COVER STORYBe Inspired:

Through the Ages: Mwanzo wa Mawasiliano

School ProfileLittlewood Schools

Tanzania’s Magazine on Child Development and Protection

C om mu n i c at e &

C on n e c t w i t h You r Pare nt s

DYK?How Ants Communicate

issue #002 | www.sematanzania.org | April 2013

4 Word from the Editor

5 Seeds of Change: Roots & Shoots 8 Be Inspired: Communicate & Connect with Your Parents

13 UNCRC: Children’s rights

14 Through the Ages: Mwanzo wa Mawasiliano

16 Try it Out: Make a Phone

18 School Profile: Littlewood schools

20 Nyota Yangu: who is my Hero?

22 DYK? How ants communicate

24 Parental Thoughts: mind your language! Natumiaje Lugha yangu!

26 How do they do it? Braille & sign language

28 Our voice: importance of communication in a family

29 Homework Helper: Rahisisha masomo

Managing Editor Itanisa Mbise

GraphicsInnocent Mpatwa

Consulting EditorKiiya, J. K Writers/JournalistsAbdukarim Kirua Heddi Glory EwaldItanisa MbiseKiiya, J. KLucas MatembaMaria Malale

MEET THE TEAM

a word from the EDITOR

SEMA is back! This time we bring you a whole new theme, ‘communication’ one of the most important things in life. Through our pages, learn about the importance of communication to build good relationships with your parents or guardians and how to connect with them. In ‘Through the Ages’, learn how communication has developed through the ages. See how other children feel about communication and its importance in a family.

Write to us! SEMA is about your voices being heard and we would like to hear from you. What topics do you want to read about in SEMA? What is important to you and what have you learnt from SEMA?Lastly, a special thank you to each and everyone who contributed in any way to make this issue a success.Start walking through the pages......ENJOY!

SEMA tumerudi tena!

Katika toleo letu la pili tunawaletea mada muhimu sana ya mawasiliano na mahusiano mazuri. Kupitia kurasa za SEMA, jifunze umuhimu wa mawasiliano mazuri kati ya watoto na wazazi/walezi pamoja na namna nzuri ya kuwasiliana na watu mbalimbali. Pia, jionee mwanzo wa mawasiliano ulikuaje hadi hapa tulipofikia.

SEMA nasi!SEMA ipo ili sauti zenu zisikike Tanzania. Tuandikie na kutuambia ungetaka kuona mada gani, ni vitu gani unaona vya muhimu kwako na umejifunza nini kupitia SEMA?

Ningependa kutoa shukrani nyingi sana kwa kila mtu aliyechangia kwa namna yoyote ili kufanikisha toleo hili la SEMA.Tembelea kurasa na mfurahie!

Itanisa MbiseManaging EditorSEMA Magazine

4

Roots & ShootsSeeds of Change:

5

SPREADING THE WORD....LINKING PEOPLE ACROSS BOUNDARIES Lasttime,weintroducedyoutotheJaneGoodall’sRoots&Shootsprogramme.Inthisissue,webring youthedifferentwaysinwhichRoots&Shootsconnectsitsmembersandcommunicateswiththem.

Roots&Shootsusesthemediaindifferentwayssothatmemberscaninteractwitheachotherandget helpfulknowledgeonhowtoruntheirprojectsandmakethemasuccess.Mainlyusingtheinternet,it hasawebsite,aFacebookpage,aYouTubechannel,blogsandusesTwitter.

WEBSITE: TheRoots&Shootswebsiteisoneofitsmostimportanttools.Withover130countries,theRootsand Shootswebsitehelpstokeepthememberstogether.Itisclearlyarrangedforeasyuse;

The Roots & Shoots website has its own blog where staffmembers write and share their experiences working withdifferentpeopleandwith theenvironment.Theyareable toshare how their experiences changed them and what theylearnt.Othermembers canreadthesestoriesandcommentonthem.

See foryourselfbygoing to News/Eventson thewebsiteandclick on 'blog' to see posts and comments...and if you haveregisteredyoucanevenpostyourowncomments.

