4 Word from the Editor

5 Seeds of Change: Roots & Shoots 8 Be Inspired: Ubongo Kids

13 UNCRC: Children’s rights

14 Through the Ages: Who started education?

16 Poems & Pictures

18 School Profile: Mount Kibo schools

20 Nyota Yangu: who is my Hero?

22 DYK? Amazing brains!

24 Mawazo kutoka kwa dada!

26 Story: Nana and the book fairy

28 Our voice: Sauti zetu

29 Homework Helper: Do you know your Continent?

Managing Editor Itanisa Mbise

Design & GraphicsInnocent Mpatwa

Consulting EditorKiiya, J. K Writers/JournalistsGlory EwaldItanisa MbiseKiiya, J. KMaria MalaleMariam Werema

MEET THE TEAM

Roots & ShootsSeeds of Change:

4 5

This issue of SEMA, brings yet again another theme; Education. We are now back to school, for some of us, it is a new school, new teachers and new friends. Learn of Ubongo Kids, an exciting and fun new way to learn Maths. Why do we go to school? How are we supposed to study? Get all these answers as you turn our pages. In ‘DYK’ , learn amazing facts about our brains and learn of which animal has no brain.

Send in your stories, poems, pictures to SEMA and see them in the coming issues.

A special thank you to Ubongo Kids, Roots & Shoots, and everyone who sent in their articles and pictures.ENJOY!

Toleo hili la SEMA linawaletea mada ya Elimu. Tumerudi mashuleni na kwa wengine, ni shule mpya, walimu wapya na marafiki wapya. Jifunze kuhusu Ubongo Kids, kipindi kipya cha watoto kinachofundisha hisabati ....Kwanini tunaenda shule? Ni namna gani tunatakiwa kusoma? Pata majibu yote unavyosoma kurasa zetu. Mnyama gani hana ubungo? Tembelea ‘DYK’ ku-pata ufahamu zaidi.

Tutumie hadithi zenu, mashairi au picha na mzione katika matoleo yajayo.

Shukurani maalumu ziende kwa Ubongo Kids, Roots & Shoots Dar es Salaam, na kila mtu aliyetutumia makala na picha.FURAHIA!

Itanisa MbiseManaging Editor

SEMA Magazine

With of thousands of young people in 4670 clubs in primary and secondary schools in Tanzania, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth who share a desire to create a better world. Through service projects, campaigns, inspiring events and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots is helping youth create a hopeful tomorrow. This issue of Sema brings you Fahari ya Kuwa Msichana; a programme run by Roots & Shoots that focuses on raising self esteem of girls. Read more about it here and see how girls in different schools participate each year in the programme. Perhaps this year, you can participate too.

In 2011, the Roots & Shoots Programme of Dar es Salaam through its volunteers established a programme called Fahari ya Kuwa Msichana/Pride of Being a Girl.

The main goal of the programme is to raise the self-esteem of young girls between the age of 11–21, who are in primary and secondary schools inorder to be able to dream, face the challenges they face in their daily lives and reach their dreams.

Primary School Students, teachers and Facilitator on second day workshop 17th Dec. 2011

The idea came after realizing that there were very few girls who participated actively in curricular and extracurricular activities that develop their physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional welfare as they become young adults.

The programme is run through fun and engaging two-day workshops. On the first day, the workshop is for Secondary School girls. It is prepared by different facilitators who give presentations on topics concerning self-esteem. The girls get time to discuss and ask questions, then they form groups and choose topics they wish to address to young primary school girl on the following day. The topics are chosen independently by girls in acknowledgement

From Left Erica Hall and Catherine Fidelis on the right founders of the Fahari ya Kuwa Msichana Program

of the condition they were in when they were in primary school. Roots and Shoots Club enables the availability of all stationaries and facilities for the secondary school girls to be able to carry out their presentations.

On the second day, secondary school girls moderate the activities and the volunteers help to oversee that things are running smoothly. Secondary school girls give presentations to groups of primary school girls in rotation and the day ends with inspiration letter exchange among girls.

The first workshop was on 16th Dec. 2011. It involved 15 girls from three secondary schools; Benjamin Mkapa High school, Majani ya Chai Secondary School and Jitege-mee High School.The programme has reached 240 girls in primary and secondary schools in Dar, Pwani and Morogoro.

Secondary school Girls playing Balloon game to interact.

WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Fahari Workshop believes in using fun and engaging activities as part of learning process. Girls are usually familiar with all of the topics we pre-sent–sex and reproductive health, self-esteem and body image, poverty and education–because they hear, watch and read, about them in all sort of media.We also believe age plays a big role in how one receives a message. That is why we divide our teams of facilitators according to age; Volunteers train secondary school girls then secondary school girls train primary school girls. In this way, we believe the examples they share are of the same gen-eration, and they are inspired with the achievement.Fahari has conducted discussion on Sex and Reproduction health mainly on abstinence, and how to communicate with parents when they have a problem because good communication at home makes it easy for a girl to get first-hand information. In the workshop that took place on 8th October, 2013, girls gave reasons why good communication with their parents was a challenge. They said firstly, most families are single parented due to divorce/separation and also, many parents are harsh to their children because of social norms. When one girl wrote a letter to her mother as part of the workshop activi-ties, she said,

“ Dear mother, I love you very much, and I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done, but please reduce being too harsh on me and please talk to me about Sex and Reproductive Health.”

Mothers workshop on 9th October 2013 in commemoration of International Day of Girl Child

Girls, teachers and Plan International Representative after the workshop on 8th October 2013

Girls workshop on 8th October 2013 in commemoration of International Day of Girl Child

Primary and Secondary school girls playing Puzzle game in pairs of two March 2012

Secondary school girls training primary school girls. March 2012

Grace on the right explaining the concept of MAMA FABIKELI as how they called the

technique to overcome poverty (March 2012).

Current team of Fahari ya Kuwa Msichana Program. From left; Happiness Steven, Mwajabu Mniga and

Catherine Fidelis on commemoration of International Day of Girl Child 11th October 2013

A play during IDG 11th October 2013

sasa tunapatikana

ZANZIBAR

by Itanisa Mbise

What is the hardest subject at school? Many of us are troubled by mathematics. But you do not have to be afraid of maths and now there is a fun new way to learn it. Ubongo Kids is a programme for children that is fun and enjoyable while teach-ing mathematics. From now on, there is no need to fear maths ever again! SEMA got a chance to speak with the creators of the programme and to find out why they created it.

When you turn the next page, you will meet some of the interesting characters.

A lot of children like talking to Mama Ndege. Would you also like to answer Mama Ndege’s questions? Register by sending a short message with your name and date of birth only to 0785077303. You can ask an adult to help you register.Do not forget to watch Ubongo Kids on TBC 1 every Saturday and Sunday at 9.00 a.m. and join Kibena and her friends on their problem solving adventures using mathematics.

BE INSPIRED:

SEMA: Tell us about Ubongo Kids.Ubongo Kids: Ubongo Kids is a Swahili cartoon that uses entertainment to help children learn and have fun. The programme is for children to learn different things in a new way. It is not only about tests but about them understanding their identity and abilities so they can be able to think carefully. We want to make mathematics and science subjects understandable and fun to learn. We want children to stop being scared of mathematics and know they can learn. Children become more talented in education when creative ways of learning are used. This builds their ability to think and their confidence. We use technology like SMS and television to educate especially in science and mathematics.

SEMA: Why did you choose to make a cartoon about mathematics?Ubongo Kids: We use mathematics daily and it is the easiest thing to do. Mathematics is all around us; in our bodies, our environment and our activities. Children get disap-pointed when they fail but they need to understand that mathematics is inbuilt and they use it in everything they do. We know that children need to understand math-ematics so that they can do well in science subjects.

SEMA: What message do you have for the children?Ubongo Kids: They should know that they are good. They can do anything if they work hard to do it because they are full of energy. They should fill their minds with things that are good for them, their parents and their societies. They should know who they are and who they want to become.

Ni somo gani linakusumbua sana shuleni? Wengi wetu husumbuliwa na hesabu. Lakini hakuna haja ya kuiogopa hisabati na sasa kuna njia ya kujifunza hesabu inayoelewesha na kuchekesha. Ubongo Kids ni kipindi kipya kwa ajili ya watoto kina-choburudisha na kufurahisha huku kikifundisha hesabu. Kuanzia sasa, hamna haja ya kuogopa hesabu tena! SEMA tulipata nafasi ya kuongea na watunzi wa kipindi hiki na kujua kwanini kipindi hiki kilianzishwa.

Ukifungua ukurasa unaofuata, utakutana na baadhi ya wahusika.

SEMA: Tueleze kuhusu Ubongo kids.Ubongo Kids: Tunataka kuifanya hisabati pamoja na masomo ya sayansi yaeleweke na watoto wajisikie raha kujifunza. Tu-nataka watoto waache kuogopa hisabati na wajue kwamba wana uwezo mkubwa wa kujifunza. Ubongo Kids ni kwaajili ya watoto kujifunza vitu mbalimbali kwa namna mpya. Siyo kwaajili ya mitihani tu, bali pia watoto wajitambue na wajue uwezo walio nao ili waweze kufikiria kwa umakini zaidi. Watoto huelewa zaidi pale vipengele vya sanaa vinapotumika kuwafundisha. Inawajengea uwezo mzuri wa kufikiri pamoja na kujiamini wakiwa wanajieleza. Tunatumia teknolojia kama SMS na luninga kuelimisha hasa katika sayansi na hisabati ambapo watoto wanaweza kutazama vipindi na kujibu maswali.

