The Slum Drummers by Young African Express

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

Vol. Y7A no. 6

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Vol. 7 no. 6

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

What are you good at? Music, art, science, football? Each of us has a special talent. But not everyone gets the chance to develop that talent into a career. What then? Meet a group of former street children who took advantage of an opportunity to discover new talents and a new way to earn a living.

SDrlumumm ers

Tap! tap! tap!

The sound of hammers echoes around the workshop. On the far side, some young men weld galvanised sheets into beautiful maps of Kenya while others make shakers—a sort of rattle played in the band—from old spray cans. It is the busy headquarters of the Waithaka Slum Drummers. The Slum Drummers are a percussion band. This group of 20 former street children perform with musical instruments made from plastic bags, continued on page 3

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YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

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Vol. 7 no. 6

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, Peta Meyer, Katherine Moir , Sarah Radoli, Susan Scull-Carvalho, Julia Wanjeri Graphic Designers Jessica Atieno, Samuel Gachie, Stephen Kibe, Grace King’ori, Mbula Makaa-Kinuthia, Katherine Mamai, Stanslaus Manthi Artists Jessica Atieno, Cyrus Gathigo, Stephen Kibe Bella Kilonzo, Stanslaus Manthi, Katherine Moir, Emily Moir, Benjamin Ondiege, Nkrumah Ondiek, Celestine Wamiru Photographs Charles Bodo, Genvessel, Mark Karstad, Martin Oyoo, Pixaio, Lin Qi, Sarah Radoli, Slum Drummers, Sandie Smith, Kriss Szkurlatowski, Jandre Venter, Christine Wangari, José A. Warletta, ASCH, Business Mind magazine, ICRISAT Hope, Red Bull Stratos Project, www.bumblebakes.wordpress.com, www.irinnews.org, www.sxc.hu Contacts info@youngafricanexpress.net subscription@youngafricanexpress.net marketing@youngafricanexpress.net website: www.youngafricanexpress.net

Dear Readers,

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.

details on page 13. Wouldn’t you like to win a laptop computer? Or an Amiran Smart Farming Kit? This can earn you good money!

As we close 2012 and start 2013, we are offering you more useful content, practical skills and tips plus the Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! Competition to enter. We challenge you to learn and put this into practice. What a great way to start your New Year! Reading this Young African Express issue will get you going—but taking action to get involved is up to you. Don’t put it off. Start preparing your poster for the Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! Competition. Go ahead and enter, and you may be a lucky winner. See

Join our competition. It is a great beginning for “becoming the change you want to see”. ro ve d

1 ismepe ds 2 mfeirnteirliasle r 3 foerrgtailnic ise r 4 pg o o d rac t ic e s

Read, think, learn and do. Creating the life you dream of having begins with you. Maisha marefu! Let us hear from you and happy holidays! 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? Children from Cheryl’s Children’s Home and Learning Centre, and Moi Avenue Primary School, gave us their opinion.

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

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EXPRESSIONS

Jeff Isaac, 12. Class 7. Likes playing football No. During term, all we do is work. Even we day scholars have homework in the evenings and weekends. We go to sleep late. I get to interact with my brother, who is in high school, only during school holidays. Cynthia Aguna, 13. Class 8. Likes writing articles, playing rugby Since we candidates will have more than a month at home at the end of the year, we should have holiday tuition. We need to revise; that way there is no fear of failing exams. Moreover, our peers at home may influence us negatively.

Ali Abdullahi, 13. Class 7. Likes travelling This holiday, I went to Pirate’s Beach in Mombasa. When I came back to Nairobi, I went skating. My former school used to allow only 1 week of rest during the holidays but when tired kids get back to school they are bound to fail. Too much of anything is poisonous. Samuel Kimtai, 14. Class 7. Likes playing football, swimming I went to visit my grandparents in Eldoret and got to see how they go about planting. Mutula Kilonzo, the minister, had informed head teachers that no holiday tuition should take place. It was therefore illegal to go to school. If I were he, I would have allowed the extra tuition since it helps pupils to pass exams.

Yvonne Wangu, 13. Class 7. Likes travelling, reading story books Like my friends, I went to visit my grandparents in Murang’a. However, the visit lasted only a day. The rest of the holidays I spent playing and revising a bit. It was fun but then we cannot revise on our own. I therefore think holiday tuition should still be there. Joy Nungari, 13. Class 7. Likes swimming, travelling Yes, we should have holiday tuition. I think so because we spend time playing when at home and read more at school. We should have just 2 weeks of rest. Last holidays I played with my cousins in Naivasha.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

EXPRESSIONS

T he

SDrulmumemrs

continued from page 1

oil drums, bits of leftover piping, empty tins, and bottle tops, among other things found on rubbish dumps. They make these unique instruments themselves. The youths learned how to turn trash into music from Giovanni Lo Cascio, an Italian musician and percussionist who, in 2005, started mentoring the group as part of AMREF’s Children in Need Project. He showed them how to produce sound out of almost anything. Today the group is hired for functions and concerts, playing their unique brand of music, dancing and singing songs they have written themselves. They also sell the instruments they make to other groups who wish to form bands. They have learned to be creative, finding new talents in the process. One group member, Martin Njoroge, paints beautiful patterns on the dancers’ bodies before a performance. The metal maps of Kenya form part of the group’s background decorations. “We reach out to young people who are not privileged, with the aim of helping

Shakers and the tools used to make them

Band practice

them come out of drug addiction, alcoholism and violence. We also have a message for orphans, encouraging them to pursue their goals amidst difficulties,” says Martin, who is also secretary general of the Drummers. “We want to be role models by proving that you can discover your potential and use it positively, no matter what your background,” adds Ruth Juma. The group’s creative approach to making music has made them famous. It has led them to travel far and wide, where they have performed with and for famous people. In 2008 they travelled to Brazil. They also went to Italy for the big Umbria Jazz Festival, where they met groups from all over the world. When you watch them playing their instruments, they captivate you! Then you understand why they were invited to perform at Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the United Kingdom in 2012.

Young African Express means good business!

The young business people listen attentively ...

... And then register as YAE vendors

Jacaranda Designs went on the road with STRYDE (Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise) in October, signing up young entrepreneurs as Young African Express vendors in the Nyeri, Nyahururu and Bomet areas. STRYDE trains and mentors youth in

Elizabeth is now selling YAE in Bomet

Samuel Mwangi, STRYDE National Coordinator

setting up businesses and has chosen Young African Express as a high-quality product to sell.

Preparing for their Jubilee performance in rainy London! Some of the instruments they use • Kalimba—a sufuria with a plywood cover and metal strips • Drums made of plastic Kalimba and metal • Flutes made of plastic tubes with holes drilled in them • Tubophones—plastic pipes cut in different lengths, hit with wooden sticks to create sound (”phone” means sound) • Shakers—old spray cans filled with grains of green grams, beans or maize • Plastic bags—performers add colour to the performance by wearing them on their hands as they clap

BOARD

Bulletin

Letters P oe 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 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 Our new vendors have already been doing the rounds of schools and selling subscriptions for next year. Good luck, guys!

Vol. 7 no. 6

staying healthy

Food for life

Your body’s nutritional needs change as you move through different stages of life. The food an infant needs is different from what a teenager needs. The nutritional needs of a pregnant woman are different from those of an old man. Childhood, adolescence, adulthood and ageing all place extra demands on the body.

Infants

Breast milk supplies everything a baby needs to grow and develop for the fastgrowing first 6 months. It also lowers the risk of tummy upsets.

Toddlers (1-2 years)

The baby needs a variety of foods, such as cooked carrots and other vegetables, soft fresh fruit, pasta, white bread, yogurt, and finely chopped meat, fish and chicken.

Young children

Fruits and vegetables provide carbohydrates, are high in fibre, and have lots of vitamins and minerals. They make perfect snacks

Older adults

As we grow older, good nutrition and exercise can delay many of the problems associated with ageing. Older people need more nutrients than younger people.

Teenager nutritional needs depend on gender, age, rate of growth and amount of activity. Teens should include calcium to ensure strong bones. Calcium-rich foods include milk, yogurt, nuts, fish, beans and peas. Teenage girls need to include iron-rich foods in their diet to replace what’s lost during their periods. These foods include liver, green leafy vegetables, broccoli and beans.

Since old people may lack appetite, they are more likely to get malnourished. It is important to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. If possible, take a vitamin C tablet a day.

Teenagers

Water makes up about 60% of your body weight. You can survive only a few days without it. Therefore, drinking safe water plays an important part in our daily lives.

ed has just drawn water from a nearby stream. The water contains lots of sediment and soil particles. What can he do to make his water suitable for domestic use? Here are different ways to make water safe to drink.