Thereisevenamapoftheworldwhichshowsthelocationofsomeprojectsaroundtheglobeandsomuchmore....

Now,Roots&Shootshasanewandimprovedwebsite,don’tforgettocheckitoutandseeforyourself.Simplygotowww.rootsandshoots.org.Takeatourandlearnhowtousethesiteandenjoyeverythingtheyhavetoofferwiththemostinterestingpicturesandfactsthatwillkeepyouwantingmore.

YoucanalsowatchwhateventshavebeentakingplacebycheckingoutRoots&ShootsonYouTube.Simplyvisithttp://www.youtube.com/jgrootsandshoots&enjoyinterestingvideosfromR&Smembersallaroundtheworld.

Roots&Shootsmembersfromdifferentcountrieshavefacebookpageswheretheywriteaboutthedifferentprojectsandevents.ThereisalsoageneralRoots&Shootspageinfacebook.Checkoutthefacebookpagesand‘Like’,joinreadandcommentondifferenteventsstartingwiththeJaneGoodall’sRoots&ShootsProgrammebyusingthislink; http://www.facebook.com/rootsandshoots?fref=ts

Withatwitteraccount,youcanfollowRoots&Shootsandkeepupwitheventsand‘tweet’commentsandquestionsondifferentthingsandhavefullconversationswithotherfollowersofroots&shoots.Youcandothisbyincluding@rootsandshootsinyourtweet.

Remembertoalwaysusetheinternetwithanolderperson;yourparentsoraresponsibleoldersisterorbrotherandhavefunlearningnewthings.

“If your heart is telling you to help the world and you’re ready to take action, Roots & Shoots can help you organize your thoughts, develop a plan and make it happen!” R&S

6

8 be inspired... communicate and connect with your parents

by Itanisa Mbise

One evening, a father returned home from a long day at work. At dinner, his young son asked him the strangest question; “Dad, how much do you make in an hour?”. The father, surprised, answered that he made ten thousand shillings every hour. The boy then asked, “May I have five thousand shillings?”. The father refused because he could not understand why his son wanted the money. Later, he changed his mind and went to give his son the five thousand shillings. To his surprise, his son took out another five thousand and gave them both back to his father saying, “Here is ten thousand shillings, please spend an hour of your time with me.”

Talk to Them The little boy in the story actu-ally told his father how he felt, that he needed just an hour of his father’s time. I am not saying you should try to pay your par-ents for their time. But you have the right to tell them how you feel. Sometimes a simple request like, “Dad, may you please help me check my homework?” could help. Even when doing homework, that time counts. And slowly, you could spend more and more time with them.

Remember, your parents work hard so that you can get a good education, food, clothes, a home and whatever other needs they can provide. Some of their jobs are very hard and they do get very tired. You can help them by being obedient. If you want to spend time with them, don’t make them play on such days, you could simply sit with

them when they are watching the news or sports. If mom is in the kitchen, you could join her and help with the simple work. Just make sure you do not get hurt. It is important that they share your interests, but it is also good to do what they love.

A friend of mine told me this story and I thought it was really touching how much that little boy wanted to spend just a little time with his father.

Have you ever felt like this little boy? Have you ever wanted to spend a little more time with your parents?

be inspired... communicate and connect with your parents

They are your example, follow their lead and listen to them when they tell you to do something.

Strong bonds are formed from the little things. When we do what our parents tell us to do, they become happy. Even when they think of spending time with us, it is easy for them because they will not get a

headache shouting at us for being naughty all the time.

Most important, you should know that time spent with parents does not always have to be play time.

When I was younger, my parents were very busy. They hardly had time to play with us although we really wanted them to. But every evening we spent time with them. After work, our father used to water the flowers and trees. This was our chance! We used to go out and play around him and we tried to help him. One day he helped each of us plant a tree and flowers and so every time he watered his garden, we watered ours. This was one of the best parts of my day. We did not play every day, but we spent time with him and we learnt and we laughed and we shared something we all loved.

