SCHOOL FOR THE GIRLS

Mrs. Johnston - The Simple Things [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

2012-02-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

An inspiring artist with hydrocephalus. this is awesome!

Mysterious nodding syndrome spreading through Uganda

2011-12-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

Large areas of northern Uganda are experiencing an outbreak of nodding syndrome, a mysterious disease that causes young children and adolescents to nod violently when they eat food. The disease, which may be an unusual form of epilepsy, could be linked to the parasitic worm responsible for river blindness, a condition that affects some 18 million people, most of them in Africa. The current outbreaks are concentrated in the districts of Kitgum, Pader and Gulu. In Pader alone, 66 children and teenagers have died. More than 1000 cases were diagnosed between August and mid-December. Onchocerca volvulus, a nematode worm that causes river blindness, is known to infest all three affected districts. Nearly all the children with nodding syndrome are thought to live near permanent rivers, another hint of a connection with river blindness. The link is not clear cut, though. "We know that [Onchocerca volvulus] is involved in some way, but it is a little puzzling because [the worm] is fairly common in areas that do not have nodding disease," says Scott Dowell, who researches paediatric infectious diseases and is lead investigator into nodding syndrome with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no known cure for nodding syndrome, so Uganda's Ministry of Health has begun using anticonvulsants such as sodium valproate to treat its signs and symptoms. Meanwhile the disease is continuing to spread, say Janet Oola, Pader's health officer, and Sam William Oyet, the district's medical entomology officer. It has now reached the Ugandan district of Yumbe, which borders the Republic of South Sudan – and cases have also been reported in the southern region of the world's newest country. Since gaining independence from the rest of Sudan in July, South Sudan has remained on track to eradicate one of humanity's oldest diseases – guinea worm. It is unclear, though, whether foreign aid for the new country could help prevent the spread of nodding syndrome... New Scientist

Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time (Grammy Awards Live)

2011-11-30T13:29:00.000-08:00

An inspiration!

Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World

2011-09-11T05:31:00.000-07:00

'If everyone light their candles' the world will be a better place to live in!

Spina bifida: interview with KTN

2011-08-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

Against all odds. Everybody has a story: for some stories of success, for others stories of rising above challenges. Rebecca Alitsi's story is one of struggle and a determination to succeed against significant odds. KTN's Betty Kyallo tells us how Alisti inspires many around her despite being born with a rare medical condition known as Spina Bifida. From: standardgroupkenya

South Sudan

2011-07-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

South Sudan is Africa's newest country, the 193th member of the United Nations. Here are the links to a 3-part report on the country by the Christian Science Monitor:
Part 1: Can South Sudan limit internal strife?
Part 2: South Sudan's oil remains a sticking point
Part 3: Future of South Sudan tied to efficacy of foreign aid

Stats of the blog :)

2011-06-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

One year elapsed since Blogger introduced stats and Rebecca can be proud with over 18,000 pageviews. That means an average of 1,500 per month or 50 a day, but the most significant data is the highest peak in this month of June with 3,152 pageviews while at the start in July last year they were only 764 – an impressive growth for the blog !

In details, most visitors came from the US (7,587), then Italy (1,914), Germany (927), the UK (842), Canada (581), France (562), the Netherlands (551), Spain (482), Kenya (285) and Russia (197). There has been a good number of visits from Switzerland, India and the Philippines. For the most popular posts see the top five in the sidebar.

British inventor's spectacles revolution for Africa

2011-05-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

A British atomic physicist is liaising with the World Bank on a revolutionary project to distribute spectacles to 200 million children in developing countries. Users will be able to adjust the glasses to their own personal prescription without help from an optician. "All users have to do is look at a reading chart and adjust the glasses until they can see letters clearly". said Professor Joshua Silver, who was last week shortlisted for a 2011 European inventor award at a ceremony in Budapest. "Glasses like these are perfect for use in the third world. We can send them to schools where teachers can direct pupils to set their spectacles to suit each one's vision. It is as simple as that".

Silver estimates that more than a billion adults in developing nations have poor eyesight. This seriously limits their education and employment prospects. He is now working with the World Bank and the Dow Corning Corporation – which makes the silicone materials used in his revolutionary glasses – to supply 200 million pairs of self-adjusting spectacles to schoolchildren in Africa and Asia. Ultimately, he hopes a billion pairs of the glasses will be made. The scientist's work was highlighted by the European Patent Office and the European Union at a joint ceremony in Budapest as an example of the work that European scientists should be undertaking. Fourteen other projects – from new biofuel furnaces to cheap water-purification devices – were also on display.

[...] Of the EU's 27 states, 25 have agreed to a common approach to patenting. Only Spain and Italy are holding out, because the new patents will be written only in English, German and French. At the Budapest ceremony, Silver revealed that he began working on his revolutionary glasses – which are covered by patents – as a hobby more than 20 years ago, while he was relaxing from his daytime job as a professor of physics at Oxford University. "I was curious. I did it for fun". said Silver, who is now director of the Oxford-based Centre for Vision in the Developing World.

What Silver created was ingenious and, like most great inventions, amazingly simple: low-cost glasses that can be tuned by the wearer. His spectacles have "adaptive lenses", which consist of two thin membranes separated by silicone gel. The wearer simply looks at an eye chart and pumps in more or less fluid to change the curvature of the lens, which adjusts the prescription. "It is incredibly easy. You don't need an optician, just a little bit of basic instruction" - said Silver - "Our tests – which have ranged from trials with pupils in rural schools in China to inner-city schools in Boston – have found that more than 95% of adolescents can handle these glasses quite easily and set their own prescription without problem.

"We call this process self-refraction, and it offers enormous potential for use in the developing world. We have already supplied 40,000 of these glasses to individuals in 20 countries". Silver's spectacles have two disadvantages, however. They cost around £15 a pair to make. "We have to get that cost down if we want to get these in numbers to children in Africa or Asia" - said Silver - "We are working on that, and I expect we'll get the price down to around £1 a pair. At that cost, the plan to supply 200 million glasses becomes practicable". Silver also acknowledges that his glasses – which have thick, round rims – are not particularly attractive. "If we want teenagers to wear them, we will have to make them less obtrusive and more stylish. In essence, we want to make them look just like standard glasses. I am very hopeful we will succeed"... Guardian

Gloria Gaynor, I will survive, 1978

2011-04-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Condom recycling highlights gaps in HIV prevention programming

2011-04-06T04:21:00.000-07:00

Media images of men in northern Kenya washing condoms for re-use have underscored the need to improve HIV communication and close gaps in the supply of condoms in rural areas. Local TV channels recently showed images of men in Isiolo, in rural northern Kenya, washing condoms and hanging them out to dry; the men said the price of condoms meant they could not afford to use them just once. Other men in the village said when they had no access to condoms, they used polythene bags and even cloth rags when having sex.

Male condoms are intended for single use; washing and re-using them weakens the latex, increasing the chances of breakage and in turn, the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Washing condoms in dirty water may also carry additional disease risk. Condoms are free at government health centres, but in rural Kenya these are few and far between and supplies unreliable.

Hosea Motoro, 37, knows he risks infecting his wife of seven years with HIV if he does not use a condom. "I know I am positive but I don't want to give my wife HIV and I know if I use a condom, she is safe. We also don’t want any children because we already have five and that is enough for us," he said. Motoro usually walks the 5km to his nearest health centre for condoms, but on occasion finds them out of stock... Plus news

Understanding Disability

2011-03-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

Experiencing disability can be a challenge but at all cost it doesn't mean that it is inability to do or achieve something in life.
Generally, disability has been defined from negative perspective implying that once someone is experiencing it he or she becomes incapable of achieving what other people can achieve. This has created negative attitude and perceptions towards people who are physically challenged.

We should bear in mind that experiencing disability is a mere challenge and people with the challenges can achieve what they want and live a normal life just like any other human being and so they deserve respect and equality in all perspectives of life!

Italy 150

2011-03-16T14:48:00.001-07:00

Today is the 150th anniversary of the unity if Italy, previously divided in fiefdoms but then united by heroic Giuseppe Garibaldi (whose expedition to unify Italy was made of just one thousand troops), and once completed the task he famously said "we made Italy, now let's make Italians".

In the past half-century Italian radio-TV took care of the latter problem by letting people from North to South communicating in the same language, more or less, and today we celebrate thanks to insistance of our great current President Giorgio Napolitano, who compensates for the sorry international image of our prime minister Berlusconi, widely recognized as a buffoon.

In the meantime of our history, we had an even bigger problem than Berlusconi: a great idiot called Benito Mussolini who dragged us in the biggest tragedy of our country: his fascist alliance with Nazi Germany (Hitler) caused our involvement in WWII, and moreover a civil war, with millions of victims and consequent poverty and desperation. Not to mention the unfortunate and dreadful Mussolini's colonialist ambitions in Africa... Very sorry for that.

Then we had a new Risorgimento (Resurgence): it begun when we had the most popular President of the republic ever: Sandro Pertini was a wartime prisoner who escaped jail and death penalty to fight fascism. Unfortunately things have worsened and we now have a government made of thieves and pimps, but President Napolitano has tonight given us hope by delivering a great emotional speech.

