“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
— Mother Teresa
We had the privilege of meeting Ms. Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil, a Kenyan peace mediator, community mobilizer, and winner of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2023. Popularly known as Mama Shamsa, she joined GNRC through a programme funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), aimed at empowering vulnerable women in Kisauni, Mombasa. Mama Shamsa facilitated children’s forums held in places of worship, the most common being Elim Church Nyali led by Rev. Maria Menego, a member of GNRC Kenya, and secretary of the GNRC Kenya committee.
The news of her visit to Arigatou International – Nairobi office was received with great excitement. As soon as she arrived, she got to know everyone, and her laughter warmed the room.
Mama is a great storyteller! The same warmth that her laughter carried, is the same warmth that our hearts were filled with as she shared the humble story of her work. Her effort in countering violent extremism is inspiring. To her, a little goes a long way. “Anyone aligned to humanitarian work should do it with an open heart, expecting nothing in return” Mama Shamsa.
The issue of violent extremism is not abstract. It has been on the rise in East Africa in recent years, causing anxiety among peacebuilding communities. Due to a lack of dedicated tools, The Goldin Institute, Chicago, and Arigatou International – Nairobi supported the development of the Community Resilience Against Violent Extremism (CRAVE) Resource Guide to fill that gap. Preceding the CRAVE Resource Guide, was the Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism (BRAVE) Training Manual and Resource Guide, by the Center for Sustainable Conflict Resolution (CSCR), aimed at addressing the rising radicalization and violent extremism, focusing on violent manifestations in Kenya.
“The process of rehabilitating those who have fallen victim to violent extremism is not easy – it is a long and slow process” Mama Shamsa stated. She explained the importance of demystifying narratives used by violent extremists to radicalize the youths, empowering, and encouraging them to find easy and sustainable means to fend for themselves.
According to Mama, the issue of violent extremism is a thorn in Mombasa. She explained that the leading causes of radicalization and violent extremism in Mombasa were a lack of education, a breakdown of the nuclear family unit, misguided ideologies, and religious differences that many religious leaders refrain from addressing.
“I am happy to have met the Arigatou International – Nairobi team, I feel very welcome and at home here,” she said as she departed.
We were all left inspired and motivated.
Oh! You might wonder why we refer to her as Mama, well… before she left, she warmly said “I now have additional children at Arigatou International and you are welcome to call me Mama.”
“Be selfless. You end up getting more than you anticipate when your soul is giving.”
Thank you MAMA, we celebrate you.
Signed off,
GNRC Communications,
Stacy Ndungu and Tracy Memusi
Children Gangs in Kenya: A Faith Leaders Perspective
“In my community, there are about ten known gangs that have recruited children and youth. They get attracted to gangs because of different factors within their environment. Through the GNRC, I have learned a lot. I now recognize the challenges of children in society and embrace them without judging or condemning them. Faith leaders should connect with their communities and educate them on the importance of maintaining spiritual resilience to overcome these challenges.”
– Rev Maria Kipruto,
GNRC Kenya
The post Celebrating Mama Shamsa on International Women’s Day appeared first on Global Network of Religions for Children.
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Poker is a great way to pass the time, and it can be a lucrative way to make some money. But did you know that it also carries a lot of mental benefits? In fact, it can help you improve your cognitive skills and become a more confident person overall.
The game involves a series of betting rounds that start when everyone is dealt their cards. After that, players can choose to ‘raise’ or ‘fold’ if they are not happy with their hand.
To be able to make the right call in poker, you need to understand the odds and probabilities of your opponent’s hand. This is an important skill for you to develop, and it’s something that will be invaluable in your life.
Another thing that you’ll need to learn is how to read other people. This is an essential skill to have when playing poker, as you’ll need to be able to spot when your opponents are acting shifty or nervous. It can be difficult to tell whether they are behaving this way because they’re having a bad day or just unsure of how the game is going.
Luckily, there are a lot of resources out there that will help you develop this critical skill. These can range from online training videos to even live coaching sessions.