SEMA: Kwanini mlichagua kufanya kipindi kinachohusu hisabati?Ubongo Kids: Tunaishi na hisabati kila siku bila kujua na ni rahisi mno. Hesabu imetuzunguka; ipo katika miili yetu, maz-ingira na matendo. Watoto wanavunjika moyo wakifeli lakini wanatakiwa kuelewa kuwa hesabu ni kitu wanachokifanya kila siku. Pia, tuliona watoto wanahitaji kupata uelewa wa hisabati ili kufanya vizuri katika masomo ya sayansi.

SEMA: Mna ujumbe gani kwa watoto?Ubongo Kids: Wajue kuwa wao ni watoto wazuri. Wajue kuwa wanaweza, hawashindwi kitu iwapo wataweka bidii katika yale wanayoyafanya. Kichwani waweke habari zinazowafaa wao na wazazi wao na jamii inayowazunguka. Wajitambue pia; wao ni nani na wanataka kuwa nani hapo baadae?

Watoto wengi wanapenda kuongea na Mama Ndege. Je, na wewe ungependa kujibu maswali ya Mama Ndege? Ili kushiriki, jisajili kwa kutuma ujumbe mfupi wenye jina lako na tarehe ya kuzaliwa tu kwenda 0785077303 kama mfano uliotolewa. Unaweza kumuomba mzazi au mtu mzima mwingine akusaidie kujisajili. Usisahau kuangalia kipindi cha Ubongo Kids TBC 1 kila Jumamosi na Jumapili saa 3 asubuhi na wewe uwasaidie Kibena na wenzake kutatua matatizo mbalimbali kwa kutumia hesabu.

UBONGO KIDS8

Kibena Age: 10 Description: Smart, sweet, soft-spoken, curious Loves: Learning and Singing Likes: Animals, insects Dream: To become a vet Dislikes: Eating meat Favourite Colour: Pink Favourite Food: Spinach Best Subject: Science Lives with: Grandmother Best friend: Kiduchu

KiduchuAge: 11Description: Mischievous, sporty, curious, does not always think before acting, doesn’t like school Likes: Sports, moviesDislikes: InsectsFavourite Colour: BlueFavourite Food: ChipsBest Subject: CivicsLives with: Her parentsSiblings: ElevenBest Friend: Kibena

Koba Age: 11Description: He is always in a hurry, very forgetful, kind hearted, quick to ask for forgiveness. Likes: FootballBest Football Club: Manchester United F.C.Dream: To become a professional footballer and travel the world Dislikes: SingingFavourite Colour: RedFavourite Food: Wali nyamaBest Subject: MathsLives with: Father and younger siblingsSiblings: Baraka (7 years) & Mwenda (3 years)

NgedereWasifu: Tumbili mdogo anaependa sana kula, hesabu zinampa shida lakini Kibena anamfundisha ili aweze kujua idadi ya ndizi zakeAnapenda: MzahaChakula: Ndizi na pilau

KibenaUmri: 10Wasifu: Nadhifu, mwenye upendo, mchunguziAnapenda: Kujifuza, kuimba, wanyama, waduduNdoto: Kwa kuwa daktariHapendi : Kula nyamaRangi: PinkChakula: MchichaSomo: SayansiAnaishi na : BibiRafiki wa karibu : Kiduchu

KiduchuUmri: 11Wasifu: Mtundu, anapenda michezo, mchunguzi, mara nyingi hutenda bila kufikiria, hapendi shuleAnapenda: Michezo, sinemaHapendi: WaduduRangi: BluuChakula: ChipsSomo: UraiaNdugu: Kumi na mojaAnaishi na: Wazazi wakeRafiki wa karibu: Kibena

Mzee KigoAge: 60’sDescription: Hardworking, very clever, good at mathematicsOccupation: FarmerLikes: ChildrenDislikes: Pests that destroy his cropsEnjoys: teaching the children he gives the kids tasks that teach them what they need to learn.

Mama NdegeDescription: Beautiful green bird with a strange, deep voice Loves: Singing and making up songs about maths but she has a very bad singing voiceLikes: Teaching mathsDreams: To teach in a school Hopes: Her two young chicks will someday be the first birds in Tanzania to attend university. Languages: English and Kiswahili.