Viva il presidente Napolitano e VIVA L'ITALIA !

Do you know Down Syndrome?

2011-03-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

In most cases, Down syndrome occurs when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. This form of Down syndrome is called Trisomy 21. The extra chromosome causes problems with the way the body and brain develop.

Down syndrome is the most common single cause of human birth defects.

Symptoms

Down syndrome symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. However, children with Down syndrome have a widely recognized appearance.

The head may be smaller than normal and abnormally shaped. For example, the head may be round with a flat area on the back. The inner corner of the eyes may be rounded instead of pointed.

Get more information

Despite all these challenges a child with Down Syndrome can grow up just like any other child and overcome the challenges along the way.

Kenny Roger, Write your Name lyrics

2011-02-20T22:52:00.000-08:00

Old is Gold, I like Kenny Rogers song

I can't help smiling when I look at you,
To keep from going crazy is all I can do.
I'm so defenseless with you so close,
The walls have crumbled from my body and soul.

Write your name across my heart.
I want the world to know that I am yours forever.
And I will wear it like a shining star.
Write your name across my heart.

To you my life is an open door.
Everything I have is yours.
I'll try to give you everything you need,
But as far as love goes, there's a life-time guarantee.

Write your name across my heart.
I want the world to know that I am yours forever.
And I will wear it like a shining star.
Write your name across my heart.

In all my thoughts, in all I do, in all I say,
I belong to you with every breath I take....

Write your name across my heart,
I want the world to know that I am yours forever.
And I will wear it like a shining star.
Write your name, across my heart.

And I will wear it like a shining star,
Write your name across my heart.
Across my heart.
Across my heart.

Kenyan mother 'cursed' with six sets of twins

2011-01-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

Most women would struggle to cope with six sets of twins but for Gladys Bulinya it is even more difficult - as many people in her part of Kenya think twins are cursed. Her relatives will have nothing to do with her, and her husband left her, fearing she was jinxed, after the sixth pair of twins arrived last year. So the 35-year-old lives alone with 10 of her 12 children in a one-roomed grass-thatched house, a few miles from the shore of Lake Victoria. Sitting outside her small home in the village of Nzoia, she recites the birthdays of her children with ease. "John and James were born in 1993," she starts, shading her eyes from the sun's rays. She explains that she got pregnant at high school - but her boyfriend was too young to marry her. Her sorrow then turned to shock, when her own family ordered her to leave the babies at the district hospital for adoption. They told her that the Bukusu people, to which her family belongs, believe twins bring bad luck - and that unless one of them dies, it means certain death for one or both parents. The Bukusu tradition of eliminating the second twin is no longer practised, though occasional cases of infanticide are still reported in rural areas of western Kenya.

Forced marriage
Luckily, Ms Bulinya says, when her boyfriend's father learned the twins had been abandoned, he took them in and has cared for them ever since. (He is from a different ethnic group, the Kalenjin). But her troubles did not stop there. Five years later she fell in love with and married a primary school teacher. She was living with his family when she gave birth to her second set of twins, Duncan and Dennis. Fearing she had brought them a bad omen - and that someone would die - her in-laws chased her away. "I was put on a motorcycle taxi with my twins and sent to my father's home," she says. Yet again, however, her family had no sympathy. Still considering her cursed, they did not allow her on to their property. Instead, they quickly organised another marriage for her, to a man 20 years her senior. He agreed to the alliance, she says, as he had not expected to marry at his age. But more twins followed. "Mercy and Faith were born in 2003 and Carren and Ivy in 2005, Purpose and Swin in 2007," Ms Bulinya says. It was the arrival of Baraka and Prince last year, that led to her husband walking out. "I now have to do lots of odd jobs to feed my 10 children because I do not know where he is, and he is also too old to work even if he were around," she says.

'No regrets'
A few of the children attend the local junior school. Eleven-year-old Dennis has been given a scholarship to a private boarding school nearby, while his twin Duncan looks after the livestock for a retired teacher. "I have decided to sponsor one of them - that is all I can afford," Margaret Khanyunya, director of St Iddah Academy, told the BBC. Duncan's monthly ration of maize for his herding duties is enough to feed the rest of the family. So the family of twins, often ostracised by the community, just about scrapes a living. But even Ms Khanyunya, a benefactor, is critical of Ms Bulinya's situation. Ms Bulinya says she has no regrets and sees all her children as God's blessings. However, she admits that she has now reluctantly been sterilised, "against the wishes of my church", as she could not cope with any more children. "I am a Catholic. When I made the decision I asked for God's forgiveness and I am sure God understands and will forgive me for doing that". The one thing that really upsets her, she says, is the absence of her 17-year-old twins. She weeps when she recalls their last meeting, two years ago, at their circumcision, a ceremony which marks a teenage boy's rite of passage to a man. At the gathering, each parent must hand over their son to the community elders for the circumcision. "I was invited to the occasion and asked twice to pick my sons from among the crowd of 30 boys", she explains. "In both cases I picked the wrong children and my heart still bleeds each time I think of that day"... Bbc

Taking Care of a Child with Disabillity

2011-01-19T02:53:00.000-08:00

Once a child with disability is born in a family most people usually thinks of him or her as a burden and nothing good can come out of him or her, as a result of that the child may become rejected not just by the family and community but also self rejection. This can hinder the child's development and to some extend it may affect how that child behave and relates with other people not just in childhood but also in adulthood this may as well create trouble and more problem for these children.

Before any treatment like corrective surgery or rehabilitation the first basic thing that any child with disability needs is LOVE. Once you give them love they will reveal a higher personality about themselves and they may give society greater things that no one anticipated.

in order to integrate people with disability in out society the key issue to eliminate is prejudice and negative attitudes about disability because these two issues can be more disabling than disability itself. Then learn to love more

Cheers!

Italian lesson in music #7

2011-01-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Malika Ayane, who will be 27 in two weeks time, is an Italian-Moroccan sensational singer last year eliminated from the top three in the stupid Festival di Sanremo among protests by the public and even the official orchestra. Here with English subtitles as usual and the Italian Lyrics in the comments (open up comments window while listening)

Back to School

2011-01-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,
I hope you are all doing well.
it's back to school for girls after a long holiday

Festive Season

2010-12-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
Thank you very much for your support throughout the year.

Merry Christmas and Happy new year

Wishes from Kenya
School for the girls

Facing Law

2010-12-17T02:30:00.000-08:00

in the year 2007-2008, many Kenyan lost their loved ones while others were left homeless as a result of the post election violence which was an incitement from Kenyan leaders. Now it's bitter for our leaders to face the International Criminal Court......

A big thank you to...

2010-12-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

Kenya MOJA and Global Voices Online
the aggregators which helped my blog become known,
and obviously Miss Welby as well :)

Italian lesson #6

2010-12-13T04:30:00.000-08:00

This time we'll become acquainted with Italian rockstar Gianna Nannini, number one female rockstar in Italy (the number one man is Vasco Rossi). Gianna, who like Vasco is over 50 y-o, recently gave birth and wrote a song about that, but it is not available on Youtube yet. Instead, here are some of her songs with subtitles in English. Enjoy

Ugandan politician urges men to sex strike for votes

2010-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

A Ugandan opposition politician on Thursday urged his male supporters to go on sex strike until their wives promise not to vote for the ruling party in upcoming national elections. Most analysts believe the February poll will return long-running President Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party to power. "You say you are opposition supporters but your wives are still voting for the NRM," Stanley Kalembaye told a group of men at a town hall meeting, part of which was screened on the East African country's NTV television channel. "I suggest you tell them you will deny them conjugal rights until they change parties". The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, who is running for mayor in the southwestern Mbarara town, said the men should explain to their wives that NRM rule had led to unemployment and lack of growth. "They should try to explain the situation to their wives who may not hear about it when they are home with the children," Kalembaye told Reuters. "But if they are frustrated their wives don't understand, they may deny sex". Sex strikes have been used as political weapons in African countries before -- but they are more usually organised by women against men. Thousands of Kenyan women claimed to deny their husbands sex last year in a bid to end post election strife and a group of Liberian women did the same in a campaign that many say played a role in ending that country's lengthy civil war... Reuters

Enjoy Bob Marley?

2010-12-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

This is his best, a song which made history in music, HIS BEST SONG, A MASTEREPIECE, un capolavoro di musicalità

Fooling People

2010-12-02T03:42:00.000-08:00

I Like Bob Marleys words
" You can fool some people at some time but you cant fool all people all time."

Greater meaning for the present.

Good Insight

2010-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

I came across a phrase today - "Be good to all people as you go up since you may need them as you go down".

This gave me an Idea of how someone needs to be kind to every one indiscriminatingly, since you never know about tomorrow...
So let's be good to everyone!!!!!

Wangari Muta Maathai

2010-11-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

Where was I in 2004 ?!? Hi, this is Miss Welby. I was probably sleeping in 2004 since I didn't notice the Nobel Peace Prize was given to this woman from Kenya, Wangari Muta Maathai, whom - I must admit my ignorance -, I've never heard about before today. But now I know thanks to Wikipedia that she's another great African woman!

