Volunteering

The Agenda 2063 Shadows

Youth Impact, Burkina Faso

Solving Unemployment in Africa

My Letter to Boko Haram

African Unity

Plus: The Africa’s Big five, African Birds, Health Matters, Dishes and much more

insidethis issue

The AGENDA 2063 Shadows: Why Prioritize the African Youth amid Strategy............................................6

Youth impact, Burkina Faso: Press statement..........8

Solving unemployment in Africa............................12

African Youth to take part in the UN Post 2015 Development Goals.....................14 What Next...

27

14

10

22

15

Health Matters............................................................2

Art and Design...........................................................9

The Big Five..............................................................10

Bird Segment............................................................15

Volunteerism: why you ought to do what you have to do for change.........................................16

My Letter to Boko Haram.........................................18

What of African Unity................................................20

Delivering on the Potential of Africa’s Young women.......................................................................22

Insights from the Third High Level Dialogue onDemocracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa.........................................................................24

Diary of Mum..............................................................26

African Dishes...........................................................27

Health Matters

Paw paw/ papaya boost your energy, helps in weight loss, boosts immune system, supports digestive health, supports cardiovasculer system, helps in preventing and fighting certain cancers. it also helps renewal of muscle tissue

Did you know...

Table of Content.........................................................3

2

editorial

from the editor

Marketing and Circulations AUYWG Communications and PR department

Editor Judith Mong’eri.

Contributors/writers Victor Moimina

Stephen Machua Ida Ng’ang’a

Benjamin Larbi Rading Biko Gero Desmond Walker

UnyimeAbasi Essien Kudakwashe Manjonjo Philani HlopheDhlamini

Layout & Design Michael Ager Shem Otina

Technical Support Malshe Media Designers

Po. Box 17185,00100. malshemedia@consultant .com

Youth in Action Editorial is led and directed by the entire AUYWG Secretariat; Organizing team, Communications and Public Relations team, Technical/Research team, ICT and Outreach team and the advi-sory board members in tandem to what is affecting the continent.

Chairman: Kawsu Sillah, The Gambia

…The Youth in Action is a publication of the African Union Youth Working Group (AUYWG). AUYWG was initiated in Novem-ber 3rd, 2013 as a response to the call to have monitoring mechanisms in enhancing the African Union Programmes. Coordinating Committee members oversees the day to day functions of the secretariat and coordinates with the secretariat of various working groups.

AUYWG key objective is to continue engaging African Youth to partake in the development of Africa.

The Team

Hello Africa!

I am excited to introduce to you our very first African Union Youth Working Group (AUYWG) magazine Youth in Action.AUYWG holds tight that young people of Africa are part and parcel of African Union (AU) programmes and initiatives. Such a creation strives to ensure that young people take ownership over AU and see themselves as Africans rather than nationalities of their countries. We envision Kwame Nkruma’s words…

‘I am African not because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me’. Well said! For decades, Africa is bookmarked as a poor continent where it only depends on aid from the western nations to survive. Above all,in our generation youth are the highest the generation percentage of the continent’s populations hence the most affected.

Rading Biko Gero writes an in-depth article on solving unemployment in Africa. Out of 5 unemployed in Af-rica, 3 are young people. Rural areas are worse leading to rural-urban migrations resulting to unemployment challenges in urban centers.This has consequently led to generational poverty cycles which keep shifts from one family to the other; from generation to generation.

The introductory of the #AfricaWeWant has gained momentum within the AUYWG as it digs deeper to elimi-nate catastrophes such as unemployment. The future we want to see in Africa takes into accounts the Agenda 2063 pillars. Read through into the Agenda 2063 shadows to understand why the generation youth ought to be involved amid all strategies.

Many are the amazing motivational stories and articles written by the youths themselves from different Afri-can nations, telling the perspective in which they see it and the way they would love to see Africa. The spirit is high and Africa is indeed talented. As you strive to build the new Africa, I warmly welcome you to Youth in Action.

CONSTRUCTING THE AFRICA WE WANT!

Mong’eri Judith

The AGENDA 2063 Shadows

Why Prioritize the African Youth amid Strategy

Africa has for centuries been identified with poverty. This consequently has won the continent a branding which has not shown the signs to leaving anytime soon if strate-

gic measures are not put in place. Each of the African state face unique challenges that calls for action in order to identify and put in societies to work towards achieving the unique objectives

When you invest time and you make a goal and de-cision on something, you must have thought about it.African states have profoundly sat in conferences, summits, and thought together hence recommenda-tions and strategized, way forward to end the trade-mark which has been here for ages.

Youths have been identified as a key sector which holds the highest percentage impact in the continent. 65 % of the total populations of Africa are of age be-low 35 years.

The African Union identifies 15 years to 35 years as the youth age bracket. According to the African Union Commission (AUC), by the year 2020, out of 4 people 3 will be on average 20years old.

This almost ¾ of the whole African population are subjected to many challenges which in return deem them useless to societal development hence the nation as a whole.

Obviously, the generation called the youth form the focal point to making the #AfricaWeWant.

The theme ‘The Africa We Want’ will never come to live if the highest populations in the continent are not involved from design to implementation stage of what is said in many dialogues and summits of heads

of states and other relevant stakeholders.

According to AUC the large population of youths must be mobilized and equipped to help drive Africa’s integration, peace and development agenda.

It writes, ‘A strong and accountable leadership and successful integration needs to be anchored on par-ticipation of the key segment of the populations of which the youth are the essential pillar.’

In most political campaigns, the African youth if of-ten utilized sufficiently to mobilize and lure voters to chose whose candidature they are in support.

This youth is the one manipulated to fulfill the dirty works of the who in society, is manipulated to clean up the political fights for the sake of keeping up the status quo.

The youth is ready to do anything however dangerous as long as he/she can earn something because they have nothing else to place their purposeful time in. This youth is simply idle.

Why not use this influentially synergetic youth on something that can see our nation develop? Why not utilize the talent they have to reach out to fellow youths in ensuring that generational poverty is swept off the lands of this continent?

The African Youth Charter (AYC), which was adopt-ed by the seventh ordinary sessions of the assembly held in Banjul, The Gambia 2006, acknowledged the fact that youth must actively participate at local, na-tional, regional and International levels to determine their own development and the advancement of soci-ety at large.