NgedereDescription: Little monkey with a big appetite, struggles with mathematics but Kibena teaches him so that he can improve and keep a record of his bananas.Likes: Playing tricks on the childrenFavourite Food: Bananas and pilau

KobaUmri: 11Wasifu: Daima huwa na haraka, msahaulifu, ana upendo, mwepesi kuomba msamaha.Anapenda : Mpira wa miguuKlabu ya Mpira: Manchester United FCNdoto: Kuwa mchezaji bingwa wa mpira wa miguu na kusafiri dunianiHapendi : KuimbaRangi: NyekunduChakula: wali nyamaSomo: hisabatiAnaishi na: Baba na wadogo zakeNdugu : Baraka ( miaka 7) & Mwenda (miaka 3)

Mama NdegeWasifu: Ndege mzuri wa kijani, ana sauti nzito ya ajabuAnapenda: Kuimba na kutunga nyimbo kuhusu hisabati japo hana sauti nzuri ya kuimba.Anafurahia: Kufundisha hisabatiNdoto: Kuwa mwalimu katika shuleMatumaini : Watoto wake wawili wawe ndege wa kwanza kuhudhuria chuo kikuu Tanzania.Lugha: Kiingereza na Kiswahili.

Mzee KigoUmri: 60Wasifu: Mchapa kazi , mjanja sana , mzuri katika hisabatiKazi: MkulimaAnapenda: WatotoHapendi: Wadudu wanaoharibu mazao yakeAnafurahia : Kuwafundisha watoto kwa ku-wapa mazoezi mbalimbali

To some, the first day of school is one of the experiences that are always remembered. For me, it was a mixture of fear and excitement. I was happy because I had that bag, the new shoes and socks; hey! I even had a uniform. The scary part was being in an unfamiliar environment meeting new children and teachers because I was shy.

I got to meet new friends and playmates but at times, the routine was a burden. I didn’t want to wake up early every day; I didn’t want the homework nor the teacher punishing me when I went wrong. At such times I wondered who started this system where they make us go to school.

Education is a process whereby knowledge, skills and habits of a group of people are passed from one generation to the next. At the mention of education, most of us picture it in a classroom. But there is more to it….For thousands of years different societies in the world somehow passed their knowledge and skills to the next generation.

In Africa, children received traditional informal education from their parents and other adults. Every member of the com-munity had a contribution in educating a child.

Children learnt things like doing the house chores, food preparation, grazing and farming. Better yet, they learnt about artistic performances, ceremonies, rituals, games, festivals, dancing, singing, and drawing depending on the ways of their societies. Some were taught to master handcrafts such as making iron tools, pottery, weaving or building.

Informal education prepared boys and girls for their roles and responsibilities as adults. The high point of the African educa-tional experience was the ritual passage ceremony from childhood to adulthood, which we could compare to a graduation.

Formal education was only introduced during colonialism to teach people who could work as clerks, messengers and other jobs. It wasn’t given to all; an example is that girls did not get that opportunity. After colonialism, Africans have continued to use the formal education system like the rest of the world. That is how we started going to school.

By Maria Malale

Siku ya kwanza kwenda shule kwa baadhi ya watu ni siku ambayo hawataisahau. Kwangu mimi, nilijawa na furaha japo kuli-kuwa na hofu kidogo ndani yangu. Furaha ilikuwa kwa sababu nilinunuliwa kila kitu kipya; begi la shule, soksi, viatu na hata sare ya shule. Kuwepo kwenye mazingira mapya, kukutana na sura mpya za wanafunzi wenzangu na waalimu kulinitia woga kwani nilikuwa mtoto mwenye aibu.

Nilipata marafiki wa kucheza nao. Lakini kuna wakati niliona maisha ya shule kama usumbufu. Sikutaka kuamka mapema kila siku, sikutaka kufanya mazoezi tuliyoachiwa na mwalimu tukafanye nyumbani wala sikupenda kuadhibiwa na waalimu pale ilipobidi. Katika vipindi kama hivyo nilibaki kujiuliza nani alianzisha elimu na mfumo wa kwenda shule. Lakini ilibidi niendelee tu kwani niliambiwa na wazazi wangu kuwa elimu ni muhimu.

Elimu ni pale ambapo ujuzi, maarifa na tabia za jamii ya watu hurithishwa kutoka kizazi kimoja hadi kingine. Wengi wetu hupata picha ya shule au darasa mara tusikiapo neno ‘elimu’. Lakini elimu ni zaidi ya kwenda shule.

Toka zamani, kwa maelfu ya miaka, jamii mbalimbali duniani ziliweza kuwapa maarifa na ujuzi vizazi vilivyofuatia. Hapa kwetu Afrika, watoto walipata elimu ya kitamaduni kutoka kwa wazazi wao na wakubwa wengine. Kila mwanajamii alihusika katika kumuelimisha mtoto.

Watoto walijifunza vitu mbalimbali kama vile kufanya kazi za nyumbani, kupika, kuchunga mifugo na kulima. Pia walijifunza sanaa mbalimbali, michezo, ngoma, kuimba, kuchora na mengineyo kulingana na tamaduni za jamii zao. Wengine walijifunza taaluma kama kutengeneza vifaa vya chuma, ufinyanzi, kusuka na kujenga.

