Berkshire connected
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World Mental Health week Depressed in the City The Clit Warriors Hilary Burrage: End FGM Interview Kirinyaga Empowerment Initiative
Losing Belly Fat
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ͷͺ Ͷͷͼ Let's Talk Mental Health First Aid; The 3 W's: What is it?, Who can help? and What can help?
Place and Time: 9:30AM - 2:30 PM
Reading Hilton Hotel, Drakes Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ
Dr. Matthew M Karangi: Main speaker among others
Contacts: 07828307997/ 01189 510 279 / 07760259640: utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk/facebook.com/utulivuRDG Utulivu Women’s Group Reading Registered Address 555, Northumberland Avenue Reading BerksRG2 8NX Charity number 1118448
Editor’s Welcome
Contents
So, what news do we have in this 11th edition of the Mojatu Berkshire? Firstly, special thanks to all our readers, contributors, sponsors and supporters for all the continued support.
News & Sports
Many women who experience domestic violence suffer in silence and in most cases they do not know where to go for help. Check out the “The Many colours” article by Esnas Kiveu Turnbull on domestic violence(P8-p11).
Many colours of Domestic Violence .................8-11
We give a focus on mental health in this article. The 10th of October is designated as World Mental Health Day. During this day, activities on the global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma are extensively carried out. Don’t miss out our Mental Health World Day conference on 14th October(p2) and more information on the history of the day(p21). Don’t forget to check out other articles on the same in this issue.
Faith & Spirituality
We continue to raise awareness on Female Genital Mutilation. In this issue with share an interview with Hillary Burrage, a passionate FGM campaigner (p14-17). Check out our health and food articles in this issue(p18-p20). Do you want to know more about what our partners in Nottingham are doing? Check out (p4-p7). Looking for inspiration? Check out the inspirational books you can purchase(p24). We continue to appreciate and treasure you emails, calls and feedback. Editor: Cecily Mwaniki Email: info@cmnetwork.co.uk www.cmnetwork.co.uk, www.utulivu.co.uk
Editorial Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managing Editor: info@cmnetwork.co.uk Graphic Design: Robert Borbely Contributors: Kris Gunnars | Michael Henry | Maria Cardenal | Emma Huck | Amy Longland | Fiona Vale | Linh Chi Le | Patrice Musarurwa IT / Social Media: Michael Grant | Ankita Naik Photos: Maggie Ndungu | Flarex Media Accounts: Joan Muraguri - accounts@mojatu.com Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com
Clit Warriors shaking things up ............................ 4-5 Nottingham Zero-tolerance to FGM city .............. 6 FGM Cutting Season ..................................................... 7
Community Knowing You,;Knowing Me ......................................12 Depressed in the City .................................................13
End FGM Interview With Hilary Burrage ...... 14-17 Join Clit Warriors Team ..............................................17
Health & Food 17 Tips to losing Belly Fat .................................. 18-19 9 Healthy Foods that are High in Vitamin D .......20
Education & Career Mental Health World Day .........................................21 Kirinyaga Empowerment Initiative ................ 22-23
Classified Mojatu & Utulivu in Parliament...............................23
Cover
Mojatu Photos: Sad depressed teenage girl in the park
Mojatu Foundation / Utulivu Women’s Group Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.
News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Non Executive Directors / Trustees: Legal: Kinsi Clarke - kinsi@mojatufoundation.org Marketing: Dr. Tabani Ndlovu - tabani@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage subs@mojatu.com Address: Utulivu Women’s Group, 555 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8NXT 0118 907 2534 | 0785 9063643 | 07516 962992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumagazine Printers: Mojatu Publications
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News & Sports
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Berkshire connected
News & Sports
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Our Clit Warriors shaking things up in Nottingham this ‘Cutting Season’! Female Genital Mutilation In the UK, the summer I explained to them about FGM and they think it’s FGM – FACTS, holidays are referred to as such a cool idea to start a conversation as it was HELP ACTIONS the ‘Cutting & Season’ in relation to Female Genital not what they thought it was. They were all asking
Mutilation (FGM). It is during this period where for one”. many girls are at risk of being taken away to be I have personally been wearing the T-shirt at lidaycut in the UK isbrought referred ascountry ‘The cutting season’ or cutters intotothe to cut them. to FGM where many girls are at risk of being cut! events including at the Hyson Green Cultural During ‘cutting season’ girls are flown abroad, Festival and also the Nottingham Sports Group often under the pretence of a holiday visiting event where we were raising awareness of FGM. relatives. On arrival Factsthey are then cut, sometimes Most of the conversations I had with people the hands alter of someone notomedical training, e thatatintentionally or causewith injury the female genital started as a result of them reading the message with non-sterile instruments including razor on the T-shirt and then went to discuss what clit cal reasons. blades, knives and scissors. warrior meant, what FGM is, why it’s practiced the l in England and Wales since 1985. dangers and how people can get involved. One of FGM beenagainst illegal women in the UK d abuse andhas violence and since girls. 1985, so the interesting incidences was when I was talking leaving country to keep the practice to a group of women about FGM at the festival to protect a girlthe from the riskhelps of FGM. covert. The risk of parents being caught and and then a gentleman saw my T-shirt and walked against the teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute. prosecuted is reduced, and it also means that closer. He started reading the message in the ealth of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk. girls have time to physically heal from the cutting, front and he first seem to be startled and a bit d women physically, emotionally psychologically. so both detection is reduced whenand they return to the embarrassed and then I asked him if he wanted and women worldwide undergone FGM UK. FGM impactshave on the physical, emotional and us to talk about it. By the end of the conversation, psychological of girls and 15 who have migrated wellbeing to England and Wales arewomen. likely to have undergone FGM. he was very keen toEmpowering know how we can engage Women 200 new cases a year are reported in Nottingham. more men and religious in the campaign We launched the ‘Cutting Season Campaign’ in Throughleaders Education & Beyond June 2016 to reach out and raise awareness and and he offered his support to do so. to ensure communities Help and members of public are There were more than 30 clit warriors who took extra vigilant during the summer season. We then part in different sports at the Nottingham Sports or woman is at risk or need support? started recruiting ‘Clit Warriors’ to help us spread Group events on 30th and 31st August at the Forest 24/7 anonymous helpline email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk the word FGM through the or distribution of leaflets and Recreational Grounds. For a second year, Mojatu uncil Children Families Direct: 0115 876and 4800workshops, posters,andcommunity sessions Foundation recruited girls and women to play FGM engagement has just happened about to happen withorcommunities and professionals, and this brought both young and older people taking part in community events and also speaking medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Carol together McCormick: from different cultures to enjoy sports, nhs.ukabout or 0115 969 to 1169 FGM family and friends. make friends and feel healthier. The ladies played
ALL ABOUT OUR WELLBEING
