up Smart Farming a) Attract farmers and get rt Farmers! get them to want to beco me Sma b) Attract young people and nsion workers or farmers to lk with local agri-dealers and exte 2. Research local adaptation—ta . in your area get infor mation useful to farmers message clear and easy for and short sentences. Make your 3. Language—use simple words r. mbe rstan d and reme farmers or young people to unde words, facts and figures, st in and use ISFM methods—use 4. Convince your audience to inve the benefit. images and slogans to clearly show al and easy-to-follow strong use of colo ur—plus a logic 5. Be creative! Goo d design and n. ratio r adverts and posters for inspi layo ut—works best. Look at othe arisons—e.g, crops grown s”—use draw ings to show clear comp 6. Pictures “say a thousand word out. and with organic matter and with with improved seed and without, story in Chapta 34 of ing out for the Malkia’s smart farm For more tips & creative ideas look Shujaaz magazine coming soon!

HOW TO ENTER

uire d contact to of it. Sen d the photo with req Create your poster and take a pho /or email contacts and ne pho and address PLUS the cell e nam ol scho e, nam r you ils— deta for a teacher in your scho ol. the internet. Go to the Smart can take photos and connect to By mobile phone—use a phone that instructions. Farming Facebook page and follow contact infor mation to: o (or scanned image) and send with Or by email—attach digital phot s.net SmartFarming@youngafricanexpres on to: poster and the contact infor mati Or by post—post a photo of your ess Expr an Young Afric Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! PO Box 1202 – 00606, Nairobi we cannot return it to you. —but you should keep a copy as You can send orig inal art work

COMPETITION TIMELINES

2013 Closing date: Friday 15 February 2013 Winners announced: 15 March

Prize giving: 3 & 4 April 2013 most Special prize for the school that for ort supp its with es impresses the judg . tion peti com the in participation

WHAT TO ENTER

Send us your Thumbs Up for Smart Far ming! Camp aign Report—full informati on pro vided on reg istration .

COMPETITION TIMELI NES Competition registration deadline: 15 February 2013. Send the head teacher’ s name, school name and addres s via SMS to 0722 667747. We will then send you all the information you need. Campaign duration: 1 March 2013 to en d May 2013

Closing date: Submit entries on or before Monday 15 July 2013, when the competition closes . Winners anno unce d: 12 September 2013 Prize giving: 19 September 2013

Check out the Smart Far ming Facebook page

What are yo u waiting for ? Any questions? Send an SMS to 0722 667747 an d we will reply.

The Africa Soil Health Consortium (ASHC) helps partners to produce information and materials to encourage smart farming. ASHC is coordinated by CABI, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

smart farming

Smart farming could be a great moneymaking opportunity …

s our population grows so does our need for food. Many young people don’t think farming is for them. But by applying a bit of science and business skills, modern farmers are turning farms into businesses. These smart farmers are learning how feeding the soil can feed and clothe them—and put cash in their pockets and bank accounts! Smart farmers are learning about ISFM methods and using them to benefit from bigger harvests. They know poor soil is a major problem. In many places the soil is not fertile enough for healthy plants to grow.

1 2 3 4

i m p ro ve d se e ds m i ne ra l fe rt i lise r o rg a n ic fe rt i lis er goo d prac t ic e s

ISFM stands for Integrated Soil Fertility Management. Good soil is needed for good harvests, but we also need to plant good seeds in that fertile soil, and manage the growing of crops. “Integrated” means using a combination

Improved seeds for different crops are being developed around the world. That includes seeds for nutritious traditional African vegetables. How are these seeds better than old varieties?

• The crop can be drought resistant— important when rainfall is unreliable

• The crop yield can be bigger— getting more from the same piece of land • The improved varieties respond better to fertilisers

• The crop can be resistant to diseases or pests, so fewer plants

ISFM makes farming a business by increasing yields up to 5 times! Using this Local seed Local seed + fertiliser Improved seed Improved seed + fertiliser + compost

Improved seeds

• The crop can mature faster and be harvested sooner

of different practices or methods. So, to improve crop yields or harvests, smart farmers are practicing these four methods. Here’s why:

Quality soybean seeds

die and the need to use pesticide is less The seed varieties a smart farmer chooses suits local conditions, tastes, the local market demand (since there is no point growing a variety that no one wants to buy)—and the farmer’s pockets. However good the seed is, it needs to be planted in fertile soil to grow well.

produces this much maize

= = = =

2.5 bags/ acre or nothing 4.4 bags/ acre 6.6 bags/ acre

11 bags/ acre

Mineral fertiliser

Plants use nutrients from the soil to grow. If the nutrients are not added to the soil, the next crops will be less healthy and the harvest will be small. It is important to add nutrients from fertilisers and organic inputs to the current crop(s) too. Smart farmers always make sure they’re feeding their soil correctly—because this gives them better harvests! Mineral fertilisers add important nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the soil but they can be too expensive. Mineral fertilisers may “burn” plants if used wrongly and they