Filtration strains solid particles out of the water by passing the water through porous material. A simple way of filtering is using a cloth before using other methods of purification.

Government of Kenya

Protein, found in red meat, fish, chicken, eggs, peas, beans, nuts and ndengu, provides energy and is essential for repairing and maintaining body tissues. A good intake of calcium, such as from milk, yogurt and cheese, can help prevent osteoporosis and fractures. Vitamin D is also important because it helps the body absorb calcium from food. Its best source is the sun; foods rich in this vitamin include oily fish, lean meat and dairy products.

for school-going children. Milk and dairy products are a good source of protein and calcium for growing bones and teeth.

Water or mud?

Filtration

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

The water Nairobi residents use comes from Ndakaini Dam. It undergoes purification in which substances like polyaluminium chloride and chlorine are added to the water before the last stage of filtering.

Chemical methods

Use chlorine bleach to purify water. It is quicker and safer than the boiling method. Use 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) for 1 litre of water. Chlorine destroys the microorganisms. If the water is quite dirty, filter it first before adding the chlorine.

Pasteurisation

Heating water to 65 °C (149 °F) kills all bacteria, viruses and parasites. If you do not have a thermometer let the water boil for at least 5 and up to 10 minutes.

Solar water disinfection This is also an effective disinfecting method. Pour the water into clear plastic bottles, and leave in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

Diseases

Government of Kenya

Obesity is no fun O

besity means having too much body fat. Eating more calories than you burn can lead to obesity because the body stores unused calories as fat. (A calorie measures the amount of energy contained in food.) In Africa, obesity has been viewed as a sign of social status and wealth. Being fat is associated with beauty, health and fertility. Culture has played a role in promoting obesity but nowadays we know that it is unhealthy. Obesity can be a big problem in cities, where healthy traditional foods are neglected in favour of fried and processed foods. What would you prefer for lunch: chips and cake with a soda, or rice, beans and vegetables?

Obesity is caused by

Lack of exercise: sitting and watching television, playing computer games, even studying, while neglecting physical activities.

The unhealthy results

Obese children are likely to become obese adults. They are also likely to develop some serious health problems, like type 2 diabetes.

Genetic make-up—if your family members are big bodied, you may have inherited genes that encourage fat storage.

lack of energy

stigma, bullying, teasing

high blood pressure

How do you get type 2 diabetes? Insulin is a hormone made by skin asthma infections the pancreas (read page 8) that helps your body use glucose— Type 2 early puberty sugar—from the blood for energy. diabetes When you are overweight, your body needs more insulin to process diﬃcult and bone and joint the extra blood glucose. If it cannot painful to problems produce enough insulin, the glucose exercise cannot be used by other parts of the body that need it. Childhood obesity causes many health problems

Not easy being obese

to participate in track events than an obese child. In fact, obese children often avoid sport out of embarrassment. As a result they do even less exercise. Children like Mark develop depression and low self-esteem.

People who are obese may not be able to do the things that people of normal weight can do. At times they are sidelined when it comes to relationships and outdoor activities. For example, during sports day it is easier for an average-sized child

Poor eating habits and eating more food than your body can use. High intake of food Little or no and sugary drinks The way we eat builds Child of physical activity average weight eating patterns over many years. Nyama Preventing obesity choma may be delicious but stop The best ways to deal with obesity are eating when you feel full. taking more exercise and reducing food The types of food you eat. Big intake. Exercise regularly: attend all towns offer many irresistible your physical education classes without temptations—hamburgers, chips, fail. Walking, cycling, swimming and pizza—making football all help burn off fat. it hard to stick to a Change your eating habits. For example, healthy diet. if you normally eat chips for lunch, Drinking too much alcohol.

problems sleeping

depression, anxiety, low self-esteem

Obese children are more likely to be obese adults

KR I KR PSY I PS

Mark is a depressed boy. He is too big for his class chair. A special chair had to be custom made for him because of his weight. His condition is called “obesity”.

substitute a brown bread and peanut butter sandwich for it. If your normal drink is a soda, switch to water or diluted fresh fruit juice (not the processed, sugary “juices” to which you add water).

Obese child

Obese adult

Eat meals that are well balanced and don’t skip meals. If you eat regularly at home, you are

more likely to eat fruits, vegetables and grains

less likely to snack on unhealthy foods

Researchers fro m ve New York University ha ht eig rw ove found that being ool sch er is also linked to low performance.

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

hiv & you

Dear Counsellor My elder brother, Daudi, has found he is HIV positive. My mum says HIV is not a death sentence if he takes treatment. Is that true? What should we do? Titus Dear Titus This is a tough time for Daudi but your mum is right. He can live a full life if he takes HIV treatment but he needs to have a healthy lifestyle as well. He should follow these tips. They will keep the rest of the family healthy, too!

Eat a balanced diet. It is a cycle—good nutrition helps the immune system stay strong, so people get sick less often; therefore, their appetite is better and they eat more.

Exercise regularly. Exercise improves general health and helps people to cope better with the side effects of HIV and anti-HIV drugs. Still, they should not overdo it. That leads us to the next point:

Get enough rest and sleep. The body uses a lot of energy to fight a virus like HIV and tiredness puts strain on the immune system. It can also cause depression. 3–6 years

6–12 years

12–18 years

1–3 years 0–1 years

Have regular blood tests and regular checkups at the clinic. They allow medical workers to know when to start HIV treatment, whether the treatment is working and if anything is wrong.

People with HIV need to start taking a combination of drugs when their CD4 count (the blood test that checks the strength of their immune system) goes below a certain level. The drugs are called antiretrovirals, or ARVs. Patients must take the right amount of drugs at the right times. By the way, if Daudi smokes, he should quit. Smoking is bad for anyone but smokers with HIV are more likely to get certain illnesses than non-smokers with HIV.

adult

How many hours of sleep do you need? This is a rough guide—some people need more and some need less.

Your brother is lucky to have such a supportive mother and brother. I wish him well. The Counsellor

People with HIV may get worried or depressed, especially when they are

hi jeri!

feeling sick or tired. Having company helps but they should also have someone they can talk to about their feelings.

how nice to see you again!

aww, what a sweet baby…

what a good baby!

… so that’s why you left school?! he isn’t always so peaceful! sometimes he can cry all night.

Story by Peta Meyer Art by Bella Kilonzo what’s it like being a mother?

yes, after i got pregnant i had no choice.

look, there’s jeri ...

... because i was too young, the doctor said. and there’s no time to relax, having a baby is a 24/7 job.

plus there’s all this stuff babies need.

of course! you need your education to get a good job so you can look after yourself and your baby.

(sigh!) it’s tough. there were complications at birth ...

i never thought babies were such hard work...

will you come back to school?

is the father supporting you? it’s in the new constitution.

do you think i can?

waahh!!!

excuse me. as they say, if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!

TALK ABOUT IT! what do you think angel means by her final words? what would you do if you were jeri?

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

Reproductive health

Male reproductive changes Puberty

Childhood

Puberty

Ageing

Early adulthood

Midadulthood

uring childhood, boys and girls do not go through significant changes in their bodies.

But from puberty and into adulthood, they experience different physical and emotional changes.

Boys go through puberty between ages 9 and 14. As boys grow, hormones travel through the blood and give the testes the signal to start producing testosterone and sperm. Testosterone is the hormone that causes most of the changes in a boy’s body during puberty. Sperm cells must be produced for men to reproduce. During puberty, all these new chemicals move around inside your body, turning you from a teen into an adult with adult levels of hormones.

• Faster growth • Appearance of facial hair • Broadening of shoulder muscles, development of chest muscles • Body odour (boys have to be encouraged to keep clean at all times) • Pimples on the face • Growth of pubic and underarm hair • Growth of testicles • Erections and wet dreams

• Deepening of the voice (happening in the later stages of puberty)

Early adulthood

• Sex hormones—stimulate the production of red blood cells (males have more than females) • Growth—some males continue to grow into their early 20s. Most have reached their adult height by age 21. • Continued gain in muscle mass • Continued gain in weight and addition of body fat

Mid-adulthood • • • • •

Decline in production of sex hormones Arousal occurs less easily Fewer erections Slowed rate of sperm production Enlargement of prostate gland, possibly causing slowed rate of urination

Ageing

Changes are often linked to the drop in testosterone • Gradual loss of muscle strength and joint flexibility • Weakening of bones • Thinning of hair • Shrinkage of testicles

Do-at-home workout

Even if we are slim, we need exercise and good nutrition to stay healthy. These strength-training exercises will build muscle and flexibility. Repeat an exercise 8–10 times to start with. These repetitions, or reps, of an exercise are called a set. Rest. Then do the same with the next exercise. Add more reps to your sets as you get fitter.