support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: cricket, Contact Valtable tennis, netball and football. Through We recruited over 50 women including survivors, e@mojatu.com or 07794372214 our 2016 ‘Cutting Season’ campaign, we have religious leaders, community leaders, councillors, community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: Join the so Community far reached to over 3, 500 people through students, young people among ontact professionals, valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214
others. Our ‘Clit Warrior’ t-shirts have been our Community FGM Steering Group, Survivor’s Venue: club, Mojatu magazines, newsletters, leaflets and outstanding at events and the message reportedDate: posters, 17 Julycommunity 1pm – 7pm events, training, Readingsocial Hiltonmedia Hotel, Actions by most of the warriors who have been wearingSunday and other them sayjoin theyone helped to engage the public.Cost:platforms pport survivors, of ourthem campaigns or projects £15 Registration Fee partnerships. Drakes Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ The T-shirts have a message in the front “I am We were also joined by a team of students ub • ‘Adopt a tree’ project a Clit Warrior, I speak about FGM” and the back Health Wealth Creation, Career development, from and Nottingham University where we worked oup with “End Female Genital • Donate to support Mutilation”. One our Clitworkclosely with the Rosie May Foundation to raise Health and Family relationship, etc. of Change • Fundraise to support our work Warrior said “you have no idea how young people awareness. See photos of the male clit warriors Speakers among others are: were interested to know what ‘Clit Warrior’ meant helping withMain raising awareness when they sawcontact the message in front of my T-shirt. Reva Stewarts ore information, Mojatu Foundation Tracey Marriott Berkshire Health Foundation Director of Innovation Adoption, Oxford Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 Trust Locality Director Academic Health Science Network entine@mojatu.com Website: www.mojatufoundation.org This project was supported by Working Partners:
South Sudanese Association in Reading
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News & Sports
“Sheriff of Nottingham to take Zero-tolerance stance against Female Genital Mutilation” For immediate release: The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Jackie Morris is to show the commitment and passion of local Nottingham communities by proposing a motion on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at Nottingham City Councils full Council on September 12th. Councillor Morris has been working closely with local group Mojatu to highlight the issue in an attempt to help end its practice in the City. It is believed that over 60,000 women and young girls are at risk of FGM in the UK alone and the Sheriff is determined to tackle the practice: “Female Genital Mutilation is something that people think shouldn’t be talked about but that’s partly what makes the practice continue” said the Sheriff. She went on to say: “That’s why I’ll be moving this motion, to make it known that Nottingham is a Zero-tolerance City when it comes to Female Genital Mutilation.” Valentine Nkoyo, Director Mojatu Foundation and Chair of the Nottingham Community FGM Steering Group said:
the establishment of a referral pathway for the City has the real potential to help change lives.” Motion to full Council reads: This Council notes that Female Genital Mutilation represents a risk to physical health, mental health and quality of life for young women across the whole of the United Kingdom. It is believed over 60,000 people are at risk of this abuse in this country alone. The City Council stands against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and resolves to: • Make Nottingham a “Zero Tolerance” City in respect to Female Genital Mutilation.
Female Genital
• Work to end the procedure withinFGM the city – FA by working closely with survivors, affected HELP & AC communities and other agencies with a responsibility to safeguard and protect.
The summer holiday in the UK is referred
relation FGM the where many girls • Provide training for staffinto helptospot signs associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
Facts
FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or caus organisations, survivors • Work closely with• grassroot organs for non-medical reasons. and communities to prevent children being removed • FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1 from the city to experience Genital Mutilation. • FGM is a Female form of child abuse and violence against w
• It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of
Female Genitalof Islam “I am so thrilled with this news and grateful to our city • Help support potential • FGM issurvivors Non-Islamic,of against the teachings Mutilation to say • noFGM and raisethe awareness for taking such a strong stand and we believe that this is putting health of ouramongst daughters, sisters, • FGM affects girls and women both physically, emoti their peers and communities. will keep the subject on the agenda. Survivors and the • Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have u community steering group have continued to work Empowering Women • 10,000 girls agedkeep under the 15 who have migrated to England with raising awareness and subject on the hard to raise awareness and support those affected • Help Throughwhile Education &• Beyond Statistics about 200of new cases a year are rep agenda showcasing theshow successes Nottingham. so this is such wonderful news which will accelerate ALL ABOUT OUR WELLBEING our momentum in tackling FGM in Nottingham and • Support the establishment of a referral pathway for the City. Help beyond. With about 200 new cases reported each Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need su year in Nottingham only, it couldn’t have come at Notes to editors: Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline o Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direc a better time. I am glad that our Nottingham FGM For more information please Ring the police on 999 ifcontact FGM has justNathan happened or abou Ambassador, Sherriff of Nottingham, Cllr Jackie Morris Oswin, Political Assistant Refer survivors attention to FGM medica toneeding the medical Labour Group Carol.McCormick@nuh.nhs.uk or 0115 969 1169 took on board our request and tabled the motion. at Nottingham City Council on: 07880349362 For emotional and peer support for survivors in Nottingha We are thankful to all our funders and partners for nathan.oswin@nottinghamcity.gov.uk entine Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 their support and especially the Office of the Police Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanti FGM Steering Group: Contact valentine@mojatu.com or and Crime Commissioner, Nottingham Refugee Date: Venue: End FGM in Berkshire Forum, The City Council, Big Lottery Fund, RosaSunday Fund, 17 July 1pm – 7pm Reading Hilton Hotel, Actions UsWay, in helping Declare Reading the Nottingham Women Centre, City and County Drakes Reading, Cost:FGM £15 Registration FeeJoin To help RG2 end 0GQ FGM and support survivors, join one of our c Strategy Board, Nottingham Trent University, The 2nd City to • ofFGM Zero-Tolerance Health and Wealth Creation, Career development,Survivors Club University of Nottingham among others. This is worth • FGM Steering Group To Female Genital Mutilation in the UK Health and Family relationship, etc.• FGM Champions of Change celebrating!” Contact: Main Speakers among others are:
Utulivu Tracey Women’s | 0118 907information, 2534 Reva Stewarts Marriott Group For more contac Councillor Alex Norris, Portfolio Holder for Berkshire Adults Health Foundation Director of Innovation Adoption, Oxford 0785 9063643 | utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk Phone: 01158457009 Mobil and Health at Nottingham City Council is also firmly Trust Locality Director Academic Health Science Network Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website behind the motion and its proposals and said: Working Partners:
“This motion represents a real step forward in tackling FGM and helping support and empower communities across our City. The step of supporting
South Sudanese Association in Reading
Berkshire connected category Female Genital Mutilation
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FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS
The summer holiday in the UK is referred to as ‘The cutting season’ in relation to FGM where many girls are at risk of being cut!