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Organic fertiliser

Fertiliser works better when organic inputs—such as stover, compost and manure from cows and chickens—are also added to the soil. This improves the water, air and nutrient content of the soil and it supports beneficial organisms like worms. As the organic inputs rot, they release nutrients into the soil. Stover and other crop residues can be used as mulch to cover the soil between crops. Legumes—plants with pods, like cowpeas, soybeans and beans—are a cheap alternative to fertiliser because they fix nitrogen in the soil. When left in the soil, this nitrogen is helpful to other crops. Legume crops help the soil and other crops. The legumes must be planted at the right time (before another crop, in rotation) or planted between other crops, in intercropping. These are good farming practices—see point 4.

Use good agricultural practices Together with improved seeds and healthy soil, smart farmers follow good farming methods.

• Apply fertilisers and organic inputs correctly and at the right time.

• Plant and harvest crops at the right times and treat crops for pests and diseases.

• Space crop plants as recommended for that crop. Planting in rows makes it easier to weed and control pests and diseases.

• Rotate crops—legume and nonlegume crops are grown separately. After a legume crop has been harvested, legume stover can be left in the field to make the soil more fertile and a non-legume crop (like maize and cassava) can be planted on the same field. Rotating non-legumes with legumes helps keep the soil fertile. Different soil pests and diseases attack different crops so rotating crops also controls pests and diseases.

• Make sure crops get enough water by planting at the beginning of the rainy season, using mulch or cover crops to reduce evaporation and runoff, and harvesting rainwater.

A bottletop can be used to measure the correct amount of fertiliser

water and air. Weed frequently when crop plants are young. Remove them before applying fertiliser to a growing crop. Mulch and cover crops make it harder for weeds to grow.

• Control pests and diseases. Diseaseresistant, improved seeds reduce the need for chemical sprays. Crop rotation also reduces attacks by pests and diseases. • Store harvested crops correctly so that they stay clean and dry. They will store longer and fetch better prices because of their quality.

Adapt to local conditions

Smart farmers know every farm is different due to climate, the soil and the distance to market. Smart farmers also know how much money they have and what inputs they can get or afford. Smart farmers choose seed varieties that suit the local conditions. Above all, smart farmers know the crop should not cost more to grow than it can be sold for! Smart farmers plan to make a profit, and may need to try different methods and crops to find which works best for them. Become a smart farmer—and your farming business will make money!

• Use terraces and other methods to reduce soil erosion. • Control weeds so they do not compete with crops for nutrients,

Yields—the amounts of a crop harvested Inputs—the things (like money, materials, work) put into a farm in order to produce a crop

leach out of poor soil to pollute rivers and lakes. A combination of mineral fertiliser and organic inputs (organic matter added to the soil) will help keep soil fertile.

Good practices

• Intercrop—a crop that needs nitrogen, like maize, is best grown next to a legume, like cowpeas, that supplies the nitrogen. With intercropping, space between crops is not wasted. When a crop like maize is intercropped with legumes, the legumes act as cover crops, protecting the soil and reducing weeds.

Cassava intercropped with legumes

Vol. 7 no. 5

better harvests

Stover—dried stalks and leaves left after harvesting

Crop residues—plant matter left after harvesting

A farmer weeds his maize

Read Young African Express numbers 1–4, 2012, for more information on soil, compost, mulch and cover crops.

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

ecosystems

Frenemies*... are they?

What would you do if one morning, you wake up to take the sheep to graze—only to find a leopard has killed all 10? As you walk through the shamba, you notice that monkeys have eaten the maize you were about to harvest. A report comes from the next village that your neighbours have killed an elephant that destroyed a cassava plantation. A gorilla raids maize on a farm bordering Virunga National Park in DR Congo ... is there a solution?

nimal–human conflict happens around the world, whether in the USA, South Africa, Malaysia, Colombia or here in Kenya. These conflicts lead to the loss of human life, livestock, property and crops, and sometimes more animal and human life when people kill the “offending” animals, usually to prevent future attacks. Every day, wildlife and people come into conflict because of shrinking living space and diminishing food supplies. As our population keeps increasing, there is a need to expand living space as well as search for more food sources, which includes hunting wild animals for food and clearing bush and forests for farming. Most attacks by elephants on people occur when the humans are guarding their crops at night. Death and serious injuries are also common when people accidentally come into contact with dangerous animals that are injured or on paths near water holes at night.

In what ways can farmers and governments reduce these conflicts?

As their living space shrinks, lions may start killing livestock.