Elimu ya mwanzo ambayo haikuwa rasmi iliwaandaa wavulana na wasichana waweze kumudu majukumu yao wakishafikia utu uzima. Kiwango cha juu cha elimu ya Afrika ilikuwa sherehe kuadhimisha kutoka utotoni na kuingia utu uzima, ambayo tunaweza kulinganisha na kuhitimu.

Baada ya wakoloni kuja, elimu rasmi ilianzishwa ili kuwapa watu ujuzi ambao ungetumika kuwafanyia kazi wakoloni, kama vile ukarani. Elimu hii haikupewa kwa watu wote, mfano ikiwa wasichana ambao hawakupata fursa hiyo. Baada ya ukoloni, waafrika tumeendelea na mfumo wa elimu rasmi kama ilivyo kwa nchi nyingi duniani. Hivyo ndivyo ilivy-okuwa mpaka tukaanza kwenda shule.

imeandikwa na Maria Malale

14Through the Ages:Who started education?

Kibwagizo:Hisabati, Hisabati, Hisabati ye aeeeHisabati, naipenda, Hisabati ye aeeeAeee, aeee (Mama Ndege)Hisabati ni mikakati yetu, hisabati ye aeeeAeee, aeee (Mama Ndege)Lugha yako imara hisabati, hisabati ye aeeeAeee, aeee (Mama Ndege)Basi nimalize tu kugawanya, hisabati ye aeee

Twiga: Hisabati ni nini, Hisabati mikakatiKila siku na kila wakatiHisabati ni vipimo, urefu na upanaNani anabisha? Hakuna anaekanaHisabati ni maneno, herufi na matendoKuongeza na kutoa, hayo ndio maishaNani anabisha, hebu jumlishaToa, gawanya halafu we zidisha

Umepata jibu? Unaona aibuAcha wewe, hesabu zinatibuhazitaki papara, fanya taratibuUkifanya kwa haraka, aisee, utaharibu.

Hesabu ni kila kitu hapa duniani,Unapokula ugali, unahesabu matonge,Unapotembea, unahesabu hatuaHata naporappu hapa nutumia hesabu, Unapoendesha gari unahesabu kilometaHujui kilometa, nakucheka,Nihesabu meno basi hapa navyocheka, Umepata mangapi, hebu fanya hisabati

Hisabati ni maumbo ya urefu na upana na kinaNdio maana tunasema X, Y, Z,Hisabati ni namba za kila siku Unatumia kuhesabu hela, Kuhesabu kila kitu ndugu yangu

Sasa hebu hesabu madoa yangu kwenye ngozi hapaYako mangapi?Napofuata majani pia natumia hesabuMeelewa?

Kibwagizo

Mary amepoteza begi lake la shule. Tumia penseli umsaidie kutafuta njia ndani ya mzingile ili alipate begi lake.

Mary has lost her school bag. Use a pencil and help her find her way through the maze to get it back.

16 17POEMS & PICTURES

MAZE

F

Within every child, there is a brilliance and

perfection waiting to be uncovered. This

discovery is the essence of the Mount Kibo

education and is an approach of significant

appeal to many who are looking for something

substantial and lasting for their children.

Mt. Kibo school is the base to lifelong education that facilitates the develop-

ment of children’s abilities to reason, think, create and ultimately wisely apply

knowledge towards their general intent and direction there by fulfilling their

ambitions in order to reach their lifelong goals.

Mount Kibo is nestled in the beautiful area of Mbezi beach. The grounds have an

abundance of trees and grassy areas. The school offers bus services to local areas

for the convenience of parents and students.

Education is Light

We believe that preparation for the future must include an awareness of the

importance of maintaining a balance between study and recreation.

Mount Kibo has several clubs:

Debate clubsThe Scouts clubMusicCreative ArtsSubject Clubs

Physical education and sports are an important part of the school activities

because they enrich the learning.

Mount Kibo enrolls children from three years of age in nursery and those who

pass the interview in grade one up to six. We don’t enroll grade seven pupils. The

largest intake of pupils is done in January each year. However, a few admissions

are made in-between terms subject to availability of vacancies.

We have Safe and reliable transport for collection of children to and from school at a

reasonable cost.

Modern dining room.

Well equipped computer room .

Spacious classrooms.

Numerous exciting educative games for preschool and a Sporting ground.

BACKGROUND

MISSION

MOTTO

LOCATION

EXTRACURRICULAR

ACTIVITIES:

SPORTS AND

CLUBS:

ENROLMENT:

Giving quality education at a cheap cost, with-

out segregation of religion, tribe or gender,

preparing a child for better life and self con-

fidence as he or she grows up. We want our

children to grow in confidence, enthusiasm

and independence.