African member states were therefore obligated for recognitions and as a result implement into law with-in the constitutions of states.

African Union Youth Working Group (AUYWG) has put up commitment to seeing the #AfricaWeWant in tandem with Agenda 2063.

The determination by AUYWG is to have an integrat-ed Africa, where pupils at school can sing the Afri-can Union anthem, where the youths are involved in the policies drafting and be part of implantation and monitoring process.

The youth of today is challenged with living to see projects they do not identify with; Projects which do not necessarily address the really issues affecting their livelihood.

Often, this youths are asked to lend a hand labour in projects brought to their communities and the bitter truth is that when such projects are complete, no-one not even the ones tasked to implement it knows or have a clue on how it can best turn their lives for the better.

AUYWG is putting its efforts to ensure that what is depicted is participatory communication. This theory of participatory communication identifies that com-munities through its youths should be empowered to visualize aspirations and discover solutions to their development problems and issues.

Agenda 2063 put emphasis that all stakeholders have therefore to be involved and participate in the conception, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. This according to Agenda 2063 will ensure enhancement of awareness, ownership and knowledge of Agenda 2063 objectives and purposes and therefore fostering commitments to realizing its goals.

Desire is a key to motivation but often it is out-weighed by determination and commitment. Are our governments committed to ratify The AYC? Do they really want to send away the tag ‘poor Africa’ and build ‘The Africa we want to see’?

AYC is a political and legal document which serves as the strategic framework that gives direction for

youths’ empowerment and development at continen-tal, regional and national levels.As by April 28th, 2014, 36 member states had ratified the charter, 42 had only signed and 3 are yet to sign and ratify.

That noted, since 2009 at least according to African-youth.org, only a few member states have been able to establish National Youth Commissions aimed at ex-ecuting the legal and policy frameworks to empower the youth as per recommendations.

Even without the exact % at hand, Africa need there-fore to factor the element youth extensively if we re-ally mean business in order the build the Africa we envisage in 2063.

This is what we lack and it is exactly what will refute us the #AfricaWeWant. The youth is rising and em-powering this youth will get the continent the future Africa.

The youth is on track claiming his/her rightful place in society. Sitting on recommendations made in vari-ous summits only means a waste of energy and time if they do not get implemented. And this is what will keep the trademark ‘Poor Africa’ with us for more ages to come.

By Mong’eri Judith

“ It is important that we see investment in our people as the first pre-requisite for Agenda 2063 to happen... and we must begin to shift the focus to stern areas. Maths, science, technology and engineering are

going to be very import ant ares, going forward... This skills revolution is a necessary ingredient for the success of Agenda 2063”

AUC Chairperson H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma6

The West Africa Youth Organization has fol-lowed with keen interest the happening in Burkina Faso.

We wish to congratulate the citizens and people of Burkina Faso for their gallant and relentless show of patriotism and stand for their legitimate democratic rights, freedoms and liberties.

“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ig-norance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors”.- Maya Angelou

This is an emphatic display of power of the masses and identify in solidarity with them, we believe sov-ereignty and legitimacy resides with the people. By this protest it represent in unequivocal terms a vote of no confidence on president Blaise Campoure and his government and he must respect the wish of the people.

West Africa Youth congratulate the military of Burki-na Faso for their swift display of professionalism. While we applaud them, the youth of West Africa will not accept any travesty of the constitution and the subversion of the constitution by stakeholders.

We encourage the youth and political actors in Burki-na Faso to remain resolute in pursuance of democracy and political transition. The world is watching and we share in your quest for a people’s government.

This protest is the victory of the masses and they must be involved every step of the way. We wish to encour-

age our comrades in Burkina Faso to remain steadfast and defend the peace, freedom and liberties guaran-tee by the constitution and the universal declaration of human rights. We stand with you side by side as partners and comrades in the struggle.

We remain in firm solidarity with the sovereign will of the masses. Legitimacy resides with the people and the masses are the supreme repository of legiti-macy and sovereignty.

Africa has exhausted its political space for repressive regimes, the days of breeding tyrannical and dictato-rial regimes is over, Africa has woken up to a new age and the political space can no longer accommo-date suppression of the will of the masses.

We call on all youth across Africa wherever they are, to be bold and demand accountable governance. Young people have the right to progressively aspire to the highest positions of any country.

We are monitoring developments closely, the interest and security of citizens must be safe guarded by the state. Africa is too rich to countenance poverty and too endowed with enormous talent and ingenuity to depend on aid.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful com-mitted citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”–Margaret Mead

We lift our voices loud and clear against violence, while encouraging all youth across the globe to speak out against this heinous crime of dictatorship, the world will be a better place with greater respect for democracy, political rights, freedoms and the rule of law.

Democratic tenets and accountable governance remains a shared responsibility, let’s speak out!!

YOUTH IMPACT BURKINA FASO

PRESS STATEMENTDATE: 29TH OCTOBER 2014

WEST AFRICA YOUTH ORGANIZA-TION SOLIDARIZE WITH THE CITIZENS OF BURKINA FASO AGAINTS POLITICAL PERPETUITY.

ELIMINATION OF POLITICAL DICTATORSHIP PERPETUITY BY POWER DRUNK LEADERS IN AFRICA IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, YOUTH SPEAK OUT!’

Art & Design

I am Victor Opiyo an artist. I use my artwork for social changeMy talent is my source of incomeEach of my artwork has a specific message,

I nurture talents in my community.I love my pencil work and painting ,

Email : opiyovictor2012@gmail.com

The Big 5

Black rhinocerosBlack rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is a large, thick-skinned herbivore having one or two upright horns on the nasal bridge. Rhinoceros may refer to either black or white rhinoceros. Among big five game hunters, the black rhinoc-eros is preferred, although it is now critically endangered.

African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana)

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is a very large herbivore having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors form-ing long curved tusks of ivory, and large, fan-shaped ears. There are two distinct species of African el-ephant: African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana). Elephants are difficult to hunt because despite their large size, they are able to hide in tall grass and are more likely to charge than the other species.

Lion (Panthera leo)

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large carnivorous feline of Africa and northwest India, having a short, taw-ny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders. Lions are desirable to hunters because of the very real danger involved. A lion may attack without provocation, and is consid-ered by many to be the best of the big five.