Around Kibale National Park, Uganda, chimpanzees raid crops such as maize, bananas and sugarcane. Farmers surrounding the park use traps and even poison to kill the chimps. Mountain gorillas have lost both their natural habitat and their fear of humans because of gorillabased tourism and the settlement of humans in their habitat. Both gorillas and chimpanzees have been known to attack and injure humans. *Frenemy–enemy disguised as a friend or someone who’s both a friend and a rival.

The World Wide Fund for Nature has joined several other organisations around the world in an effort to provide lasting solutions for the animal-human conflict.

For example, •

In Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia, farmers have been encouraged to grow chillies and tobacco around their farms and to place beehives around their crops to keep away elephants.

•

Early warning systems have been installed such as manned watchtowers and observers with whistles stationed in farm fields in Kenya, India and Mozambique.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

By Clare Barasa and Benjamin Ondiege

Vol. 7 no. 5

ecosystems

IT‛S THE LONG HOLIDAYS. SHARON AND MARTHA WANT TO SET UP A GREENHOUSE ... BUT THERE‛S NO SPACE IN THE CITY! HOW CAN WE DO IT, MARTHA?

TRY A SACK GARDEN. IT TAKES UP HARDLY ANY SPACE! YOU FILL A SACK WITH SOIL AND GROW VEGETABLES IN HOLES AROUND THE SIDES.

HI, GIRLS! WHAT ARE YOU 2 BROODING ABOUT?

IT‛S NOT FAIR— IF WE LIVED IN THE COUNTRY WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE SHAMBA.

WE WANT TO DO A GREENHOUSE PROJECT BUT THERE‛S NO SPACE. WHAT SHALL WE DO? THE NJUGUNAS HAVE A SACK GARDEN. LET‛S VISIT MRS NJUGUNA —SHE‛LL SHOW YOU.

AT THE NJUGUNA HOUSE …

WE HAVE 3 SACKS RIGHT HERE. TAKE A LOOK. THERE‛S KALE! THAT‛S WHAT WE WANT TO GROW.

MRS NJUGUNA, I‛VE BROUGHT THESE GIRLS TO SEE YOUR SACK GARDEN.

WELCOME!

SEE HOW I‛VE PLANTED TOMATO PLANTS ON TOP? THEY‛RE TOO HEAVY TO GROW ON THE SIDES.

WOW! THAT SEEMS STRANGE. HOW DOES IT WORK? WE‛RE GROWING SO MUCH FOOD WE HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT AND EXTRA TO SELL.

THIS IS EXCITING! LET‛S GET TO WORK, SHARON.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SACK GARDENS ON PAGE 18!

• In Malaysia and Nepal, degraded biological corridors that migrating animals use are being restored to ensure that when elephants are travelling, they do not go through human settlements. • Alternative livelihoods are being promoted that involve animal and crop husbandry that do not interfere with the habitats of the wild animals. • Insurance or compensation schemes are being provided for farmers whose livestock or crops or both have been destroyed by wild animals.

•

Information is being provided and solutions distributed for ways farmers can reduce conflict, such as electric fencing.

A young man with a clever plan

Richard Turere was a boy with a problem—every month, his family lost sheep, goats and cows to lions. They came from Nairobi National Park, alongside his home in Embakasi, to raid homesteads at night. Being a bright 11-year-old, Richard noticed that the lions stayed away from bomas where guards were patrolling with flashlights. Using old torch bulbs, some wires and a car battery, he invented a system of lights placed around the boma that flash at different times. In the 2 years since Richard set

• Trees have been replanted to restore degraded forests in wildlife sanctuaries in order to provide more living space and additional food supplies for the wild animals.

Richard Turere with one

of his lights.

up his system, the lions have kept away from the Turere homestead. Environmental organisations looking for ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict are now developing Richard’s cheap and effective “lion lights” for use by other livestock owners. Richard is now 13 and his brilliance has earned him a full scholarship to one of Nairobi’s top schools. Go, Richard!

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

home gardens

A garden in a sack C

What you need

• Old plastic or woven burlap sack (like a maize bag) • Soil mixed with compost or manure • Small rocks or stones • A tin with top and bottom removed. The tin diameter should be about a quarter of the sack diameter • Knife or sharp stick for making holes

A. Preparing the sack 1 Roll down the sides of the sack until it is as tall as the tin. 2 Put the tin in the centre of the sack and fill it with stones. 3 Fill in the area around the tin with soil. 4 Gently pull out the tin, leaving the stones behind. Put the tin on top of the stones and roll the sides of the sack up to tin level. 5 Repeat steps 2–4 until the bag is filled. You will have a core of stones surrounded by soil.

1 Cut small holes in the sides of the sack at an even distance apart.

3 Plant seedlings or seeds in the top of the sack. Seeds cannot be planted in the holes.

2 Carefully insert seedlings into the holes. sy Send a Co

People in crowded parts of Nairobi and Kigali, and in refugee camps, have been improving their nutrition by growing plants in sacks. What is more, they use water efficiently so you can grow vegetables in arid areas, and if you have to move, your garden can move with you.

B. Planting

Photo cour te

ity dwellers usually have to buy their vegetables as they have no space to grow their own. However, it is possible to garden in the city—try a sack garden!

4 Water daily from the top of the sack. The water will trickle down through the stones. You can use kitchen or bath wastewater.

How far apart should the holes be? Spacing of the holes depends on the spacing recommended for what you are planting. Make holes 15 cm apart for spinach, for example, and 20 cm apart for kale. What can I plant? Compact or

Why the stones? The stones act as a watering channel—water poured into the top of the sack filters down through the stones without flooding the plants.

A mini sack garden

light plants like kale, spinach, onions, amaranth, cabbages and herbs can be planted in the sides. Taller plants like tomatoes or peppers, and tubers like potatoes, which need more lateral space, should be planted in the top.

For a new planting season

1. Remove soil and stones from the sack. 2. Separate stones and old roots from the soil. 3. Add more compost or manure to the soil. 4. Refill the sack with the soil mix and stones as before and plant a new crop.

You can make even smaller containers using plastic shopping bags.

10 cm

Fill a bag with the soil and compost mixture, tie it closed and lay it on its side.

Cut a few small slits in the side of the bag near the bottom. Cut 10 cm hole and plant seeds or seedlings in the hole.

Put the bag in a sunny place and water regularly.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

agroforestry

Vol. 7 no. 5

Plant invaders

ome species are purposely introduced because people believe that they will benefit the new place or the people there. Many do—plants like maize, wheat, potato and rice are now staple foods all over the world. Unfortunately, good intentions may still cause damage. Some exotic species become a problem, spreading easily because they have no natural enemies to control their numbers or because people in the new place do not know how to manage them.

When a useful plant becomes a pest

Vilaiti Keekar cc by SA 3.0

In its native lands in Mexico and Central and South America, Prosopis juliflora—prosopis, mesquite or mathenge—is a useful multipurpose tree. It provides fodder, pods edible for humans, timber and good-quality fuel, and protects and improves the soil. Bees are attracted to prosopis and so it can boost honey production. That is not all—prosopis is able to grow in poor soil and in arid conditions. Because of its value, it was introduced in dry parts of Africa, Asia and Australia.

Nutritious pods–but the hard seeds can damage goats jaws.

3.0

Unfortunately, prosopis has become a weed in many places because it grows so easily from seeds contained in animal droppings and so thickly that it crowds out indigenous plants. When prosopis was introduced, the traditional knowledge of its control did not come with it. Eric Guinther cc by SA

If you told someone you had seen a kangaroo hopping around in the African bush, they would not believe you! Kangaroos are indigenous (native) to Australia, not to our continent. Humans bring exotic (or introduced) plant and animal species to new places accidentally or on purpose.

Now prosopis or mathenge has invaded grazing land, farms and parks in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa and other countries. Native fodder plants cannot grow. The thickets are breeding places for mosquitoes. Along lakeshores, mathenge hinders people trying to collect water. Its thorns injure livestock, leaving infected sores; the hard seeds have damaged jaws in livestock and the sugary pods can cause tooth decay. How can we deal with the mathenge menace? The plants are almost impossible to remove. However, every cloud has a silver lining. New varieties with smaller thorns and less sugary pods are being introduced. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) has trained communities in Baringo, Tana and Garissa to manage and use the weed for their own benefit.

What they are doing

• Thickets are thinned and pruned and the wood used for firewood, charcoal and timber. • Prosopis charcoal is sold commercially. • The pods are milled or ground and sold as fodder. Ground pods do not damage the mouths of livestock, and ground seeds cannot grow into new plants. With similar programmes in countries like Djibouti and Ethiopia, this weed may yet become an asset!

Needle-sharp Matheng e thorns. New varieties have smaller thorns.

Other East African plant invaders that crowd out native plants Water hyacinth—covers lake surfaces, reducing water plant growth, killing fish and blocking fishing boats; breeding ground for mosquitoes Lantana—breeding ground for tsetse flies; poisonous to animals Prickly pear cactus—poisonous to wildlife; harmful thorns Black wattle—takes much water from the soil Parthenium weed (feverfew)—reduces pasture and crop growth; taints meat and milk; causes allergies in humans and animals

What communities can do

• To harvest trees for fuel or timber, cut them 10–30 cm below ground level to prevent new branches from sprouting. • Uproot seedlings from newly invaded areas. Plant crops to prevent re-invasion. • Collect and crush pods to kill seeds. Add the nutritious dried and ground pods to animal feed. • Sell charcoal, firewood, timber and items made from the wood. • Sell fresh or ground pods to feed companies. Prosopis pods should be ground before feeding to livestock.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 5

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Warm water freezes faster than cold water. Does this statement make sense?