Chair squat

• Put a chair behind you. • Stand with feet together, hands at your sides. • Raise arms straight in front of you. • Slowly start to sit but stop before your bottom touches the chair. • Slowly straighten up until you are standing. • Repeat.

Ball press

• Hold a football against your chest with both hands, feet shoulder-width apart and knees relaxed. • Breathe out while raising the ball above your head. • Pause. • Breathing in, lower ball back to your chest. If you are under 12 you should not lift weights. This is a safe alternative.

Learn about obesity on page 5, aerobic exercise on page 9 and nutrition in this issue’s free poster.

Knees up

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. • Raise arms straight out to the sides. • Breathing out, lift right knee and touch with left elbow. • Breathe in while returning to first pose. • Switch and lift left knee to right elbow. • Repeat.

Sit back

• Sit with legs bent and arms raised in front of you. • Tighten abs and slowly lean back as far as comfortable, keeping arms straight. Do not strain your neck. • Slowly return to sitting position. • Repeat.

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

bodyworks

What do hormones do?

We know that hormones cause our bodies to change during puberty. Yet hormones are at work all through our lives. Hormones are chemical messengers that manage what cells or organs do. They control

growth, metabolism (the physical and chemical processes of the body), and sexual development and function. The hormones transfer information from one set of cells to another to coordinate body functions.

Hypothalamus This is the main link between the endocrine and nervous systems (the nervous system is the network of brain and nerves). Nerve cells in the hypothalamus control the pituitary gland. They produce hormones that tell the pituitary which hormones to make. Pituitary gland It is smaller than a pea but the pituitary is the most important part of the endocrine system. It makes hormones that control several other glands. Your emotions and the time of year influence what hormones it produces. Yes, the seasons affect your body! Air temperature, light intensity and feelings all influence the secretion of the pituitary gland. The 2 lobes of the gland produce hormones like: • growth hormone, which stimulates growth in children and plays a role in how the body uses nutrients and minerals • thyrotropin, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones • Antidiuretic hormone, which helps control the balance of water in your body. Pancreas The pancreas is linked with the digestive system because it secretes digestive enzymes, but it is also part of the endocrine system. Insulin and glucagons from the pancreas keep the level of glucose in your blood steady and help the body use glucose for energy. Ovaries in girls A girl’s ovaries produce eggs and secrete female hormones. Oestrogen is responsible for the changes that happen in girls at puberty. Oestrogen and progesterone regulate the menstrual cycle.

The network of glands that produce hormones and secrete (release) them into the bloodstream is called the endocrine sysytem. Learn about the main parts of the system below.

Pineal gland This gland produces the hormone melatonin, which controls your body’s response to night and day and affects sleep patterns. Thyroid gland The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland produces hormones that control metabolism—the rate at which cells use the food you eat to produce energy. The thyroid hormones are important because they help bone growth; they also help develop the brain and nervous system in babies and young children. Parathyroids These tiny glands produce the hormone that, with help from a thyroid hormone, regulates the level of calcium in the body so that bones grow well and stay strong.

Thymus gland The thymus secretes hormones that help the immune system to develop in babies and children. After puberty, the thymus tissue is replaced by fat. Adrenal glands These glands sit on top of your kidneys. Each has 2 parts with different functions: • The cortex produces hormones that control swelling and blood pressure and aid metabolism, the immune system, and sexual development. • Adrenalin from the medulla (the inner part) helps your body to deal with stresses like shock or fright. Testes in boys Testes produce sperm and secrete testosterone, which is responsible for the changes that happen in boys at puberty. Testosterone helps maintain the male reproductive system.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Keeping fit

! nce e o l o nto vi

... HE SENT IT TO OTHERS.

THAT’S NOT LOVE, IT IS BLACKMAIL!

WHAT SHALL I DO?!

Emotion al ab t en

violence, d ef ile

SHE SENT THE PHOTO TO HER BOYFRIEND. IT WAS MEANT TO BE PRIVATE BUT AFTER THEY BROKE UP ...

al xu Se

By Peta Meyer and Benjah Ondiege

Bullying,

If you are under 18, you should try to do 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This can be broken into small sessions of 15 minutes throughout the day. You can

How much exercise?

e, child abus e, rap

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Regular exercise makes you feel more energetic and alert. And knowing that you are looking and feeling good gives your self-confidence a boost.

e, us

Say

part from making sure that your joints and organs are in good working order, exercise helps maintain your weight at a healthy level and can protect against illness. Physical activity that makes you breathe faster is aerobic exercise—it allows your lungs to deliver the steady supply of oxygen your body needs.

Vol. 7 no. 6

Living right

What’s so bad about p o r n improve your fitness without joining a gym. Walk up stairs instead of using a lift, walk to school or to the market instead of catching the bus, run in your neighbourhood or play football with friends in your area. At home, do strength-training exercises (see page 7). Getting fit need not be done on your own. Play team sports like football, basketball or even practise a little tae kwon do. HORRIBLE! THIS POOR GIRL WAS BULLIED TO DEATH OVER A NAKED PHOTO. EVERYONE IN HER SCHOOL SAW IT. EVEN HER TEACHERS! *

NEVER, EVER SEND PHOTOS OR TEXTS LIKE THAT! IT’S TOO EASY FOR THE PERSON WHO GETS IT TO USE IT LATER TO GET BACK AT YOU.

BUT HOW?

GUESS WHAT? JAMAR ASKED ME TO SEND HIM A SEXY PHOTO OF MYSELF TO PROVE THAT I LOVE HIM!

PEOPLE LOVE FORWARDING SUCH THINGS, NEVER MINDING THE PAIN IT CAUSES. TELL HIM LOVE DOES NOT NEED TO PROVE ITSELF, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A PUBLIC WAY. BESIDES, WE’RE STILL YOUNG. NURU SAYS “TRUE LOVE WAITS”!

I’M GLAD YOU TOLD US. WE’RE YOUR FRIENDS AND WE’LL SUPPORT YOU.

IF HE LOVES YOU, HE WILL NOT PRESSURE YOU INTO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE. *This is a true story. In September 2009, 13-year-old Hope Witsell of Florida, USA, hanged herself due to repeated bullying over a leaked photo she had sent to her boyfriend. There are many other cases.

Pornography is the name for books, magazines, photos or movies designed to be sexually exciting. The pictures in your biology book may be sexually explicit but they are not designed to excite you—that is the difference.

Some people say sex is natural, and since porn is about sex, what is the harm? The trouble is that porn is only about sex, not about love or respect or all the things that make human relationships so fulfilling. Porn images often show women in victim roles, for example, enjoying being raped by a stranger. In reality no woman wants that. But porn makes us think they do, and guys who watch a lot of porn may start acting aggressively, or think all girls want sex even if they say no. They have trouble forming a normal relationship in which partners respect each other. Porn also changes how we view ourselves. It is easy to forget that normal bodies are fat or thin or pimply. Girls feel under pressure to look and behave like surgically enhanced porn stars, and guys think they must be sexual studs. In porn movies there are no regrets, no sexually transmitted diseases, no unwanted pregnancies. Nobody uses condoms. All sex and no consequences—dangerous or what?! The bottom line is that porn influences attitudes and behaviour in a harmful way. Call these hotlines if you or a friend needs help giving it up. • Childline Kenya 116 d violence) 1195 • Antirape (gen der base ne Hotline 0800 221 1121 • Liverpool VCT One-2-O nda 0800 111 333 Uga dren Chil • Action for or 0800 111 222 152 243 • ANPPCAN-Tanzania (51)

Vol. 7 no. 6

Human rights

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

big part of democracy is having free and fair elections regularly. However, the point is not to just vote but to vote for leaders who meet the qualities of a good leader (see vol. 1 no. 2, 2012). A group of Kenyan artists who care about leadership are using art to urge Kenyans to vote in good leaders in the forthcoming general election. They paint murals to deliver their message. These pictures show part of the mural they did on Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi’s city centre.

1. What do you see in the pictures? 2. What is happening in the pictures? 3. What is the main focus of the mural and why do you think the artist decided to focus on it? 4. What is the name of the bird in the top picture and why did the artist use this particular bird? 5. Can you identify the famous building behind the bird? 6. What is the artist trying to communicate through this mural?

DO THE

RIGHT

Donkeys enjoy working if they are treated kindly. Don’t whip a donkey to force it to work. If it is not working well, it may be sick or tired. After 4 hours of work, the donkey should get 1 hour’s rest.

THING

Donkeys faithfully carry loads for us but they are often mistreated.

Use a good harness when your donkey is pulling a cart. Ropes or yokes around its neck will hurt and cause sores. Use pads to protect the donkey’s hide when it is carrying a load on its back.