HOW DO OTHER CHILDREN & PARENTS SPEND TIME TOGETHER?

I was able to talk two different families and here is what they had to say.

Louis’ parents have two sons; Louis, who is nine and Laris, who is one year and four months old. Like most parents, they have to work on weekdays so Louis and his little brother stay with Dada. They spend weekends together doing different things like reading story books and storytelling and taking Louis to his swimming classes.

10

Elizabeth:Do you regret not having more time to spend with your children?

Yes I do, but since I am studying it is hard. When I go back to work, I will be able to spend more time with him. Now I just spend evenings with him. I help him with his homework and we eat together. On weekends that I’m free I play with him.

Do you feel he is open with you?

Yes. He talks to me a lot and always tells me everything that has happened to him that day.

Does he meet his father?

Only once, his father visited him at school.

Although these stories are very different, in both cases you can see that parents make an effort to be with you even when they are tired from work. Some parents are harder to talk to than others, but your parents do love you and do everything to make sure you are comfortable. When you realise this, you can learn to love the small things like having dinner together, watching television together or even praying together.

11Elizabeth is a single mother with a five year old son named Joe. She is a teacher but is now studying in University so during the day her son mostly stays with Dada. Sometimes his uncle also spends the day with him.

Joe: How does your mother show you her love?She buys me presents like chocolates, she takes me to places to play, my best was when we went to swing. She buys me fruits, makes juice for me and buys me nice clothes.

What do you do together?

We play games. She likes to tickle me and a laugh and then I also tickle her.

Do you miss your father?

No. I don’t want to see him. I don’t like him. He used to beat me so much until I got hurt. He also beat my mother and she used to cry. I tried to save her, I hit him with a pillow but he just kept hitting her. He came to school to see me but I was not happy to see him.

Did your father play with you some-times?

Yes. He used to. He also liked tickling me. But other times he used to go out to town and left my mother and I at home.

14

TRY IT OUT Alexander Graham Bell made a phone, do you think you could do the same? Try out these easy tips and see your own invention come to life.

2. Ask an adult to help you hammer a hole at the centre of each can by using a nail.

3. Take a long string and put each end through the holes of each can. Tie a knot on the inside of the holes so the string remains in place.

Now your phone is ready. Try it out with a friend! Each one should simply take one can and walk away from each other until the string is tight (just make sure it does not break!). When one talks through the can, the other one can listen and hear well.

Sound waves from the speaker cause the string to vibrate and reach the listener’s can producing sound that can be understood.

With more string and cans, more and more of your friends can join the conversation. Just remember to talk in turns.

Don’t forget......You will need: Two or more empty cans, a hammer and nails. Two or more long strings.

Make sure an adult helps you make your phone, do not try to use a nail and hammer or sharp cans on your own. Make sure your tins are clean and do not have rust. Have Fun!

1. Find two empty metal cans that are not too big, (you could use Zesta jam cans for example.).It is better to use cans that are open on one end, if not, make sure an adult helps you remove one end carefully so no sharp edges remain.....we don’t want you to get hurt.

How is it Possible?

16

18 School Profile

PARENTS TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.The cooperation between the teachers,supporting staff, school committee and the parents is to provide quality growth physically, socially and academically to our children. Two meetings are held in a year; one in February and another in September: to discuss and advise on the best way forward for our children.

ourmotto:God, discipline and KnowledGe.

Vision: we expect to build success throuGh beinG the best preferred childcare,positive character buildinG school and quality education providerin the country.

Mission: our major mission is to provide quality service that satisfies the educational needs of everyone in the country.

IntervieW:what are special characteristics of the school?things you like to emphasize? “The unique thing that we at Littlewood boast around about is the discipline philosophy instilled in our children.”where do your students come from (area in dar)?“Most of our children come from the neighbouring areas of our school. i.e. Kibamba, Mpigi magohe, Mbezi Mwisho, Kimara, Kiluvya, Msakuzi etc”what are the challenges?“The main challenge is academic prosperity. Many parents want their pupils to do well in final examinations e.g. the Primary School Leaving Examination. Another challenge is that some parents do not co operate with teachers in their children’s academic issues thinking that the issue of learning concerns the teachers only.”