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 5

10:15

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Vol. 7 no. 5

business competition

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

It was celebration time at Young African Express when we presented the winners of our Business Plan Competition with 15 beautiful wedding gowns and a year’s subscription to Young African Express for each winner. The winning team, Faith Silantoi and her father Jonathan Mwatuni, attended with 3 of Faith’s siblings while the Design Sisters, the runners up, were proudly accompanied by Faith Jepkoech’s and Stephanie Sion’s mothers and Dinah Akinyi’s guardian, her sister. The winners were delighted to meet gospel musician Eko Dydda, who urged them to live their dream and pursue what they are good at,

while youth enterprise expert Gideon Mandara gave them some top tips for their future enterprises. Thank you, Eko and Gideon!

f Our guest o Dydda, o k E honour, ector of and the Dir Designs, Jacaranda ll u c Susan S sent re p , o lh Carva the to certificates , m a te winning toi and Faith Silan nathan h e r d ad , J o Mwatuni. Oh! Who s aid dream s do Stephanie Sion got to n’t come true? K e n ya n g ospel artis meet her favourite te, Eko Dy dda.

nice It is always ttle to have a li n e biting wh ing tt e g you’re h it a F ! ze ri ap one Jepkoech, gn of the Desi d n a , rs Siste o t an g m u m r e h y to it n opportu e of k a c e cut th with the day … Eko f o the help . a Dydd

There’s nothing as good as being presented with your own certificate after a competition. Dinah Akinyi, one of three members of the Design Sisters, shows off her certificate.

Finally all our winners, accompanied by parents, guardians and siblings, pose for a photo with Eko Dydda and Gideon Mandara.

Mr Gideon Man dara, a friend of the Young African Express, enco uraged the winners, ur ging them to co ntinue taking up mor e challenges in life to build themselv es.

A blur of luxurious fabric as Faith Silantoi’s brother helps her select her 10 gowns.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 5

business & careers

Starting a business starts early

The Design Sisters admire one of the gowns they won

inah Akinyi, Faith Jepkoech and Stephanie Sion make up the Design Sisters—the runners-up in the Young African Express Business Plan Competition, winning 5 wedding gowns and a year’s subscription to Young African Express for each. The 3, who are form 3 students at Baraka Ontooyie Girls Secondary School, formed the group last year so that they could learn from each other and in so doing develop their skills further. “We are all fairly good artists and can draw just about anything,” says Stephanie. “We can draw wildlife, the environment, people, and even fashion designs.

We also use our talent to raise awareness on issues facing us teens like drug abuse and peer pressure by coming up with posters, which we pin on notice boards around the school.”

they meet more frequently and join the competition not as individuals but as a team. So when they came across the Young African Express Business Plan Competition, they decided to give it a try. “We wrote a business plan hoping to win,” says Dinah. And win they did!

MEE

T TH E

“We will use the wedding gowns to come up with fashion designs, which we will sell to students taking design courses in colleges. Then we will re-design the gowns and sell them to wedding shops and use the money we get to create more designs for sale.”

Good luck, Design Sisters!

Design Sisters meet every other week to draw for fun but when an artistic competition comes along, Faith Jepkoech

T hanks

Stephanie

Sion

The Young African Express is deeply grateful to the exclusive bridal shop, Harteleyn, in Waalwijk, Netherlands for donating these wedding dresses. Their website is www.harteleyn.nl. Their kindness is creating jobs and earning income for the Young African Express Business Plan winners!

Dinah Akinyi

We salute

o g e Y s Juliu

The dresses were shipped to Mombasa by the Children of Kenya Foundation and transported to our offices in Nairobi by Braeburn Schools. “Many thanks!” to all for helping to make this Business Plan Competition a success!

The champion who coached himself

n the 2012 London Olympics, Kenya sent 44 track and field athletes; 43 of them were middle and long distance runners and the 44th was 23-yearold Julius Yego, a javelin thrower. Yego went ahead to make history in the event by becoming the first Kenyan and the first East African to reach the Olympic men’s javelin final. Yego started throwing the javelin in primary school, using sticks because the school did not have the sports equipment he needed. After school, Yego wanted to pursue the sport further but couldn’t find a coach so he decided to coach himself. He acquired a javelin, watched videos of

great javelin throwers like Andreas Thorkildsen on You Tube, then applied what he had seen during training. In 2010, he got his first call-up to the Kenyan national team and headed to the African championships where he won bronze. One year later, he won gold in the All-Africa Games. He was at last able to train with elite javelin coaches during 2 months in Finland earlier this year. Though nobody took him seriously at first, Yego never gave up on his dream to succeed in javelin and today, he is the African javelin champion and is ranked ninth in the world!