You can also join a poker forum to meet other people who share your passion for the game. These can be a great place to discuss and learn more about the game, while gaining some valuable poker tips along the way.
One of the best things you can do to improve your poker skills is to play a lot of hands. This will help you learn a lot and get better at the game quickly. However, it’s important to remember that playing a lot of hands isn’t enough if you want to become an expert in the game.
The other thing that you should do is to focus on improving your overall poker strategy. This can include learning the different variations of the game, understanding how to play against different types of opponents, and knowing when to fold and when to raise.
Once you’ve mastered these skills, you can then move on to the more advanced strategies that will allow you to become an expert at the game. It is a good idea to keep practicing this skill until you feel confident in your ability to make the correct call at the table.
In the long run, these poker tips will pay off big time for you. Not only will you be a much more confident player at the table, but you’ll also be able to win a lot of money.
As you can see, poker is an incredibly complex and rewarding game. It’s important to keep in mind that it takes a lot of skill and dedication to become a good poker player. It’s easy to become discouraged if you don’t start seeing immediate results, but the key is to never give up.
The post Improve Your Poker Skills and Become a Confident Person appeared first on www.snvla.org.
Traveling is a great way to escape from the monotony of your everyday life and take time to relax. It can also help you to get some perspective on your current circumstances, and can be a great form of self-care. It’s important to keep these mental health benefits in mind, regardless of where you live or what your work or financial status is.
When booking accommodation for your vacation, make sure to check the fine print to avoid any surprises! Many hotels charge an additional fee for services that aren’t included in your room. This includes items like airport transfers, meals, massages and more.
In addition, hotels can have a strict cancellation policy. This can be frustrating for some travelers, especially if they need to cancel at short notice.
If you need to change your hotel stay, it’s crucial to book your room ahead of time. A good rule of thumb is to book about 15 days in advance. That way, you can ensure your reservation won’t be taken by someone else and can make sure to get a decent rate.
You may be able to save money on accommodation by booking in the off-season, too. This can be a big help to travelers who need to book in the summer or around holidays, when airfares and hotel rates are at their highest.
Moreover, booking in the off-season can give you more flexibility on your itinerary. This is because there are less people traveling at that time, and it’s possible to switch up your plans last minute if you want to save even more!
It’s a good idea to choose accommodations that are located in the best neighborhoods and have access to local amenities. These can include restaurants, bars, shopping, and other attractions.
When choosing accommodations for your trip, be sure to look for hotels that are near popular landmarks and museums. Having these attractions in close proximity can save you from having to pay a lot of money for transport and can make the trip more enjoyable.
If you’re traveling with children, hotels often provide cribs and other baby equipment. These are particularly helpful for families with babies and toddlers who have to wake up early in the morning to get to the airport on time.
Some hotels also offer a free continental breakfast. This can save you a lot of money when you’re on a budget and don’t have much time to stop for breakfast during the day.
You might also find a hotel with a pool, sauna, spa or other amenities that can help you unwind after a long flight. You can also check out if the property offers free WiFi, which is often important when you’re on a budget.
Another important feature to consider is whether the hotel you’re staying in has a laundry service. This can be a huge cost saver and can help you avoid having to pack clothes and toiletries for your stay.
The post Mental Health Benefits of Traveling and Hotels appeared first on www.snvla.org.
On the evening of Sinhala and Hindu New Year April 2014, it was a festive day for all Sri Lankans. The garbage dump collapsed in Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa., claiming 38 lives and 180 families were displaced and the affected provided with temporary shelter in Kolonnawa and nearby community centers.
The affected families were relocated into a housing scheme named “Sanhida Sewana” in Kolonnawa area. Most of the families had low-income levels and most families live in poverty. After the garbage collapse, the children’s lives in Meethotamulla became more challenging.
Perturbed by the conditions of these children especially the challenge with them receiving education, Arigatou International – End Child Poverty in collaboration with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement established an education center (also Children’s Empowerment Centre) in December 2018 during the “End Child Poverty and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Southeast Asia Regional Meetings” in Sri Lanka.
Since inception, this center has been providing coaching classes for all children. There’s a growth in the number of children that join this class since some parents have seen a change in their children’s exam marks and interest in attending schools and shared their thoughts with other parents. Today, 50 Children attend coaching classes, and 4 voluntary teachers attend two days a week to teach these children. Subjects such as Mathematics, Sinhala, Tamil, English language and general knowledge classes are taught. As a result of the classes offered at the Centre, children from Meethotamulla have been passing their grade 5 exams and have gone to better schools within the district. Further, many students have passed the ordinary level exams and most of them have been selected to technical colleges.
The Children empowerment center will further support children until they complete their secondary education and will provide knowledge to children on essential life skills such as leadership skills, communication skills and critical thinking. There was established need to also teach the children some ethics education The voluntary teachers who visit for coaching classes also cover this kind of lesson for children’s well-being.
On January 21st, 2023, the End Child poverty Knowledge Center organized a small event and visited the center with voluntary teachers. The day was planned with fun-based activities, and storytelling to motivate children and let them understand the value of education. At the end of the session, stationaries were distributed among the children as an appreciation for receiving good marks in the school term exam last year and for continuously joining the classroom, In Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, exercise books and other stationery items price hiked, and these parents couldn’t afford them. The End child poverty Knowledge center is planning to establish a library for the children to borrow books weekly basis so it’ll not only help to improve their reading skills but will also let them see the world and understand the values that they should include in their lives. A change in a single child can lead to a change in many children.
The post Our journey with Children Empowerment Centre – Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka appeared first on End Child Poverty.
The post Our journey with Children Empowerment Centre – Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka appeared first on Arigatou International.
On the evening of Sinhala and Hindu New Year April 2014, it was a festive day for all Sri Lankans. The garbage dump collapsed in Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa., claiming 38 lives and 180 families were displaced and the affected provided with temporary shelter in Kolonnawa and nearby community centers.
The affected families were relocated into a housing scheme named “Sanhida Sewana” in Kolonnawa area. Most of the families had low-income levels and most families live in poverty. After the garbage collapse, the children’s lives in Meethotamulla became more challenging.
Perturbed by the conditions of these children especially the challenge with them receiving education, Arigatou International – End Child Poverty in collaboration with the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement established an education center (also Children’s Empowerment Centre) in December 2018 during the “End Child Poverty and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Southeast Asia Regional Meetings” in Sri Lanka.
Since inception, this center has been providing coaching classes for all children. There’s a growth in the number of children that join this class since some parents have seen a change in their children’s exam marks and interest in attending schools and shared their thoughts with other parents. Today, 50 Children attend coaching classes, and 4 voluntary teachers attend two days a week to teach these children. Subjects such as Mathematics, Sinhala, Tamil, English language and general knowledge classes are taught. As a result of the classes offered at the Centre, children from Meethotamulla have been passing their grade 5 exams and have gone to better schools within the district. Further, many students have passed the ordinary level exams and most of them have been selected to technical colleges.
The Children empowerment center will further support children until they complete their secondary education and will provide knowledge to children on essential life skills such as leadership skills, communication skills and critical thinking. There was established need to also teach the children some ethics education The voluntary teachers who visit for coaching classes also cover this kind of lesson for children’s well-being.
On January 21st, 2023, the End Child poverty Knowledge Center organized a small event and visited the center with voluntary teachers. The day was planned with fun-based activities, and storytelling to motivate children and let them understand the value of education. At the end of the session, stationaries were distributed among the children as an appreciation for receiving good marks in the school term exam last year and for continuously joining the classroom, In Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, exercise books and other stationery items price hiked, and these parents couldn’t afford them. The End child poverty Knowledge center is planning to establish a library for the children to borrow books weekly basis so it’ll not only help to improve their reading skills but will also let them see the world and understand the values that they should include in their lives. A change in a single child can lead to a change in many children.
The post Our journey with Children Empowerment Centre – Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka appeared first on End Child Poverty.
The post Our journey with Children Empowerment Centre – Meethotamulla, Sri Lanka appeared first on Arigatou International.