20 Nyota Yangu: Who Is My Hero?

Nikiwa mdogo kabisa nakumbuka tulishirikiana kwa kila jambo. Alinituma kuosha vyombo, kudeki nyumba kubwa na hata kufua nguo nyingi. Wakati mwingine sikupenda kazi hizi kwani nilidhani zilikuwa nyingi mno – nilidhani naonewa. Kwa upande mwingine mama alininunulia

nguo za kanisani, viatu na sare za shule. Kila nilipomweleza kwamba daftari limejaa, hakusita kuninunulia jipya. Mama yangu ndiye nyota yangu.

“Mamayangundiyenyotayangu.Nawashauriwatoto

muwaheshimuwazazi.Nikwanamnahiyotundivyo

mtawezakutimizamalengoyenuyakufanikiwa.”

Nilivyoambiwa nichague nyota yangu haikuwa kazi rahisi. Nampenda sana baba yangu lakini mama ndiye tuliyeshinda nae nyumbani na kuzungumza mambo mengi. Alikuwa akinishauri juu ya mambo mengi katika maisha – alinifundisha kuishi na watoto wenzangu na kuwaheshimu watu wazima.

Mama yangu ni mpishi mzuri sana wa mapochopocho hasa vitafunwa vya chai. Alikuwa anapika keki, maandazi, chapati, sambusa, mikate na vitumbua. Vyote hivi alikuwa anawauzia majirani kwa ajili ya kunywea chai makwao. Kati ya vitafunwa vyote alivyokuwa akipika mama, vitumbua ndivyo vilikuwa na wateja wengi na vilimpatia pesa nyingi zaidi. Vitumbua alivyokuwa akipika mama vilipendwa sana kwani vilikuwa vitamu sana. Maandalizi yake yalianza kwa kuchambua mchele, kuuosha na kuuanika juani kabla ya kuupeleka mashineni kwa ajili ya kusagwa ili tupate unga wa vitumbua. Mimi nilikuwa mshirika wake mkubwa katika biashara hii.

Kila nilipotoka shuleni nilimsaidia mama katika maandalizi ya mchele na kuupeleka mashine.

Mara nyingi baada ya shule nilibeba kabati lililojaa vitumbua vilivyobaki asubuhi na kuvitembeza mjini. Mama alinipa zawadi ya pesa ya bajia, kashata na barafu (ice cream) kila nilipomaliza vitumbua vyote kwenye kabati. Shuleni nilikuwa ninazo pesa zangu kwa ajili ya kununua nilichotaka na pia kuwanunulia marafiki zangu.

Mama yangu ni wa muhimu sana kwani kama asingeinfundisha kudeki, kuosha vyombo, kupika na kufanya biashara nisingeweza kuwa na bidii kazini kama niliyonayo sasa. Nawashauri watoto muwaheshimu wazazi kwani kuwapa kazi si kuwaonea bali ni kuwafundisha kuishi kwa bidii. Ni kwa namna hiyo tu ndivyo mtaweza kutimiza malengo yenu ya kufanikiwa.

Kiiya, JK

by Louis

DYK?HOW ANTS COMMUNICATE....

Ants “talk” to each

other with smells too. They give off chemicals

which smell to warn other ants of danger or to show them where to find food and new nests. Ants even use smells

to know when there is a dead ant

So whenever you

see a long line of ants, you know they are follow-

ing these smells. And if you look long enough, you will see the way they always stop to

‘greet’ each other with their antennae.

They also communicate by

touching each other with their antennae.

Ants do not have

ears but they can feel sound vibrations.

Some ants communicate by drumming on the

ground.

22

HOW ANTS COMMUNICATE....

•Use polite words such as please or excuse me, sorry and thank you where

it fits. Polite words make you look civilized and a good child. Your

friends, parents, teachers or any other people will want to listen

to what you want to say because you used polite words.

•Do not speak too loudly as this will make people

uncomfortable. But don’t speak so softly either as it will

be hard for others to hear or understand what you are saying.

•You should listen and pay attention to what the others are saying to you. Just as much as you want to be heard, the others also want to be heard. If you don’t hear them properly or haven’t understood what has been said, don’t be afraid or feel shy. Just ask for things to be made clear to you.

These simple suggestions written for you are applied in almost all places and languages in the world, be it English, Swahili, French or any other. Try practicing them and you are sure to have fun communicating.

Pa

ren

tal

Th

ough

ts

Human beings daily communicate in many ways, one of them being through talking and listening. The main aim of communicating is to share or pass information. So it is important that one knows how to talk and listen to others.

When speaking to your parents, relatives, friends, teachers or any other people remember to observe the following:

•It is good to greet people especially if you are see-ing them for the first time in that day. A simple “good morning” or “hello” will make you have their attention and it is polite. They will probably even like you from the start!

•Address or call people by their names or titles when speaking. For example if you want to ask for the time you could say “Hey Joseph what time is it?” instead of “Hey you there what time is it?” You may call your friends by their names. If the person you are speaking to is older than you or you don’t know their names, use their titles such as sir, madam, miss, teacher, dad, Mister John, Aunt Clara etc.

Mind Your Language!!!24

•Usiongee kwa sauti kubwa kupita kiasi kwani utawafanya wanaosikiliza kuona kama

unawasumbua. Lakini hii haimaanishi kuwa uongee kwa sauti ndogo sana

kwani wasikilizaji watapata shida kukusikliza na wewe pia

utapata hasara kwamba hujasikika.

•Sikiliza kwa makini katika maongezi. Kuwa msikilizaji mzuri kuna faida

kuliko kuwa muongeaji mzuri. Kama hujasikia kitu vizuri,

muombe anayeongea arudie, usiogope ili uweze kuelewa.

Mapendekezo haya hutumika katika karibu jamii zote duniani na katika lugha zote.

Jaribu kuyafuata na utafurahia mawasiliano mazuri kati yako na wale wanaokuzunguka.

Imeandikwa na Maria Malale

Binadamu huwasiliana kwa njia mbalimbali moja wapo ikiwa ni kuongea na kusikiliza. Lengo kuu la kuwasiliana ni kupeana taarifa. Hivyo ni muhimu kufahamu mbinu za mazungumzo.

Ukiwa unazungumza na wazazi, ndugu, marafiki, waalimu au mtu yeyote kumbuka kuzingatia yafuatayo:

•Ni vyema kusalimia watu hasa kama unakutana nao kwa mara ya kwanza siku hiyo. Salamu huwafanya watu wakusikilize na hukufanya hata wewe uonekane mstaarabu.

•Waite watu kwa majina yao au wasifu wao. Kwa mfano ukitaka kuuliza muda unaweza kusema “Maria sasa hivi ni saa ngapi?” badala ya “Wewe sasa hivi ni saa ngapi?” Kama unayeongea naye ni mkubwa kuliko wewe au hufahamu jina lake tumia wasifu wake kama vile mwalimu, mama, kaka na kadhalika.

•Tumia lugha ya kistaarabu katika mazungumzo. Pale panapohitajika tumia maneno kama ‘samahani’, ‘asante’ na mengineyo. Hii itakufanya kuonekana kama mtoto mzuri mwenye tabia njema na adabu.

Natumiaje lugha yangu?