Vol. 7 no. 5

business & careers

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

? t a h t s ’ t a h W ? SWOT

n she sold When she bega o. ag ar ye a a shoe business her services to ickly expanded Salama started qu s its ha e sh t bu shoes ed booming prof only children’s She has record to s. s oe nt sh wa ’s e en Sh m d wo months. 2 t rs fi e th include men’s an ng es duri do it using the after some loss . Let’s help her ss ne si bu r he assess . SWOT analysis g ere you’re doin u the areas wh yo s ow It sh e. T ov O pr SW to im where you need ds. fine and those ur business stan yo e er wh of ew vi er gives you an ov

Salama keeps up to date with the latest shoe trends.

hen you know your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), you can make the necessary changes in your business. Salama uses her records to do her analysis.

Salama’s thoughts

• The number of people venturing into the shoe business increases daily. • She should keep track of what her competitors bring into the market. • A big threat is the people who sell mitumba shoes at low prices, luring many customers. • She risks losses if her stock is delayed at the airport or at the harbour.

Strengths

• What makes her business successful? • Which shoes sell the most—children’s, women’s or men’s?

Salama’s observation

• Children’s shoes top the sales. Although her shoes are well designed and long lasting, children’s shoes wear out faster than adults, and they grow out of them so children need new shoes more often than adults. • Her prices are affordable. • Her sales people do a great job of convincing people to buy shoes because she provides good incentives.

• High rent for her stall takes up a big chunk of her profits. • She needs to increase the number of employees if she wants to expand her business to increase her profits.

Opportunities

• What new avenues could she explore? • What new trends in style could benefit her?

Salama’s thoughts

• In which months did she have heavy losses? • What was the cause? • How can she make up for her losses?

• Salama has been getting her shoes from China. She now wants to start getting men’s shoes from Italy. • She should study young people’s trends to see if she could add value to her business by stocking shoes for youth.

Salama’s observation

Threats

Weaknesses

• Salama lost money during the first 2 months while business was picking up. She increased her range of styles and reduced prices after the first 2 months.

• What methods are her competitors applying to try to remain at the top? • Where do they have an advantage over her?

Way forward

• Salama opts to rent a cheaper stall in the same area but will open a 2nd stall to cater for her expanding business. • She will bring in children’s shoes in a wider variety of styles. • She will still get shoes from China but will travel there herself to avoid delays when bringing in new stock. • She will use an Italian friend to get men’s shoes of current trend from Italy. • She is studying the market to bring in the latest styles. • She will hire one more employee when she opens her new stall.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Reading is fun

Vol. 7 no. 5

A Mingu and Sweetie adventure story By Lee Diani and Jill Ghai

the land as a playground. They could also plant their vegetables and the school could put temporary latrines there. Then the judge spoke to the children: “I have decided that you have a right to ask for a remedy in this court. Mista Big argues that the school grounds did not belong to you. But I say that your rights to education, health and sanitation, and play are involved. And the Constitution allows anyone to bring a case to court about violations of the Constitution.” The judge continued, “It will take some months to decide who has the right to the land. Meanwhile your school can use the land. I want to congratulate you on your determination to uphold our Constitution.”

Chapter 3: Mingu and Sweeetie go to court When Mista Big decided to grab their school land, he did not expect the children to fight back! First Sweetie and Mingu looked up the Constitution, then they went further...

he information officer Mingu and Sweetie saw at the court advised them to go to an NGO—Constitution and Rights Advice Group or CRAG. Here a lawyer listened to their story about the politician grabbing some of their school land. Looking thoughtful, the lawyer asked, “Who did you say had grabbed the land: Mista Big?” They nodded. “I thought so—he is in court for another land-grabbing case. He grabbed a piece of forest near the school. “Let me explain,” the lawyer continued. “We can’t bring up the school land grabbing in the case about the forest. Kenya’s forest area has been reduced from 32% to 2% mainly due to rich people grabbing it. But your case is also a strong one! We’ll need to file a new case, and we can show the court how land grabbing affects the rights of you and the other children.” The lawyer explained the different rights, including reasonable sanitation, health and education. He also told them about the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says that children have the right to play. Mingu and Sweetie felt quite encouraged.