Check your donkey’s hooves once a day for injuries and remove sticks, stones and other bits of dirt. Regular care avoids lameness. Oil its hooves once or twice a week to avoid cracking.

Kindness to animals

Donkeys are tough animals but they need decent shelter. Build a stable for your donkey to protect it from the hot sun and the rain—heat and wet can make it ill. Donkeys must always have water available.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

our world

Vol. 7 no. 6

How do governments make their money? 20

200

Use the footbridge The new Thika Highway has reduced traffic jams between Thika and Nairobi. Sadly, the number of pedestrians killed on the road has increased. 0

NE S

200

The money the government uses is referred to as revenue. This is the income that government makes from the taxes that its citizens pay for different kinds of services and products.

Crossing a highway on foot is dangerousâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;cars travel fast and with 6 or 8 lanes, you will have far more cars coming at you at one time.

Where does the government get its money? Pay your taxes here

Tax revenue

The government sets a tax policy. People pay their taxes and government has money.

Fines and penalties You were caught by the police in a matatu and did not have your seat belt on. So you go to court and answer the charge of not obeying the traffic rules. The judge asks you to pay a fine, which will set you free. Perhaps your aunt was caught operating a food kiosk without a licence to do so. The city council askaris arrest her and she has to pay a penalty for failing to have a licence for her business. The money both you and your aunt pay goes to the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account.

Fees The government can charge fees for services. You move into a new neighbourhood and you have no

electricity. You call the power company to come connect you to a power source. The power bill that you get at the end of the month indicates the amount of power you used and the fee you have to pay. The government is the only institution that can provide you with electricity, so you pay for that service.

Borrowing Sometimes the government gets loans from other governments and promises to repay with interest. You may have heard your parents or teachers say that they are now paying more tax than they were, say, 5 years ago. When the loan repayment is due, people may have to pay more tax so that the government is able to repay its loan.

Pedestrians must use footbridges. If a vehicle hits a pedestrian within 100 m of a footbridge, the driver is not held responsible.

Printing Do you have a copy of the new Constitution at home? Do you know who printed it? The government earns money from printing documents such as The Kenya Gazette and the Constitution, which citizens may purchase for their personal use.

Many smaller roads have footbridges too. It really is best to use one, even if it is far away or if you have a heavy load to carry. Teach your little brothers and sisters to do so, as well.

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

EXPRESSIONS

We’ve had the pleasure to visit various schools this year. Do you like our snaps? Send in your own!

Scho ol. Kajiado Boys Primary Mmm! Lunch time at

Hello! Greet ings from K aliluni Prim ary Scho ol , Machakos .

Signs and mottos brighten up school compounds. What is yours?

Come on! This is not the way to transport animals. The poor goat was spotted in the back of a Nakuru matatu.

s— lle d 3 time This car ro s. ve how li e ve se n sa u can Seatbelts ca aff in it. Yo st r hurt. u o s a of w bers er man h it e n et w ith 2 mem y s r is ng seatbelt ge d the ca both weari badly dama re e w n o m o d Sol Stanley an men! ey are w ise th because

Wall art educates at Naro Moru Primary School … Students at St Joseph’s Primary School, Nairobi, love Young African Express .

… and at Kaliluni Primary School.

If you see anything interesting, newsworthy or just plain funny, take a photo and send it to us at info@YoungAfricanExpress.net or PO Box 120 – 00606, Nairobi, Kenya.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

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 Africa can take photos and connect to By mobile phone—use a phone that page and follow instructions. Soil Health Consortiu m Facebook 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 Africa So il Health Consortium 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. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

smart farming

Farming in a changing climate Smart farmers apply ISFM science correctly—using Improved Seeds with Fertiliser and Manure for healthy soil and following good farming practices. This leads to successful farming. Good farming practices include adapting to local conditions, like the climate in your region. But what do you do when the local climate becomes unpredictable?

temperature. Global warming causes climatic changes.

• Industries, transport and homes rely on fossil fuels like coal and oil. Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases when they are burned.

• Towns and cities use more land as they grow, and this need for space competes with farmlands.

Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get. Climate is the “expected” weather over a period of several years. Climate change means a change in long-term weather patterns. This happens naturally over time. Slow climate change allows plants and animals time to adapt to their changed environment. Our world has changed a lot over the last 250 years. It contained 1 billion people in 1804. In 2012 there are over 7 billion of us. The Industrial Revolution brought massive changes in agriculture and industry. In 1800, 97% of people lived in rural areas. Now more than half of us live in towns and cities—and farmers must be able to produce more food to feed all 7 billion of us. In the last 2 centuries, industrialisation, population growth and increased farming have all led to the release of more greenhouse gases—gases that absorb or trap energy from the sun. The gases take many years to break down and stay in the air for a very long time. Because they trap more of the sun’s heat, they lead to global warming, an increase in the earth’s

Most people now agree that climate change is happening faster than ever before. It is already affecting people and the world’s environment. Even a small increase in temperature will change climate. A warmer earth is leading to change in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level and a wide range of effects on plants, animals and humans. Living things no longer have time to adapt to changing climate.

• We need to raise more crops and animals than ever before to feed our growing population—predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2030.

Climate change

• Cattle and other cud-chewing animals release the greenhouse gas, methane, when they pass wind. To feed all the people, Moo ... mmm ... we need to methane. Excuse moo! raise more of these animals but more livestock means more methane.

New blocks of flats go up in Kibera, Nairobi, in an effort to provide housing for the city’s swelling population. Farmland is being swallowed up as the city expands.

The climate challenge for farmers

Changing growing seasons, changes in the moisture content of soil, the increase in fungal and bacterial diseases, and unpredictable weather all affect harvests in many parts of the world. More extreme weather could cause poorer crop harvests—and less food being produced. Adapting to changing conditions can reduce the effects of climate change, making it possible to get decent harvests.

• Trees burned as fuel or cut down to make way for buildings and farmland release more greenhouse gases. Living trees absorb one of the main greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, so fewer trees means more CO2 in the air.

Who’s responsible for greenhouse gases? Industrial processes 16.8% Transportation fuels

21.3%

Power stations

14% 3.4% Waste disposal and treatment

Agricultural 12.5% by-products

10% 11.3%

Fossil fuel retrieval, processing and distribution

10.3%

Land use and biomass burning

Residential, commercial and other sources

based on http://globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Greenhouse_Gas_by_Sector_png

Withered bean plants at a Rift Valley farm after poor rains. Rainfall has become more unreliable.

Water

“Farmers use 70% of the fresh water used in the world. They are the largest users and the largest wasters of water … The world’s farmers need to double food production using less water than today.” Robert L. Thompson University of Illinois

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Farmers in delta regions (such as the Tana Delta) are most vulnerable to a rise in sea levels. Groundwater becomes more saline (salty) and flooding more frequent.

• Smart farmers grow crops that can tolerate saline water

Smart Farmers practice:

• Rainwater harvesting. Use gutters leading to tanks to collect rainwater from roofs. Rainwater landing on the ground can be led to crops or collected in various ways, such as rock catchments and sand dams. • Irrigation conservation. Big irrigation systems are not only expensive but also waste water. Smart irrigation includes watering crops in the early morning and the evening, when it is cooler so that less water evaporates, and using drip irrigation, where water drips into the soil close to the plants so that less water is used.

Rising sea levels

In Africa, most farmers have smallto medium-sized farms. They depend on rainfall to water their crops but climate change is causing African rainfall patterns to change. More frequent and more severe droughts and floods contribute to famine. Smart farmers change their practices as necessary to suit these unreliable conditions.

Floods in Kano plains, Kisumu have washed away farmers’ rice harvests.

Vol. 7 no. 6

better harvests

Coastal erosion in Bangladesh caused by rising sea levels.

• Protect mangrove swamps. Mangroves protect the soil against water

Arid and semi-arid areas Droughts are more severe and happening more often than before in the arid and semi-arid regions. Pastures that dry out do not have time to recover before the next drought. When rain comes, flooding happens more easily because the water cannot soak into the dry, hardened soil. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, the food producers in dry regions, are badly affected by the lack of water and grazing. The death of

erosion and absorb some of the floodwater.

livestock and crop failure causes famine. Lack of clean water causes more disease. There is more insecurity because of cattle rustling and competition for water sources.

• In these areas, it is even more important to harvest and use water wisely and store it carefully • Keep livestock healthy so they can withstand drought better • Plant drought-tolerant crops and use mulch to conserve moisture and protect the soil

2 fe rt ilisle r 3 foerrgtailnic ise r g o o 4p d rac t ic e s

• Improved seed selection. Grow crop varieties that are drought resistant, in dry areas, and resistant to wet soil, in floodro ve d prone 1 ismepe ds areas. m i ne ra

This Tanzanian school is growing food in semi-arid conditions with the help of drip irrigation.

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

ecosystems

Clean air ... we need it!

When we breathe in oxygen, we also breathe in a few other gases because they exist together with oxygen in the atmosphere. Air is made up of about 78 % nitrogen, 20 % oxygen, 1 % argon, less than 1 % carbon dioxide, water vapour and trace amounts of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.

uman activities such as cooking, burning garbage and smoking release harmful substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants and animals, as well as destruction of the environment.

Environmental pollution Air pollution takes many forms. For example, have you ever looked at the air in the city in the morning? That thick “cloud of dust” hanging over the city is called smog. Smog is a mixture of air pollutants, mainly nitrogen oxides and other harmful organic compounds. When fossil fuels like coal and petrol or diesel are burned to produce energy in vehicles or manufacturing industries, they release acid gases into the air. These acids fall on the earth as rain, snow or fog. Acid rain damages buildings, statues and sculptures because it makes

them decay. It pollutes rivers and lakes, making them so acidic that they kill fish and algae that live in the water. The soil also becomes too acidic for farming. When you walk in acid rain, your skin will burn and itch—much like pouring dilute acid on your skin (DO NOT try this at home). I WAS SO BEAUTIFUL BEFORE ACID RAIN ...

Acid rain has eaten into the limestone that this gargoyle (on Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris) was carved from. Acid rain kills trees, too.

Air pollution also leads to global warming. It is a direct result of the greenhouse effect. You have seen greenhouses on farms, right, especially farms that grow flowers for sale? Have you ever entered one and felt how hot it is inside? What happens in a greenhouse is that it absorbs heat from the sun. Some of the

Jandre Venter

Indoor cooking smoke —the biggest cause of respiratory disease in the household

Air pollution traps more heat in the atmosphere, just as plastic or glass keeps the heat in a greenhouse.

heat escapes and some is left in the greenhouse. The same thing happens in our environment. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be a very cold place and there would be no life on it. Global warming happens over a long period of time. The carbon dioxide emitted by cars, aeroplanes, power plants, and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels trap heat in the atmosphere and raise temperatures. Burning of fossil fuels also releases particles into the air. Diesel smoke is a good example. This type of pollution is referred to as “black carbon pollution”. The major source of this type of pollution is exhaust fumes from motor vehicles. You have seen vehicles that give out thick black smoke, while some

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

By Clare Barasa and Benjamin Ondiege

Vol. 7 no. 6

ecosystems HEY, THEY’RE COLLECTING LIVING COWRIES.

LOOK AT THOSE STARFISHES, AMINA—THEY’RE SO BRIGHT!

YOU’RE RIGHT, HADIJA. IT’S AGAINST THE LAW, AND WALKING ON THE CORAL REEF KILLS THE CORAL.

THEY PROBABLY SELL THEM AS DECORATIONS.

THOSE WEIRD THINGS NEXT TO THEM ARE SEA SLUGS. I LOVE THE COLOURFUL CREATURES IN OUR REEF!

GOOD DAY. WE NOTICED THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING COWRIES.

BUT SIR, IT IS ILLEGAL TO COLLECT LIVE SHELLS.

SHOULDN’T WE SAY SOMETHING TO THEM?

ISN’T IT ILLEGAL TO COLLECT LIVE SHELLS?

YES—I’LL COME WITH YOU. ... AS LONG AS YOU GET A PERMIT AND AVOID DAMAGING THE REEF. COME AT HIGH TIDE WHEN YOU CAN SWIM ABOVE THE CORAL.

WE NEED TO MAKE A LIVING. THE SEA’S TOO ROUGH FOR OUR FISHING BOATS RIGHT NOW.

YES, THE TOURISTS LOVE THEM!

WHAT DO YOU SAY, AHMED?

EVEN SO, WHEN YOU COLLECT LIVING SHELLS, THEY CAN’T REPRODUCE. THERE WILL BE NO SHELLS LEFT FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

HMM. WHAT ABOUT DEAD SHELLS? THOSE YOU CAN COLLECT ...

I SAY, LET’S GET A PERMIT AND PROTECT OUR REEF!

Our constitution says that each person has a duty to protect biodiversity and conserve the environment. Let’s protect coral reefs and the creatures that live in them!

Based on an image from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

Air Pollution

natural

man-made

Air pollution can damage our hearts and lungs and cause cancer. It also causes global warming.

give out almost clear smoke. Both are releasing fine particles into the air—the air you breathe. Diesel fumes are as dangerous to human health as 2nd-hand cigarette smoke. Have you looked at the ceiling of your grandmother’s kitchen in the village? What do you see? The soot on the ceiling is formed by the continuous burning of firewood when cooking. That is particulate matter.

Indoor air pollution Sources of indoor pollutants include tobacco smoke, gas stoves, kerosene stoves as well as vapours from building materials such as paint and varnishes, wax that is used on furniture, hair spray, nail polish and even perfumes.

Health effects of air pollution

Air pollution has both short-term and long-term effects on your health. Short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms may include headaches, nausea and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can make conditions such as asthma and emphysema worse in certain people. Long-term health effects include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease and even

damage to the brain, nerves, liver or kidneys. Continuous exposure to sources of pollution can damage the lungs of growing children and may also make certain health conditions worse in the elderly.

Links to cancer

Exhaust fumes from diesel engines contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other toxic gases. When we breathe in the particulate matter (soot), it builds up in our lungs, resulting in cancer. People who live in heavily trafficked areas or those who work around diesel fumes and engines can develop health problems. People who suffer from heart disease, emphysema and asthma are more at risk than healthier people. Carbon dioxide is a pollutant but it is also essential. Without carbon th dioxide in the air, the ear helps ide diox bon Car . eze would fre heat in the keep some of the sun’s e. atmospher

Vol. 7 no. 6

Go away, birdie!

Simple ways to control pesky birds Divert birds away from your crops. In dry areas, birds may be eating your plants to get the water in them. Place a birdbath with water away from the plants. Put bits of fruit and seeds on a feeding tray—birds that feed there will not go to your crops. Thin out bushes where birds roost to make the area less attractive to them.

Barriers prevent birds from getting

to the fruit or grain. Most are more expensive than other bird control methods. • Bird nets—specially made nets. • Shade cloth, which protects plants from getting too much sunlight, also serves to block birds. Drape shade cloth or bird nets directly over the plants or put over a framework to make a protected cage. • Use old stockings if you have just a few plants. Slip the stocking over the plant and tie around the stem at the bottom. Tie a knot at the top if the foot is missing. • Bird spikes prevent birds from perching on places like rooftops to inspect gardens for possible snacks.

Repellents have a bad taste or odour. Grind chillies, onions or garlic and mix with water. Strain the mixture through a cloth and spray your plants with the liquid to keep birds away.

Scarers frighten birds

r ga away from crops an W with their noise, movement, shiny colours or likeness to bird predators. Birds quickly get used to scarers so change your method after a while. (Most scarers are placed on a pole driven into the ground or on string stretched above the plants and tied to 2 stakes.) • Scarecrows—the traditional bird-scarers do not scare birds for long. Tie ribbons, cassette tape or plastic bags to your scarecrow to make it more frightening— they flutter or sparkle in the breeze. • Shirts—hang buttoned-up shirts or T-shirts on hangers or sticks. Hang the sticks from branches around the garden. The shirts will flap and twist. You can also place vegetables in pots under your clothesline so that the flapping laundry keeps the birds away. • Cassette tape—tie onto plants. It moves, shines and makes a whistling sound in the wind. • CDs—tie onto a length of string across the garden. The CDs flash and twirl. • Balloons—blow up balloons, draw big eyes on them with a marker pen and hang them up. Birds are frightened by the eyes and the movement. • Potato bird—stick feathers into a potato and stick a leaf or seed pod into one end to st

oisons used to kill birds (avicides) have the same disadvantages as other pesticides. They are dangerous and expensive. People and livestock who eat plants sprayed with pesticide may get sick. Dogs and humans may die if they eat birds killed by poison. However, birds can be very destructive to crops, so what can we do?

hri

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

home gardens

ICRISAT HOPE-C

A boy keeps birds off his sorghum with a homemade rattle.

look like a beak. Tie string around the potato and tie the other end to a thin bamboo stake stuck in the ground. • Wind chimes and rattles move, shine and clink in the breeze. Here are some ideas • Old metal cutlery (knives, spoons and forks), metal bottle caps or other shiny things. Tie fishing line or string around them or punch holes in the bottle caps and thread the line through them. • Tie empty cans along a length of twine to make a rattle. • Put dry maize kernels, lentils or rice in old glass or plastic bottles and hang them up. • Hang lengths of hollow bamboo from a stick. The bamboo pieces rattle against each other while wind blowing across them makes a whistling sound. Living scarers like dogs and predator birds will chase birds away. Protect birds of prey like hawks because crop-eating birds will keep away when they are around. merous The world’s most nu as, birds, re d-bille d quele at th s ck flo ge for m hu ole can quickly strip a wh in. field of gra

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

smart farming

ave you seen the Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! competition on page 13? How much money could you make if you won an Amiran Smart Farming Kit? We visited Vumilia Eldoret, a former IDP camp near Maai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, to see greenhouse farming in action. Joseph Njuguna, the group chairman of Vumilia Eldoret showed us the group’s Amiran greenhouse. Farmers Joseph and Joel chose tomatoes for their first crop as they are known to do well in the area. They keep careful records, showing dates, activities and what chemicals they have used. They sowed improved seeds in seedbeds in June, transplanted them in July and their first harvest yielded 1,000 kg of tomatoes! They get 2 harvests a year. “We will use the money we make to build smaller greenhouses within the community” says Joseph. “The youth are very interested in it. They can easily pay back the cost from the crop they sell.”