A means for the blind to see.... This is the story of a boy who gained strength from a weakness. A blind boy who saw a solution in a problem, and because of him, today the blind can ‘see’ with their hands and read just like people who can see. About two hundred years ago, a boy named Louise Braille was born in France. A lively and playful child, Louise discovered the wonders around him. But a playful and curious boy can sometimes be naughty. One day, Louise was playing with a sharp tool in his father’s workshop and injured his eye. They tried everythingtocurehimbuthebegantoseeonlyshadowsandbytheageoffive, he was completely blind. Suddenly plunged into a world of darkness, Louise’s spirit of learning became even stronger. He had a very good memory and was the best pupil in his class. Louise’s parents sent him to the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris. Despite his blindness he won prizes for arithmetic, grammar & music and he could even knit! When he was twelve years old, a French captain named Charles Brabier, came to their school and showed them a system used for military communication at night, when it was hard to see and they could not talk. The system used 12 raised dotstorepresentthealphabetwhichhadtobefeltbythefingerstounderstandthemessage.ThechildrenbegantolearnthesystembutLouise found it confusing and wanted to make an easier way for the blind to read.Louiseworkedhardtofindanewsystemofdotstoread.Bydayhestudied....bynightheinventedandwhenhewassixteen,hefinallyfiguredouthowtowritethealphabetusingonlysixraiseddots.Histeachersandfriendsallagreedthatthissystemwaseasiertouse.At the age of 19, Louise became a teacher at the institute. It took years before his system was accepted around the world. Today, Louise’s system is still used and it is named ‘Braille’ after the boy who created it.

WHAT IS BRAILLE?A method of printing books for use by the blind. It uses raised dots in the paper made by hand or machine. These dots are arranged in ‘cells’thataretwodotswideandthreedotshigh.Brailleisreadbyusingthefingertipstofeelthearrangementofthedots.

HOW TO WRITE IN BRAILLE.The blind can write Braille on a slate using a stylus or on a Braillewriter (similar to a typewriter) by striking keys. Braille is written from right to left and then read from left to right. In the older times, dots had to be hammered by hand using a pointed instrument onto a heavy sheet of paper. In 1893, a stereotyping machine was developed. This automated transfer of dots onto the plates which were then printed onpaperanditsimplifiedprintinginBraille.Alaterinventioncalled‘interpointprinting’enabledBrailletobeprintedonbothsidesofapaper.

...THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY...Today,publicationsinBrailleareproducedusingcomputerprogrammes.ThesetranslateprintintoBraille.FileswithBrailletextareelectronically sent to machines that make the printing plates and can then be printed onto paper. There are also calculators which have Braille keyboards and raised displays for the visually impaired to use. Other inventions include ‘Top Braille’, a mouse which has electronic sensorsandcanchangetextintoBraille,aswellasportablehandheldcomputerswithBraillekeyboardswhichcanbeusedasdiaries,address and appointment books as well as notebooks.

How do they do it?

BRAILLE

26

Braille Louise

by Itanisa Mbise

Just like the blind have been given a way to read, the deaf can also ‘listen’

with their eyes.

Through a system of hand signals, it is possible for the deaf to have

conversations. Ever watched a televi-sion programme, like the news or a talk show, and seen a person in the corner at the bottom making signs with their hands? That person is talking to people who cannot hear so that they can also understand what is being said. We all have a first language, for the deaf, that language is sign language.

HOW IT ALL BEGANEver since the beginning of time, man has used signs to communicate for different reasons. When people of different languages who could not understand each other wanted to communicate, signs were used. The first school for the deaf was established in Paris and it was called the Royal Institute for the Deaf and Mute. It was set-up during the 18th century and used French Sign Language (FSL).

HOW DO YOU TALK WITH SIGN LANGUAGE?In English, separate letters have no meaning when they stand alone. The letters ‘c’, ‘a’ and ‘t’ only make sense when they are put together to make words like ‘cat’ and ‘act’. Sign language works in the same way, it combines different signs to bring proper meaning.

INTERESTING FACT:Although sign language seems like one language, it varies from place to place.Scientists believe that hundreds of sign languages exist today around the world.

For example,the British sign Language (BSL), uses two hands to communicate while American Sign Language (ASL) uses only one hand.