Facts
• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. • FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985. • FGM is a form Female of child abuse and violence against women and girls. Genital Mutilation – • It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the FGM FACTS, risk of FGM. • FGM is Non-Islamic, against teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute. HELP & the ACTIONS • FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk. • The FGM affects girls inand both physically, emotionally and psychologically. summer holiday thewomen UK is referred to as ‘The cutting season’ relation to FGM many girls are at risk of being cut! • Overin200 million girlswhere and women worldwide have undergone FGM • 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. Facts Statistics showthat about 200 alter neworcases a year reported in Nottingham. • • FGM is any procedure intentionally cause injury to theare female genital
organs for non-medical reasons. • FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985. • FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls. • It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. Are you concerned a girl or woman is at orIslam need • FGM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam andrisk brings into support? disrepute. • Call FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk. fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline or email: Empowering Women • FGM affects girls and women both physically, emotionally and psychologically. Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 Through Education & Beyond • Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM theaged police 999have if FGM just happened or about to happen • Ring 10,000 girls underon 15 who migratedhas to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. • Refer Statisticssurvivors show aboutneeding 200 new cases a yearattention are reportedto in FGM Nottingham. medical medical specialist in Nottingham: Carol McCormick:
Help
ALL ABOUT OUR WELLBEING
Carol.McCormick@nuh.nhs.uk or 0115 969 1169 For emotional and peer supportHelp for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact ValAre you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need support? entine Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Are you from an affected in Nottingham Call Nottingham City Council Children community and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 wanting to make a difference: Join the Community FGM Steering valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 Ring the police on 999 Group: if FGM hasContact just happened or about to happen Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Carol McCormick: Carol.McCormick@nuh.nhs.uk or 0115 969 1169 For emotional and peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact Valentine Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 Arehelp you from an affected in Nottingham wanting join to make a difference: the Community To end FGM community and support survivors, one of our Join campaigns or Date: FGM Steering Group: Contact valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214
Actions
• FGM Survivors Club • FGM Steering Group Actions To help end FGM and support survivors, join one of our campaigns or projects • FGM Champions of Change • FGM Survivors Club • FGM Steering Group • FGM Champions of Change
projects
Venue: pm • ‘Adopt a 1tree’ project – 7pm Sunday 17 July Reading Hilton Hotel, Cost: £15 Registration Fee our Drakes Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ • Donate to support work • Health Fundraise to support work and Wealth Creation,our Career development,
• ‘Adopt a tree’ project • Donate to support our work • Fundraise to support our work
Health and Family relationship, etc.
For more information, contact Mojatu Foundation Main Speakers among others are:
Phone:contact 01158457009 Mobile: Berkshire 07794372214 For more information, Mojatu Foundation Health Foundation Reva Stewarts
Tracey Marriott
Director of Innovation Adoption, Oxford Trust Locality Director Academic Health Science Network www.mojatufoundation.org
Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 valentine@mojatu.com Website: Email: Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: www.mojatufoundation.org
Working Partners: South Sudanese Association in Reading
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News & Sports
THE MANY COLOURS O BY Esnas
have had such a mindset?” I could have died due to the prolonged trauma that I was exposed to” . A beautiful home A beautiful home is made up of two loving people. When love begins to hurt, then it is not love anymore. Verbal abuse is sometimes discounted and overlooked, when in reality, it can just be as damaging as physical abuse. The thought that it is not really a serious abuse and change of attitude may happen with time is quite deceiving. Once an abusive partner always will be an abusive partner. Women will ask themselves why they never left many years ago; There have never been direct answers to such questions. It has always been fear of the unknown. Shame that marriage hasn’t worked. The stigma that accompanies the divorce. Some continue to live in abusive relationship with the hope that the abusive partner will realise what the marriage means to them and change. “if my children asked me where their dad is, what will I tell them?” So is the fear of many women .
So many colours of Domestic violence Domestic violence throughout the years has been a topic that many people will discuss with either a biased view or will fail to address the actual problem that is affecting the people affected by it. Many women are subjected to abuse for a very long time without realising what they are having to go through and unfortunately, many may never live to tell their story. It takes so much strength to live with a violent partner. Sometimes women are so embarrassed to report to the police what is happening to them or even mention it to a friend. ”For a very long time, I thought violence against women only happened when a woman would be battered and hurt physically, little did I know that the worst form of domestic violence is psychological abuse. I saw red flags from the beginning, but I chose to ignore them all. Simply because I believed in marriage. I thought through unconditional love , I could change people. I used to think I was capable of changing an abusive partner through love. How wrong was I to
There are so many reasons why women stay in an abusive relationship. In Africa, many women will never dare leave the abusive husband. It will bring shame to her family; hence the pressure from her parents to keep her abusive marriage going. It is believed that the family’s reputation will be affected if a woman left her husband and this will affect their social status in the society. It has never been what the woman wants. It has always been what the others want. In fact, some men will brag about physically abusing their partners. They think it is a sign of love. Below are some of the most reasons why women will decide to stay in an abusive relationship. 1.
Fear
Women often are afraid of what will happen if they decided to leave the relationship. This because her abusive partner may have threatened to hurt
Berkshire connected
News & Sports
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OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Kiveu Turnbull
her and the children if she left. Some abusive partners threaten to harm themselves if the abused partner leaves. Many women have fallen victims of this sort of manipulation because they are afraid that they may live with the guilt that they are the reason their partner harmed themselves and yet the abuse continues. I have built myself back up after such a massive heartbreak and painful events. Looking back, I am just so thankful that I left. 2.
Embarrassment It is probably the hardest thing for a woman to admit that she is or has been abused by her partner. They feel that they have done something wrong by getting involved with an abusive husband, and fear that their friends and family will judge them. Unfortunately, this happens a lot. The society is very quick to judge a failing relationship and in most cases taking sides.
3.
you are only putting a very powerful armour in your abuser’s hands to continue with the ongoing abuse. According to researchers, low self-esteem and domestic violence go hand in hand. Women will stay silent or carefully chose the words to use when trying to converse with their abusive partner just in case they lashed out or flew off the handle. Remember that domestic violence in not just physical abuse. it is also emotional and psychological. Women who are continuously subjected to this abuse will eventually suffer from low self-esteem which may never be reversed. 5.
Believing Abuse is Normal The environment with which we grow in may affect our relationship either in a negative way or a positive way. Many women don’t know what a healthy relationship looks like. If you grew up from a home where men battered their wives with impunity as men, then you may never have the ability to recognise that you are in an abusive relationship.
Love 6.
Lack of Money In many parts of Africa, women are expected to stay at home and wait on their husbands. Apart from raising and looking after the kids, all the house chores are left to the woman. In the case where both are working, the woman is expected to be home early to wait for the husband.
Women will stay in an abusive relationship with the hope that their abuser will change. They will easily believe the abuser when they say they love them and that they will change for them. If you love a person, you will want to believe what they tell you hoping that their violence will end and you will not have to end the relationship. Unfortunately, this only prolongs a very unhealthy relationship and women in this situation tend to learn to put up with abuse until they reach the breaking point before they shout. 4.
Low Self-esteem Continuous abuse from an abusive partner will only lead to a very low self-esteem causing the abused partner to believe that the abuse is as a result of their own fault. When you begin to blame yourself for the ongoing abuse, then
This may affect the woman’s upward mobility at work because she doesn’t have time to refresh her career from time to time, while the man is busy studying further and getting the pay rise from time to time. This idea of women having to remain on low wages while men earn more is one form of control. In the event a woman begins to earn more, abusive people feel less in control and the less in control an abusive person feels, the more they want to hurt others. Recently, I have watched a story that has been trending in Kenya in horror. I wished it was a scene from a horror movie, but it was not. It a girl who married for love. so she thought. Her husband chopped off her hands and hit her head a few times with a machete because she failed to bear him a child, even after the doctors had confirmed that he was the one with the problem. I know this looks graphic and I am not posting it here because I am insensitive, no.
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take the abuser’s side. One major characteristic of abusers is that they are very charming, very friendly and very generous to everyone else but their partner. 11. Distrust of Adults Younger women may feel like they have no adults to turn to or that no one will take them seriously and especially if the relationship was not initially supported by parents/ guardians or friends. 12. Distrust of Police A woman in Kenya whose husband chopped off her hands for not bearing him a child. 7.