Leopard (Panthera pardus)

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large, carnivorous feline having either tawny fur with dark rosette-like markings or black fur. Of the big five, it is most diffi-cult to acquire hunting licenses for leopards. The leop-ard is considered the most difficult of the big five to hunt because of their nocturnal and secretive nature. They are wary of humans and will take flight in the face of danger. The leopard is solitary by nature, and is most active between sunset and sunrise, although it may hunt during the day in some areas. Leopards can be found in the savanna grasslands, brush land and forested areas in Africa.

African Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

The African or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large horned bovid. Buffalo are sometimes reported to kill more people in Africa than any other animal, although the same claim is also made of hippos and crocodiles.[7] It is considered the most dangerous of the big five, reportedly causing the most hunter deaths,[8] with wounded animals reported to ambush and attack pursuers.

In Africa, the big five game animals are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and White/Black rhinoceros.[1] The term big five game (sometimes capitalized or quoted as “Big Five”) was coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. Subsequently the term was adopted by safari tour operators for marketing purposes.

The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.

The big five are among the most dangerous, yet most popular species for big game hunters to hunt.

Countries where all the members of the big five can be found include Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Malawi.[5]

The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.

There are 200million people in Africa between 15 and 24 years of age represent-ing about 20% of the population. According to the Population Research Bureau, Africa

has the fastest growing and most youthful population in the world.

Over 40 percent of its population is under 15 and it’s all because of Africa’s high fertility rate is responsible for this. This demographic finding portends challeng-es and opportunities.

The challenges are economic and social; both are highly connected as the population expands, jobs must be created. If these jobs are not enough, there will be many young people who are unemployed. According to the International Labor Organization, 3 out of 5 unemployed people in Africa are young people.

The World Bank 2008 Report titled ‘Youth Employment in Africa: the potential, the problem and the promise’ notes that youth employment is more prevalent in urban areas. Worsening conditions in the rural areas lead to rural-urban migration.

This compounds the unemployment challenge in the urban centers. This is clearly evident in many big cit-ies in Africa including Lagos, Ibadan, Aba, Zaria, Accra, Dakar, and Johannesburg, just to mention a few.

Effects of Youth Unemployment

Unemployed youth are therefore readily available for anti-social criminal activities that undermine the stability of society. An unstable society increases the risk of the market.

This scares investors. Jorge Saba Arbache of the Africa Region of the World Bank says ‘unemployed and underemployed youth are more exposed to conflicts and illegal activities-many of them fall prey to armed and rebel conflicts’.

In Nigeria, the unemployment rate is worrisome. It has consistently increased in the last few years. For-mer presidential aspirant and business mogul Prof Pat Utomi wonders why Nigeria experiences rising

rate of unemployment despite its rating as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

The situation is no different in the other 6 countries listed in Africa listed as one of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world. Zambian Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda once said that the youth unem-ployment is ‘a ticking time bomb for all of us’.

What African Leaders Think

In response to this challenge, regional and continental governments have met severally to discuss solutions to youth unemployment in Africa. On 18th February 2009 in Addis Ababa, African heads of state declared 2009-2019 as the decade of youth development in Africa.

They resolved to advance youth development and ensure increased investments in youth development programmes at national levels.

The declaration was reviewed two years later. On 1st July 2011, the heads of state and government met in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to discuss the need to accelerate youth empowerment for sustainable development’. They reinforced the Addis Ababa 2009 declaration and promised ‘creation of safe, decent and competitive employment opportunities’.

In July 2012, the African Development Bank facilitated a policy dialogue on youth employment for the Southern African region, chaired by its Vice President Prof Mthuli Ncube. In Ghana, the gov-ernment created the National Youth Service for its graduates and also the National Youth Employment Program (NYEP) to secure jobs for the unemployed.

Mauritius has a National Human resource plan that provides framework for technical and vocational education. Zambia introduced the National Youth policy and Youth Enterprise fund to reduce poverty and create jobs.

The Nigerian government introduced Skill Acquisi-tion and enterprise development into the National Youth service corp, and a business plan competition for young people tagged ‘YOUWIN’ program. These

efforts have not clearly resulted in significant reduc-tion in youth unemployment.

African Education curriculum must be immediately revised to incorporate skills and enterprise devel-opment. A special program should be designed for low-skilled youth in vocational centers. Incentives should be provided to SMEs that promote student internships.

The current state of youth unemployment in Nigeria and the rest of Africa require shared responsibilities to tackle it. It will take the ‘Power of We’ to solve it. Businesses will thrive in a safe and secure soci-ety. Governments should implement developmental programs only in an atmosphere of peace of security.

It is therefore incumbent on government to work closely with the private sector to promote internships, graduate trainee programmes, and community-based projects that create jobs for young people. Social Entrepreneurship is a viable tool that can create jobs for many young people.

The AfDB chief economist Prof Ncube says ‘it has become clear that there are no quick fixes to ensur-ing that all Africa’s young people get off to a good start. Stronger job creation mechanisms grounded in a deliberate strategy for inclusive growth and social development is needed’.

Addressing the youth unemployment in Africa requires an integrated holistic approach. Shortcuts will not work. The World Bank 2008 report advocates for a comprehensive model that caters for rural devel-opment, rural-urban migration, preparation of young people for the labor market and investments in ag-riculture.

The aim of every government should be to create enabling environment to promote investments. This includes provision of power, maintaining law and order, and adequate security. The justice system must also be strong to facilitate strong contracts and protect mutual trust.

Regional organizations such as ECOWAS must ensure that policy for economic integration is not just on paper but clearly implemented in real terms, across the borders. Minimum standards should be set for products that will cross borders. Free movement of people and goods should be allowed, within the limits of regional and international trade treaties

Agriculture is a viable source of investments for young people if it is made attractive. There should be a swift transition from subsistence to commercial-ized farming. Farm and non-farm activities should be better packaged to make them really attractive. There should also be adequate investment in rural education. This will boost rural opportunities and reduce rural-urban migration and its concomitant challenges.

The way Forward

SOLVING UNEMPOYMENT IN AFRICA

By: Rading Biko Gerro

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In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals set a few highly effective targets for the world, e.g. halve the proportion of poor and hungry and reduce childhood mortality by two-thirds. The

goals have been a huge success. Now, the UN and the world is to decide which new goals will take over in 2015.