week later the lawyer phoned Mr Mwamba at Sweetie’s school and told him the case would come before the court the very next day, so a big group of children and a few teachers attended court. The lawyer explained it was just a preliminary hearing, and she would ask for a conservatory order. “Do you know what ‘conserve’ means?” Sweetie was puzzled. “It means ‘keep something the same’. Do you want it to remain like it is now?—it’s a mess.” “No!” laughed the lawyer, “I want the judge to say the land must be kept as it was before Mista Big interfered, to stop him building before the case is decided.” They waited a long time, but at last the judge came in and everyone stood up. When everyone was seated again the lawyer began. She told the judge the whole story and talked about the effect on the children, mentioning the Constitution a lot. Then Mista Big’s lawyer stood up. Using a lot of long words, some in Latin, he mentioned what he said were “relevant cases”. In the end the judge, also a woman, said Mista Big must knock down the wall he had built and allow the school to use

You can help the lawyers! Do your research: 1. Have a look at our Constitution. Can you find any of the rights the lawyer mentioned? 2. The right of children to play is not stated in our Constitution. It is are part of an international convention. But Article 2 of our Constitution says such conventions are part of Kenyan law. What other international conventions are included in Kenyan law? 3. Land grabbing has been harmful across Kenya. Discuss land grabbing and list the short-term and longterm harmful effects it has on people, animals, the environment, the economy and peace or stability. Give examples too. 4. Thinking of what Mingu and Sweetie did to save their school land, talk about the roles and responsibilities individuals and groups of citizens have in stopping land grabbing. List short-term and long-term actions.

You can download a copy of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 at www.kenyalaw.org

Vol. 7 no. 5

Reading is fun

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

e j h ourney T Chapter 4

“I care!” I yelled back at her, “What about all the elephants that are being killed? What about my phone?” Grace snorted. “You are so stupid if you think you can do anything about it.” Blinking away furious tears, I followed her back to the road. Grace had obviously got bored with the whole affair. Even I knew that going back into the police station was futile. A boda boda motorbike stopped, and the driver asked if we wanted a lift. I was silent as Grace negotiated the price to take us to the nearest bus stop so we could go home.

The final chapter of our story by Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam When their train broke down in the middle of nowhere,the 2 friends had been overjoyed to be rescued. Then they discovered their rescuers were really ivory poachers, and the girls escaped from the gang just in time. But what will they do with their dangerous secret? Can they get anyone to listen?

ired and thirsty, Grace and I trudged for miles along the grey snake of the road before we spotted the tattered flag of a police station. The entrance was crowded; entire families seemed to be camped out on the grass, complete with wailing babies and grim-looking men. Grace strode in and pushed her way to the front of the grilled reception counter. Ignoring the resentful glares of the people whose place she had usurped in the queue, she imperiously knocked on the counter. “We need to report a crime,” she said. Grace and I were led into a small room furnished with ancient desks and chairs with broken legs.

The duty officer took down our lengthy statement about Vas and his crew of poachers. He seemed to be writing his report on the back of an old water bill. “OK, we will handle this,” he said, his belly jiggling as he stood up. “What about tracing them using the signal from my mobile phone?” I asked. “Will you be doing that now?” “Yes, we will let you know as soon as we recover it.” The policeman shooed us out of his office. Grace and I found ourselves outside squinting in the blinding sunlight. “Wait—he didn’t take down our contacts!” I rushed back into the office but paused at the open door. The duty officer had his back to me; he was tearing up our “report”, discarding the pieces into an overflowing dustbin. Hot rage bubbled up inside me. I ran outside before he spotted me. I told Grace what had happened. She just shrugged. “Who cares? We tried our best. It’s not really our problem!”

“I want to go to the Kenya Wildlife Service office,” I blurted out to the driver. “What for?” asked Grace. “You’re crazy!” “We can’t just let them get away with this. They won’t stop poaching until someone stops them.” “Well, I’m not wasting any more time on this rubbish,” said Grace. “I’m tired and I want to go home. Driver, take us to the bus stop,” she commanded. I put a restraining hand on the handles of the motorbike. “No, Grace, this is one time that I’m doing what I want to do.” I was surprised at the conviction in my voice. “I am going to do this whether you come with me or not.” Grace looked shocked; I had never dared to disagree with her before. “This is something I just have to do.” Grace sighed. “Well, I suppose if you really must.” She turned to the driver, “Let’s go to KWS.” I hid a smile as I climbed on the motorbike behind her. Was that respect I had heard in her voice? The KWS office was just a short, dusty, bumpy ride away. As we walked through the door I had no idea whether they would actually catch the poachers or if I would ever get my mobile phone back. It had been a long journey but the only thing that I was sure of was that I was doing the right thing at last.

The End

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Why

Vol. 7 no. 5

puzzles & fun

zebras

have

for n u F You

stripes?

• The latest theory is that the stripes confuse horseflies. Scientists painted a plastic “zebra” black, another one white and a 3rd one with stripes and put them in a field. Most horseflies went to the black zebra, fewer went to the white one and even fewer went to the striped one.