Disability Women with disabilities may feel that their wellbeing is dependent upon the abusive partner, especially if they are physically dependent on them. This can easily influence their decision to stay in an abusive relationship. Disabled women are more likely to experience Domestic violence than able women. The women with the disabilities will report abuse that lasts longer and is more intense than women without disabilities.
8.
Pregnancy/Parenting The pressure to raise their children with both parents together, may contribute to many women not to leave abusive partners and especially if the abusive partner threatens to take or harm the children. Pregnancy has always been a licence for abusive partners because they think they can get away with their abusive behaviours, owing to the fact women will always want to stay with the father of their children.
9.
Cultural/Religious Reasons Traditional and religious gender roles can make it difficult for young women to admit to being abused. Culture or religion influence so many relationships, especially in Africa, Asia and Middle East. Because of the fear of bringing shame upon their family, most women opt to stay in an abusive relationship which may in some occasions lead to severe depression due to prolonged trauma.
10. Social/Peer Pressure If the abuser is popular or famous, it can be hard for a woman to tell their friends for fear that no one will believe them or that everyone will
Many women and young adults do not feel that the police can or will help them, so they don’t report the abuse. In some cases, the police will tell the victim that they are wasting police time especially if the victim doesn’t have evidence of physical abuse. There are so many colours of domestic abuse. It can be physical, psychological, emotional or financial manipulation. 13. Language Barriers & Immigration Status In the case of undocumented persons, they may fear that reporting the abuse will affect their immigration status. This happens a lot. Foreign women are likely to encounter domestic abuse due to lack of knowledge on how the system works in the country of residence. Also, if their first language isn’t English, it can be difficult to express the depth of their situation to others. What to do? If you feel you are a victim of domestic abuse, call the police. If you are afraid to call the police, book an appointment with your GP only if you are sure they won’t take sides. Like I said, abusive partners are smart. If they thought you are likely to report the abuse, they will go to the GP you both go to ahead of you and report that they are very distressed because you are distressed and therefore you are distressing them with your distress. I knew that at some point things had to change. So many teardrops. I knew it wasn’t going to be long. The change was going to come somehow. “My Partner came home one day and said to me our GP wanted to see me. We had had a share of our problems and rows. When I went to the GP, the first question she asked me was when was the last time I had spoken to my mum or family. Because I did not understand why she had wanted to see me, I was very bubbly even though she could detect some stress deeply lodged inside of me and sometimes escaping to the surface. She asked if being away from
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vv my family distressed me at all. As soon as she said that, I immediately sensed why I had been asked to see her. I was given a form to fill. I learned one thing along the way. Stay away always from people who think you are hard to love. Those living in the UK when I say on the scale of 1-10 do you feel like harming yourself…….and many other questions, they will understand what I mean. It means that you are just seconds away from either being diagnosed with mental health issues or you are just about to be permanently labelled with mental health issues, depending on how you fill in the form. I thought to myself: Wow, what a trap!!I told the GP I will take the form back to her the next day. Of course, I knew what that meant and how quickly it could have changed my life to the downhill if I had answered 9-10. So I never filled the form at all. And I think the GP realised what was happening and never insisted that I fill the form. What a backfired plan it was because I called the police anyway when I learned that it was becoming dangerous for me and the children to continue living with an abusive partner”.
The women outreach in the UK are very supportive. Road to recovery programme which is covered in a period of 12 weeks will leave every woman so empowered and ready to move on. Report abuse. Don’t be silent. Remember, you are not alone. The women outreach centres are in many cities and towns. In most cases, the police will point you in the right direction.
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12 Community
Knowing You – Knowing Me for Our Well-being: Be Involved By K. A. Singo
On the 20th May this year, I attended a very interesting mid day event in the week of mental health awareness sponsored by Utulivu women’s group. It was one of an eye-opening event I have attended recently. That evening I couldn’t help wondering how in a wealthy society, where there are lots of social services institutions established to help residents of various communities fail to reach all those who need help. From the different speakers I found that there are lots of people suffering in silence in our communities. These suffering individuals had one thing in common; mental health related issues. Mental health is simply how individuals think, act and cope with life challenges and stressors that form our daily experiences when we interact with other people or have contact with different things. The state of our mental health in many ways influence the way we look into ourselves, into our lives, people around us, and the way we react to them. Mental health strongly influence ones potential for achieving their desired goals and potentials and thus becoming an important tool for us to obtain and maintain a feeling of well being. One of the strongest elements that help us to have a good mental health is our ability to form interpersonal relationships. Failure to do so pushes us to self made comfort corners, which act as self-made naughty corners of loneliness. As these corners grow bigger and bigger, we tend to push even the people we live with away. As a result, our minds cannot cope and they end up blowing up through stress and depression. Many adults have experienced such times when they feel abandoned and left alone to solve problems they cannot solve. Being an immigrant myself, I can tell you that one of the hardest thing in life is to move away from the place you have called home, moving away from people you have called family, relatives and friends, discontinuing from the place you have called work place, and uprooting and planting yourself in a new soil, new home, new street and trying to grow new relationships. This will always affect ones mental health What I discovered in the last twenty years of being an immigrant is that there is plenty of help around me than I have ever imagined. The barriers between my needs and the solutions to my needs as I have discovered is, knowing the right person and the right place to seek assistance. Seeking help in difficult times and even in good times is one of the things most immigrants do not do. There is a fear and sometimes a shame of approaching the people we find in our new lands. Our neighbors, our colleagues at work or college or school and even the institutions that save us like
police, council, hospitals, and surgeries and even in our religious canters. Most immigrants come short when it comes to communicating about our feelings. Most underdeveloped societies thrive in togetherness, while most societies and people in developed world thrive in individualistic views. They operate on what I want, what pleases me and what my heart wants to follow. So coming from an environment of togetherness to one of oneness, pushes most immigrants to a brink, as we don’t know where to turn to until things become very desperate. We suffer alone until we collapse If you happen to read this, I would like to suggest to you that there are lots and lots of resources out there in our communities and there is no need for you to suffer alone. Our mental health thrives when we share our feelings through different ways including music, dance, religious events, and community events. I urge you to involve yourself with your neighbors, in your community centre, and in street events. There are lots of clubs in the community doing different activities and indeed you can find your passion in one of them. Where you cant find what interests you, find out from your local vicar, councilor, MP, or your local church, or mosque how you could start a club or organization of your passion. One of the characteristics of human beings is to have goals and desires. Regardless of ones age or work, we all cherish a feeling of well being, a feeling of satisfaction upon reaching our goals and a yearning to be congratulated. All of these things happen in our brains, minds and thoughts. Before we are involved in actions our minds have already been taxed with the duty of thinking. Anything you can imagine you can manifest and therefore put yourself out there and answer a call to build your community. Remember what Zig Zigler said. “They climb high those who help others to climb.” He also said, “you can get what you want when you help others get what they want. Be involved and give vitality to your mental health.