18

A hero is somebody who is brave. Somebody we can look up to, who is not afraid to be a good example and somebody who inspires us to do our best and to be the best. Today’s Hero is a man who is very special. This is a true story of an eighty four (84) year old man who wanted an opportunity to go to school and learn how to read and write. Meet Kimani Nganga Maruge, the oldest pupil in the world to attend primary school.

On the first day of school one morning in 2004, an 84 year old grandfather walked into a primary school in Kenya. He was fully dressed in the school uniform. Imagine grandfather wearing a shorts like a young boy, that is how excited Kimani Maruge was about learning!

The teachers were very surprised by his ambition to study next to children young enough to be his grandchildren.

Kimani’s dream was to become a doctor one day. And although it was challenging, he always did his best to learn. He was a disciplined student...so disciplined that in 2005, he was made the head boy of his school.Kimani died in 2009 but he left a legacy. He will be remembered for many years because of the example he showed. He went an extra mile to learn and so should we.

Kimani Maruge has taught us that you are never too old to go to school and learn and we should always do our best so that our dreams may come true.

20 NYOTA YANGU WHO IS MY HERO?

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SEPTEMBER LUCKY PAGE CHILD

DYK?

DID YOU KNOW?

Our brains are divided into two parts. The left side of your brain interacts with the right side of your body while the right side interacts with the left side of your body.

Your brain is faster and more powerful than any computer.Your brain generates enough electricity to light a bulb.

Our brains are 75% water; so you need to drink lots of water, it’s the food for your brain.

Your brain cannot feel pain. Every time you have a headache, it’s the tissues, nerves and blood vessels that surround the brain that are hurting.

WHO HAS NO BRAIN?Jellyfish and starfish do not have brains!

22

24What new thing have you learnt today? Have you learnt how to draw, to write, or count?We need education in our lives. There are many things we do not know or did not know, but when we got to school, we learnt them. We learned how to count, how to read and how to take care of our bodies . Even at home, parents teach us many things like respect and good behavior, cooking and how to live with our brothers and sisters. Education helps us to be good children.

Everybody has a dream. Who do you want to become?Education is very important because every dream we have and whatever we want needs education. There is no excellence without training. A good doctor must know the human body well so that he can treat people. A lawyer must understand the law in order to defend the rights of people. Likewise, art also requires education. A Musician may have a brilliant voice but he/she needs training to master and improve this talent and to be a good performer. You need training to be good at paint-ing, football, fashion, journalism and any other profession that you want to do. Important people in different fields have an education and training.That is not all! Education helps us a lot. We learn how to protect ourselves from diseases like malaria, cholera, AIDS, and even drug addiction because we study their effect and so much more. Mathematics make us better at business. The good teachers we have us are the fruits of education. How has education helped you? I know everybody has an example of how education has helped them.

What should we do so that we can know many things? We should love to read books. Not only school books, even story books and newspapers. We should visit the library so that we can read and borrow books. At school we can borrow books from teachers but we should be honest and take good care of them and return them to the teachers. We should listen carefully to our teachers and ask questions. I believe if we listen to these words, we will become good readers, we will always go to school and will attend all our classes. We will be the best students at school and at home.

Until next time, farewell! Remember ,“Knowledge is Power”.

Glory Ewald

Leo umejifunza kitu gani kipya? Je, ni kuchora, kuandika, au kuhesabu? Tunahitaji elimu katika maisha yetu. Vipo vitu vingi hatujui au hatukujua ila tulipofika shule tukajifunza. Kwa mfano kuhes-abu, kusoma na jinsi ya kutunza miili yetu. Hata nyumbani wazazi wanatuelimisha vitu vingi kama kuwa na heshima na tabia nzuri, kupika na pia kuishi na wadogo na wakubwa zetu. Hivi vinatufanya kuwa watoto wema.

Kila mtu ana ndoto, je wewe unataka kuwa nani? Elimu ni muhimu sana kwani kila ndoto na chochote tunachotaka kuwa kinahitaji elimu ili kiwe na ubora. Hakuna ubora bila mafunzo. Daktari ili aweze kutibu watu lazima ajue mwili wa binadamu vizuri. Mwanasheria ili kutetea haki, lazima ajue vifungu vya sheria. Kadhalika sanaa pia inahitaji elimu. Mwanamuziki ana kipaji cha sauti lakini ili aweze kupangilia sauti vizuri na kumiliki jukwaa anahitaji kupata mafunzo. Uchoraji, uchezaji mpira, uwana mitindo, utangazaji na fani yoyote ile lazima upate mafunzo ili unachokifanya kiwe na ubora. Watu wote mashuhuri katika fani mbalimbali wamepitia mafunzo yawe ni ya darasani au kwa vitendo .Siyo hivyo tu, elimu inatusaidia na mengi. Jinsi ya kujikinga na magonjwa kama malaria, kipindupindu, Ukimwi, madawa ya kulevya kwani tunasoma athari zake na mengi ambayo unaweza kufikiri. Hesabu zinatufanya kuwa wafanyabiashara wazuri. Waalimu wazuri wanaotufundisha ni matunda ya elimu. Ebu fikiria elimu imekusaidia nini? Nafikiri kila mtu analo ambalo elimu imemtendea.