Over the past 18 months, the Copenhagen Consensus Center has published 100+ peer-reviewed analyses from 82 of the world’s top econ-omists and 44 sector experts along with many UN agencies and NGOs. These have established how effective 100+ targets would be in terms of value-for-money.

An Expert Panel including two Nobel Laureates has reviewed this research and identified 19 targets that represent the best value-for-money in development over the period 2016 to 2030, offering social good worth more than $15 back on every dollar invested.

Youth in Africa are taking part in prioritizing the goals post 2015 led by the African Union Youth Working Group AUYWG’s very own Mentors Ida Ng’ang’a of Kenya and Nelson Madiba Amo of Ghana. 5 mind blowing Forums have already been held in Kenya and 4 in Ghana.

The UN’s Open Working Group has proposed 169 targets. But which are most effective? Copenhagen Consensus asked 30+ of the world’s top economists to highlight phenomenal, good, fair and poor targets, weighing up the social, environmental and economic benefits and costs. The world will spend $2.5 trillion in development aid from 2015-2030, and these goals will influence a large part of that spending. Making just one target better can do hundreds of billions of dollars worth of good.

The youth in Kenya and Ghana were asked to rate the targets using the same criteria as the economists. The feedback has been amazing and quite an eye-opener to the youth in terms of how much difference the cost benefit analysis can make in selecting the most effective targets.

African youth representatives shall be selected to present these priorities at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where the goals will be tabled to the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

Copenhagen Consensus Center is a think tank that investigates and publishes the best policies and investment opportunities based on data and cost-benefit analysis for governments and philanthropists to make the world a better place. Copenhagen Consensus Center works with 100+ of the world s top economists and 7 Nobel Laureates to prioritize solutions to the world’s biggest problems, on the basis of data and cost-benefit analysis.

For his work with Copenhagen Consensus, Bjorn Lomborg was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time Magazine, one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st Century by Esquire magazine, and one of the 50 people who could save the planet by the UK Guardian. He has repeatedly been named one of the top 100 public intellectuals by Foreign Policy.

Transition to SDGs...

African Youth to take part in the UN Post 2015 Development GoalsBy Ida Ng’ang’a - AUYWG Communications Team Bird Segment...

The hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly colored and sometimes has a casque on the upper mandible. Both the common English and the scientific name of the family refer to the shape of the bill, “buc-eros” being “cow horn” in Greek. Hornbills have a two-lobed kidney. They are the only birds in which the first and second neck vertebrae (the atlas and axis respectively) are fused together; this probably provides a more stable platform for carrying the bill.[1] The family is omnivorous, feeding on fruit and small animals. They are monogamous breeders nesting in natural cavities in trees and sometimes cliffs. A number of species of hornbill are threat-ened with extinction, mostly insular species with small ranges.

On the bird segment this issue we are discussing the two of Africas birds namely The Hornbill and The secretary bird.

The hornbill The secretarybird

The secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius) is a very large, mostly terrestrial bird of

prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open

grasslands and savannah of the sub-Saharan region. Although a member of

the order Accipitriformes, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards,

vultures, and harriers, it is given its own family, Sagittariidae.It appears on the

coats of arms of Sudan and South Africa.

14

Volunteerism why you ought to do what you have to do for change!

Volunteerism has been singled out as a ma-jor accelerator for development in our com-munities. Many are the times that students tend to underrate this aspect which if well

utilized can hasten the pace of personal and national growth. Often than told, most job seekers lose perfect opportunities due to lack of experience but again one would ask how do I get the experience if you do not start by employing me?

Well, as we spell out, volunteerism is a leeway to achieving more than just an experience but growth in the profession, work ethics, self confidence and personal branding.

The 22 years old Stephen Machua has been a volunteer for many years. One thing that you will notice from him is passion and consistency in his volunteer work up to date. He commenced his journey back in high school where he volunteered to name the trees in his school using their scientific names. Over the holidays he would participate in youth activities in his local church such as planting flowers and clean-ing the church. After leaving high school, he s e r v e d as a youth volunteer in a community b a s e d organization where h e trained school chil- dren on

how to

write “Thank You” notes and letters of appreciation to their pen pals abroad.

Upon joining campus, he took volunteerism to anoth-er level where he managed to sit in major national and continental committees on education, Peace and Afri-can Youth Charter. In his 2nd year he and other friends started an NGO (Change Mind Change Future) which has been promoting volunteerism as a tool for empowerment in education and economic matters. The organization has grown from 7 volunteers to more than 300 volunteers currently. Most of these volunteers are doing tangible work both at national and global level.

Volunteerism is a simple avenue for networking. Recently, he was able to meet, interact and share platforms with major personalities in the world just to mention; Prince Albert II (Head of state for Monaco) and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. “Volunteer-ism has promoted me from a village boy to a global figure. I believe that this is just the beginning,” says Stephen.

Apart from developing a wide network, he has developed a heart for humanity whereby through-out his 4 years in Campus, he was at the helm of major humanitarian activities. Last year, he mobilized volunteers via twitter and facebook. These volunteers served in various blood donation sites after the west gate attack. As much as this went unrecognized, he was satisfied that he contributed to humanity.

Early this year, Stephen took a broad step to edu-cate needy students, the search for scholarships was not a walk in the park but out of his goodwill which has been developed through his humanitarian and volunteer work, he secured 2 scholarships for a boy and a girl to study at Moonlight Centre School.

His journey hasn’t been easy as someone would think more so because volunteerism requires resources. To manage his work, he has been forced to do several side hustles. Most people may be surprised to note that for 3 years in campus, he used to be a casual laborer in putting up tents for a local company.

All the proceeds from this work would support his transport and donations. He also allocated a certain percentage of his helb loan to volunteerism, a sacrifice that many people would not opt to make. He argues, “Why should you use your money to take drugs and later cause discomfort to your fellow students or your immediate community? Why not use your knowledge and some of your resources to better their lives?” Interesting, right?

One challenge that Stephen has faced as a volun-teer and a volunteer manager is the inconsistency of students in their volunteer work. He says that there is a need to differentiate “Volun-tourism” from “Volun-teerism”. Most students tend to join clubs and associations so that they can tour new places, meet new people or get new adventures. This has left most groups in crisis when the immediate need for adven-ture has been satisfied.

Volunteerism is something that is developed out of passion and it should grow. Growth in this context means that one has to nurture and impart similar values to his or her peers or juniors.

These days one can be an online volunteer; we have seen people who manage organization blogs and

social media accounts voluntarily. Others have been fundraising for various social causes on a voluntary basis.

The aspect of time has always been a bone of contention for many students but in Stephen’s case, he managed it due to better time management. All of us are allocated 24 hours every day, the effective-ness with which we utilize those hours’ lies in us.

Students need to own up the 24 hours and allocate time for others in either humanitarian or volunteer work. Major development in Kenya is dependent on the skills and knowledge within the youthful population whose majority are students. As President Kagame puts it, “Africans should own up to their actions.”

In a nut-shell, Stephen believes that any student can be a volunteer as long as he/she has personal willingness to do so.

Stephen, a silver award holder of the President’s Awards Scheme for young people is a Kenyan and a Bachelor of commerce (Finance) student at Technical University of Kenya whose life ambition is to become the world leading social entrepreneur.

Compiled by Mongeri Judith

Is a gospel singer and a community volunteer with the artist name of Mc Rixx. He is passionate about music and giving back to the community through vol-unteering. He has been volunteering for more than 10 years. He started volunteering while still in high school by participating in community projects like clean ups, tree planting.

Through volunteering he has managed to volunteer with the volunteer services oversea in a program called international citizensservices, secure liveli-hood in a completely different community. Through exchange program with youth from United Kingdom. Also he has volunteered with Balloon Ventures in a program called international citizen service entrepre-neurship also with exchange programs with interna-tional youth.

He is now a international volunteer and ready for more volunteering opportunities as he still continue pursuing his musical career.

When you volunteer, we all grow Erick Oremo

16

I do not know what gave birth to you, but as far as I know of life, you are individuals born and bred of a woman. I know you all have that motherhood spot deep within you. One thing I also know for sure is that you all have a heart for women!

In any case, there is a saying among my people that, even the ‘deadliest terrorist and man on earth was born of a woman’. In a similar instance, these same people to whom I owe allegiance, often say that even the most powerful men kneel before women - at the least at the ‘prick of dawn when their ‘libido’ takes a high turn’. To them these are not only to teach a growing generation the relevance and the importance of women and motherhood, but to also teach us to value the existence of women and for that matter, girls, even when we are grown.

It is in these lessons that I have often thought of men who abuse, torture and terrify girls as the mostly beastly of all crea-tures. Were it left to me, such men deserve to be kicked in like manner and even harder should time and chance allow. For me, not even in the extreme need of defence should women and girls be the point of attack, or avenue of exploitation and sabotage; just as it has happened in your case.

In 2012 when Taliban gunmen in Pakistan shot and seriously wounded 14-year-old Malala, we all thought they had done the worst, but yours has surpassed it all! Particularly in a period so close to celebrating motherhood, and on a continent such as Africa, where holding women in high esteem is an expected upbringing. Clearly, you do not need this to be another reason for mothers to regret giving birth particularly to boys as they will only grow up and come back to torment their very same womb.

We are all witnesses to your atrocities, Boko Haram! The evidence of your destructive forces is there and clear for us all to see! We all know the many evil pursuits you have taken ownership! You do not need these girls to prove anything!

Perhaps just as the women here in my home will say you do nothing by fighting girls. Perhaps they are saying the best match for a man is to take on another of ‘equal size and strength’. Not some innocent girls who have not even lived to cast their first ballot much more to be held for any political indecision.

I did not want join in this campaign to bring back our girls, because a lot is being done by even the most influential, power-ful, and famous personalities. But I thought of what to give my mother today and two things came to mind, to take her to church and to write to you, ‘thou Boko Haram’. Now it’s your turn. Today forget everyone. Forget the world. Forget Goodluck Jonathan and his semantics and precedence over deep rooted corruption. Forget Nigeria and its troubles. Forget America and its quest for supremacy. Forget China and its interest in Africa. But remember our mothers and bring back our girls. You know we need them; not only to take over from our mothers but to keeps us for good.

Just as you may all know, today, as we all celebrate motherhood we all bonded to give something valuable as a mark of remembrance and appreciation of their pain and labour. I have given mine, it’s time for yours. I know it’s hard for a man to ‘take back his words’. But just as my father will say ‘it’s only a man that drinks bitter medicine’. I know bringing back our girls on your own accord may make you appear weak, feeble and ‘unmanly’. It may even lead to your mockery.

But to what is that really? Mere words expressed to exploit your anxiety?

Left to me you will take consolation from Isaiah 54:7 and I quote “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep com-passion I will bring you back. Forgive me if I am sounding biblical. It’s a Sunday her in Ghana. And Even as I finish this write up I am sitting right in the centre of a joyous congregation at the Wesley Methodist in an obscure community in the Wassa District of Ghana’s Western region. Know that some hot praises are going on. Yet I am writing. Not because I hate the service but that duty know no bounds.

Even as you pursue your mischief, remember our mothers and bring back our girls. Remember their pains, their cry, and their labour. Remember those who lost their marriages and pride because they were delaying in giving birth to a girl child. Remember our mothers who had their marriages shattered simply because they had difficulty in giving birth to a girl child. Remember our mothers who travelled the far and went that extreme to bore that child you have abducted. Remember our mothers who stand accused and intimidation from their in-laws. Today they have a girl-child to vindicate them, but you have taken them.Remember, if there are people to suffer for the troubles you bear then know it is not these innocent girls you are terrifying. It is those men whom left with the obvious will terminate your very birth.

I have joined the campaign, Boko Haram. Remember our Mothers and #Bring Back Our Girls!

Yours troubled,

- See more at: http://www.ityafrica.net/2014/07/my-letter-to-boko-haram.html#more

Boko Haram,

REMEMBER OUR MOTHERS AND #BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

My Letter to Boko Haram

Quick lessons from Burkina Faso by Unyime Ben-Nigeria

On Thursday, October 30, 2014, about 1,500 citizens of Burkina Faso openly rejected the planned tenure elongation of President Blaise Com-paore announced on 21 October; they broke through a heavy security cordon and laid siege to the parliament building in Ouagadougou despite

police firing warning shots in the air. In heat of the protest, Compaoré, who has led the West African nation for 27 years, declared a state of emer-gency after protesters stormed parliament and torched other state buildings.

