BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: From charcoal monger to School owner

It's necessary that you get losers off your life if you want to succeed.

Burning charcoal in the forest

Amelia 'Nigila' in her Lera Academy office

From the school musical band to the Science gurus of Chandri High school, Nigila (an abbreviation of Luo Words " Nind gi Lawi" -which is the name she called herself) was always conspicuously missing. This was by design, she was jovial and outgoing pupil in her primary school, an average student to say the least. She had performed well in her final primary certificate exams and was poised for a national high school.
However, her story begins in the compound of her father's homestead, the grass thatched houses with almost half the roof leaking. This is what they called home.The torn and dirty pieces of clothes heaped outside LERA ACADEMY reminds me of Nigila's patched uniforms with stains from charcoal wood that deprived the world of her beauty. She had never attended the weekend classes though we did not worry or care about it... She was 'ugly dirty and unkempt'. We therefore did not want any association with her.
Last evening my son came from school and told me this: "Daddy you do not achieve in this world what you want but what you are". I was perplexed, I asked why he said that and how he might have figured it out. I hope you are also thinking about this, yeah???????
Ask me where Nigila went every weekend. Thanks. She was sweating in deep forest cutting this tree after this tree as she helped her father Majuala burn the charcoal. This was their livelihood, something to feed her eight siblings and the ever pregnant mother.How could she come to school on Saturday? To do what? how was she going to feed and get school fees? Besides why should a girl be so dedicated in a male stuff?
As she sits on her leather swinging chair in an air conditioned room, Nigila looks at me and smiles. Lera Acaademy is the giant in the hood and only well-to-do families can afford the school fees. I don't say I do.I don't want to brag but my son studies here. I have come to commit myself in writing to clear the last terms's fee balance.
The great madam Amelia's desk is academically decorated, an apple laptop with golden color glitters at me as she points to me a seat to her left. I humbly sink in the comfort of  leather cased chair struggling to smile with a thank you hymn from my dry mouth. This thick cocktail-like juice has a profound scent that savors through my nostrils like a benediction after a faithful prayer. I wish it would be mine. I wish I could have  a taste. Am trying not to call the madam by her childhood name Nigila. This new life brings the forgotten names back, She's not that Stingy Nigila, or maybe she doesn't look like her. she is prettier, gorgeous,sexy and classy. Am trying not to get into the temptation, so I silently recite the Lord's prayer as she wheels the chair to pick a phone call. Am staring at the 'swollen' skin on her hip-line, her peplum blouse is waving momentarily exposing the mystery of her cleavage. Eeeeeish! don't swallow your saliva yet swallow your pride. There's something you haven't done in your life, you got to realize it! you got to do it! Don't just sit there.

Back to Nigila's story: She believed in herself, she always knew she was in the staircase, though  lower. She needed energy to help her climb up - to help her weather the ridicule - to set her aside so as to be different. She chose to work and maybe her  name Amalia had the motivation to that effect.

Nigila's high school examination results came in February time whilst she was away. It wasn't impressive. If it were mine, God forbid, my father could have forced me to rewind fourth form. Her life had hit a snag, her hopes dashed, she was done. No future no life.Her hope to experience how to be rich, how to own a car, how to dwell in the house on the other side was depleted.
The lady she was working for as house-help during this time had 'deported' her back to the village.The reality of failure was slowly downing on her. Multitude of thoughts bombarded her. It was time to put her act together and do what others wont do in order to be successful.Her savings from ex job secured her new panga, an axe and enough to pay two boys who would help her in the charcoal burning.
The business began, Nigila drowned herself in the job, dirtied her hands and believed in one thing."I will make it possible". As they say all is history, Nigila, Madam Amalia is turning the chair and telling me in a low tone, "Abong'o... look!! we all are not finished products.. we a work-in-progress. I own this academy to remedy my own past troubles in education, to quench my thirst. Though I was average student I still could do better than the wealthy A students of our times".
So I dare you today, Look at yourself in the mirror and apprise yourself, "Its not over until I win".

Students strike: It's time we Deal with discontent in our schools

When you bargain, nobody gives you what you don't have the power to take.
Strikes have lately been rampant in most of Kenyan schools and the media, both mainstream and social media kept eagle's eye to catch everything unfolding. in this regard many schools have closed down indefinitely at the detriment of students' pursuit of education and preparation for the exams.
What then has bolstered this menace?