Vol. 7 no. 6

The land around Maai Mahiu is dry. Water must be delivered by donkey cart and is expensive. The greenhouse comes with a drip irrigation system so not a drop is wasted. The drip irrigation works so well that the farmers decided to lay irrigation lines outside the greenhouse as well, where they grow the onions Joseph is tending.

The group already keep indigenous chickens for eggs and meat. They use the chicken manure, together with mineral fertilisers, on their tomatoes. Although some chemicals are needed to deal with pests and diseases, Joseph says that there are fewer pests and weeds in the greenhouse than outside.

The greenhouse plants grow taller and carry bigger fruit than those growing outside. Says farmer Joel: “When we harvested our first lot, market prices were low. Then we got a truck so we could sell our tomatoes where the prices are higher. We discovered that the hotels around Nakuru will pay Ksh 70/kg compared with Ksh 30/ kg in Naivasha. Market research is important.”

Could you be a winner?

The competition Grand Prize, the Amiran Farmer’s Kit, includes a water tank, drip irrigation system, improved seeds, fertiliser and training from Amiran Kenya. Enter the Thumbs Up for Smart Farming! competition on page 13 to win!

Vol. 7 no. 6 5, 2012

H s= M + a -tion in ac

Numbers in outer space 30 CM (0.0003 KM) ABOVE GROUND IS HIGH ENOUGH FOR ME!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

practical science

What is air pressure? Air pressure is the force of the earth’s atmosphere pressing on the earth.

ir pressure lessens as you move up from sea level because the number of air molecules becomes fewer. That is why climbers feel short of breath on high mountains like Kilimanjaro—they are not getting much oxygen. The pressure gets even lower in the outer layers of the earth’s atmosphere. In space, there is no air pressure because there is no air. Air pressure can be applied in many areas in our lives, such as when we play wind instruments (like the trumpet), suck soda through a straw,

When skydiver Felix Baumgartner leapt through the sound barrier on 14 October and landed in the record books, he left us a trail of numbers to follow. Let’s explain some of them so you can amaze your friends!

Spuds and

The boiling point of water depends on air pressure. Water boils at a higher temperature in Mombasa (near sea level), where air pressure is higher, than in Addis Ababa (at 2,355 m above sea level), which has lower air pressure. blow up a balloon, or inflate a flat tyre. Find out about the role air pressure played in Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking skydive on the next page.

This experiment with air will break no records but on the other hand, you will not need a special suit to do it! WE LEARNED ABOUT IT WHEN WE WERE STUDYING AIR PRESSURE. WHEN WE GET HOME, I’LL SHOW YOU AN EXPERIMENT WE DID.

1. Felix jumped from over 39,000 m or 39 km (1 km = 1,000 m). That’s 4 times higher than planes usually fly. 2. The pressurised capsule that Felix rode in weighed as much as a small car: 1,300 kg or 1.3 tonnes (1,000 kg = 1 tonne). 3. His capsule was carried into the stratosphere by the largest helium-filled balloon ever made. The balloon, of polyester only as thick as a plastic bag, weighed 1,682 kg. Why so much? Because it was so big! At take-off, the balloon was 167 m high—that is higher than Times Tower, Nairobi’s tallest building. 4. The balloon took 2.5 hours to reach jump height. At what rate did the balloon rise? 39,000 m ÷ 2.5 hr = 15,600 m per hr = 15.6 km/hr

WHAT DO THEY USE TO PUMP UP TYRES?

COMPRESSED AIR.

What you need • Stiff plastic drinking straws • A raw potato

STAB THE POTATO WITH A STRAW WITHOUT COVERING THE HOLE AT THE TOP.

PATIENCE! TRY AGAIN BUT THIS TIME PLACE YOUR THUMB OVER THE TOP, COVERING THE HOLE.

BORING! NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE’S JUST A SMALL MARK …

PO K

WELL, THIS TIME THE STRAW REALLY PUNCHED IN. BUT HOW WAS AIR PRESSURE INVOLVED?

SPLO

THE FIRST TIME I TRIED THE EXPERIMENT I ONLY MADE A SHALLOW RING IN THE POTATO, SO WHY WAS I MORE SUCCESSFUL ON THE 2ND ATTEMPT? CAN YOU READERS WORK IT OUT?

It may not sound like much, but its rate of ascent was faster than that of a small aeroplane.

5. Once Felix jumped, it took him only 10 min to get back to earth. How fast did he fall? You work it out─but remember, that is his average rate of descent, because he broke the sound barrier along the way then slowed down when the parachute opened.

IT’D BETTER BE INTERESTING!

WORK IT OUT!

Covering the top of the straw with her thumb trapped the air inside and compressed it as Kizza stabbed the potato. This made the straw firm enough to pierce the potato. In the first attempt, the air was pushed out of the open straw.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

PRACTICAL SCIENCE

Altitude 50 km

mesosphere

Felix starts jump

39.054 km

12, Austrian On 14 October 20 gartner became um Ba skydiver Felix ic to go at superson the first person of d ee an the sp spee d (faster th vehicle. How di d a t ou so un d) with r ing from a greate he do it? By ju mp ! re fo be ne do s ne ha height than anyo

n planning his amazing feat, air pressure was Felix’s biggest friend and also his greatest enemy. Fearless Felix made his jump from 39,054 m above sea level wearing a specially designed space suit that not only supplied him with oxygen but also maintained constant air pressure around his body. Why did he need this? At 39 km up in the stratosphere, air pressure is so low that a human’s body fluids would turn to gas. The result is “boiling blood” bubbles of air forming in the blood. The lack of air pressure would also cause the body to swell, eyeballs to burst and lungs to collapse. Felix’s special pressurised suit prevented all this from happening.

ow H ... do I

www.humblebakes.wordpress.com

Felix jumped out of his capsule and fell for 4 minutes 22 seconds before opening his parachute. The thin air

The school holidays are here. Time to take a break and try something new. You can bake a cake for your family and friends! This is how:

Ingredients

2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 5 eggs 1 cup butter (unsalted) 1 teaspoon baking powder pinch of salt

Felix breaks sound barrier —1,100 km/h

stratosphere 30 km 20 km

ozone layer

5 42 seconds

Felix reaches maximum speed —1,342 km/h

18 km tropopause 14 km

troposphere

balloon changes shape as altitude increases 6 4 minutes 20 seconds

2,5 km

parachute opens

Take off 1.1 km

Felix lands

Earth 2 hours 37 mins

Local time

9.30

ascent

10 minutes

descent (jump)

12.07

Fearless Felix’s feat was not just a daredevil stunt. From the monitors placed on his body, scientists will learn more about what high altitude and supersonic speed may do to the human body. The pressurised capsule can be used again and his space suit’s design will protect astronauts in the future.

(low air pressure) meant there was hardly any resistance to his body, so he fell faster and faster until he reached 1,342 km/h, breaking the sound barrier (1,100 km/h) at about 30,000 m. As he continued falling, the increase in air pressure acted as a brake, gradually slowing him down. He opened his parachute at 2,500 m and landed safely in the New Mexican desert.

12.17

Read more about the space suit on page 21.

… bake a pound cake? Method

1. Put the butter and the sugar in a bowl and mix well 2. Break the eggs into the mixture 3. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt, then add them to the mixture 4. Grease the cake pan or sufuria and sprinkle it with flour 5. Pour the mixture into the pan or sufuria 6. Bake in a pre-heated 160 °C oven 7. Give it 10 to 15 minutes to cool, then serve!

If you do not have an oven, you can bake using a jiko. This is how: •

Heat some coals

•

Place a layer of hot coals on the ground or in a jiko

•

Place the sufuria with the cake mixture on top of the hot coals

•

Place a lid on top of the sufuria

•

Place more hot coals on the lid

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

business & careers

What work s … … a n d w h a t do e s n o t

ohn has been running a business for 2 years. He makes advertising posters. Every 4 months he assesses his business, sitting down after dinner to study his records. In the last 4 months he has designed 200 posters for a number of companies.

during the first quarter of the year. Information or educational posters talk about issues that people should know about, like HIV, AIDS and malaria. Each poster sold for Ksh 50,000. He needs to figure out why the sales have decreased since the last quarter, during which he had sold 100 posters. One reason is that some donorfunded projects in Africa have been cut; thus NGOs reduced their expenditure on items like posters.

John’s company designs 3 types of posters: • advertising posters • political posters • educational posters He has sold 100 political posters in the past 4 months. Politicians use political posters during campaign periods. Next year is an election year in Kenya. You will see a lot of these on the streets and residential areas. Since this is the onset of the campaign season he has had good business. He sold large political posters

for billboards at Ksh 100,000 each. He needs to determine what strategies to apply so as to get more orders during this time. John sold 50 information posters to non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

He has sold 50 advertising posters so far. Advertising posters are the most common type. They advertise a product, a service, or an event—for example, a concert. Their sales have also fallen from 100 to 50 during this quarter. He wants to find out why orders have decreased this particular season. A market survey will help.

What next for John?

Political posters Elections create the call for political posters. To increase sales for his posters, John decides to target more clients in political circles. John resolves to interact with politicians from different parties. He will not be partisan (he will deal with clients from all parties). He will make new contacts at party meetings and rallies, and use these platforms to make his work known. This will increase his orders. He invests in sending a marketing and sales team to different political meetings. To attract more politician clients, he decides to broaden and improve his services. He will now make pamphlets and small wall posters for them. Information posters John decides to go to the NGOs and find how best they can make posters within their tight budgets.

He makes suggestions to accommodate clients who wish to order educational posters, despite the decrease in their project funding. John also finds ways and means of connecting with new, upcoming NGOs through networking with his clients. Advertising posters Although it is evident that a competing advertising company nearby poses a threat, John decides to carry out a market survey, focusing on what posters companies need and the prices of these posters. Since he has a competitor, he will look for the latest advertising designs in the market. In the next quarter, he will also employ 2 more graphic designers who are creative and can come up with unique designs for his clients.

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

business & careers

You could be…

…a sports coach

Are you determined, disciplined and a good communicator, motivator and leader? Do you love sports? Then you can be a sports coach like 36-year-old Francis Kimanzi. “I started playing football when I was very young. When I was about 11, I was selected to join the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) when it was formed. I played football all through my school days, earning a scholarship to high school while at it. I started playing for the Mathare United Football Club (MUFC) when I was 18 and it was while playing for MUFC that I got the chance to take a short coaching course in Norway. The course triggered my interest in coaching. I started searching for coaching opportunities and got a chance to coach MYSA’s U16 team.

Francis K im anzi, former coach of th coach is an e national te adviser, as am. A spor sessor and importantly, ts demonstra someone w tor and, mos ith a thorou t gh knowledg e of the spor t.

I was appointed MUFC assistant coach/player in 2000. In 2002 I got the head coach job. That is when I decided to end my playing career and concentrate on coaching. I later coached the national team and Sofapaka FC.

Now I want to pursue the A and Pro licences. Unfortunately those courses are not available locally. They are expensive and take up to 5 years to complete—you must manage a football team for at least 2 full seasons after finishing an 8-month theory class to get a licence. But the accomplishment is worth the hassle. The courses help one gain detailed coaching knowledge and thus become a top-notch coach.

I have also managed to complete coaching courses, attaining the UEFA C and B coaching licences.

Coaching is a thrilling career, as every game is a new challenge. So to aspiring sports coaches: join a sports

e t u l a s e W

orn on March 18, 1962, GSU Senior Superintendent of police Joseph Musyoka Nthenge joined the Kenya Police in 1983. On December 29, 2007, Nthenge was in charge of a unit of the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) assigned to patrol the city during the post-election violence, when he encountered a mob of rowdy youth destroying property.

Instead of using violent means to tackle the mob, as GSU officers are known to do, Nthenge used reason to convince the mob to disperse. “Mnataka kuharibu Kenya kwa siku

unusual! moja, nchi ambayo imetuchukuwa miaka arubaini kujenga?” (You want to destroy Kenya in a day, a country that has taken us 40 years to build?), the officer was caught on TV asking the young men. This was just one of the 3 times in 48 hours that he used dialogue to successfully extinguish violent flareups in the city and talk a group of MPs out of calling a march.

team! To be a good coach you must be a master of the sport and what better way to learn the ropes than by being a player?”

fact file

• Play sports at school and even professionally if you get the opportunity. • Undertake coaching courses. In football, the 3- to 5-year courses for licences are UEFA C, UEFA B, UEFA A and UEFA Pro.

hero! “My guiding principal as a law enforcement officer is to see the public as our customers and our role is to offer them service.”

It takes courage to approach an armed mob with words as your weapon and for his bravery, Nthenge was awarded the “2008 UN in Kenya Person of the Year” for his contribution to peace through dialogue during the postelection violence in Kenya.

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

business & careers

MEET

THE

s s e n i s u b e h T g n i k a b of

Grace Murugi Wanjama, the owner of Cakes and Cakes Bakery, turned her childhood hobby into a thriving business.

Later, I developed an interest in information technology. I joined Daystar University for a degree in computer science with the hope of someday merging my love for IT with that for baking.

epreneurs: a To aspiring entr tegrity and in e, good at titud t you do is the passion for wha ess. recipe for succ

At university, I realised that there was a market for birthday cakes. A friend and my parents helped me raise Ksh 15,000 to buy an oven and a cake mixer, which I used to start a baking business.

“

baked my first cake when I was 11 years old. I enjoyed making it so much that I started watching cooking shows to get recipes, and baked birthday cakes for friends and family. I also decided that I would become a baker when I grew up.

In a few months, I was selling at least 2 cakes a day at Ksh 800 each. I continued baking after graduation, making time to attend weddings, read books and study websites so as to understand the baking

Po p-up card

We all love receiving greeting cards. Home-made cards have a personal touch and are unique. When you give your friend or family a card with your own wording and style they are touched by the effort you have put into making a card.

Are you wondering how to make a greeting card? Find out how to make a pop up card.

What you need

• Scissors • Cardboard or manila paper • Decorations (A cut out picture of a butterfly, a love heart or your own drawing, done on another piece of paper and cut out)

Fold a piece of coloured card in half. Then fold it in half again. (The card should be twice the height of the envelope.)

Open out and fold along the long fold line. On the bottom section cut 2 equal lines into the fold line. Make 2 cuts, each 2 cm long. The cuts should be made from the folded edge to make a flap.

business. I also found a mentor, Grace, a veteran baker, who helped me find my footing in the industry. Today, 4 years after I started my business, I employ 10 people and have a cake shop in Nairobi. I’ve also merged my IT and baking worlds through a website, www.cakes.co.ke, which is now my online shop where customers place their orders. They pay via M-Pesa or Airtel Money. We deliver cakes to clients within Nairobi. The online shop has increased my market—even Kenyans abroad can buy cakes for their families back home. On average, I make Ksh 200,000 a month from cake sales. I have also opened a baking school that offers a 4-week baking course for a fee of Kshs 12,000.

”

Fold between the 2 cut lines, turn over and fold along the same crease from the other side.

Unfold the card and re-fold into its original fold, as it was in step 1, and pop out the cut-out section towards you.

Glue your picture or message to the folded-out section. It will pop up when you open the card!

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

Reading is fun

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

nearby. One even claimed Forest Department officers had taken money to keep quiet.