Berkshire connected
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Depressed in the City By Angela Wanjiku Mugo
“With the symptoms you’ve presented, I can diagnose you with depression…” A whole me? Depressed? How? I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what my doctor had just told me. How could I be depressed? In the eyes of most African homes, I had nothing to be depressed about. I was healthy, my family were alive and well, I had a roof over my head, three sources of income, and a promising future. So what exactly did I have to be depressed about? I often attributed my low moods, insomnia and other maladaptive symptoms to stress, fleeting anxiety and general daily stressors. I was sure that the Doctor was wrong because on paper, my life was perfect. I told myself that I just had poor coping skills and needed to grow up. These negative thoughts worsened my condition. I soon realised that this line of thinking had a LOT to do with my cultural upbringing, the fact that depression was not something that was often spoken about, and if so, was associated with laziness, fragility and being downright ungrateful. According to recent studies ,BAME communities are the least likely to be diagnosed and report incidences of depression, but have the highest number of psychotic disorders, such as Schizophrenia, under the Mental Health Act. This unusual finding has been attributed to cross-cultural differences; African societies tend to promote a more outspoken, expressive and generally “louder” way of life, whereas as Western societies are usually the complete opposite. Such differences are
often hugely misinterpreted, leading to an alarmingly high rate of misdiagnosis, wrongful treatment, and the onset of unpleasant side effects and further misdiagnosis which can easily be avoided. Conversely to this, Western societies tend to promote a more open dialogue for discussing feelings, emotional health and wellbeing. Most African societies do not have this component integrated within them, which may explain why depression is not often reported; it is simply something that is not well explained or understood. As a consequence, our people suffer in silence. They are left to articulate the complexity of their emotions, which may worsen their plight. Hypermasculinity within African societies leave our men the most vulnerable to experiencing depression, which is reflected in the alarmingly high rates of male suicide. So What shall we say to these things? What do we tell confused members of the diaspora who are torn between two opposing cultures? The answer lies in education. No good ever came out of remaining silent. Mental health must be prioritised in the same way physical health is. It may not be that our people do not value mental health, but rather it is not spoken of enough for it to be important. As members of the diaspora in particular, while it is important that we use our knowledge to better the general status’ of our various motherlands’, let us not forget that mental health is just as much a priority as other areas of life. After all, it is the condition of our minds that ultimately determines our destination.
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14 Faith & Spirituality
An Interview With Hilary Burrage: How She’s Fighting to Stop FGM in the UK By Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Q: Could you share with us how you began working on the issue of FGM? Ms. Burrage: I first heard of FGM (then called female circumcision) back in the 1980s, from my Mum, a Quaker and a member of amnesty, now in her 90s. Deeply alarmed, I wrote to my Member of Parliament but he told me not to worry, it was all fixed because we had a new law banning FGM. If only my MP had been right…! It wasn’t until the early years of this century that I realised his optimism was far from justified. I saw on the Internet announcements of the Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM and began to research the facts. Horrified by what I learnt and, having spent most of my professional life as a sociologist teaching and researching social issues, equality and policy, I decided I would have to act on what I was discovering. And so, having retired previously for health reasons, I began to use my time to lobby and raise awareness about FGM via the Internet and social media. A couple of years later I was approached by two different publishers to write books on FGM*, then, towards the end of 2013, the Guardian began their #EndFGM Global Media Campaign and they asked me to be their consultant. Since that time my ‘retirement’ has been in theory only. I’m a completely free agent but my focus is firmly on finding ways to protect and help girls and women facing FGM and other human rights abuses. …even now few people, even in regulated professional caring roles, are confident about what to do if they suspect a child is at risk or has been harmed (from FGM). Q: Over the years, what trends have you noticed regarding FGM in the UK? Has the situation improved or gotten worse? Ms. Burrage: The really big shock, now three or four years ago, was realizing that estimates of FGM prevalence in the UK were woefully understating the problem. There are not, as we had thought, ‘only’ twenty or thirty thousand British-
based women and girls who underwent or are at significant risk of FGM, there are around 140,000 of them, spread across the whole of the United Kingdom, a figure proportionately comparable to the half million both in the USA and in mainland Europe. We know these figures make sense because as of last year, hospitals in England have to report when they encounter patients with FGM (the reporting is anonymous unless the person is a child, when protection must be considered), and there are around one hundred cases reported every week even on that basis.
Hilary Burrage and Dr. Morissanda Kouyate, the Executive Director of the IAC (Inter-African Committee) The absolute figures have almost certainly risen over the past decade, but that’s probably because of demographic change – there are now more people in Britain from traditionally practising nations and communities. When people in the diaspora move to western countries usually one of two things happen: either practices such as FGM are abandoned because there is a new way of life or, in some instances, migrants, in what may feel to be a strange and possibly bewildering different place, put even more emphasis on tradition and heritage, so FGM can feature again in groups which had ‘at home’ almost given this practice up. When I was first alerted a decade ago, almost nobody in the UK knew much, if anything, about FGM. Now people from all walks of life – politicians, legal, education, health and care professionals, journalists, artists, taxi drivers and shop-keepers, the person on the street – are to
Nottingham connected some extent aware of it. This is obviously good news although even now few people, even in regulated professional caring roles, are confident about what to do if they suspect a child is at risk or has been harmed. I attended two Parliamentary meetings which considered mandatory reporting of FGM only last week, and there is still a very long way to go. …in developed nations we do have more resources – assuming policy makers can be persuaded to use them – to enforce that (FGM) prohibition. Concerning the increased prevalence of FGM in the UK, I would add, however, that in a way the newly emerging figures, whilst extremely alarming, are also helpful. If people in the diaspora come into countries such as Britain they must learn that FGM is absolutely not OK, and this can only be for the good. For many their country of origin also prohibits FGM, but in developed nations we do have more resources – assuming policy makers can be persuaded to use them – to enforce that prohibition. I have been following the UK situation closely for some years (my book Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation offers as a ‘case study’ the subtitle ‘A UK Perspective‘), and I am cautiously hopeful that, although the absolute numbers in Britain are daunting, the situation is beginning to be addressed. But I am also acutely conscious that we must never, for one moment, be complacent. (Harmful Traditional Practices) are economic crimes in a very fundamental sense, and they have massive fiscal impacts on the communities and even on the nations where they are practised… These practices won’t stop whilst there is significant financial reward to be gained.
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and all of them are at base concerned with money. In other words, they are economic crimes in a very fundamental sense, and they have massive fiscal impacts on the communities and even on the nations where they are practised. The individual suffering is always paramount, but with 200 million women and girls alive today who have experienced FGM, even before we consider other HTPs, I suspect that overall these gendered crimes are almost akin to human trafficking in their global economic consequences over time. Most enforcement agencies at every level from local to international have barely begun to acknowledge either the human rights or the economic aspects (of FGM). It follows that a very committed emphasis on the criminal aspects of FGM is essential. These practices won’t stop whilst there is significant financial reward to be gained. Most enforcement agencies at every level from local to international have barely begun to acknowledge either the human rights or the economic aspects, however. Alongside this there is very important work to be done in educating communities – girls and boys, men and women alike – on the grim outcomes of FGM and other traditional practices. Even knowledge of anatomy is often lacking, and sometimes the men are unaware of the impacts, whilst the women believe them simply to be a ‘normal’ part of womanhood. …education and enforcement go hand-in-hand in the eradication of FGM and, indeed, of all HTPs.
