From Seguya Uganda

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

 

I visited some home that recieved the piglets on Christmas day to see how the piglets are progressing. The piglets in all the two homes are doing fine. See pictures. I also thought the pictures of the children in these homes would be good.

 

Happy new year to you,

Seguya

Friends of Tanzania

Tags: Tanzania

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NIPRO IN SOUTH AFRICA

NiPRO Movement for change in South Africa

Meeting with Heather Freeman was  indeed a success, we had a lot in common and that made us to have a beautiful conversation. We discussed extensively about Nigerians in Diaspora especially in South Africa and United Kingdom. We discussed about the quality of lives we are living in Diaspora and likewise the image we are busy building in Diaspora.

She planned to partner with NiPRO as soon as she return back to South Africa, though her charity office is located in the mother city i.e Cape Town. We will ensure to keep in touch so as to set things rolling and to make our vision a reality in South Africa as a nation.

Recruitment in Progress

Recruitment is gradually becoming a slogan among my folks becauseI have designed a shirt for myself and I plan to make extra 30 pieces so that my team can wear them and people will get to ask them the same question what is Recruitment in Progress? Johannesburg is believed to be a city of Gold and unfortunately many people were disappointed that gold is not picked on streets of Johannesburg.

Gross Unemployment is a prominent issue in South Africa and yet they are complaining of skills shortage in some certain industry especially the IT sector. Few professionals are in the country and the youth have given up on the situation of things in the country. I have four top members in NiPRO SA they are as follows Kholofelo Morena, Solomon Seloma, Tosin Bankole and Felix Owolabi. We have been meeting consecutively on how to get things started for the launching by February 2008.

 

Nigerians and their attitude

When I was very new in Johannesburg, many Nigerians seems to be nice to me. After some time their brother hood love began to fade away. A Nigerian brother cannot give out one South African Rand for food. It’s so unfortunate that a larger percentage of Nigerians in South Africa are living beyond what they were at home. I use this word more often “Abroad is not for everyone”  I was moved to do a documentary about Nigerians living in South Africa and that got us the Wits Art Awards Best Picture category and also Best Director. We did that to expose our lives here and hoping the Federal Government can see how to empower Nigerians here.

Nigerians sell drugs, pimp girls, engage in child pornography, 419 scam, hijacking and so many atrocities that we don’t do back home. We planned to visit the correctional services to interview some people on what led them to SA Prison. We are still awaiting permission to do that as well, I believe in the New Nigeria Project and I support it the movement as well. I know empowerment is the answer to the bad image we have created in Diaspora. Nigerians have contributed over 33% growth to the SMEs in Johannesburg the power house of South Africa.

We have a very strong entrepreneurship spirit and I admire that. Surely we all know that not all Nigerians are bad but the image must change. I welcome NiPRO to South Africa to take up this challenge but it’s not just NiPRO but we have to play our role to make it happen.

 

 

Victor Gotevbe plans to meet the SA Challenge

Many people see the glamorous lives in Johannesburg and beyond. KORA and Channel O award is one of the most significant events that showcase South Africa to the entire world. Recently the World All Stars performed at the Nelson Mandela 46664 project and it was indeed a success. There are a lot of challenges in South Africa, the popular HIV/AIDS, Crime, and Unemployment is crippling the almighty South Africa gradually. Our major concerns focus more on Africans living in South Africa because the country is a home to a lot of immigrants.

Especially Nigerians, we believe in dialogue and empowerment and we hope to impact people’s lives through NiPRO the long awaited team of change. The awareness is going on right now and much will be published via the SA version website for NiPRO www.nipro.co.za will be launched soon. Expect more update via the NiPRO group and the website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author

Kunle Owolabi

ICT/Multimedia

KSTUNT MEDIA

Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: sam@kstuntmedia.co.za

sam@kstuntmedia.co.za

Cell: +27824062265

.

Tags: NIPRO, KORA, South Africa

Project Lots Nigeria

Project lots is an acroymn for Project love on the street. It is a celebration of children living on the streets and those living in poverty. This particular event is celebrating  kids in Oko baba Area of Ebute Metta. Most of these kids have never been to a party before especially one organised for them. After the celebration, we are trying to raise funds for these kids education.

 

Programme schedule:

 

Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2007

 

Time: 2.00pm -7.00pm

 

Meeting point is @  Sweet Sensations at Alago Meji in Yaba to the venue. For those that can't do the walk, the venue is kadara Primary school at oko baba in Ebute Metta.

 

The celebration ends at about 7pm.

 

Donations could be addressed to Miss Sangosanya Tolulope Odunayo, Intercontinential Bank, Ikotun Branch. Account no.015311044018.

That's for those that can trust us with their money and for those that cant, they can bring with them to the program anything they are willing to give ranging from clothes,shoes,food,drinks,toys,adopt a child,pay for a lesson teacher etc. Please remember it's for the future of Nigeria we are doing this and note that account of every resources given shall be accounted for.

 

Tolu

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Tags: Oko baba, Ebute Metta, kadara Primary school, Alago Meji in Yaba

Peace Initiatives Uganda

Rebuilding young people’s lives
in Uganda

 

The youth in Uganda have grown up knowing nothing but violence and war. The Network for Peace Building Initiatives is empowering youth to combat the violence damaging their lives and undermining development efforts.

 

NPI work at the grass roots throughout Uganda, regularly spending time educating for peace in Internal Refugee Camps in war-zones in Northern Uganda and those with those driven from their homes by cattle-rustling.

 

We help rebuild lives of children who have suffered appalling traumas; a 12 year old abductee fighter who has been forced kill their own family and tribe members, refugees and “Night Commuters” - the school children who walk over 15 miles every night to sleep rough in towns to avoid abduction.

 

The NPI’s Peace Education Programme teaches tolerance, human rights and empowers young people to tackle social justice issues through a range of activities but needs further support to reach more youths.

We currently have four key programmes which need support;

·           The Peacemania, a newsletter giving school children a voice
and educating them about their rights

·           Peace Camps bringing youth of different tribes together

·           Peace Culture road shows, peace edu-tainment

·           Website, bringing together young people online

 

"Thanks to the Peacemania, members can now exchange views as well as get friends in various schools and learn more about our rights and freedoms"
Karungi, Mengo Senior School, Uganda and reader of Peacemania

 

You can help NPI with just

£150
enough to host and maintain the  Peacemania website for 1 year

£430
1000 copies of The Peacemania newsletter (1 quarterly run)

 

£1450
To buy equipment needed to reach larger Peace Culture Roadshow audiences, would include a projector, public address system and educational documentaries. 

 

For further information please contact:

Victoria Brasier (UK), UNESCO Youth Ambassador Liaison

Tel: 07985337641 Email: victoria.brasier@ba.com

Ndozireho Jessy Winterbonn, NPI Programme Director
Tel: 00256 772 342805, 41531 572
Email: peaceinitiativesuganda@unesco.co.uk

 

Please make any donations payable to
UNESCO UK UGANDA,
6 St Andrews Road, Hanwell, London, W7 2NX.
All donations are used for the delivery of education programmes,
not for administration costs or volunteer expenses.

 

Water Initiative Nigeria

Dear All,

 

It is my pleasure informing you that SAFE WATER FOR ALL NIGERIAN CHILDREN PROJECT has been launch by Her Excellency Hajia Turia Yaradua ably represented by the wife of the Vice president Her Excellency Dame Patient Goodluck Jonahan, who in her capacity is the National Patron of the project.

 

PUR PURIFIER OF WATER an instant water purifier, a product of P&G refer to as mini treatment plant, has been identified as the signature product for the Nigeria project.

 

Having received some grants from P&G for the project, we are seeking to appoint state coordinators for 36 states including Abuja for effective implementation of  this project.

The duty of the Coordinator is not limited to handling PUR distribution and sales as a social product in the assigned state, but also relate with the WASH representative in the state.

 

We are also calling on independent consultant an expert in Risk Communication or groups to submit a proposal on GUIDANCE ON COMMUNICATION WITH RESPECT TO SAFE DRINKING WATER, SANITATION AND HOUSEHOLD HYGEINE.

 

 Submission of expression of interest on these subject matters should be sent to info@safewaterafrica.org  latest by 14th December 2007.

 

 

 

 

Thanks

 

SOLA BABALOLA

Communication officer

SAFE WATER FOR NIGERIAN CHILDREN

08038088514

Rogbonko Newsletter, Sierra Leone.

 HEADMASTER MAKES THE GRADE

Five years ago when we first travelled to Rogbonko Village to discuss the possibility of building a school, one of the people we met was Augustine Kamara. Augustine was then the secretary to the village committee and one of the only literate people in Rogbonko. He soon proved himself indispensable to our efforts, conducting a village census with Simon (Westcott), acting as translator and record keeper. Our first school was built a short time afterwards, entirely by volunteers and made of bamboo and thatch. Augustine seemed the obvious choice to become the first schoolmaster of what was then just an informal school. Over the years we have worked to raise standards by employing fully qualified teachers. Thanks to a generous individual donation to the Rogbonko Village School Trust, we were able to offer our untrained teachers the chance to go to college and Augustine was the first to gain a place at Makeni Teacher Training College. The Trust bought him a bicycle to enable him to attend classes. That was three years ago. This summer Augustine passed his Final Exams to become a fully qualified teacher. We are delighted to offer him our wholehearted congratulations.

 

 

MARATHON MISHAP COMES GOOD

Allie Smith, educational consultant and former London primary school headmistress, had to pull out of the April 2007 London Marathon after months of training following a back injury days before the event. Allie’s plan was to raise sufficient funds to send herself to Rogbonko to help train our teachers in new teaching methods. As it turned out almost all of you who sponsored Allie decided to send the money anyway. £750 in all was raised. Allie was immensely touched by your support and will be off to Rogbonko in 2008.

 

 

IN BRIEF

 

ROGBONKO VILLAGE SCHOOL TEA TOWEL

This year’s Christmas fundraiser is the Rogbonko Village School Tea Towel, based on a design by Rogbonko School pupil and competition winner Adama Sesay. Adama had her first art class a year ago when Freetown based artist Rosalind Hanson Alp visited Rogbonko. We hope you’ll love the result as much as we do and agree it makes a perfect Christmas gift. Disappointingly, this year we won’t be selling the Rogbonko School Calendar as our former printer has moved on and we’ve been unable to secure similarly competitive printing rates.

 

EXAM SUCCESS

All nine children who sat the secondary school entrance exams this year have been successful. That brings to a total of 22 the number of children who have graduated from Rogbonko. All are enrolled at Magburaka Secondary School, their fees paid for by the Rogbonko Osusu Fund, set up by the villagers to help provide their children with a secondary education. For the second year running Rogbonko School candidates achieved the highest exam marks in the area.

 

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Rogbonko Village School Trust supplied and sent £900 worth of sports equipment, including a table tennis table, volleyball and badminton equipment. UNESCO Youth Ambassador Don McBurney also donated several boxes of sports goods, including balls, skipping ropes and frisbees. Our thanks to him for his continued support.

 

NEEDLEWORK CLASSES

At the request of the school staff, Rogbonko Village School Trust has supplied funding for several sewing machines and sewing equipment to begin needlework classes at Rogbonko School. Teachers and pupils plan to sell the class’ creations to help raise funds for their school.