Episode 4: The day the Land Commissioners shrank Mista Big Sweetie and her classmates were still waiting for the court to decide who owned the land their school had used for their playground, latrines and vegetable garden, when a big banner appeared in town: “The National Land Commission is coming to your county. They want to hear from YOU!”

hen their lawyer sent a message to the school: “Can your students come to the community hall on Saturday to tell the National Land Commission about the grabbing of the school land?” The headmaster immediately agreed.

hen the classmates, teachers and friends arrived at the hall on Saturday, it was noisy and full of people. Luckily, Mingu had arrived earlier to keep some seats for them. Everyone was excited. A door at the side opened and the crowd fell silent. In walked 3 people they had never seen before, followed by the District Commissioner. And then came Mista Big, the MP who had tried to grab the school’s land! Sweetie’s heart sank; how would people ever be brave enough to tell the truth if Mista Big was being treated as so important? The visitors sat down. The one in the middle was a woman. “Look,” Sweetie whispered to Mingu, “A woman is on the National Land Commission.” Mingu whispered back, “The Constitution says that every appointed body must have no more than two-thirds of either gender.” “So all commissions must have women!” said Sweetie.

tanding up, the woman introduced herself and explained that the Land Commission wanted to hear about land problems in this county. Then Mista Big stood up to speak. The woman commissioner said, “I am sorry, Mista Big, but this is not a political meeting. In fact, because elections are coming soon, it is not a good idea for you to speak at all. I suggest you sit and listen to the people.” There was a small round of applause. Mista Big didn’t look at all pleased, but he sat down and kept quiet. One by one, people stood up and spoke about their land problems, some passionately, some quietly and some angrily. One woman shed tears as she explained how she had bought land with her husband, but he had cheated her and the chief refused to believe the land was jointly owned. After that she was refused a piece of her late father’s land because her brothers said only men could inherit family land. The commissioners explained that under the Constitution women and men are equal. Law, custom and practices about land must not treat people differently because of their gender. The audience clapped and cheered loudly. Bravely, a few people complained that Mista Big had seized forest land

hen it was the school’s turn. They had written a short play about how they had used the land around the school to grow vegetables and to play. The biggest boy played the part of the bulldozer. With great noise and energy, he attacked a cardboard box they had brought to represent the latrines, and tore up the school’s “garden”. Sweetie and the others mimed how hungry they were without the vegetables for lunch, how frustrated they were without the playground and how smelly the temporary latrines were. The audience, and the commissioners, laughed and applauded. Mista Big stood up. But he looked a bit small now. Then he quietly turned and crept out of the hall.

Talk about it… 1. Has the Land Commission come to your county? If it does come, will you attend the meetings? 2. Why did the woman commissioner tell Mista Big this was not a political event? How did this affect the audience? 3. Why is it important for citizens to have a chance to speak up about important issues? Role play idea: With your classmates or friends, act out a short drama about a court scene involving a case of land grabbing. Have judges and lawyers representing the plaintiff (the person or party bringing the case to court) and the defendant (the person or party accused of wrong-doing). There should also be witnesses who may include a Land Commissioner, displaced persons, etc. To prepare, get a copy of the Constitution and read articles 27 (3) in the Bill of Rights and 60 (1) f. in Chapter 5 on Land and Environment.

BONUS!! Send the Young African Express a copy of your role play script entitled “Land Rights, Our Rights” and we’ll send you a PRIZE!!

Vol. 7 no. 6

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

puzzles & fun

re some mo ney why a

for n u F ou Y

boxe

s s ha p e

g d like pi

In the Middle Ages, people in England saved their coins in clay pots and jars. The orange clay was called “pygg” and so they were called “pygg pots”. In time, the spelling of “pygg” changed to “pig” and so potters started to make pig shaped banks. These days, piggy banks are made from all kinds of materials.

Combine the shapes to make a plus sign (+)

However, the oldest piggy banks were made in Java about 600 years ago. The “pigs” were really their cousins, wild boars. Javanese money banks were boar-shaped because the boar was a symbol of wealth and good fortune.

brainteasers answer

Spot 10 differences between the 2 pictures.

What mathematical symbol can you put between 8 and 9 to get a number greater than 8 but less than 12?

How did Emilia manage to pass 3 cars going at 100 km/h when she was only driving at 80 km/h?

African heads of state Who‛s who among the African heads of state? Test yourself with this crossword. answer (Use last names except for the only king, who is known by his first name.) 8

-2

17 -2

The next number is 23.

sequence answer

2) She was travelling in the opposite direction to the cars she passed.

1) A decimal point (8.9)

brainteasers

2. Swazi king 3. Tanzanian president 8. Burundian president 9. Malawian president

Across

4 2 5

8 3

7 6

1 7

17 4

7 6

15 3

9 5

14 9

5 4 9 2 8

9 5 4 1 2 3

7 6 3

8 7

1 8 6 9

2 8 6 4

7 4 3 2

9 5 1

Example: 4 is the only number that can go in Hint the square for the 2nd row, middle column and Number sequences upper middle square. have a pattern. For 4 5 9 8 3 7 example, in the Crossword solution 8 3 5 2 9 7 1 4 sequence Across: 3. Kikwete, 3 1 22.5 Mswati, 6 2,4,8,6 8. Nkurunziza, 9. Banda 2 9 1 each number is 2 more 1 7 9 6 than the 3 Down: 1.6 Zuma, 2. Museveni, number.3. Kibaki, 5 7 2 1 previous 9 8 4. Sirleaf, 5. Kabila, 6. Mugabe, 7. Kagame Therefore the 1 9 6 2 next 8 7 number in the sequence will be 10. 3

Sudoku answer solution 7

11 8 3

6 8

1. South African president 2. Ugandan president 3. Kenyan president 4. Liberian president 5. President of Democratic Republic of Congo 6. Zimbabwean president 7. Rwandan president

Down

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Vol. 7 no. 6

puzzles & fun

By Bella Kilonzo www.bellakilonzo.com

CRAZY BELZO

SUDOKU

This grid is divided into 9 rows, 9 columns and 9 blocks (green or white) of squares. Every block, row and column must contain the numbers 1–9 . Fill in the missing numbers in each square. No number can be used more than once in a block, row or column. Hints: • This is a logic puzzle, not a maths puzzle— the numbers could just as easily be symbols. • Look at an empty square. If a number already appears in any of the other squares for that square‛s block, row or column, it cannot go in the empty square. Example: 4 is the only number that can go in the square for the 2nd row, middle column and upper middle square.

2 1

9 9

7 3

1 6

3 6

What is the next number in this sequence?

answer Combine the shapes to make a plus sign (+)

Hint Number sequences have a pattern. For example,in the sequence 2,4,6,8 each number is 2 more than the previous number. Therefore the next number in the sequence will be 10.

Tony: What did you get for your 6 The next number is 23. birthday? Grace: A drum. It’s the best present I’ve 8 3 8 11 9 14 17 15 20 23

answer

spot the difference making shapes

answer

e k o *

4answer

J +5

ever -2 had. +5 +3 -2 +5 +3 Tony: Why? Grace: My mother pays me not to play it!

Spot 10 differences between the 2 pictures.

Vol. 7 no. 6

Civil society

YOUNG AFRICAN EXPRESS

Taming that temper

In the last issue we discussed the causes of temper flares. So how can you control your anger? Take time out. When angry, it’s easy to say or do something you will later regret. So breathe deeply and count to 10 before you say or do anything. Then apologise if you think you are the one in the wrong. If not, state your case in a calm way and allow others involved in the situation to do the same. Work off that negative energy. If the timeout does not calm you down, walk away. Do something physically active. Physical activities are a great outlet for your emotions and they help the body release endorphins—the hormones that make us feel happy. You can also write in a journal, draw, paint or even dance your anger away.

YOU HAVE SHAMED OUR FAMILY, ANITA. I’M PAYING NO MORE SCHOOL FEES FOR YOU!

STOP LYING TO ME, ANITA!

PART 2

Deal with the cause. Every time your temper flares calm yourself by using either or both of these 2 steps then try to find out what makes you get angry easily. Are you stressed, frustrated or anxious? Ask your parent, teacher or trusted adult to help you deal with the cause. Remember: Wait till you have calmed down before you handle the person or situation that angered you. If after practising the 3 steps above for a while you still cannot control your anger, talk to a counsellor or a doctor.

BABA ANITA, THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE. OUR DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT. LET US SIT DOWN AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP HER.

Story by Sarah Radoli ALL MY DREAMS … GONE WITH THE WIND. NO MORE SCHOOL FOR YOU!

Art by Bella Kilonzo I AM SORRY DAD. IT WAS NOT MY FAULT. I WAS FORCED INTO …

IT WILL BE HARD BUT IF SHE COMPLETES HER EDUCATION, ANITA WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HER CHILD.

ISBN 978-9966-33-094-9

YOU SEE, BABA ANITA? IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD FOR ANITA.

I DIDN’T THINK OF THAT. WELL, I SHALL PAY YOUR FEES. BUT I AM STILL UPSET WITH YOU!

I AGREE.

THANKS, DAD, FOR UNDERSTANDING.

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BABA ANITA, IT IS OKAY TO FEEL DISAPPOINTED. BUT YOU ARE BEING HARD ON MY NIECE. WHY SHOULD SHE LEAVE SCHOOL WHILE THE BOY INVOLVED STAYS ON?

�

THE CONSTITUTION STATES THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

ANY SCHOOLGIRL WHO GETS PREGNANT IS GIVEN TIME OFF TO NURSE HER CHILD. AFTERWARDS, SHE CAN COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

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