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EDITORIAL
Dear friends,
Welcome to the latest INSPIRE Newsletter from NAYD. We would like to wish all of you a peaceful and prosperous 2010. As the year ends we NAYDians should review our efforts towards bringing change to the African continent and to the world at large. Reducing the impacts of Climate change should be at the core of our actions to building a sustainable and greener future. Once again I hope that you will enjoy reading, and do not hesitate to send articles for inclusion, or any comments about the newsletter.
Peaceful regards, Christian P. Tabifor (Editor NAYD International)
Child Abuse on the increase in Zomba
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hild abuse cases are on the rise in Zomba. Recently a number of cases have been reported to police and publicized in the media. The last three weeks there has been increased cases of children being burnt, raped and neglected. However there are several institutions that are working on child protection in the district. These include NGOs and government institutions like Police and Social Welfare. Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is one of the NGOs that has comprehensive programmes on child protection in Zomba. When asked to comment, YONECO’s executive director Mr. Mkandawire said the increase of child abuse cases being reported is a positive development in the short term. He said this means more awareness at community level. People are becoming more aware of where to report and its importance. He added that the growing number of cases being reported also indicates that stakeholders in child protection are succeeding in sensitizing people at the community level. The YONECO director expressed his appreciation to the role played by the media in exposing cases of child abuse. Apart from the media law enforcers are also doing a lot in bringing to book perpetrators.
Once most of the cases being reported are brought before the court of law, perpetrators who are found guilty will be getting stiffer penalties. Mr. Mkandawire emphasized that is the only way we can stop ‘would be’ abusers from abusing children. In the long run he expects a reduction of child abuse cases due to the fear of its consequences.
YONECO has been running a toll free Helpline since September 2006. The line is popularly known as Tithandizane Helpline 80001234. The toll free line receives more than 100 calls on a daily basis. Tithandizane Helpline is accessible from all MTL phones and TNM subscribers across the country.
YONECO Empowers Young People!
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outh Net and Counselling has given soft loans to 10 young people in Namanolo in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Amidu in Balaka district. The beneficiaries were trained in business management by Community Development Officer for Balaka district Mrs. Grades Masula. The loan will be revolving and has an interest of 10%. The beneficiaries are expected to start repayments after doing business for 3 months. The repayments will be from the fourth month and the period will depend on the group’s agreement. The community development officer advised the beneficiaries to follow business guidelines they learnt during their training. Mrs. Masula expressed her hope that the young people who were the first to benefit from the revolving loan will set a pace for others to follow.
YONECO executive director Mr. Mkandawire warned the recipients against misusing the loan. He encouraged the beneficiaries to use the knowledge they acquired on business management during their training. Mkandawire informed the youth that YONECO is committed in empowering young people. Young people constitute more than half of Malawi population. Many young people who are finishing their secondary education have nothing today as there are no employment opportunities in the country.
YONECO is implementing a project called Yankhulani in the area. The project’s objective is to “Promoting the Right of Youth to Access Quality SRH and HIV and AIDS Services in Malawi”. The project is supported by Scottish Government.
The function was graced by people from the surrounding areas and their local leaders. Some of the chiefs present were; GVH Mkwekwere, Chibwana, Katapira and Msamala. ■
NAYD Kenya Conference on Leadership
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n 17th October,2009 NAYD-Kenya in partnership with Ayup International held a conference on leadership and wealth at Arya High School in Parklands just after Aga Khan University Hospital-Nairobi Kenya from 2:30pm to 6pm
The key speaker was Mr Ammah from California but who has stayed for 14 years in various nations teaching about leadership and wealth. Currently he is a monk (I can’t tell who a monk is)
His speech was based on leadership and wealth. He talked about how a leader should be-a very selfless person but one who can direct his/her people in good directions.