Q: What do you think is the most effective approach for addressing FGM? Ms. Burrage: Firstly, FGM is not ‘just a single thing’ on its own. It is one aspect of the whole grim issue of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) and must be seen as such. Whether the overt rationale has moved on or not, all these practices comprise aspects of patriarchy incarnate – the literal imposition of men’s will onto female bodies –
UN Geneva Book Launch at the IAC Conference
mojatu.com
16 Faith & Spirituality But despite the external reality that FGM is extremely damaging to young women’s future prospects, some community members will continue to believe that FGM and, probably, early / forced ‘marriage’ is essential for their daughters. This belief must be challenged. It is a fundamental duty of democratic nations, both generally and also specifically in regard to FGM, to ensure that girls and boys alike receive an education. In developed nations the issue of school drop-out when girls reach the puberty are not an obstacle, and it is vital to ensure also that girls don’t disappear for other reasons either. Plus, we must make it clear to all children that whilst marriage is never a necessary condition for adult status, education is. Of course people in different traditions will see status and honour in different ways, but these are in the end private matters which individuals must resolve for themselves. No-one has a right to say how mature individuals should live their lives; but our society overall has an absolute obligation to ensure that every child reaches adulthood healthy, unharmed and well-equipped to cope as their own person with the obligations and opportunities which becoming grown up brings. So, in summary, education and enforcement go hand-in-hand in the eradication of FGM and, indeed, of all HTPs. Politicians may like standing shoulder-toshoulder with brave survivors of FGM, but they are in my UK experience less enthusiastic, even when they provide some funding, about actually delivering on properly thought-out (inter)national provision to deliver eradication. Q: What are the barriers in preventing FGM from happening in wealthy countries like the UK or US? Ms. Burrage: Political will is the main barrier, with the corollary that this can only be driven or supported by corresponding public concern. Politicians may like standing shoulder-toshoulder with brave survivors of FGM, but they are in my UK experience less enthusiastic, even when they provide some funding, about actually delivering on properly thought-out (inter-)national provision to deliver eradication. Yes, the British Government has promised creditable sums to international programmes; plus in the UK we have had reasonably good legislation for some
decades, and multi-agency guidance also for a while now. But UK funding to stop FGM has not been generous and the impact here remains far from impressive – not as yet even one successful prosecution, for instance. Some European countries such as France (with about 100 convictions since the 1980s) have gone for criminal investigations on the basis of already enacted general legislation such as the prohibition of bodily harm, whilst others, including the UK, have taken forward specific legislation which as of very recently even includes specific protection orders. This appears to be having some small measure of positive, increased traction. But we don’t as yet know in any detail how much impact various methodologies have. Either way – general (no need for new legislation) or specific (legally better, but takes time to bring to statute) – could be reasonably effective as long as there is full attention also both to context: what, we must ask, does the community need to know in order to make sense of the legal action and to provide proper public resourcing. At the moment however, as various narrators say in my second book, Female Mutilation: The truth behind the horrifying global practice of female genital mutilation (which reports on activity in five continents, including North America, Australia and Europe) much of the on-going effort is by members of local communities who receive little substantive resourcing or genuine support from the professionals who are also involved. No wonder these activists are cynical about the sincerity and determination of their political leaders. Q: What needs to happen for FGM to be eradicated? Ms. Burrage: 1. In the end, money speaks louder than words. We can talk forever about the absolute necessity to end FGM and other cruel patriarchal practices, but whilst the economic rewards of undertaking these practices outweigh the impacts of investment by our leaders in eradication, they will continue. 2. Likewise, use the right words. In my view the euphemisms must go, now: no more glossing over cruelty in formal public and professional discourse. We must tell it as it is: as the Inter-African Committee and many others insist, in formal discourse FGM is indeed female genital mutilation. It’s also essential to move from talking about ‘cultural practices’ to discussing
Nottingham connected FGM and the like as criminal harm, bad traditions and human rights abuses.
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5. Remember the ‘4 E’s’ of Eradication (See full paper in the next issue Issue B012)
3. Spread the message!
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Engagement (in communities)
Programmes such as the Guardian Global #EndFGM Media Campaign and training in places such as Kenya, Gambia and Nigeria, for young journalists can reach many, many corners of the globe. Likewise, be sure to include a whole range of people as activists and enforcers and make sure all relevant professionals are equipped with the knowledge and understanding they need to tackle FGM. And we also need to be talking to boys and men, in traditionally practising communities, in schools and other shared public places in the UK and US, and in political contexts.
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Education (about FGM and, critically, also as preparation for adult life)
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Enforcement (legal protection and prosecutions, or FGM protection orders) … and
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Economics (addressing the fundamental bases of these human rights abuses).
4. Develop a proper paradigm. I have tried in my writing to make the case for a conjoined discipline– which will bring together all the aspects of this very complex subject. There is a danger that, without top-level direction and without a clear understanding of parameters for action for various types of activists and campaigners, we will begin – however much they are not intended – to see professional turf wars. In nations such as the UK, the time simply for awareness-raising is past. Co-ordinated interdisciplinary research, analyses and actions are now the order of the day.
This interview was originally published by the AHA Foundation. Hilary Burrage, previously a college lecturer, is a sociologist, author of two on female genital mutilation (FGM) and a consultant on FGM for the Guardian Newspaper. She is currently campaigning to STOP FGM in the UK. Visit https:// hilaryburrage.com or Twitter @HilaryBurrage
Hilary will be part of the Mojatu Foundation’s discussion board on the actions needed in terms of policy and mental health support for FGM survivors during the Nottingham in Parliament day on 25th October 2016 See: www fgmworldwide.org
Join Clit Warriors to enjoy sports and healthy living activities Athletics, Crickect, Football, Netball, Table Tennis and many more Free training and fun activities offered - Contact Valentine on T: +44 (0) 115 8457 009 | M:+44 (0) 7794372214 | E: valentine@mojatu.com 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR
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18 Health & Food
17 TOP TIPS TO LOSING BELLY FAT By Franziska Spritzler
Belly fat is more than just a nuisance that makes your clothes feel tight. Fat inside the belly area is also termed visceral fat, and can be seriously harmful. Although losing fat from this area can be difficult, there are several things you can do to reduce excess abdominal fat, leading to a happier, healthier life style. 1. Eat Plenty of Soluble Fibre Consume high-fibre foods every day such as flaxseeds, shirataki noodles, Brussels sprouts, avocados, legumes and blackberries. Soluble fibre absorbs water and forms a gel that helps slow down food as it passes through your digestive system. This type of fibre promotes weight loss by helping you feel full so you naturally eat less. 2. Avoid Foods That Contain Trans Fats These fats have been linked to inflammation, heart disease, insulin resistance and abdominal fat gain in observational and animal studies. They are found in some margarines, spreads and some packaged foods. Read ingredient labels as they are often listed as “partially hydrogenated” fats. 3. Limit Your Alcohol Too much alcohol can make you gain belly fat. Cutting back on alcohol may help reduce your waist size. 4. Eat a High-Protein Diet Protein is important for weight control. Good protein source at every meal, such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, whey protein or nuts. High protein intake promotes the release of the fullness hormone, which decreases appetite. Protein also raises the metabolic rate and helps retain muscle mass during weight loss. 5. Reduce Your Stress Levels Stress can increase belly fat by triggering the adrenal glands to produce cortisol (stress hormone). High cortisol levels increase appetite and drive abdominal fat storage. Engage in pleasurable activities that relieve stress such as walking, yoga, meditation and dancing. 6. Don’t Eat a Lot of Sugary Foods Sugar contains fructose, which is linked to chronic diseases increased abdominal fat. 7. Do Aerobic Exercise (Cardio) Aerobic exercise is an effective way to improve health and burn calories and is one of the most effective forms of exercise for reducing belly fat. 8. Cut Back on Carbs, Especially Refined Carbs Reducing carb intake can be very beneficial for losing fat, especially abdominal fat. You don’t have to follow a strict low-carb diet. 9. Replace Some of Your Cooking Fats With Coconut Oil Coconut oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It can boost metabolism and decrease the amount of fat you store in response to high calorie intake. To boost belly fat loss, it’s best to take about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily. Remember, coconut oil is still high in calories. Instead of adding extra fat to your diet, replace some of the fats you already consume with coconut oil.