Woman married to four wives

2010-11-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

After 10 years of marriage without a child in the 1960s, she did what would sound crazy in the eyes of many. Elizabeth Chemesunde Olekima, 87, divorced her husband and sought fellow women to start a new family. The Nandi culture allows a barren woman to marry another woman to sire children with her husband or another man of her choice — a form of surrogacy. In early 1970s, she started looking for a wife, got one, paid dowry and started living with her. Her desire to have many children saw her negotiate and pay dowry for other three wives, a rare feat but elders approved the marriage. Chemesunde grew up at Kapkoi in Uasin Gishu and in Nandi and got married and settled in Kilgoris. When she couldn’t bear any children, she returned to Nandi where her relatives and elders approved her intentions to marry. "I wanted to marry so that I can have children to maintain our family lineage," she says. Chemesunde says she met her first wife and negotiated with her parents and later paid seven cows.

Family breadwinner
"The same was done for my second, third and fourth wives. I paid their parents, five and seven cows respectively," she said. A man, she recalls, eloped with her first wife, while the second passed on some years back. She is now left with two wives and eight children. The women respect and love her as their ‘husband’. Due to the role she took upon herself, Chemesunde is expected to be the family’s breadwinner, a role she says she has done well through farming. She stays with one of the wives, Esther Olekima at Kapsundei village in Kilgoris where she has bought two acres of land and two cows. The second stays in a four-acre land in Tinderet, Nandi East District. "We met in Tinderet and she convinced me into marriage," says Olekima, 45, who is Chemesunde’s fourth wife. They sealed the marriage at a traditional ceremony. According to the Nandi customs, Chemesunde can choose men for her wives. In this kind of arrangement, a woman is also allowed to look out for ‘suitable’ men to sire children with. This means a woman married under this arrangement can have children with different men. The men cannot lay claim to the children as they belong to the ‘husband’ who married the women. The third wife, Eunice Tapkili, lives in Tinderet and has four children. "I wanted my wives to have separate homes in Tinderet and Kapsundei to avoid any conflicts or competition amongst them," said Chemesunde. The octogenarian is not worried that her wives will be dispossessed when she passes on. The Nandi culture protects property of women married by other women. This means no one can claim the lands that Chemesunde has bought for her wives. Two of her sons are married and her last born is in Class Seven. Such marriages are also practised among the Abagusii and Kuria communities... Standard Media

Kikoy

2010-11-18T04:41:00.000-08:00

School for the Girls' small project has been involved in paying fees for Girls who are not able to afford fees in Kibera. we really appreciate for the people who have been able to journey with us in helping out of our girls.

If you would wish to help girls to gain education do so by purchasing Kikoy: an African fabric which is used multi purposefully. for instance as furniture cover, towels also used in designing shirts for men and African dresses for women.

P/s contact us through our email in the profile post.
Lovely evening
Rebecca

Against all odds

2010-11-12T04:20:00.000-08:00

It is difficult to think of how life can be when some one has to move on with the challenges in life like disability. People tend to perceive disability like a challenge that limits people to go on with their life, some of people with these challenges have proved them wrong. For example Italian lady Simona Atzori who visited Kenya. Despite her life without hands she has been a role model to many people with disabilities.

She is an inspiration to many people who think they cannot go on in life because of a small limit. Don't complain of your situations but instead be strong and go on!!!

Wonderful Week for Women

2010-11-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

Beautiful to see Brazilian 1st woman president, a form of gender equality.

Brings a memory of worlds women leaders who have moved against all the odds like the Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Congrats Ms Dilma Rousseff!!!!

Our Girls Project

2010-10-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
Thank you very much for taking your time to read through our blog. This Girl's small project has come from far and from a little idea, and our main aim is to help girls from poor condition in kibera to pay their school fees for them to have a brighter future.

So far this small project has managed to help one Girl in paying her school fee (sweety) and at the moment she is doing her final Kenyan High school Examination. We wish her all the best!!!

Still the struggle continues since their are others remaining to be helped. If you would wish to support more other girls you can buy kikoys (African fabric) and ornaments from this projects or send your support to the account number in the side bar above. If you have any question you can contact us through our email on this blogs profile.

Lovely evening
Rebecca

World's hand wahing day

2010-10-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

Last week was world's day for washing hands. and you might have taken it for granted but just remember Washing hands is important because:

Every human being comes in contact with germs and bacteria in their daily life. These harmful micro organisms are present all around us like on door knobs.

The most important advantage of hand washing is that you prevent yourself from getting infected by a number of dangerous ailments.

Not washing hands has also the ability to cause gastrointestinal illnesses and also diarrhoea which can spread to the whole family.

So do justice to your self by remembering to wash your hands every moment you can afford to, just like brushing you teeth.

Campaign for Female Education

2010-10-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

By joining for free this Facebook page (click on link) you'll help girls' education in Africa because for every new member anonymous donors will donate 50 cents (up to now over 56,000 people have joined and USD 28,000 have been donated). Girls and young women in rural areas of Africa are the most disadvantaged social group in the world today. Without an education, girls are likely to be trapped in a cycle of poverty. By sending girls to school, Camfed sets them on the path to self-reliance so they can improve their own lives, their families and communities.

Smiling Girls

2010-09-08T04:43:00.000-07:00

It's happy to see Albright, Rose and Agnes Back to school happy and ready to learn. (Rose is just about to finish her high school and we are proud because she has been a beneficiary of the project since her 1st year)

These three girls are being supported by this small project to enhance their learning through different people who have been able to purchase the kikoy.

You can support this girls by either buying Kikoy (African Fabric used for several purpose) and or African jewellery to support them with their education.

Through anyone who is interested, more girls who are unable to afford education can be supported. We mainly sell different African ornaments and the kikoy fabric or a bag made from the kikoy
.

Thank you in advance for your support.

2010-09-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

America's "Second Lady" Jill Biden, wife of vice-president Joe, pictured in Kibera visiting the Binti Pamoja girls of Carolina for Kibera

Dig toilets, Not graves

2010-09-02T01:06:00.000-07:00

4,000 children die, every day
That’s three children every minute of every day. They die because they don’t have proper toilets, so many have to defecate wherever they can. Faeces contaminates everything they touch, eat and drink, causing deadly diarrhoeal diseases.

The solution is so simple
We can stop the suffering by digging safe pit toilets. The technology needed is as simple as a spade. The training and equipment are no more complicated. And pit toilets last for years, saving lives day after day. So your gift will keep on working.

WaterAid

Miracolo Rudisha scoperto dal prete che crea fenomeni

2010-08-31T00:55:00.000-07:00

Il più famoso sacerdote nell'atletica è stato il reverendo Bob Richards, tre partecipazioni olimpiche nell'asta, un bronzo a Londra e due ori a Helsinki e Melbourne. Ora c'è Padre O'Connell, 63 anni irlandese di Cork, cattolico, simpatico personaggio dal viso rotondo ed un perenne sorriso sulle labbra. Lui non ha vinto nulla, anzi lo sport non sapeva cosa fosse, come confessa candidamente. L'ha scoperto suo malgrado ed ora si ritrova sotto i riflettori perché è l'allenatore di David Rudisha, primatista mondiale degli 800 prima a Berlino e domenica a Rieti. L'Africa è nel cuore del reverendo che vi è approdato nel 1976 chiamato in Kenya dal fratello del campione britannico Brendan Foster, professore alla St. Patrick's. Si giocava a calcio o rugby, poca atletica. Ma due anni dopo Foster tornò in Inghilterra e padre O'Connell restò solo. «Non mi sono perso d'animo anzi ho provato a cambiare i programmi, anche atletica, corsa per lo più, dove i keniani sembrano dotati. Però non sapevo nulla dei metodi di allenamento, dovevo imparare. Comprai libri, leggevo di tutto, poi provai ad applicare. Piano piano mi sono trovato ad essere un tecnico a bordo campo a preparare tabelle ed a giudicare i giovani che passavano per la St. Patrick's, dove lavoravo insegnando letteratura»... continua sulla Gazzetta dello sport

With one good leg, US veterans climb Mount Kilimanjaro

2010-08-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Three US amputee veterans have climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, enduring tumbles and sores to reach Africa's highest peak with only one good leg among them.

The veterans - of Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq - hiked to the top of the 5,891m (19,330ft) high Tanzanian mountain in six days to show that disability need not lead to inactivity. The trip typically takes five or six days, and the men had to stop frequently to adjust their titanium prosthetic legs, as they slipped constantly on the loose scree-covered paths. The hikers were Dan Nevins, 37, who lost his legs in Iraq; Neil Duncan, 26, who lost both legs in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan in 2005; and Kirk Bauer, 62, who lost a leg in Vietnam in 1969. "If three amputees from three different wars and two different generations with literally one good leg can climb Kilimanjaro, our other disabled friends can get out and go hiking or go biking or swim a mile, can get out and lead a healthy life," Mr Bauer told the Associated Press news agency. Mr Nevins developed a bad sore on one of his stumps and after reaching the peak was evacuated on a wheeled stretcher. Mr Bauer is executive director of Disabled Sports USA, a Washington DC-area organisation that promotes physical fitness and sport participation for individuals with disabilities... BBC

Oxallis and Albright

2010-07-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

several tears back, when I was small about five years old. I used to pick some of the edible leaves and eat them. unfortunately I never knew their real name, for me they were 'Nyamnyam'.