He did talk about leaders who have when faced with defeat they do very absurd things like suicide mass killings of citizens as is case in most of third countries during elections times. He used example of Hyundai President when Hyundai went under its leader took his life. He said of Volkswagen when it was bought by Porsche its majority leader took suicide
He also talked of The USA man called Madoff as a great leader in Investments he swindled a lot of people their hard earned money
After this and other examples like of Nelson Mandela who after 27 or so years he gave leadership to someone else rather than refusing only to acquire wealth for his self interest. He talked of Mother Teresa a leader of hope who was selfless and never tried to seek plenty of wealth
He did say that most of leaders who acquire massive wealth they will try everything to clinch to power to protect their wealth instead of serving people this he said is what is ailing most of our modern society, majority of our leaders have taken upon themselves to loot public coffers at expense of helping society have a just course. He said is not bad to have wealth but did mention best wealth is one that is acquired our a period of time -experience and knowledge
This made me ask myself are we ready to have a selfless leaders that are willing to bring unity, love and peace amongst our global races -blacks, white, Caucasians even greens. ■ Gibson Amenya
COP 15 – Global and Local considerations
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s we set our eyes on COP15 in apparent reference to the forth-coming Climate Justice negotiations in Copenhagen, it suffices to embolden the connection between global discussions and the local circumstances and related factors. After all it is one world, one climate and one people. This is the message en-route to COP15 as world leaders and delegates ensemble in Copenhagen ahead of the climate talks. It is common knowledge that local factors and circumstances are instrumental in defining and directing global climate. Consequently, what affects one country directly affects all countries either directly or indirectly especially in so far as climate issues are instrumental.
A cursory glance at the vicissitudes of global climate confirm that the global ecosystem/global climate or Mother Earth is increasingly under threat from forces of depletion and is increasingly immersed in challenges of varying dimensions by reason of depletion, ignorance, marauding vested interests, pollution, corruption, greed, sheer pilferage, political irresponsibility and modern day vagaries of unbridled capital economy. As a result the world is experiencing unpredictable climate behaviours and worrying tendencies such as global warming, shift in weather patterns, drying of rivers, rise in sea levels, etcetera. Indeed the ravages of drought and related famine, floods and tsunamis continue to attract consequences of tragic proportions especially on key facets of productive economy.
The Copenhagen Climate negotiations therefore present an historic opportunity for serious global reflection and decisive actions on the future of our planet. COP15 must in my view make bold steps into a better future by generating an acceptable climate justice package. In the words of Abraham Lincoln; ‘we can nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.’ The Copenhagen meeting is challenged to measure up to this historic mandate of nobly saving the last best hope of the world as well as securing the future of humanity by building a common climate agenda. This can only happen if leaders from across the globe clasped hands together in all the things that are essential for a responsive climate regime by ensuring that the common good of all humanity is not sacrificed at the very altar of vested interests and sectarian considerations.
Climate constitutes a shared resource just as humanity is a mutual network of human beings hence unequivocal commitments by leaders is both critical and inescapable. A comprehensive climate justice package is imperative especially putting into perspective the perils and threats facing our climate today. A substantive and effective outcome of COP15 will no doubt generate a comprehensive blue-print on global climate renewal and/or regeneration aimed at bolstering and buttressing the KYOTO treaty as well as internalizing value for important principles as equity, climate justice and human development. Suffices it to reiterate the importance of the five pillars of the Bali Plan of Action namely adaptation, mitigation, technology development and transfer, capacity building and financing
The concept of common but differentiated responsibilities holds sway particularly given the gap between developed and third world economies. The fact that developed or highly industrialized countries emit more gases that contribute to global pollution than developing countries cannot be gainsaid. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is based on shared responsibilities proportional to levels of pollution. As a consequence, developed countries are morally obligated to take responsibility for the current climate mess and associated challenges as well as show higher levels of commitment in so far as future climate justice is necessary.
A comprehensive climate regime will no doubt usher in a new dispensation of responsibility and systematic approach to climate renewal. Kenya remains a critical player in the climate talks hence the need to think global put act local by putting in place plausible arrangements aimed at redressing the woes and challenges facing our ecosystem. The need therefore to energize ongoing local efforts at formulating appropriate climate policies that will engender a culture of environmental regeneration is imperative and must constitute a priority item on the national agenda.
Environmental renewal requires a comprehensive blue print that will ensure that all our resources, fauna and flora are afforded the requisite attention and value. We must therefore clasp our hands together in replenishing and regenerating a people’s responsive climate. It is a duty we owe to ourselves and to posterity. A new Kenya with permanent rivers, evergreen forests and sustainable endowments is possible. After all, global is indeed very local. COP15 must therefore yield unequivocal commitment and satisfactory climate package. ■ Gibson Amenya, Esther Kagendo, Irene Mutheu
Water Usage in Cameroon
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In Cameroon like in many other cities around the world, many people in big cities misuse water in their homes by wasting it on the ground with no control, while in the villages, people walk miles just to get a very small quantity of contaminated water to drink and for general household use. I took some time to shoot this short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHNUVZHops to show how it happens. What solutions do you think can help? ■ Peter Njodzeka
Editors note - do readers have any videos they would like to share with the NAYD community? Please write to us with the link