Nottingham connected
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10. Perform Resistance Training (Lift Weights) Resistance training, weight lifting or strength training, is important for preserving and gaining muscle mass. 11. Avoid Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Sugar-sweetened beverages are loaded with liquid fructose, which can make you gain belly fat. Sugary drinks lead to increased fat in the liver. To lose belly fat, it’s best to completely avoid sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, punch and sweet tea and alcoholic mixers containing sugar. 12. Get Plenty of Restful Sleep Sleep is important for many aspects of health, including your weight. People who don’t get enough sleep tend to gain more weight. Make sure you’re getting sufficient quality sleep. 13. Reduce Your Food Intake and Exercise Consuming fewer calories than your body needs is important for weight maintenance. Keeping a food diary and tracker can help you monitor your calorie intake. 14. Eat Fatty Fish Every Week Fatty fish is incredibly healthy. It’s rich in quality protein and omega-3 fats that protect you from disease and may help reduce visceral fat. Fish oil supplements can significantly reduce liver and abdominal fat. Good choices include salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. 15. Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Diet Drinking apple cider vinegar has impressive health benefits, including lowering blood sugar levels. It contains a compound called acetic acid, which has been shown to reduce abdominal fat storage in animal studies. 16. Eat Probiotic Foods or Take a Probiotic Supplement Different types of bacteria found in probiotics play a role in weight regulation, and having the right balance can help with weight loss. Probiotic supplements contain several types of bacteria. Make sure you purchase one that provides one or more of these bacterial strains. 17. Intermittent Fasting An eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting is good for weight loss. This could be through 24-hour fasts once or twice a week or every day for 16 hours and eating all your food in an 8 hour period. This decreases abdominal fat within a period of 6-24 weeks. Originally published by Kris Gunners of Authority Nutrition
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20 Health & Food
9 Healthy Foods that are High in Vitamin D by Kris Gunnars - Authority Nutrition
Vitamin D is unique, because it can be obtained from food and sun exposure. However, up to 50% of the world’s population may not get enough sunlight, and 40% of people in the US are vitamin D deficient. This is partly because people spend more time indoors, wear sunblock outside and eat a Western diet low in good sources of this vitamin. 1. Salmon Salmon is a popular fatty fish and a great source of vitamin D, especially wild salmon. 2. Herring and Sardines Herring can be served raw, canned, smoked or pickled. It’s also one of the best sources of vitamin D. Pickled herring, sardines and other fatty fish such as halibut and mackerel are also good sources. However, canned fish contain with a lot of salt, so definitely limit your intake. 3. Cod Liver Oil Cod liver oil is a popular supplement. If you don’t like fish, taking cod liver oil can be a good way to obtain nutrients that are hard to get from other sources. Cod liver oil contains 450 IU of vitamin D per teaspoon (4.9 ml), and is high in other nutrients, such as vitamin A. It’s best to be cautious with cod liver oil and not take more than you need. 4. Canned Tuna Many people enjoy canned tuna because of its light flavour and the fact that it can be kept on-hand in the pantry. It is also usually cheaper than buying fresh fish. Light tuna is typically a better choice than white tuna. 5. Oysters Oysters are a type of clam that live in salt water. They are delicious, low in calories and full of nutrients. Oysters are full of nutrients and provide 320 IU of vitamin D.
They also contain more vitamin B12, copper and zinc than multivitamin pills. 6. Shrimp Shrimp are a popular type of shellfish, yet unlike most other seafood sources of vitamin D, shrimp are very low in fat. 7. Egg Yolks While most of the protein in an egg is found in the egg white, the fat, vitamins and minerals are found mostly in the egg yolk. Pasture-raised chickens that roam outside in the sunlight produce eggs with levels that are three to four times higher than caged chicken. Choosing eggs from chickens raised outside or that are marketed as high in vitamin D can be a great way to help meet your daily requirements. 8. Mushrooms Wild mushrooms or mushrooms treated with UV light are good sources of vitamin D. However, commercially grown mushrooms, on the other hand, are often grown in the dark and contain very little vitamin D2. 9. Fortified Foods Natural sources of vitamin D are limited, especially if you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fish. Some foods are fortified with vitamin D, including cow’s milk, soy milk, orange juice, cereals and oatmeal making them a good source of Vitamin D. Take Home Message Spending some time outside in the sun is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D. However, getting sufficient sun exposure is not possible for many people. Getting enough from your diet alone is difficult, but not impossible. Eating plenty of these vitamin D-rich foods is a great way to make sure you get enough of this important nutrient.
Originally published by Kris Gunners of Authority Nutrition
Nottingham connected
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Mental Health World Day By Cecily Mwaniki
10th October is designated as World Mental Health Day. During this day, activities on the global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma are extensively carried out. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This year’s theme, ‘Dignity in Mental Health— Psychological & mental Health First Aid For All’ is aimed at enabling us to contribute taking mental health out of the shadows so that we feel confident in dealing with/tackling stigma, isolation and discrimination that is a continuous experience to people with mental health, their families and carers. The concept of mental health first aid started way back in 1945 after the Second World War however the idea was not universally promoted widely until much later due to stigma, ignorance, poor knowledge and discrimination. The fact is, delivering mental health first aid training alone is not enough but mental health promotion and good access to healthcare and voluntary services in addition will help. With the increasing world crisis including wars, immigration, family issues, financial issues etc., better understanding of mental health first aid is required. In the UK, one in six adults in the UK have a common mental disorder. Around a quarter of the UK population will seek help for a mental health issue every year. Despite researches and much work on mental health support in the UK, mavy people still experience stigma and delayed treatment and support. Researches show that women are more likely to experience a common mental health disorder and in a more severe way than men. Black people were less likely to be treated and poorer people were more likely to have requested but not received a specific mental health treatment.