But I am so glad last Sunday I came to know their name through the little girl Albright ..... they are called Oxallis.
I feel so happy and empowered with the little knowledge!!!

Please get more information about them: Oxallis

Lovely week

Best of the blog

2010-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

A new feature: by clicking BEST OF THE BLOG you get a selection of the 30 most popular posts (with five or more comments), but if you really want la crème de la crème click BEST OF THE BEST and you get the top ten posts with ten or more comments!

(and don't forget that by clicking KIKOY you get all the posts on the Kikoy project)

Hello... buy a kikoy

2010-07-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for taking interest to read our blog. And for those who managed to buy the kikoy thank you so much you have played a big role in supporting our girls.

You can buy one or more kikoys and support girls in this project to pay their fees or you can pay their fees and get one kikoy and a bangle pr earring for free.

We are selling kikoys to support the girls. If you wish to buy as present please don't hesitate to contacts us.

Your support will be much appreciated

Greetings and lovely evening
School for the Girls

The most beautiful thing

2010-07-08T05:06:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful thing on earth is not who you are or where you come from but what you are doing to be who you are and what direction you are heading to. Always learning to live peacefully and love everyone to make the universe a better place for everyone.

Cheers friends

July 4th, Blogroll Independence Day !

2010-07-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day from Africa to our American blogfriends with this

Blogroll Independence Day

for Queen Esther's Kudzu Mon Amour...

...Tom Cat's Politics Plus...

...and Scott Clevenger's World O' Crap

World Cup

2010-06-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Famous and most loved game: football started who is going to win?

AFRICA?

Dear Rebecca, this is MW, thank you for your question, the answer is: yes, Africa, and I'll explain you how.

In 80 years, up to now the World Cup has only travelled two continents: 9 times to South America (5 Brazil, 2 Uruguay, 2 Argentina) and 9 times to Europe (4 Italy, 3 Germany, 1 England, 1 France). It is high time that it goes to a third continent which in the past three decades has given so much to world football. This time a record six teams from Africa are playing:

- South Africa, or Bafana Bafana, have the advantage of playing with home support and their terribly noisy vuvuzelas, but they face a though competition in their group with France, Uruguay and Mexico, with whom they already drew on the opening day, which is good but frankly the team is not the best in the world (most of them play in South Africa and have little international experience), although their coach Parreira is Brazilian and therefore you can be sure he knows a couple of things about football!

- Nigeria, or the Super Eagles, have a better tradition in football (although they currently only rank #21 in Africa), some very good players (all of them playing in Europe, look out for Odiah and Martins [pictured] and, oddly enough, all their three goalkeepers play in Israel) and a relatively easier group except for Argentina, which will almost certainly go through. South Korea may represent a problem but Greece should be easy game.

- Ghana, or the Black Stars, have a good tradition too in African football: only Egypt is currently in better shape (but did not qualify). Look out for Inter Milan new star Muntari. They are in a though group with Germany, Australia and Serbia: funny, for Ghana's coach is Serbian! Germany will almost certainly go through, therefore Ghana will have to dispute second place in the group with Australia and Serbia. Not an easy task.

- Ivory Coast, or the Elephants, with a respectable tradition in African football and several "European" stars such as Tourè and Drogba (pictured) and very experienced coach Eriksson, but a terrible group: as for North Korea, consider them already home, but the other two are very bad news: Brazil and Portugal...

- Cameroon, or the Indomitable Lions, are historically the most successful African team, having been the first to reach the quarter-finals (in 1990), an achievement only accomplished again by Senegal in 2002. Up to now these have been the best results for Africa in the World Cup. Their captain is superstar Eto'o, the most decorated African player of all time, last year he won everything in Europe with Barcelona and this year again he won everything in Europe with Inter Milan. Cameroon are my favourite to go through: they face a relatively easy game with Japan and a quite difficult game with strong Netherlands, therefore it is extremely important that they beat Denmark.

- Algeria, or the Desert Foxes, despite their success in recent years they are not the best team on the pitch: in their group they have a good chance with Slovenia but it will be hard with England and the United States, favourites to go through. Pictured, not very happy for this sad situation, is their captain Yahia.

KEY MATCHES. In sum: best chances are for Cameroon if they beat Denmark, then Nigeria if they beat South Korea, then South Africa if they beat France (which I strongly hope as the French did not deserve to qualify with an invalid goal against Ireland), then Ghana if they beat both Serbia and Australia. Little chances for Algeria and Ivory Coast.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Assuming that all the African teams finish the group stage in second place, from 26th June they will be playing by direct elimination the winners of other groups. This is a possible scenario:

Mexico - Nigeria. Mexico is strong but not impossible, 50/50 chance for Nigeria.

Argentina - South Africa. I'm afraid this is very hard: blow your vuvuzelas!

England (or USA) - Ghana. Let's hope the USA win their group: it will be easier than facing England.

Germany - Algeria. No match, Algeria out.

Italy - Cameroon. Don't take the result for granted: in 1982, when Italy ended up World Champions, in the group stage Cameroon surprisingly drew 1-1 with us Azzurri, and since then they grew a lot. Cameroon have a chance!

Netherlands - Paraguay. Netherlands will probably go through.

Spain - Ivory Coast. No way, Ivory Coast out

Brazil - Chile. Obviously, best chances for Brazil

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Assuming that four African teams out of six go through to the quarter-finals (including South Africa beating Argentina!), from 2nd July the possible scenario is:

Nigeria - South Africa. If tha Bafana Bafana reach this stage (unlikely because of Argentina), I don't see why they cannot beat Nigeria. More likely, I'm afraid, that Argentina will knock out both South Africa and Nigeria.

Germany - Ghana. Only if Ghana beat either England or the USA in the previous stage. In this case they have some chances with Germany, but more likely, I'm afraid, a repeat of World War II between Germany and England.

Cameroon - Netherlands. Only if Cameroon beat Italy, and that means that they can beat Netherlands as well.

Spain - Brazil. On 3rd July, one of the best matches of the World Cup. I'm for Spain as Brazil have already won 5 World Cups against Italy's 4, and they are hosting the 2014 World Cup, which means they could become unreachable at 7-4.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? On 6th and 7th July for the first time in history an African team may reach the World Cup semi-finals! Let's sum up the possible scenarios: twelve teams are left out of the original 32, and four of them are African.

Argentina OR Nigeria OR South Africa VS Germany OR Ghana OR England OR Usa

Cameroon OR Netherlands OR Italy VS Brazil OR Spain

In this fantasy game we are for Africa, which means:

Nigeria OR South Africa VS Ghana. My money's on Ghana

Cameroon VS Brazil OR Spain. Go Cameroon!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? THE FINAL !!! (on 11th July at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, pictured)

Who's gonna win the World Cup? Cameroon or Ghana? I really don't know!, but one thing is for sure: either case it will be Africa :)

Italian (and French) lesson #5

2010-06-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

«E allora balliamo». È l’invito di Stromae, vero nome Paul van Haver, cantante e musicista belga che sta imperversando in tutta Europa. Numero uno in Francia, Olanda, Grecia, Germania, Austria, Svizzera, Danimarca e Belgio, «Alors on danse» è il video più trasmesso in Italia e al secondo posto delle più scaricata (legalmente) dopo settimane al numero uno. Un tormentone costruito attorno a tre elementi: un ritmo ipnotico, un violino che sembra uno strumento etnico, un cantato quasi rap che elenca una serie di problemi, da quelli di cuore a quelli finanziari a quelli della fame nel mondo... Corriere

Translation into Italian:

Allora balliamo...

chi dice studio dice lavoro
chi dice lavoro dice soldi
chi dice denaro dice spese
chi dice fido dice debito
chi dice debito ti dice ufficiale giudiziario
chi dice seduti nella merda
chi dice amore dice bambini
dice sempre e poi divorzia
dhi dice parenti ti dice lutto perché i problemi non vengono soli
Chi dice crisi, dice mondo, dice fame, dice terzo-mondo
chi dice fatica dice sveglia ancora sordo alla vigilia
allora usciamo per dimenticare tutti i problemi

allora balliamo...

E ora ti dici che è finita perché peggio di così ci sarebbe la morte
quando infine credi che ce la farai, quando pensi non ce ne sia più ce n'è ancora
La musica oppure i problemi, i problemi oppure la musica
Ti prende l'ansia, la testa e poi preghi perché finisca
ma è il tuo corpo non è il cielo e allora non ti tappi più le orecchie
E gridi ancora più forte, ma questa sensazione non desiste

allora cantiamo
Lalalalalala, Lalalalalala...

E poi solo quando è finito, allora balliamo
e ce n'è ancora

Matatu! (Italian lesson #4)

2010-05-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

Un mondiale alternativo, da vivere per le strade attraverso i villaggi dell'Africa, dove il clamore della coppa non arriva, ma dove forse c'è più bisogno di stare insieme e sorridere, almeno per il tempo di una partitella: questo è il progetto straordinario di un gruppo di ragazzi che sta per partire dall'Italia per un viaggio a tappe sulla via della solidarietà.

Learn what a Matatu is on Wikipedia in ENGLISH, ITALIANO, SWAHILI

Il Matatu di Altropallone partirà da Milano il 23 maggio per passare da Verona, Padova, Firenze, Roma e da lì saltare in Kenya per attraversare Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambico, e arrivare in Sud Africa (con tappa in Lesotho) in tempo per i mondiali di calcio!

Sul Matatu viaggiano 3 volontari italiani e 4 kenyoti, con tanti palloni, maglie, porte pieghevoli e tirarighe per improvvisare un campionato ovunque: tutti quelli che lo vorranno, nei villaggi, nelle baraccopoli, per le strade impolverate.

Non si può che concludere con le parole del grande Nelson Mandela: "Lo sport ha il potere di cambiare il mondo. Ha il potere di ispirare, ha il potere di unire un popolo, come poche altre cose fanno"

Its a miracle!!!

2010-05-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
Once more again it good to look back where we are from since a journey of thousands miles always begins with a single step. This is a similar story to our project: because as this small project started i never knew it can impact on someones life but finally here in Rose' story:

"My name Is Rose Adhiambo (Sweety) I am 18 years old and I live in Kibera slums of Nairobi in Kenya. I come from a family of three, my mom is a single parent and at the same time she has physical disability. Now I am in form four and I have two more terms to complete my high school.

When I flash back: After completing my primary school, I passed my examination and my mom was not in a good position to pay my school fee. I went to a day school in the rural area where I used to stay with my aunt, life was not easy for me at all because from time to time I was sent back home because of school fees, this really made my aunt very happy, because it make her work easier since I could do all the house work for her while she went to do her business in the market, this really compromised my studies and I had really loosed hope in completing my high school studies. Fortunately Rebecca Talked to my Mom about School for the Girls project which has really helped me in paying my school fees, furthermore I was able to go a boarding school.

I am very grateful since I see it as a miracle since now I am sure of sitting for my final examination this year since I am registered with the National council for the Kenya Examination. So far this is a big miracle to me!!!
thank you so much for your support"

This is a big achievement and a step further, you can check on the kikoy project to help more girls.

Thanks so much!!

Manuela loves Portuguese...

2010-03-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

... and I love Amy. This is Amy with subtitles in Portuguese

(and talking about Portugal, I love Mourinho too!)

Power of Silence

2010-03-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

this is what I've learnt today:

Silence heals
it is not a weakness as we think

Silence is a strong weapon

I know silence is a gift.

if you are troubled take a moment and reflect in silence and you will be healed.

Support Google hard line towards arrogant China

2010-03-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Unheard before in History, a Company might be about to stand up against censorship, with a little help by Mrs Hillary Clinton.
Unheard before by a liberal socialist, we are with the Company: GO ON, SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
We are with you, Mountain View, Do the right thing, we'll always be with you if do such a courageus thing

Italian lesson #3...

2010-03-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

... with Irene Grandi and her current top hit (as usual with lyrics)...

update: APOLOGIES!, the following one does not seem to work. I'll fix the problem as soon as I'm back on broadband at home later on tonight. In the meantime enjoy the second video down below, which works greatly!

update 2: found a video by Irene with good lyrics: just pay attention that the "nè" is wrong: it's the only letter in Italian that we have different accent: it should be "é" in this case. all other accents are OK: à, è, ì, ò, ù

... and Irene again with her greatest success (subject to review when I check the audio on broadband later on), the "tormentone" Bruci la città

both songs subject to review in order to find better audio versions, which I'll do in a couple of days as soon as I get onto a better connection (I'm travelling right now). see you soon with Italian lesson #4 !

Happy Valentine Day with Italian lesson #2

2010-02-14T03:55:00.000-08:00

The Italian pop singer most known abroad is arguably Laura Pausini (although I'm not a fan, she's undoubtely very good), who won the Sanremo Music Festival (the most important in Italy, now about to have its 60th edition this upcoming week) in 1993, while the most popular in Italy is rockstar Vasco Rossi, whom I'll write about in one of the next lessons. If you want to listen to Laura Pausini's songs, here's a selection of those with the lyrics written in the videos.

But today my choice for this Italian lesson comes from the current Italian top ten chart, with Noemi together with a great perfomer, Fiorella Mannoia, who never won Sanremo (shame!) but won twice in a row the critics award in 1987-88. Here we go, obviously with lyrics!

Eventually, after "old" Mannoia, another great young talent: Giusy Ferreri with a cover version of late composer Rino Gaetano. With this you have been enjoying three great Italian singers of different generations and coming from different parts of the country: Pausini is 36, from Northern Italy; Mannoia is 56, from Rome in the middle; and Ferreri is 30, from Sicily in the South.

Happy Valentine Day and enjoy this Italian lesson in music with lyrics!

2010-02-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Among the new widgets you see in the left-hand sidebar is Amref - the African Medical and Research Foundation - with headquarters in Nairobi. Click on the widget or here on Amref on Wikipedia to learn more

Italian lesson #1

2010-02-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Here at the school of the girls we have a new subject: lessons in Italian language!

Of course Rebecca and the girls know international language English, but Italian is superior, another thing altogether: it's the language of art, music, poetry, love and inspiration.

It'll be fun as my lessons are gonna be musical, starting with Elisa Toffoli, or simply Elisa, the most talented young Italian singer, with her lyrics in English:

... but now get the same song translated into Italian. Are you ready? There we go!

That was Italian lesson #1. More will follow. In the meantime, enjoy the latest one by Elisa (with lyrics in Italian only, try and translate). Anyway, open comments for the lyrics

Because the night (belongs to lovers), with Patti, Bruce and the U2

2010-02-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

Greatest poetress of rock of all times, Patti Smith, performing Because the Night, co-written with rock legend Bruce Springsteen. In this extraordinary video they sing together in 2009, 33 years on. The band supporting the two guys: nothing less than the U2...!

Unfortunately, the audio is bad. Watch below for a better sound (but without Bruce and Bono), and open comments to read the lyrics

Greatest Love of all

2010-02-04T03:53:00.000-08:00

Hello Pals,
Over the few weeks we have been going through Whitney Houston's song Greatest love of all.
And I realized a truth out of it.

"... I found the greatest love of all inside of me
the greatest love of all it is easy to achieve
Learning to love your self

It is the greatest love of all"

Over the past weeks this song has been very inspirational to not that it is old but the beautiful word inside it that made me go on. if you have listened to it go through the words one by one and you will know what I mean. Greatest love of all is learning to love your self because if you dont love love your self you will not love anyone else because or Christians: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. which meanns if you dont love you self you will never love your neighbour or anyone else.
So the greatest love of all is starting to love yourself and hence you can love others more.

Welcome to the Hamburger

2010-02-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to 22-y-o McDonald "Hamburger" Mariga, football player for the Kenya national team and from today for Inter Milan, one of the greatest teams on earth. With this move the lucky guy, first Kenyan to play in Italy, has already virtually won the Italian Serie A, as Inter is currently 8 points ahead of AC Milan and Roma.

Amy Winehouse for Nelson Mandela

2010-01-29T12:35:00.000-08:00

Congrats Reb, you are now officially "Africa and Education Editor" of Miss Welby, my great blog. Let's celebrate with our friend Amy :)

Especially for Reb and the Girls: Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love (with lyrics)

2010-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:00

2010-01-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

A great lesson on how a great country works, and it is not by chance it's a superpower: former presidents Clinton and Bush, despite their bitter rivality, are pictured today with current president Obama, united for Haiti. Thank you America!

Some more great music with Mary J Blige and the U2

2010-01-16T08:33:00.001-08:00

previous video had defective audio, I've substituted it with this one. Hope it works better

Helen Folasade Adu

2010-01-16T05:20:00.000-08:00

Today is the birthday of Helen Folasade Adu, better known as Sade. Her new album is coming soon

Si svuotino gli arsenali, si riempiano i granai !

2010-01-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Rebecca, please allow me to post in your blog in order to pay homage to one of the greatest persons we've had in Italian history, who passed away twenty years ago on 24 February 1990, aged 93, after having served as the most popular ever, by far, President of the Republic of Italy.

Alessandro (simply "Sandro") Pertini comes from Liguria, the same region as Orietta's and Manuela's on the sea, nearby Genoa. He fought in World War II against nazi-fascism. He was sentenced to death but escaped. In 1978 he was elected President of the Republic of Italy, the seventh after the Constitution of the Republic which he himself contributed to write after World War II.

No other Italian President has never ever matched his popularity (although the current one Mr Giorgio Napolitano is a very good and decent person). We Italians were united in loving him, especially when he said something important about AFRICA, one of his most known sentences:

"SI SVUOTINO GLI ARSENALI, SI RIEMPIANO I GRANAI !"

which I can roughly translate into: Let's fuck up weapons and rather care about filling the granaries

He meant to feed needy people rather than make war. Unfortunately, his extraordinary message of wisdom has fallen on deaf ears... But in the spirit of his message we'll keep on fighting for justice

Thank you!!

2010-01-14T04:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

Thank you so much for buying the kikoy.

Girls are back in school and are so happy about it!!!!

Update with Gigliola Cinquetti

2010-01-13T11:05:00.001-08:00

This is an update with Italian great singer Gigliola Cinquetti

Saluti da me e Dora. Thank you!

Kenyan Gospel

2009-12-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hello darling, Miss Welby again. Since you allow me to post in your blog, here's a Kenyan Gospel for your Christmas. My old friend Dora (who is a friend of Orietta as well) loves your Kikoy and would like to get one. Me too. How can we pay you? We cannot tranfer money abroad. We give the money to Orietta and then she'll transfer them to you. OK? Ciao and kisses

Solar Camel

2009-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

This is Miss Welby writing. Hello beautiful Rebecca, I don't normally post on your blog but this is an exception to wish you a merry Christmas and the best for 2010. Here's for you a Solar Camel from your Kenya. The solar panel is used to power small refrigerators to bring medicines and vaccines in remote areas of Eastern Africa. It's a great idea! Full article with more pictures at this link

Inclusive education

2009-11-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

The whole of last week I had attended a conference on inclusive education and I came to learn alot.
how people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus should be included in education. though they encounter so may of challenges as challenged person they have got so many to offer this world if only they can be supported medically and included in all dimensions of life.
Yes thats true

The above picture shows some of the adult with spina bifida and Hydrocephalus apart from Mark who is in front.

School for the girls

2009-09-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

It is a new term since school have been opened and members of school for the girls are doing well,

Albright and sweety are doing well but but they have some difficulties of going back to school due to school fee.

Sweety's mothers is physically challenged and I feel very encouraged when she tells me " I am working hard so that in future I may be able to help my mom as well my brothers and sister."

Albright is also working hard but due to some difficulties she may not be able to go back to school.

In order to support these two girls plus the rest please send your support to the account number on the side bar and also any other kind of support is allowed like books pencil's and other stationary material.
You can also support the girls by buying a kikoy an African fabric

Your support will be much appreciated

Thanks for your support in advance

Greetings from school for the Girls

Rebecca

Tell me is this fair?

2009-09-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

Sudanese journalist Lubna Ahmed Al-Hussein incidence of being charged has some how shocked me.

As far as I know dressing issues we should be smart and decent... and to some extent it is how someone feels or it is someones choice. but it seems I am wrong due to what happened to her

I don't real know what to say.... how should we dress? or what is it wrong with dressing in certain way?

I am running out of ideas please let me know

Beauty of Nature

2009-08-10T04:06:00.000-07:00

"if you destroy nature, nature will destroy you"

these are words for 2004 nobel prize winner Wangari Mathai who has been the leader of the green belt movement in Kenya.

Mostly she has been dealing with environmental issues up to this moment. most people thought she was crazy but now people are facing the reality.

Sometime back in Kenya people have been cutting down trees fir charcoal and using products which are not environmental friendly example use of plastic bags without recycling them... and also staying at water catchment areas of the country but now condition is so pathetic since the level of water has gone down and there is water and electricity rationing in the country.

Just imagine a country without water... the impact is no food, and no economic growth for the nation and hence of the world.

So change begins with us let us obey natures law by trying to plant trees and using bio-degradable products.

Joytown school

2009-07-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Joytown special school has been an oasis of hope to many people including my self since i was a student there.

"Joytown Primary School is a special school for physically handicapped children. The school is situated in Thika Municipality in Thika District in the Central Province of Kenya. It is about 45 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital of the Republic of Kenya. The school was founded in the year 1962 by a Salvation Army missionary officer, Colonel Cyril Woods, as the church's expression of loving care to children who are handicapped. The objective was to give rehabilitation to the physically handicapped to enable them to walk and gain skills that would make them self reliant.
The main service offered at the school is that of correcting limb deformities through a process that involves surgery and physiotherapy. Although the children will not attain total cure, they are enabled to use their limbs and are able to walk on their own. Alongside this, the children receive primary level education with boarding and lodging.
The school is managed by a School Board of Governors, whose thirteen members are appointed by the Kenyan Ministry of Education in liaison with the school's sponsor, The Salvation Army.
Primary level education is offered up to Std.8 including a nursery class and special unit for children with mental and physical disabilities. There were a total of 290 children enrolled in the school in 2007 ( 180 boys and 110 girls) in 10 classes. Among them 18 were in kindergarten and 25 children were in the special unit for the severely physically handicapped."
Joy town secondary and primary school have blessed so many people in different ways through singing, hard work which have proved disability not inability.

Through Bethany kids a hospital in Kijabe most students have been helped with corrective surgeries hence making them happy.

Power Of silence

2009-05-10T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
I don't really know if you have an idea about goodness and power in silence.
Especially when you are stressed.

In our world today especially in some cities we do have noisy environment which in turn gives us hard time and hence increases stress.
But you can deal with it!!!

When you feel stressed up you can search for a calm place like swimming area, park area where there is no noise and all you can hear is birds singing in the air. try as much as you can to relax and be happy.
If you can not find any of this scenario just give enough time to your self by locking your self in the bed room and listen to a very calm music(my self I sing lullaby ).

Try it out and you will realize the power of silence!!!!
Because you will reduce the chances of having stomach ulcers and you may maintain good relationship with your colleagues..... most of times we loose our friends, life partners as a result of stress.

Just try it out!!!

spina Bifida.... Do you know?

2009-04-21T03:44:00.000-07:00

Working in the hospital is a bit hectic but I am glad because I am able to give a liitle help which is good.
Today has been a hectic day because I have met new parent who do not know anything about spina bifida,
So I was wondering Do you know anything about it? or have you heard anything about it?

Spina bifida is a serious birth defect that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus doesn't close properly.

Spina bifida is one of the more common birth defects in the United States and these days the cases are increasing in Africa. When treatment for spina bifida is necessary, it's done through surgery, although such treatment doesn't always completely resolve the problem.

Myelomeningocele is a severe form of spina bifida, in which the membranes and the spinal cord protrude at birth, forming a sac on the baby's back. Exposed nerves and muscles may become infected, so prompt surgery is needed after birth.

Spina bifida occulta. This mildest form results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the vertebrae of the spine. Because the spinal nerves usually aren't involved, most children with this form of spina bifida have no signs or symptoms and experience no neurological problems.

An abnormal tuft of hair, a collection of fat, a small dimple or a birthmark on the newborn's skin above the spinal defect may be the only visible indication of the condition. In fact, most people who have spina bifida occulta don't even know it, unless the condition is discovered during an X-ray for unrelated reasons.

Meningocele. In this rare form, the protective membranes around the spinal cord (meninges) push out through the opening in the vertebrae. Because the spinal cord develops normally, these membranes can be removed by surgery with little or no damage to nerve pathways.
Myelomeningocele. Also known as open spina bifida, myelomeningocele is the most severe form — and the form people usually mean when they use the term "spina bifida."

In myelomeningocele, the baby's spinal canal remains open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. Because of this opening, both the membranes and the spinal cord protrude at birth, forming a sac on the baby's back. In some cases, skin covers the sac. Usually, however, tissues and nerves are exposed, making the baby prone to life-threatening infections.

Neurological impairment — often including loss of movement (paralysis) — is common. So are bowel and bladder problems, seizures and other medical complications.
Here are some of the risk factors that I have come to learn while working here ar Bethny kids

Risk factors
Although doctors and researchers don't know for sure why spina bifida occurs, they have identified a few risk factors:

Race. Spina bifida is more common among Hispanics and whites of Northern European descent.

Sex. More female babies are born with spina bifida.
Family history of neural tube defects. Couples who've had one child with a neural tube defect have a slightly higher chance of having another baby with the same defect. That risk increases if two previous children have been affected by the condition. In addition, a woman who was born with a neural tube defect, or who has a close relative with one, has a greater chance of giving birth to a child with spina bifida. However, most babies with spina bifida are born to parents with no known family history of the condition.

Folic acid deficiency. This vitamin is important to the healthy development of a fetus. Lack of folic acid (vitamin B-9) increases the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

Some medications. Anti-seizure medications, such as valproic acid (Depakene), seem to cause neural tube defects when taken during pregnancy, perhaps because they interfere with the body's ability to use folic acid.
Diabetes. The risk of spina bifida increases with diabetes, especially when the mother's blood sugar is elevated early in her pregnancy. Careful blood sugar control and management can decrease this risk.

Obesity. There's a link between pre-pregnancy obesity and neural tube birth defects, including spina bifida. Exactly why obese women have an increased risk of having a baby with spina bifida isn't known, but is possibly because of nutritional deficits from poor eating habits or because they may have diabetes — another known risk factor for neural tube defects.

But having spina bifida cannot prevent someone from living a normal life just like I

If you have extra infromation or corrections your comments are welcomed and if you have learned something new Thanks so much.

How was your Easter?

2009-04-15T03:50:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

Hope you are doing well. Last week it was a long Easter for christians or followers of Christ,

It was a wonderful moment since we remember the death a Jesus. As School For The Girls (The seven Girls we went to church) And we know it is a nice move.

I think it was a season to understand each and every one of us well and to pardon each other where we went wrong,

Generally how was your easter and how do you feel about it?

A nice poem

2009-03-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello friend,
I was going through my email and I happened to get a nice poem about friendship and a real friend.
Hope you will enjoy it and be able to learn from it as well.

A friend is a treasure

A friend is someone we turn to, When our spirits need a lift, A friend is someone we treasure, For true friendship is a gift. A friend is someone we laugh with, Over little personal things, A friend is someone we're serious with, In facing whatever life brings. A friend is someone who fills our lives, With beauty and joy and grace. And makes the world that we live in A better and happier place! Thanks for being my friend!!.

Hope you will be able to learn more from this a friend is and will always be a treasure.
Thanks

Social work at Bethany kids

2009-03-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

I have been lost for some time but now am back.
Many a times I ahave kept on talking about giving someone a smile. At the moment I am doing my social work internship at Bethany kids at Kiabe Hospital, I am so glad for what is hapening here though it is far from Nairobi where I stay and I cannot add pictures on my blog.
It is a wonderful experience... working for many people from different backgrounds.
Bethany kids it is a small paediatric hospital dealing with neural cases like spina bifida, hydrocephalus,e.t.c
In the process of my intern I have been able to be challenged in many way... and I can say we need to thank our creator for where we are at any moment so long a we are ok.
My self I have Spina Bifida and I felt working here up to June will make me learn alot as well as encourage the parents who have kids with Spina Bifida and hyrocephalus.
Because taking care of such kids is such a long journey.

I hope you will also learn a lot going through this website
http://www.bethanykids.org

Friendship

2009-02-02T04:51:00.000-08:00

Frienship matters alot in life. But we need to ask ourself Whom Am I supposed to love? This is because we tend to love people who are closer to us only or people whom we think they love us too.

But we should experiment try to love people whom we know, show them care if they need, try and love people from a different religion, class (Social status), different country, and different continents and always learn to show them a smile... Just remember small things Can change thew world and make a big and nie glabal friendship hence thee will be no space for enmity.

Thanks

America's 44th president

2009-01-20T22:30:00.000-08:00

It was a wonderful moment during the Obama's swear in ceremony as the 44th president of America. He gave out a wonderful speech and hope the mojority of us witnessed through the screen just as I.
Get more information from Paul's blog 'But a poor reflection'.

http://abspoel.blogspot.com/
Congratulation President Obama

Have a blessed day.

It is a festive season... but (WHY FGM)?

2008-12-23T00:34:00.000-08:00

I t is a nice festive season all over the world and people are so happy.
everything is going on well except some people want to misinterpret the real meaning of the word celebrating.
It is an issue about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
When I started blogging I talked about this issue but still is it is so burning since people are not turning.
It is so pathetic to see women going through the Hardship of FGM. it is so painful and it has a very bad impact. yet some people whoa er even learned they don't want to accept that.
FGM is making women go through a big hardship.

So we can turn this season to a real season..... where we don't interpret in a wrong a way the meaning of cerebrating.. where we can keep and maintain woman's integrity.... where women will be free and happy once more again.
because FGM has a bad impact on a woman psychologically and even physically where by a woman may get some infections of viruses like AIDS, and it may be more difficult for them to give birth in the future and to make the matter worse more women here in Africa are dying due to FGM which does not make any sense.

I pray and people will support me on this issue.

ps: a woman in Africa going through FGM

Did you see Venus and Jupiter beside the moon

2008-12-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

On Monday it was a bit tough for me..... but not so tough.

I had a scary exam and so I got somehow tired.

But is the evening it was so amazing when I went outside in the evening I saw the moon surrounded by two stars it was so amazing..... the following morning I realized it was Jupiter and Venus around.

I took it as a lesson..... don't think you are alone there is someone by your side to support you just like Jupiter and Venus!!
I hope it is also a lesson to you.

Blessed day

Todays thought

2008-11-14T00:27:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Sometimes in this world we usually look down upon ourselves due to the position that we are in.
May be because of the financial status or even social status. but we should take in mind:

"The most important thing in this world is not where we are, but in what direction we are moving"

This may give us courage to struggle for tomorrow.

Are you ready to vote?

2008-11-04T05:29:00.000-08:00

Hey it is a tough fight for both Mcain and Obama.

I hope the US citizen you are going to vote in a right way.

Kikoy - School for the Girls

2008-10-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

Hullo Friends,

We are just so happy and we dont really know how to express ourselves.

A Kikoy can be used as a shawl, towel, and can make a shirt, skirt, trouser e.t.c

T o support one girl you can buy one kikoy or support one girl and get one kikoy and beaded bangle free!!!!

Your support will be highly appreciated!!!!

Please check Pauls blog: http://www.abspoel.blogspot.com/

He really knows what we are talking about, and he just received a kikoy and bangles for his daughters (Sosha and Pascalle).

Thanks so much Paul.

Regards from School for the Girls

Some inspiration

2008-10-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

Through the International Federation for persons with Spinabifida and Hydrocephalus http://www.ifglobal.org/ we have been able to learn about spina bifida and hydrocephalus and how we can prevent our new born babies from getting the deformities.
In the world people think once someone is disabled or has a disability he/she is disabled in both ways but I am so pleased with one girl (nine year old who has done alot through dancing). This is so inspiring and at least she can prove people who have some prejudice to be wrong.
She has Spina Bifida and she is good in dancing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMqvg8GlM6U

Congratulation Rita!!!!!!!

School for the Girls

Kikoy for our project

2008-09-25T01:20:00.000-07:00

Hallo Friends,

We are so happy for the well wishers have bought the kikoys to support school For The Girls and the Girls themselves.

Just as a reminder You can buy one kikoy and support one of the girls or pay fees for one girl and get one kikoy free.

We are so grateful for those who bought the kikoy. They have assisted in a big way!!

Greetings

School For The Girls

Paralympics

2008-09-09T23:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

In this world there are so inspiring that we should not forget to mention.

Just close your eyes and imgine a blind person running and yet he/she cannot see, imagine someone who cannot walk plying basketball seated and also imagine.

Also imagine some cannot walk but he or she can play tennis!!!!!!

Most inspiring things, please remember not to take things for granted.

Regards

School For The Girls

The Olympics

2008-08-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

I am so happy
through the olympics we have been able to learn alot from other countries as well as ours
I was so excited about Kenyas Performance being No one in Africa

How did your country perform?

Albinos living in fear _Tanzania

2008-08-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

For the recent times it has been so sad and it is still sad for what is happening for the albino community in Tanzania and also some parts Of Africa, People who are albino have been known as a curse and hence the majority have been feeling like they are inferior compared to the other people of the society.

In some communities they are not allowed to marry while in others they are neglected and buried at night as a sign of a bad omen in the community for example in interior Kenya.

To make the matter worse.......

sad

Member of the albino community have been killed due to the horrible superstition that once you have one part of the albino body you can become rich automatically:which is an advice from the witch doctors, so these has lead to killing of over 75 albinos living in Tanzania,

Most people who are involved in the witch craft have been advised to go as far as cooking and eating the part of the body of the albinos.

The people of the albino community have been forced to live in fear and they don't really know where to seek refuge.

The Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete has been forced to send the police so that the albinos can have security. Also all the albinos are being registered in Tanzania and being put into a home where they can stay together, even the burial sites of the Albinos is being cemented so that people cannot remove them from the grave.

I feel it being so unfair because they are just human beings like us and the only difference is the colour They don't even need to be registered since they are like other citizens and they have all the human rights.

How do you feel about it?

Education the key to everything

2008-07-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

Education is the best thing in life not just because of our career but because of the knowledge that we get.
but so surprisingly student in Kenya they have decided to strike I don't really know what is eating them up.
Most of them claim is due to lack of entertainment, and many other things but it is so sad for such things to be happening.
Have you ever encountered such a situation in high school level? if so pliz let us know.................

Girls and the kikoy project for school fee

2008-07-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

Hallo Friends!!

I am so glad for those who have shown their interest in supporting the girls by either buying the kikoy fabric or paying the school fee for the girls.

By doing so you can support girls from Kibera area which is among the biggest slum in The world.

You can buy one fabric using 20 euros or pay school fee for one girl and get one beaded African bracelet (Bangle) and one kikoy.

Your support will be highly appreciated!!!!!

Above is a picutre of Katrin wearing a Kikoy and a lady wearing a beaded bangle

Please note: our prices have changed because of shipping cost

Girls selling the Kikoy fabric for fee

2008-07-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hallo all friends!!!
Welcome to school for the girls,
All the girls who are members of the SCHOOL FOR THE GIRLS (students from Kibera) have started some small project of selling the Kikoy fabric for their school fee.
Kikoy is a beautiful fabric used by both men and women, some are used as towel, others as shawl, bed covers, some are used for making beautiful bags.
All the members of the school for the girls have started on this project so that they can avoid being idle and at the same time get some gains for their school fees so that they can make a better tomorrow for Kibera, education is the only thing which can eradicate poverty in Kibera!!!!!!