Tunafanyaje ili tujue vitu vingi? Tupende kusoma vitabu. Sio vya shule tu, hata vya hadithi, pamoja na magazeti. Tujiunge na maktaba ilituweze kusoma na kuazima vitabu. Hata shuleni tunaweza kuazima vitabu kwa waalimu na kuwa waaminifu kurudisha na kuvitunza vizuri. Tuwasikilize waalimu kwa makini na tuulize maswali. Naamini kwa haya maneno tutakuwa wasomaji wazuri, hatutaachaa kwenda shule na tutahudhuria vipindi vyote na kuwa wanafunzi bora shuleni na nyumbani.

Mpaka wakati mwingine, kwaherini! Kumbuka “Maarifa ni Nguvu”

Glory Ewald

Mawazo Kutoka Kwa Dada!

The weekend was over. Little Nana hated weekdays with all her heart, especially if it was not the holiday season. She had to come up with a plan very fast and immediately, so that on Monday she wouldn’t have to go to school. So she slept, thinking of a plan to trick her family. All of a sudden, a fairy appeared in front of her. Nana opened her eyes and found herself, not in her bed anymore, but in a place that was divided into two. The first part had rainbows, candy, cars, and everything that Nana loved. The other part had dirty people, trashcans, garbage and things that simply make Nana sick.

“Hello Nana,” said the fairy. Nana could not reply. She just stood still, and gazed at the fairy. “Ohhhhh….oopps! Clumsy me! I forgot to say who I am. I am the book fairy. Yes, the fairy that most children hate,” said she said.‘You got that right, who loves book fairies, who even loves books?’ thought Nana.“I was told to take you on a very short trip, by the book queen. She chose you today and said after the trip; you should make a decision,” said the book fairy.

“What decision? I am not very good in making decisions. And isn’t there anything in this place that doesn’t have the word book in front of it? Please take me back home and just leave me alone. I hate books and I will never love them,” cried Nana. The book fairy had to think of a plan and quick, in order to make Nana believe and love books. She took Nana’s hand and started showing her around. She first took her to the smelly, untidy and dirty place. “It’s not about you hating books, but it’s what books have for you.” said the book fairy with a smile.

26 STORY NANA& THE BOOK FAIRY.

“Without books, the world would have no money, no doctors, no teachers, no cars and it could have been empty” continued the book fairy. ‘’Who cares?’ thought Nana. It could have been a world of fun and no stress at all.’“Also, the world would not have places to go and have fun, eat and nowhere to step in, because no one would have been educated,” said the book fairy. That got Nana’s attention and she asked why.“Well, it’s because through books we get to learn something new every single day, and by learning, we discover new things, we get to know how to help people. For example, the swimming clubs, the ice-creams you eat, the roller-skates you and your brothers use. All that is because somebody read books and went to school,” said the fairy.

“If it wasn’t for them the world would look like this, no place to throw away garbage, no place to sleep, no ice-creams no roller-skates. It could have been a dirty world,” continued the fairy. “But, because of books, new things were discovered and people are living a good life now,” said the fairy.

Nana was stuck and she did not know what to say. All that she could think of is how she could have survived with-out her beautiful things, and how her brothers could have also survived. She thought, of different things that she would not have had if there were no books. How would she get better if she fell ill? Where would she have gotten her favorite food from? “So, the world wouldn’t have any success, if it wasn’t for books?” asked Nana.“Yes, it would have just been a place full of loss, but because of books we now have doctors, teachers and people are able to help one another. And that is why it is called EDUCATION,” answered the book fairy.

“Education is simply the KEY TO EVERYONE’S SUCCESS,” the book fairy added smiling. “It’s your choice Nana, you can either say no to books and end up having nothing, or say yes to them and end up having everything,” continued the book fairy.

Before, Nana could make her decision she found herself back to her room, and the book fairy had disappeared. Her alarm was ringing loudly. It did not take her time to get ready for school and everybody was amazed. It was not usual for Nana to wake up on a Monday morning without a trick up her sleeve so that she would not have to go to school.

“Nana, are you sick?” her brothers, Biplob and Chibuduzwe, asked.“No, I’m not. Why?” replied Nana“It’s unusual for you to be up and ready for school without your mom and I shouting,” said her father.“I have learnt my lesson. The book fairy told me last night that without books I will end up having nothing, but with them, I will have everything that I want. She called it EDUCATION,” replied Nana.