Mental Health First Aid If someone cuts his/her figure or bumps their head, they get out first aid kit, but what do you do when a loved one has panic attacks or symptoms of depression? We know many lives have been saved by passers-by through physical health first aid kits however; mental health first aid is viewed differently due to ignorance, stigma, poor knowledge and discrimination. The question is, do you have a mental health first aid kit? You should have one which involves: •
Assessing for risk of suicide and harm
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Listening non-judgementally
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Giving reassurance and information
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Encouraging appropriate professional help
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Encouraging appropriate self-help strategies
Today as we observe the mental health world day, it is hoped that you will the opportunity to see and hear services showcase what they do , how they do it and what more needs to be done to equip our mental health first aid kits more and make mental healthcare a positive reality hence the 3 W’S of our conference today. For support contact: Cecily Mwaniki | 0785 9063643 utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk www.cmnetwork.co.uk, www.utulivu.co.uk
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22 Education & Career
KIRINYAGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE By James Mugo
Committee Members Kirinyaga Central Sub-County Empowerment Initiative (KEI) was formed early in 2016, to address the problem of drug use and misuse and its effects especially to the male child. Kirinyaga district is in Central Kenya, which has been identified by the Kenyan National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA), as the epicentre of high drug use and misuse in Kenya. The World Health Organization says about 2.5 million people die annually, and many more succumb to illness and injury, as a result of harmful alcohol use. The WHO also says that alcohol is increasingly affecting younger generations and drinkers in developing countries. Kenya is one such country that is experiencing these negative repercussions from alcohol abuse. In a 2011 report, NACADA, says alcohol and drug abuse are the major social problems in Kenya, with serious public health ramifications. And, the consumers are starting young. NACADA estimates that half of all alcohol and drug abusers in Kenya are between 10 and 19 years old. “The alcohol problem is catastrophic. It is a disaster. Especially in Central Province and the areas around Nairobi, the alcohol problem is really, really huge,” said Ndirangu. “It’s been going on for 10 years now, generations are wasted, young men have become almost impotent, alcoholism, many issues of unemployment, disintegration of the cultural ways of living of the past, extreme capitalism. I think there are many reasons why this has happened, but it is catastrophic. Many people are drinking very cheap alcohol and that is dangerous for their health.” Proliferation of alcohol This cheap, home brew, called chang’aa - literally meaning “kill me quick” - often contains methanol, a toxic, nondrinking type of alcohol that can cause blindness and even death. Drinkers in poverty-stricken rural and slum areas are particularly vulnerable to its effects.
Kenyans also are drinking brand-name spirits and beer, though, in addition to traditional liquors and cheap manufactured alcohol. No matter the type, when alcohol consumption is taken too far, the user’s family feel the effects; neglect, misuse of funds and increased domestic violence are all too common results, said Mary Wainaina, a program coordinator at Eden Village rehabilitation center. Young adults at high risk The NACADA strategic plan for 2009 to 2014 estimates that alcohol and drug abuse is highest among young Kenyan adults between the ages of 15 and 29. Initiative KEI is a local community based initiative formed in early 2016, initially as OPERATION SAVE THE BOYCHILD primarily in Kirinyaga County. This idea came after the committee of 13 people sat at Kagumo Town Hotel to deliberate on the “State of the Nation” and how best to play a part in national building. From the above meeting, it sufficed that “Our House is on Fire”, and it needed a collective measure to extinguish before it spread out. By “fire” means the myriad problems facing the youth from high school to post high school. In view of this, it was noted that president Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan President had ordered a crackdown on illicit brew that mainly affected the boy-child through to adulthood, that makes Central Kenya in particular to experience irresponsible parentage, broken homes, lack of models in the family; particularly the boy-child who finally turns out to be the proverbial child of the irresponsible and promiscuous leopard. With broken homes and poor parentage, it was noted that teens in high school and post high school get wasted because of living in an environment where joblessness and hopelessness is the norm.
Berkshire connected Furthermore, it was noted that, drug addiction is another challenge, since gangs smuggle and sell drugs to students in local secondary schools. The situation is compounded by the realisation that the teens who are engaged in liquor are also engaged in drugs, and the situation gets from bad to worse. Subsequently, a few students continue on with education, but others get jobs which they can’t keep, others are recruited by criminals, others discreetly join militant and/or terrorist groups like al-shabaab, others continue on with life almost normally only to misbehave in other bad ways such as in domestic violence, political violence especially when politicians misuse them for expediency as opposed to posterity. The above gave KIE a hint that the future of our County/ Country is at stake. And because some political leaders have benefited from this hopeless state, especially during the general elections, which is done after every five years, we felt that political leadership may not deliver to fruition
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this noble project, as sober society is a threat to the existence of some. Hence, who is to bell the proverbial cat? We noted that we have a role despite our limitations. If the presidential decree against illicit brew did not succeed as some political leaders owned some of these dens of illicit brew, and indeed made a lot of money by exploiting the poor, how could we trust them to bring sanity? It is because of this mistrust that we teamed up as scholars, community leaders and church leaders in our locality to seek a panacea to this great test facing our land. If you have any query, please do not hesitate to contact at: jamesmugo39@gmail.com or 07962264000 Thank you. James Mugo PATRON
Our Objectives
Our Appeal
1. To save the boy-child who is badly affected by drugs and liquor
We are operating on a shoe string budget & other resources.
2. To address the challenges of the youth and students
We are appealing to our friends and well-wishers in Kenya, United Kingdom and beyond for: 1. Financial donations
3. To engage the society on matters regarding the youth in the light of terrorism and other emerging diversionary groups that target idle youth
2. Material donations like computers to help us operate our office and deliver the service and programme
4. To facilitate discussions that are geared towards rehabilitation and other forms of addressing the youth agenda
3. Training course designers
5. To provide ethical teaching that will empower the society and create the desired future opportunities for the youth
5. Mentors 6. Employers to give our boy child a chance 7. Website designer and administrator 8. Book keeper/accountant
Phone: 0118 907 2534 Mobile: 0785 9063643
shalom@mojatufoundation.org www.fgmworldwide.org
6. To establish various activities, across Kirinyaga County that will benefit the youth
4. Trainers for capacity building
Leverage Leverage your your unique unique strengths strengths andand be be inspired inspired andand empowered empowered to to incorporate incorporate them them in your in your life’s life’s skills. skills. Inspired Inspired andand empowered empowered people people bath bath in their in their inspiration: inspiration: • • • • •
Achieve • Achieve health health andand wealth wealth ToTo getget a copy, a copy, Build • Build strong strong family family andand social social networks networks Advance • Advance your your career career please please contact: contact: Become • Become a more a more positive positive ‘you’ ‘you’ (0)1189072534 (0)1189072534 T: +44 T: +44 Remove • Remove thethe obstacles obstacles M:+44(0)7859063643 M:+44(0)7859063643 holding holding youyou back back info@cmyoucannetwork.co.uk info@cmyoucannetwork.co.uk • Become • Become an asset an asset to your to your community community or online or online at at Cecily Cecily Mwaniki Mwaniki • Develop • Develop your your personal personal success success plan plan
www.mojatu.com/youcan www.mojatu.com/youcan
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relationship relationship dilemma dilemma andand Financial Financial well-being. well-being. SheShe founded founded ‘’UTULIVU’’ ‘’UTULIVU’’ organisation organisation which which gotgot thethe Queens Queens Award Award in in 2011 2011 forfor voluntary voluntary service. service. HerHer motto motto in life in life hashas always always been‘Aspiring been ‘Aspiring To To Inspire Inspire Before Before I Expire’ I Expire’ . . SheShe is happily is happily married married with with twotwo children children