 

 

 

Tags: Rogbonko, Sierra Leone, Makeni Teacher Training College

Possible new project - Nigeria

Dear Victor,

 

In the coming year, I will be working on a new project titled: Young Nigerians for sustainable development, in my capacity as Nigeria's rep at the Commonwealth RYC. This project will mainly seek to provide the needed drive for young people to take charge of Nigeria's long term development planning processes, particularly as it relates to the new president's vision 2020. DPI will be the secretariat for this project.

 

As part of the implementation, there will be a national youth for SD conference in the first quarter of next year. The theme of the conference will be: Vision 2020: Setting the agenda, and it will focus on important issues like the Niger-delta and the FG's development master plan, NEEDS 2, the President's 7 point agenda, Nigeria's development priorities and the youth agenda. This process will lead to the development of a blue print, which will be submitted to the President through the Minister of Youth Development.

 

We are planning to organise this conference in March and it will be preceeded by a special forum with youth in the diaspora in late January. I will like to explore the possibilities of working with NIPRO on this initiative.

 

I will be glad t discuss more with you on the way forward. Regards,

--
Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima .

Tags: NIPRO

PAN and A Ray of Hope - Brussels

ARTS & LITERACY

IN EUROPEAN PRISONS

 

“If you can't read or write, and you're not into TV or music, you're in trouble. You'll get depressed and wound up.”

[Prisoner in Wakefield Prison, England:

quoted in “A Day Inside”, The Guardian, March 2007]

 

            On the 21st November 2007 the PAN Coordinator, Dr Alan Clarke, addressed the Annual Open Forum of the ‘Dyslexia International – Tools and Technologies’ (DITT) in Brussels, attended by around 60 delegates. The invitation came as a result of PAN’s affiliation to A Ray of Hope and its role as a UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace.

Under the title of ‘Dyslexia discovered - Dyslexia ignored: two sides of the coin’,  Alan followed an informative presentation by Dr Michael Thomson, Principal of East Court School, a specialist school for dyslexic children, with a presentation on how the arts can support literacy teaching in prison.  

 

He started by raising questions about the purpose of prisons, the kind of people who find themselves behind bars, and the negative effects prison has on them. In particular he emphasised the loss of self-esteem and the lack of opportunities to communicate at anything other than a superficial level. He outlined the high level of illiteracy amongst offenders and the need to stress the positive qualities amongst dyslexic people. He then went on to emphasise the importance that education, and the arts in particular, can have in overcoming these problems. He gave a number of examples of this, including the work of the London Shakespeare Workout and the Varderteartret of ex-offenders in Oslo.

Finally he outlined the impact that the PAN & The Will to Dream projects can have in these areas, including improving literacy skills amongst inmates.

 

In a report on the meeting Daphne Davies quoted Alan’s comments:

 

“The most important aspect of prison learning is related to self-esteem. ... For many of the inmates, school had been a nightmare, so the aim of (the prison teachers’)  work is to ‘take the stigma out of learning to read and write ...’”

 

And in her thank-you message the meeting organiser, Judith Sansom, wrote:

“Your presentation was thought-provoking and people are still discussing the issues you raised.”

 

From Helen Uganda

Helen has informed us that the season of the grasshopper is upon them and they can enjoy the delicacy of the dish.

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Seguya, Uganda

Seguya participates in World Bank International Essay Writing Competition.

Congratulations to Seguya from us all.

Tags: Uganda,

NiPRO South Africa

We are happy to announce to you that Nigerian Professionals (NiPRO) International  has opened a chapter in Joburg, South Africa which will be managed by a very young and dynamic Nigerian professional, Mr. Adekunle Samuel Owolabi, ICT/Multimedia Specialist ,Kstunt Media (www.kstuntmedia.co.za)

We  realized that Nigeria has a bad image in South Africa and we trust that Nigerians in South African can lead the change process and image building with their actions.

Please join me as we welcome Mr. Owolabi on board and do watch out for www.nipro.co.za

 

 

Tags: NiPRO, Joburg,