If you buy one Kikoy fabric you will support one of the girls and you will make a nice global friendship since you will make the world a better place for girls.

If you support one of the girls you will get one kikoy free and one beautiful bangle made of beads.
Or you can buy one kikoy for 20 US dollars and support the girls

Thanks so much
School For the Girls

Democracy

2008-07-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ii is so sad!!!!
Africa cold have been the best place on earth, if only our leaders could allow democracy, avoid selfishness and greediness.

I pray for a better Africa.

Experience of a guardian with a disabled child

2008-06-17T04:30:00.000-07:00

This early morning as I was going through and old news paper (Daily Nation January 29, 2003.)
One story really touched my heart and I realized how disabled people are stigmatized and the pain which they go through being taken as less human being.

Every so often, Cynthia Shihafu breaks into a song, one from a repertoire of hopeful Christian hymnal and children play song.
She loves to sing says her grand mother, 60 year old Berneta Shihafu. Cynthia is a cheerful 15 year old girl who has never been able to use her limbs. At her Lirembe village in I kolomani Kakamega district, her sad story is whispered among neighbors who peep at her through a hedge that rings the compound.
Unable to move her own, Cynthia has never been able to leave her grandparents compound. She relies on her grand mother to move her out of the house so that she can sun her self, then back to a warn sofa, where she lies most of the times. But she is not oblivious of her surrounding: “ my friends come here to teach me how to sing,” says Cynthia “They teach me very many things, and I am very happy.
She is particularly fond to one friend. “Sharon is my best friend. I always want to accompany her to school and to the church. She teaches me Christian songs and poems,” she adds.
Sharon is one of Cynthia’s greatest friends. “children in the neighborhood unlike adults like her very much,” says Berneta. “They are always here after schools to or during the weekends to keep her company.”
In her heart Cynthia longs to go to school. “I would like to go to school so that I can read and write. I want to walk and run like other children” she mumbles, a wry smile lighting her beautiful face.
Hope aside, her guardian has more practical problem. As she tries to move the girl from the house to the mattress laid out a few meters away, Cynthia groans in pain and glows at Imaginary objects.
All the while, terrified relatives stand watching in semi paralysis. Unable to accomplish the task, Berneta calls in an aunt who manages to pull Cynthia from the sofa. And the half-carried, she is taken to the mattress, placed where her father house once stood.
“The house collapsed when my son and wife fled, explains Berneta. “They went away as soon as they realized Berneta was disabled” she adds as she struggles to stop her grand daughter from crawling off the mattress.
“My only son, Bernard was working in Nairobi where he got his wife. They came home with baby Cynthia when she was only a few months old. They love her very much since she was their first child. Btu when it dawned on them she was disabled, my daughter in law complained about the state of the child.” Then one morning in 1989 we work up to find out she had left, her husband followed the suite a few days later. We have followed them everywhere but we were told they are living separately in Nairobi.”
Her grand parents once took Cynthia to Kisumu provincial general hospital when she was a toddler in their initial attempt to treat her deformity. They also took her to Malava hospital in desperate attempt to save her but all was in vain. “We took her to church for prayers but her condition did not improve, so we have brought her back home where she has remained ever since” says Shikami.
At malava hospital, doctors designed a simple orthopedic chair to enable Cynthia to sit up but the technology did not help. Cynthia could not sit up, the chair, the semblance of the of the wheelchair is gathering dust at Shikami’s house.
Shikami had sold some of his family land and was at his financial tether’s end. He gave up on any attempts to treat her after that.
“We believe this girl can still be helped. She is very conscious of what is happening around her.What she need is specialized treatment,” her grand girl, but we love her we are determined to see her getting up” says Shikami. Cynthia’s grand parents says some of the villagers have been treating her like an out cast, but they think there is nothing irreparably wrong with her.
“I have to be around her all the times says Berneta. “ I have to bathe her, feed her and watch over her all the times, it is a job no one else can do.”
Cynthia’s condition was not well diagnosed but her grand parents who say doctors who saw her when she was two said she was disabled two limbs.
The shikami’s are appealing for their son to return home and look after their daughter. “ this girl is too beautiful to be abandoned. I am appealing to my son wherever he is, to come back home and see his daughter.” Says the grand mother

Community work at Mathare mental hospital

2008-05-30T01:36:00.000-07:00

It is an early Thursday morning a day which was planned earlier by the missionary brothers of the New life home and other volunteers including my self.
the day begging by packing food for people with mental problem at the Mathare hospital then followed by prayers before leaving the place.
The mental problem is situated in Nairobi at mathare area, being there for the first time I am a bit scared.
we are not allowed to enter the maximum wards since the people there are so violent so it is risky.
the situation is so melancholic as we enter the women wards, some women with mental problems look so sad and desperate, others are exited and thy are singing, surprisingly most women are so beautiful and they don't seem to have any mental problem.
Before distributing the donated food we first gave them a chance to narrate their stories or brought them to the mental hospital.
Through that I learned a lot:

we should avoid use of drugs, like cocaine and the rest.
In life we should be ready for anything or any change.

love affairs also has contributed long to people becoming mad, due to people being unfaithful to their partners so in case of such a case we need to have courage.

we should try as much as we can ton avoid being stressed about things, we should do the best but not over think about some things because they can cause trouble. example mathematics, i saw some doing some calculations.

the fourth golden rule is we must be happy in everything that we are doing and we should be satisfied with whatever we have but we should not over think about them
Remember to be happy all the times and try as much as you can to avoid violent reaction which will make you regret after reacting.
love your self and be proud of yourself since you are a unique person.

have you ever visited any place for community work or any mental hospital?
if so share with me what you experience or what you think causes mental problem or anything else that you have ever experienced about the community and its dangers.

Thanks
Rebecca

What you like about your country

2008-05-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

For every good person he or she must be proud of her country
For example after the post election violence it was so embarrassing for more Kenyans to say they come from Kenya but the fact remained that we are still Kenyans and Kenya is still beautiful as it used to be!!!!!!!!

Every country has a privilege to be called she this is why I am going to write about Kenya being a beautiful country in School For The Girls

Below check on beautiful pictures of Kenya

The beautiful site of our capital city Nairobi (Uhuru Park)

I like our wildlife

Lake VictoriaLake Naivasha our beautiful lakes
And finally I like our cultures

Let me know how beautiful your country is and why you consider it as she!!!!
If you have ever visited Kenya tell me the likes and the dislikes

Thanks
Rebecca

strength of a woman

2008-05-02T01:20:00.000-07:00

Manyatta is a traditional maasai house: it is always built by women according to them; all the house work belong to women and men should take care of the cattle and defend the manyatta: If a maasai woman can build a house this shows how strong the women are. and how they are concerned about the well being of the society.
So all women should be respected and be appreciated for all the good things they do.
A picture of a beautiful Vietnam woman holding a baby.

This is a picture of a maasai woman holding its baby and at the same time selling the beads: this shows how creative women are.

This is a picture of a Zulu woman caring a beer pot on her head. This shows how strong women are.

This is a picture of a Zulu woman holding her baby this shows how much women care

Albright

2008-04-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

Hallo friends
My name is Albright Ayoyi I am in class 3, stay in Kibera and a member of school for the girls.
I am struggling with my studies so that I can fulfill my dream of becoming a neural surgeon.
I like skipping rope, running and swimming.
I also like staying with my friends who understand me, I like flowers because they represent love.
My favourite food is pumpkin and vegetable, Ugali and sukuma wiki which is widely eaten in Kenya.
I also like chips and sausage but not so much because they can make me unhealthy.
I like my self but I do encounter small problems like being mocked by my friends because of my hand.
but I want to overcome my challenge and become a neural surgeon so that I can help people who are just like me.
School fee is also my challenge due to the poverty surrounding our area.
I thank God because of School for the girls because of it I can be able to study and also my friend s can do so.
I will be glad for your support and you can even come to visit us here in Kibera.

Welcome
Albright

Importance of reading

2008-04-12T01:56:00.000-07:00

Some people find it difficult to read because they don't have interest in books or they are too lazy to do so.
But we should know more things about reading:

(1) Reading is an inspiration and a gift that human kind have.
through reading one may get inspiration due to the events that take place example Ben Carson's 'Think big' and Gifted 'hands' which can make some one feel good and worth.

(2) through reading you can also have a vision and through it you can be able to protect your self and to some extend have leadership qualities.
In this case if we consider Chinua Achebe's book 'Things Fall Apart 'and also a Swahili writer Ken Walibora in his book 'Siku Njema' which means a nice day.

(3) You can also gain some wisdom from literature for example in the 'big' book the bible King Solomon give wise words which can lead you.

(4) Through it you can also get a sign of togetherness and you can feel you belong, you can also feel you are loved, you can know your origin and also the origin of the world which some times become a difficult question to answer.

(5) Finally reading makes you younger than you have ever thought of.
For example in many cases you may get your teacher still young just like you left him/her 10 or 20 years ago and it is only because of reading.

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.": - Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Reading makes one great and rich.

Thanks
Rebecca