Everybody, in the house was silent, and could not believe their eyes and ears. That it was Nana speaking. Actually, Nana’s mother had to ask her again if she was okay.“Ummmmmmmmm…….Nana are you okay? Are you sure you did not bump your head while taking a shower? Or when you were sleeping at night?” asked her mother.“No, I didn’t. I just learnt that EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS,” said Nana. “So, Biplob and Chibuduzwe…lets go to school,” she continued.No one could ask any more questions, because one little mistake would have made Nana, change her mind about going to school….

By Mariam Werema

THE PAST HAS ALL THE ANSWERSFor many years, people have gone to school to learn what you are learning today. They did tests and exercises. Find a few questions from the past and learn how they answered them. This will help you learn a few new things and also to learn from their mistakes.

Rahisisha Masomo Homework Helper

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Test yourself from time to time. Do revision questions with your friends or parents. The more you practice any-thing, the better you will be at it.

UNDERSTAND IN YOUR OWN WORDS.Many students like to cram things without understand-ing them. Make sure you always understand things in your own words. This will help you not to forget and it will be easier to answer any question you get.

AN HOUR A DAY, KEEPS FAILURE AWAY.Spare at least one hour everyday to go through what your teachers taught you that day. Go through your notes, practice math questions on your own, try to memorise the formulas.

REST!Even powerful machines need to rest. Do not study for long hours without taking a break. You can sleep or play sport or even help with a few easy house chores! This will give your brain a chance to digest the information you have fed it and store it in proper folders.

A QUIET AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTWhen choosing a place to study, make sure it is not noisy. Do not study in front of the televi-sion or any other distractions. But do not go study in a dark corner either. Find a nice table where you can sit and study. Your chair should be comfortable so that you posture is good. The light should be bright enough so that it does not hurt your eyes.

“What makes doing schoolwork easy? How can I make sure I understand well and pass? Follow these simple tips for doing school work and you will see how easy studying can be.”

ANSWERS ARE ALL AROUND YOULearning does not end with the covers of your books. We study about the world around us. So wherever you go, whatever you do, remember that there is a lesson there. These lessons help make our school work easier because they are examples that we will not forget easily.

READ BOOKS.Not only school books. Read story books. Read newspapers. Read-ing other things helps you learn things that increase your general knowledge and improve your language. Pay attention to spelling so that yours can improve. And remember to share the information you have read. Did you read a new story today? Or an interesting fact? Tell your friends, tell your parents and your teachers. Sharing helps spread knowledge and helps you remember better.

2928Our Voice Sauti Zetu

Do you know that education is your right as a child?Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states;“You have the right to a good quality education. You should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level you can.” We spoke to some children from Mount Kibo Primary School and this is what they had to say on the importance of education.

My name is Jordan Jossey. I am in class five Serengeti. I am ten years old. Why is education important? Education helps people to face different problems in a society.What do you want to become when you grow up?When I grow up and finish my studies, I want to be an engineer.

My name is Lilian Bonaventura. I am in class six Serengeti. I am twelve years old. Why is education important? When a person is educated, he/she can be civilised. What do you want to become when you grow up?When I grow up, I would like to be a doctor.

I am Alice Alex. I am in class six Serengeti. I am eleven years of age. Why is education important? Education helps to prevent us from diseases, poverty and corruption. What do you want to become when you grow up?I want to be a designer when I grow up.

Mimi ninaitwa Brian Chihota. Ninasoma darasa la saba, Mikumi. Nina umri wa miaka kumi na mbili (12). Elimu ina faida gani?Elimu inamsaidia mtu kuajiriwa na kujiajiri. Ungependa kuwa nani ukiwa mkubwa? Nikiwa mkubwa ningependa kuwa mfanya biashara.

Mimi ninaitwa Dorcas Mwakateba. Ninasoma darasa la saba Serengeti. Nina umri wa miaka kumi na tatu (13). Elimu ina faida gani?Elimu inamsaidia mtu kuepukana na magonjwa mbalimbali kama vile ukimwi. Ungependa kuwa nani ukiwa mkubwa? Nikiwa mkubwa ningependa kuwa daktari.

Article 29 states;“Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environ-ment and respect other people.”

The Happy/Sad Boxes, decorated with cartoons, were placed in some schools inviting children to write-in their concerns with a message that simply states, “Tell us why you are happy or sad.”

Although children at first submitted many requests for material items, they are gradually beginning to express needs that are closer to their hearts. Teachers; counselors and the entire child protection team, who received training on how to respond discreetly and appropriately to the letters, also help children with communicating their feelings.

Happy/Sad Opinion Boxes Initiative aims at promoting Child Participation, besides providing avenue for abuse reporting. It is hoped that by the end of the project, children will have devel-oped the capacity to protect them-selves from abuse through their opinions.