Zebras look rather comical in their stripy black and white suits. Why do they have such a zany hide? No one is quite sure but here are some theories: • Zebras’ stripes are like our fingerprints. No 2 zebras are alike so the stripes help them to recognise each other. • When they are clustered together in a herd, the stripes confuse predators like lions because they cannot tell where one zebra ends and another begins.

A tangram is a Chinese puzzle with 7 shapes (tans) that form a square. The pieces can be put together in different ways to make different shapes. Cut out the coloured shapes in the square and arrange them to fit the old woman‛s outline.

Don’t be grumpy if your parents can’t or won’t get you what you want. DAD

... but Do be understanding and appreciative of them.

DAD DAD

5000/-

Read page 10, issue 2, 2012 of the

D Y J L K T P M G

T E N P N O L X C

humble composed

Z J D V Z L A B O

L F H I K E J D M

H G B S C R I H P

if you are stuck!

UM B OD J A F A I O N UR B A NT S T K I F E O S E

vision tolerant

L E XU I R F U EW G I I L B P DN

fair dedicated

Munchy maths

Mario can eat 100 chocolates in half an hour, and Rachel can eat half as many in twice the length of time. How many chocolates can both children eat in 15 minutes?

fit the old woman‛s outline. coloured shapes in the square and arrange them to different ways to make different shapes. Cut out the that form a square. The pieces can be put together in A tangram is a Chinese puzzle with 7 shapes (tans)

Maths Quiz Answer: 62.5

What are 6 qualities of a good leader?

IT’S OKAY DAD. I CAN WAIT!

Tangram Answer

I CAN’T AFFORD THEM RIGHT NOW. MAYBE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY ...

IT'S NOT FAIR! I WANT THEM NOW. YOU’RE SO SELFISH!

1. First work out how many Mario can eat in 15 minutes: a. How many times does 15 go into 30? 30 ÷ 15 = 2 b. Divide the chocolates by the same amount to work out how many he can eat in 15 minutes. He can eat 100 ÷ 2 = 50 2. Then work out how many Rachel can eat in 15 minutes (she can eat 50 in 60 minutes): a. 60 ÷ 15 = 4, b. Therefore she can eat 50 ÷ 4 = 12.5 3. 50 + 12.5 = 62.5

By Harray

Vol. 7 no. 5

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Civil society

Taming that temper “I know,” says Fabrice. “I don’t know what came over me.” Are you a Fabrice? Do the tiniest of things make you angry? Do you wonder why this happens? The cause of your temper flares may be 1. Puberty

“You! Watch where you’re going!” “I’m so sorry, Fabrice. I did not mean to step on you.” “Grrr! Yeah, right!” “Calm down, guys,” says Faiz stepping in. “It is okay, Fatma,” he adds as he moves Fabrice away from Fatma. “That was an accident, you know,” Faiz whispers to Fabrice.

During puberty, your body starts to produce hormones that cause the physical changes in your body. They may also cause you to have mood swings, making you more irritable than usual. 2. Stress People tend to get angry more easily when they are under a lot of pressure; for example, when a student is about

MARIKO, I HAVE NOT SEEN YOUR FRIEND BABU FOR 3 DAYS NOW. WHERE IS HE?

PART 1

to sit for an exam or represent their school in a big event like a drama festival. 3. Personality type Some people are more impulsive and feel their emotions more intensely than others. Therefore, they are more likely to lose their temper more frequently. Anger is a normal emotion. Everyone gets angry from time to time. However, a bad temper or uncontrolled anger can affect your relationships and even your health. Therefore, it is important that you know how to handle your anger. In the next issue, we show you how!

OH, BABU IS UNWELL. I SAW HIM YESTERDAY AFTER SCHOOL. HE HAS MALARIA.

THAT IS NOT GOOD. MALARIA KILLS. HAS HE BEEN TO A DOCTOR? IS HE TAKING ANY MEDICINE?

Story by Sarah Radoli Art by Bella Kilonzo

NONE AT ALL. HIS PARENTS SAY THEIR FAITH DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO GO TO HOSPITAL.

THAT IS RIGHT, CHILDREN. YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STOP YOU FROM GOING TO HOSPITAL.

SURE. LET‛S GO TO SEE BABU‛S PARENTS. WE SHALL TRY TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL CARE.

WAMBUA, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP BABU?

THAT‛S DANGEROUS. THE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY STATES THAT CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE.

THEY ALSO NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHILDREN‛S RIGHTS SET DOWN IN THE CONSTITUTION.*

I DON‛T KNOW. HIS PARENTS ARE SO STRICT. WATOTOMAN, COULD YOU PLEASE HELP US HELP BABU?

AND MAYBE WE CAN TELL THEM ABOUT MOSQUITO NETS TO PREVENT MALARIA TOO!

* KIDS, READ CHAPTER 4, PART 3, SECTION 53, SUBSECTION 1(C) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA!

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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