Following the uncontrolled violent protests, Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore announced his resignation and issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and urging elections within 90 days. Meanwhile, Military chief Gen Honore Traore said he had taken over as head of state “in line with constitutional measures”.

Known in colonial times as Upper Volta, the landlocked country became independent from France in 1960 and its name was changed to Burkina Faso (“the land of upright men”) in 1984.

Quick lessons *Power-drunk leaders must be far-sighted to start a re-think. *Those referred to as “ordinary citizens” has the power to spark the needed change.*The wave of political change is beaming strongly.*Democracy is gradually taking shape in Africa.

Failure to properly manage the Blaise’ impromptu departure, the country could face political upheaval.

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“The independence of Ghana is meaningless without the independence of all Africa,” Nkurumah stated at the independence of Ghana. This statement was part of a larger movement of Pan-Africanism as Marcus Garvey put it, “Africa is for the Africans” and for-mer Egyptian President Nasser said that “it is time we begin to unite with our brothers in the south.” What is political unity, how far have we moved on this trajectory to political unity, what are the a r g u m e n t s around it, and do we even want this unity as Africa?

Two broad groups have de-veloped over African unity, the federal-ists and the gradualists. The federalists led by the ideas of Muammar Gaddafi and Nkurumah believed Africa should unite immediately, forming a single government, with a President and federal governors of the present countries, inspired by the USA system, a seemingly top-down approach to unity. There are also the gradualists who led by Kenyatta and Thabo Mbeki forwarded the idea that the process of unity should be taken step by step; each country developing at its own speed until we are strong enough to unite, a more bottom-up approach.

The gradualists are currently dominating with the regional powers such as Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa leading the integration of Africa. Even though Africa is far from being a single country, the growth of solidarity is there; especially at climate confer-ences that affect us all, in most United Nations Gen-eral Assembly issues and World Trade Organization wwdealings.

Is the idea of unity truly tangible though? It is impor-tant to realize that when unity beckons, it is the people that unite and not merely the political bargaining chips

among the leading elite who will be playing around with the continent as if playing chess. Does the aver-age African-that rural, half-literate African condone to African Unity? Is the Bemba in Zambia will to unite with the Shangani of Mozambique? Are the Tutsis and Hutus willing to make the Great lakes region one for all? The splitting of Sudan in half made the idea of

African unity seem like a farce. Such religious differences have seen some North African

nations deeming themselves more Arab than African. We should ask ourselves why has Morocco is still not a member of the African Union?

These questions all need answers for us to see Africa

in the next 50 years voting for one president. For some nation-alists, such an idea is actually too much. The pan-African parliament in terms of power is still one in name, not having any real teeth to have policy effect that could actually af-fect the whole continent. If referendums were to be passed to give more powers to the AU, would majority vote yes? Africa is vehemently fighting for an African country to be given a seat in the Security Council. My question is instead of a specific country being assuming the seat,

why can’t the AU chairperson be given that seat?

Only when ‘Africa’ is not an ideological phrase, but a reality on the ground among the masses who they themselves want Africa to unite, only then will we be united. When Africans wanted indepen-dence, they fought for it. That same fighting spirit will have to be ignited to defeat African Unity’s greatest enemy…our own procrastination.

What Of African Unity?

Kudakwashe ManjonjoHarare, Zimbabwe

Article by:

What of African Unity? Politically speaking…

“The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it. We have the commitment, we have the resourcefulness, and we have the strength of our people to share the dream across Africa of

clean water for all.” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Kofi Annan

“History teaches us that unity is strength, and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differ-ences in the quest for common goals, to strive, with all our combined strength, for the path to true

African brotherhood and unity.”Haile Selassie

“Freedom to many means immediate betterment, as if by magic. Unless I can meet at least some of these aspirations, my support will wane and my head will roll just as surely as the tickbird follows

the rhino.” Julius Nyerere

“If I were not African, I wonder whether it would be clear to me that Africa is a place where the people do not need limp gifts of fish but sturdy fishing rods and fair

access to the pond. I wonder whether I would realize that while African nations have a failure of leadership, they also have dynamic people with agency and voices.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“African Leaders Quotes

“We cannot tire or give up, we owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk” Wangari Maathai

“It is in our hands to join our strenth taking sustenance from our diversity, honouring our rich and varied traditions and culture but acting together for the protection and benefit for us all”.

Kwame Nkurumah

“If you think you’re to small to make a difference you have’nt spend a night with a mosquito” African Proverb

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A good leader is an individual who makes sound judg-ment for his subjects without any prejudice, Senti-ment or discrimination. A good leader should also

be a very good listener and must be attentive to the needs of his subjects without being influenced by any external force or factor.

A good leader must be discretional about the decisions that he/ she takes as such decisions will either make or break his/her subjects. A good leader must not always insist on having his / her will and opinion to dominate the decision making body or department but should be charismatic in involving all the parties involved.

I started off this essay with the basic principles of lead-ership because this is the bedrock on which we can deliver on the potential of Africa’s young women and as an individual; I have worked with some women leaders who have exhibited all of these qualities. To start my essay proper, I want to commend all of the women youth leaders across the continent because I am quite optimistic that they

are quite phenomenal in their ideas and drives that they share and work on.

The first step that I perceive that our Governments do is to provide more financial opportunities for youth led organizations that are owned and managed by women. In 2009, when I started working with youth led organi-zations, our founder was a young lady called Miss Finda Pewa(The only lady in the sec-ond Photo) who had a vision to help young children and orphans in deprived communi-ties.

As an institution, we were able to fund raise $10,000 from our launching event in which we invited personalities from all works of life and this was used to give scholarships for pupils from deprived communities who have been in dire need of education and also to fund a community school that needed money for their operation.

But as time passed on, we were unable to con-tinue with this drive and writing various pro-posals to different institutions proved futile which ended this organization.

Our government can give great preference and funding to women and youth led insti-tutions within the African continent, we can make a better future for all.

Furthermore, there should be working poli-cies and institutions on issues of gender based violence in the continent. In Sierra Leone for instance, there has been an on-going trial of the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and technology who was alleged to rape a fe-male student in the university because of an international scholarship, she was trying to secure.

This is a pointer that, our leaders are mostly interested in satisfying their desires before they can help women attain their full potential and this is making women deter to the background rather than showing up for leadership positions.

Therefore, as a checker there should be a special commission for the continent that handle issues of gender based violence headed by women who have been survivors of these acts as they can positively grant the most appropriate punishment for offenders and violators. This is a very significant factor that must be considered in our drive.

In addition to that, I implore our governments to implement more women empowerment programs in which we can support women leaders who are standing up like in the men in their various fields of operation. In 2010, while I was in the university doing my undergraduate studies; I met Miss Frances Marke who was our student union candidate that year and I was the secretary general for our entity on campus. Miss Marke had excellent presentation skills in which she won the hearts of students in the university and even parents.

Unfortunately, she lost the election but gracefully for her the Mandela Fellowship was being organized in the United States and she was invited by His Excel-lency President Obama and she was quite inspiration-al in that summit and today she is married and has completed her Masters in Boston University.

There are many women leaders who will be a marvel to our continent if we initiate such empowerment pro-grams like that as the adage says, if you empower a woman, you empower the whole world. This is great for all and sundry.

Perhaps, if we are going to attain the full potential of our women then we should strengthen vocational trainings in our various communities. There have been many vocational institutes that are training women on

Delivering on the Potential of Africa’s Young womenBy Victor MoininaSierra Leon : E-mail Address: moninavicky@gmail.com

being quite productive towards nation building. To enhance more result, my team in collaboration with the Africa 2.0 foundation intends hosting the first Mining training sessions for women and youths who have a flair for engineering. These trainings will be aimed at bringing the team of qualified people who will be instrumental in the field of work. This can be replicated in our various countries.

In conclusion, let me state that women are such a fantastic group of people who have the ability and powers to niche a future for themselves if they are granted the opportunity and therefore, let us make proper structures and facilities for them to attain their dreams.The world will be a better place for us when we work with such a passion and desire.

. Below are few photos of our work that we did:

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The Third Annual High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa took place in Dakar, Senegal from the 30th to the 31st of October, 2014. It was jointly convened by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) of the African Union Commission (AUC), organs and institutions that form the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and its platform (AGP) and the Government of Senegal.

The theme for the Third High Level Dialogue was “Silencing the Guns: Strengthening Gov-ernance to Prevent, Manage and Resolve Conflicts in Africa”. The main objective of the Third High Level Dialogue was to explore the structural root causes of conflicts in Africa and propose policy measures through which governance systems can be strengthened to ad-dress violent conflicts on the continent.

The theme’s focus was in direct response to the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration ad-opted by the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 26 May 2013. The Declaration, marked the beginning of the year-long celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the African Union (AU), where African leaders committed to ending “all wars in Africa by 2020”.

The dialogue was attended by representatives from African Union (AU) Member States, AU Organs, Regional Economic Communities (REC), United Nations Agencies, Develop-ment Partners, Think Tanks, Civil Society including women groups and youth organiza-tions, Eminent African Personalities and Academia.

Representing the African Union Youth Working Group (AUYWG) at the dialogue was Benjamin Kweku Nettey Larbi, a technical assistant at Regent and member of the group.

Ben, together with Ida Nyanga from Kenya and Kawsu Sillah from Gambia were nominated to represent AUYWG, a group created to provide African youth with a platform to contrib-ute towards the development and implementation of policies passed by the African Union. Ben and Ida’s participation in the Dialogue was made possible through a United Nations Development Programme sponsorship.

Addressing the delegates, the Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee and Mau-ritania’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, His Excellency Mr. Hamadi Meimou spoke about vari-ous issues relating to peace and security, youth development and the development of the continent.

“Scientific knowledge is absolutely crucial to ensure the progress of our African society,” Mr. Meimou emphasized. “If you look at national budgets dedicated to research, you would see that the share of the budgets allocated to research and education in general is not very substantial, compared to other countries,” he noted.

“In Africa, the illiteracy rate is high. In countries in which the il-literacy rate is high, how can we not expect to have conflicts?” he added.

The role of youth in strengthening governance and creating a con-flict-free continent:

The role of African youth in strengthening governance, and help-ing create a conflict-free continent was well-emphasized during the various sessions of the dialogue.

‎“65 percent of our continent is made up of the youth and there is no way we can talk about silencing the guns on this continent without involving them,”Ibraheem Sanusi, Deputy Head, Africa Governance Architecture (AU Commission) said.

Recommendations from Youth consultations held prior to the dia-logue were incorporated into the dialogue discussions.

“The increasing recognition of youth as national stakeholders by African policy makers and regional bodies, is an encouraging trend, especially considering the fact that majority of the populations of most countries in Africa are youth”, Benjamin Larbi said.

“This figure is projected to double by 2045 shows the urgent need for mechanisms to be implemented to ensure the involvement of young people in decision-making processes at various levels of governance”.

“History has shown us all too often the unsettling consequences of excluding a large percentage of a nation’s youth from decision making processes regarding issues that affect them,” added Ben, “The African Governance Architecture’s development and com-mitment to executing a youth Engagement Strategy to ensure that the young people across Africa participate in the achievement of transparent and accountable governance in Africa is highly recom-mendable.”

A number of key issues and challenges to achieving the goal of a conflict-free Africa were identified during the plenary sessions of the dialogue. These issues were captured in the outcome statement published at the end of the dialogue. They include:

A number of key issues and challenges to “Silencing the Gun” were identified during the plenary sessions of the dialogue. These issues were captured in the outcome statement published at the end of the dialogue.

They include:

1.Ineffective credible and legitimate democratic governance insti-tutions for the prevention of violent conflicts; such as the rule of law, democratic access to power and effective wealth distribution

2.Inadequate empirical data and research driven understanding and interventions to prevent and resolve violent conflicts.

3.The propensity to resort to the use of violence for the resolution of contestations on real or perceived differences or on the distribu-tion of resources within communities.

4.Cultural, political, social and economic gaps between the minor-ity at the centre and the larger population-rural or urban and inter-generational.

5.New practices and forms of confrontation and mobilization by citizens and youth that cut across historically established borders and renders national level responses ineffective.

6.Limited state capacity which leads to corruption, lack of ac-countability and impunity are factors that restrict the provision of social-economic services, impacting upon government credibility and legitimacy.

7.Emerging new threats such as radicalization, terrorism and reli-gious extremism.

8.Numerous norms and frameworks have been adopted to promote democracy and the rule of law. However, a persistent implementa-tion deficit prevents these norms from being translated into reality and often there is no follow up to ensure substantive compliance.

9.The continued monopoly of power by male political elites, a lack of political will, socio-economic challenges, as well as patriarchal traditions and beliefs continue to limit the formal and meaningful involvement of women in governance, peace and security, and de-velopment processes.

10.Distrust and in some cases outright rejection of organized poli-tics impacts upon social cohesion and creates social unrest.

Some of the key recommendations that emerged from the delibera-tions include:

1.African research institutions, universities and think tanks should collaborate and partner with continental and national democratic governance institutions to ensure interventions to resolve violent conflicts are based on a holistic understanding and empirical re-search;2.Member States should expand and promote the frontiers of a hu-man rights culture through the doctrine of non-indifference to hu-man rights violations and crimes against humanity. 3.Policy and implementation interventions need to address the spe-cific circumstances and situations of women and the youth. These interventions must secure their empowerment for actions directed at silencing the guns. 4.Silencing the guns is the responsibility of all stakeholders on the continent and must include non-state actors such as civil society organizations, the private sector, faith-based organizations, the ac-ademic community, the women’s movement, the youth movement, and the international community.

Compiled by Benjamin Larbi and Ida Nganga

Insights from the Third High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa

Some of the dignitaries present at the 2nd day High Level Dialogue included,

His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs, AU, His Excellency Mohammed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative and Head of United Nations Office for West Africa.

Other dignitaries included, Dr. Mustapha Mekideche, member of the African Peer Review Mechanisms’ Panel of Eminent Persons, Her Excellency, Mme Maya Sahli-fadel, Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, His Excellency Khadim Diop, Minister of African integration, NEPAD and Promotion of good governance (Government of Senegal).

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African DishesMother I have watched you through the journey of my life and realized that it hasn’t been easy for you to attend to two roles that of your son and my father’s wife . Through the struggle I wonder who will relief you from such yoke, change the mentality that father and I can’t help you do some chores inscribed to be for women . As I just hate father restricting that I should not help you cook nor fetch water, wash clothes and to be unfair undermine you as a women.

Mum I empathize on how you work, never rest, if so for just few hours and you are up to fed us, Father isn’t kind enough and with such workload, he doesn’t see you working, but view you as a house wife, who doesn’t work at all, just wait to be feed by him . I don’t understand if only 6 feet under will give you rest.

You always wake up early than Daddy, who still stretches in bed up to 7.00am. At 4.30am you are up thanks to our cock, as we still yawn in our bed you are up tiling in the garden .Just to arrive at 6.00 am to prepare breakfast and make sure we are neat for school and father’s color is upright to join other teachers. As we leave for school you go back to the garden to continue weeding, its rainy season and you ought to finish weeding first before it starts.

At 9.00am you come back home to take breakfast with firewood tied in your back, as a neat mother your quickly wash the uten-sils, clean the house and quickly take your breakfast .You set up fire as you start to boil ‘Githeri’ for lunch, Rush back to the garden to continue weeding and at intervals check the progress of the ‘Githeri’, as we need to get it ready by 12.30 pm.

At 11.00 you come back home to fully concentrate on the ‘Githeri’, as you wash clothes and bedding of my younger brother victor, who pie every day in his bedding. As you rush to pick my brother from school. We arrive for lunch and find food almost ready. I leave for school as you continue washing clothes and uniform of my young brother, who was like not learning but went to school to play with mud.

At 3.00pm you bath my young brother and realize him to go and play with other children. You then rush back to the garden to burn the weeds, as you collect firewood for super then comes back home to take a shower. Quickly fetch water from the local dam, then rush to the market to buy foodstuff and joins other women for the local’ Chama’. At 5.30 pm you are back home as you rush to the garden to get some vegetable for supper. As I attend to cattle my father had tied in the local escarpment, my lov-ing tired mum still manages to wash my uniform.

As she cook super and wash utensil, the vegetables boils slowly and its aroma fills the room. You tells us stories with an eye my father should not get us in the kitchen although we are sure father will come back at 8.00pm from the local market with current politics about what’s our king’s men are saying about our country.

So almost before he arrives we set up squarely in the siting room waiting to be served with my mum and pretending we never saw the entrance of the kitchen as if he realize so we can be crucified and mum can get copal punishment. We take super at 9.00 pm and after short stories from Daddy we retire to bed at 10.00pm , you still take time to make sure the kitchen is clean, and also attend to my young brother who at times takes time to sleep until curdle my mum .

At 11.00pm before rest in bed, you forget that you got another job with dad who believe, you was just relaxing doing nothing as what you have been doing isn’t work that what my father has done in school all day. After all that argument you softly gives in for fathers work only to sleep at 2.00 am after thorough work searching for a daughter. Before he enjoys the slumber the cock crows. Mother in the city with a reflection on your diary and currently a gender activist advocating for gender equality, will you ever enjoy such reality or discussion.

I promise as I join others in Africa in advocating for gender equality and social justice in the society , I will be a good role model and will help my wife ,but will urge my colleagues to reduces such talking to actions, by shifting some funds to empower not just you mum but jointly empower dad also . Build a tap next to our homestead so mum doesn’t go fetch water far away but next where dad will control the tap and help you fetch water. Let’s continue advocating for mum and other women in Africa region as we shifting from talking to pace setters Wont You

DIARY OF MUMBy Michael Ager

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It seems that there are very few Angels left inthis cityJust birds who’ve been taught that their wingsare uselessI heard we used to flyBut these days most of us are scared ofheightsWe’d rather take the busThe trainThe trolleyAnything to keep us low to the groundMy cityIs a symphony of chainlink fencesEviction notices dancing with the breezeBarking dogsBroken glassAnd Garbage cans spitting their contents intothe face of our streetMy cityIs a family photograph

Missing a fatherand a frameit’s aA mosh pit of pregnant teenagersDancing with the shadow of boys who aren’tready to be responsible of their childrenThe belly of the nightis filled with police sirensGunshotsGrowling stomachsand the sound of people losing faith in GodAround hereThe wind feels like sandpaperThe grass is slowly wiltingThe trees are begging to be uprootedAnd The stars are boycotting the skyIt seems everythingOn this side of townIs looking for a way out

Poetry : My City by Desmond Walker

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