In Tanzania, we use the Tanzanian Sign Language, (TSL), in Kiswahili, ‘Lugha ya Alama ya Tanzania’. In January 2004, a Tanzanian Sign Language Dictionary was published.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION IN A FAMILYOur voices:28

We all have a family or came from one. Within the family we grow up and learn. It’s like training for the life beyond our families. Sooner or later we get to go out in the streets and interact with the rest of society. One’s character is mostly introduced in the family and the external society provides a wide range for the development of this character. Our guardians share with us the experiences they had to help us build our lives.

Proper communication in a family promotes a good relationship between family members and this provides more chances of parents having a closer relationship with their children. On the other side a family with dominating parents creates fear in children. Children will develop a habit of hiding their problems from their families.

Good relationships within the family can only develop if its members spend some time together, as a family.

A good relationship between parents or guardians and their children creates an opportunity of an open conversation between the two. This helps to create a feeling of freedom for self expression from the children to their parents. This liberty promotes good communication within the family.

With good communication, family members can agree on several matters concerning the family or any other matter. In this situation the whole family works as a team in decision making and the children get the feeling that they are loved, cared for and above all they are an important part of the family since they get to be part of decisions made in a family.

Good communication in a family feeds the growth of love among the members. A proper tone used to pass a message to a child reduces a thought of dominance. When a grown up is sending a child, the words and tone used can create a feeling of inferiority if a harsh voice and words are used. On the other side, sweet words and a soft tone makes it feel more of a request rather than an order. Both ways deliver the message and probably get the jobs done but harsh words make the child feel bad and reduce efficiency.

Good communication in a family is the best way to bring up a stable and happy family. Such a family lives a happy life while a family with poor communication might feel like a boarding school or maybe something worse than that.

by Abdukarim Kirua Heddi (15) KYNE96’

Kuna wakati inafika, masomo huonekana magumu sana na hata ukifanya mitihani, ma-tokeo hayawi mazuri. Kuna njia tano zinazomsaidia mwanafunzi yeyote kufanya vizuri katika masomo yake. Na njia hizo ni...

1. Uliza maswali kila usipoelewa...Usione aibu kuuliza na wala usimuogope mwalimu. Mwalimu yupo kwaajili ya kuhakikisha unaelewa na anafurahi pale ambapo anaona unajitahidi kuelewa kwa kumuuliza maswali. Usingoje mno kuuliza maswali, unaweza ukasahau au ukaachwa nyuma mno katika maso-mo yako.Kumbuka, mara nyingi, swali ulilo nalo, hata wenzako darasani wanatamani kuliuliza.

2. Andika ‘notes’ kila mara katika daftari lako...Ni muhimu kunakili kile ambacho mwalimu anawapa darasani. Jitahidi kuandika kwa umakini na kwa mpangilio mzuri ili baadae ukiwa unapitia uweze kuelewa vizuri. Mwandiko mchafu huchosha kusoma na pia hua mgumu kueleweka.

3. Jibu maswali yakiulizwa darasani...Usione aibu wala usiogope kukosea maana kukosea ndio kujifunza. Mara nyingi watu hujua majibu sahihi ila wanaogopa kujibu. Kila unapojaribu kujibu swali, unajenga ufahamu na kujiamini.

4. Fanya kazi zote kwa bidii... Mwalimu anapokupa kazi za darasani au kazi za nyumbani, sio kwamba anataka kukutesa wala kukupunguzia muda wa kucheza na kupumzika. Anakupa mazoezi ili kuchangamsha akili yako na kupima uelewa wako ili aweze kujua ni sehemu gani hasa unahitaji msaada. Kwahiyo ukifanya kazi zote kwa moyo, unamsaidia mwalimu wako na kumpa moyo azidi kukufundisha vizuri.

5. Usichoke kufanya jitihada... Kuna wakati unajitahidi kusoma kwa bidii na kufanya kazi zote za darasani ila bado unafeli mitihani. Usivunjike moyo hata kidogo maana kuna wakati kila mtu anashindwa ila ni muhimu kuendelea na bidii. Angalia sehemu ulizokosea na kufanya marekebisho na wenzako ama na mwalimu.

Rahisisha Masomo Homework Helper

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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 developed the capacity to protect themselves from abuse through their opinions.