• Poor feeding
• Poor sanitation
• Poor state of studies
• Teacher(s) attitude
• Lack of entertainment programs
• Lack of 'HOLISTIC' training
• Students background and family ideals
• Drug and other substance abuse
• Intolerance among students

The gist of education is to provide students with foundation upon which successful life is built.Strikes therefore cause distraction that blocks this achievement.
Taking a more holistic approach to deal with these evils will play a greater role in mitigating strikes and instilling discipline in students. It should be noted however that not all students participate or support the strikes especially those manufactured in the selfish interest of students themselves. Some just don't have a voice. They are sometimes suppressed and deprived of the chance to give amicable ideas that can yield good solutions.
How then can every student avoid strike?

• Students, unwilling to take part or perpetuate strike must in clear and bold way argue with the opposing side the ills of such strike.
• They need to always build a healthy rapport with all teachers
• They must at-leased bring to the attention of the administration their grievances
• If they fill dissatisfied with the administration solutions, then they may relay such grievances to their parents at an individual level. Parents to teachers may create a better debate and bargain than student- teacher.     
• Each student is the other's keeper and so given that the pursuit of education is what has brought them together, then each one has to be on the look out on the activities of the others that may be detrimental to education and social relation in school

Consequences/Effects of strike
Strike of any ilk always has a target and the students who orchestrate such ensure the effects are vivid. However sometimes these effects are so lethal. Target teachers has been kidnapped and brutally mistreated, others have ended up dead, Dormitories have been burned down thereby losing huge sums of money, the wort being burning of other students in the dormitories.
All students, perpetrators and non perpetrators are sent home and parents are expected to pay above the tuition fee, the payment for the damages.
Strikes ruin the school reputation and as a result the academic weight wanes a great deal
Most students end up being traumatized and the condition can remain for a lifetime.
Please student Love yourself appreciate this chance and give thanks to God. STAY SAFE AVOID STRIKE.


 
                                                                                     

Blow off the light: Keeping students safe from extremism Part 2

In order to know that your child has been exposed to the extremist ideologies, parent and carers need to look out for these things:

· Graffiti symbols, writing or art work promoting extremist messages or images.

· Accessing extremist material online, including through social networking sites.

· Distributing extremist literature and documentation.

· Significant changes in language, behavior, actions. For example, have they become aggressive, argumentative and domineering?

· Changes in friendship groups and suddenly no longer friends with previous friendship groups.

· Taking an unusual interest in current affairs, particularly the conflict caused by terrorists like Al shabab

· Isolating themselves for long periods of time and being secretive about what they have been looking at online or reading.

· Displaying a loss of interest in activities they used to previously enjoy doing.

· Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or incite violence against others based on race, religion, culture, gender and sexual orientation.

· Attempts to impose extremist views or practices on siblings, other family members and friends. For example, are they quick to condemn or dismiss viewpoints that contradict their own?

· Referring to ‘them and us’ when making references to religion.

· Expressing sympathy for extremist groups like Al-shabab and condoning their actions and ideology.

· Expressing sympathy and understanding for those who have previously moved to Somalia to join Al- shabab

 · Asking questions about traveling distances and times to countries Somalia, Syria and others that are associated with terrorist groups

· Requesting to keep their own passport and birth certificate in their bedroom.

Blow off the light: Keeping students safe from extremism Part 1

The threat of extremism and  radicalization may begin from an early age and can emanate from different many sources like the internet, extremist individuals and or bad company. Parents therefore are advised to keep closer watch on what their kids are doing both on and off-line.
Before we even go further we would want to know extremist groups that have been within our borders for awhile now. The groups such as mungiki, sungusungu, 40 brothers, taliban and Alshabab have been associated with extrimist ideologies that pose a lot of security threat to students and the society at large.
The later being a Somalia based terrorist group that has done several explosions and killing of many innocent civilians in Kenya in places such as Garrissa University, Westgate shopping mall, Gikomba, Pandanguo in Lamu, Mombasa town etc.

Every individual need to know such factors that point to a young man and woman being vulnerable to the threat of radicalization:

• A strong conviction that their culture, tribe or religion is under attack and treated unjustly
• An overwhelming need for identity and belonging
• Need for more adventure and excitement
• Being gullible to the influence by friends and peers
• Tendency to look for conspiracy theories
• Development of mistrust of mainstream media
• Tendency to manufacture and spread directly or indirectly unfounded rumors

In order to know that your child has been exposed to the extremist ideologies, parent and carers need to look out for these things: