Safe-Hub #Diepsloot @TsogoSun @MonteCasinoZA AMANDLA EduFootball

Hi Guys, 

A Safe-Hub that will give approximately 2000 youngster from grades R to matric in Diepsloot north of Johannesburg regular access to a safe environment for facilitated sports, arts, life skills lessons, personal development, accredited training courses – and the opportunity for a better future – was officially launched on 3 February at Muzomuhle Primary School. 

The Diepsloot Safe-Hub was funded and built by AMANDLA EduFootball (AMANDLA) in collaboration with the Oliver Kahn Foundation and Tsogo Sun’s flagship entertainment destination, Montecasino, as part of its CSI activities. The implementation of the on-going programme will be delivered by AMANDLA through a funding partnership with Montecasino, representing an investment of close on R4 million over three years, together with other potential partners. This is the third Safe-Hub in South Africa and the first in Johannesburg. The other two are located in Khayelitsha and Gugulethu-Manenberg in the Western Cape.

AMANDLA is an international Non-Profit Organisation and owner of the internationally acclaimed Safe-Hub model, whose mission is to create safe spaces that bring together the power of football and learning to empower youth and change lives. The Safe-Hubs provide a comprehensive, integrated set of youth development services in collaboration with the local community, using football as the key driver of engagement and retention.

Each Safe-Hub acts as a multi-purpose community hub where people can access a range of education, health, accredited training and enterprise development services, providing a viable and attractive alternative for young people to get involved in positive activities. At Safe-Hubs young people are encouraged to explore their individuality, build a core set of values, and strengthen their ability to deal with the challenges they face in life. At AMANDLA’s two Safe-Hubs in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha, research shows that the programmes there have resulted in a reduction of 44% in crime and violence within the Safe-Hubs’ catchment areas and a 49% improvement in maths and English school results.

The new Safe-Hub in Diepsloot will offer a wide set of youth development activities, and will incorporate a range of existing programmes that Montecasino is already running in several schools in Diepsloot. These include athletics, chess and arts, all of which are designed as a platform for growth for young people.

Florian Zech, Founder of AMANDLA EduFootball, says, “Our experience and research tells us that we cannot achieve sustainable impact in marginalised communities without in-depth collaboration. We are delighted to have been able to partner with the Oliver Kahn Foundation and Tsogo Sun and Montecasino to bring the Safe-Hub to Diepsloot. The ability to bring together partners from all sectors allows us create lasting change among our youth and communities – and today marks the first exciting step on this journey.”

Says Montecasino GM, Glenn Joseph, “Diepsloot is on our doorstep, it is home to many of our staff members and is a focus area for many of our CSI initiatives. The safe-hub will provide a welcome and safe environment for positive development, fun, and stimulating activities for children and young people.” The easy accessibility of Diepsloot from Montecasino also provides Montecasino and Tsogo Sun head office staff members with opportunities to volunteer at the safe-hub, helping out with the range of activities on offer.

Muzomuhle Primary School was chosen as the ideal site for the Safe-Hub as Montecasino has been working with the school, offering various programmes, for more than four years. “The school governing body has always been positive and enthusiastic about our involvement – and they welcomed the opportunity to increase their contribution to the children of the community by providing the premises for the safe-hub. The school is also the biggest and oldest in Diepsloot, with more than 2 300 learners from grades R to 7, and it is in a central location, making it accessible to young people from all over Diepsloot,” says Joseph.

Substantial progress has already been made in the development of the Diepsloot Safe-Hub. Phase one, which comprised the football component, kicked off in December, while plans and preparations for phase two were finalised. Key appointments were made, including that of Thobekile Buthelezi as manager of the Diepsloot Safe-Hub, along with two members of the Diepsloot community who are being mentored to become facilitators to run the football and life skills activities.

Phase two, designed pro bono by South African architectural firm DHK will be completed during 2017, comprises a two-storey building on the school premises where the arts and sports life skills lessons, a youth café, a computer lab, and other personal development initiatives will take place. “We are already in discussion with other organisations and corporates about collaborations on programmes that will contribute to the development of the youth in Diepsloot,” says Joseph. For example, it is envisaged that the youth café will be a conduit for accredited training in the food & beverage sector, in skills such as cooking, waitering, and other possible job opportunities. Security company, Servest, has come on board and is providing security for the premises, and a major corporate is considering establishing a computer lab, with appropriate facilities and services for training.

“We are exceptionally excited about this opportunity to make a real difference in thousands of young lives – working with professional and committed partners, such as AMANDLA, who are as passionate as we are about providing a platform for children to gain skills, to grow, to learn, to adopt healthy values, and to be themselves and have fun,” he says. “We look forward to working with the Diepsloot community and seeing this safe-hub have a real impact on it, providing tangible opportunities for brighter futures for many youngsters.”

Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tsogosun.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like on Facebook/TsogoSun.

Cheers!!!

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The Precious Queen

Hi Guys,

A friend sent me this poem and then I tried my luck on the thing I don't understand at all (Poetry)! :-P

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I'm the girl, who hides behind a smile everyday.

I'm the girl, who has a tough exterior.

But that's not who I really am.

I'm the girl, who has a lot of problems,

But doesn't share one thing.

I'm the girl, who keeps everything bottled up.

Sometimes I just need someone to talk to. 

Someone to care about me.

Someone to listen to my problems.

Someone to hold me when I cry.

Someone to love me.

Nobody knows the real me.

Nobody knows what I go through everyday.

Nobody knows what I have to do just to make it through the day.

Nobody knows that I'm the girl who isn't who I say I am.

And I'm the girl who will cry herself to sleep every night.

My version -

You are the girl, who brings smiles to whosoever meets you.

You are the girl, who has eyes which speaks volumes without uttering a word.

You are the girl, who takes everything in her life with right attitude.

You are the girl, who will remain so close to my heart no matter where you are in the world.

Sometimes I just wonder God made you perfect.

Sometimes I laugh over your talks when I am alone.

Sometimes I dial your number and cut the call so as to not disturb you anymore.

Sometimes I think why I can’t be like you.

But I know that God loves you & so do others whose life you touch with your smile, talks and being there for them,

But you don't trust us when you are down and needs support.

And that's what I feel and pray to God to give you strength & hope and sweet dreams every night.

You are the one and only one who can be PRECIOUS QUEEN in our lives and I thank God to finally meet you in our small lives.

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

#IndiSpire - I blog because of Indiblogger

Hi Guys, 

Getting enrolled into Indiblogger community was the biggest motivation factor that made me think of getting into writing a blog. I used to participate in a lot of contests on Facebook and used to win some. The goodies that used to come really motivated me to participate more and more. One day one of my friends came to our house and she told me that she has won an Amazon Kindle from one of the contests held by Sony TV on Indiblogger. She showed me the website and her posts and various meets and drives she attended. It used to be in 5 star hotels where in my salary, I never dreamed of going also. I immediately wanted to attend those meets and when I saw a lot many people winning awesome goodies at the meets, I was so glued to the same. 

I started my blog on blogger.com and posted some of the crappy photo posts so that I can reach some count to be inducted into the Indiblogger community. By the time I reached 15 posts, I was a part of Indiblogger community, thereafter I have never seen back. I won a lot of goodies from Indiblogger and met a lot of fellow bloggers. I have attended some awesome meets and wrote for many drives. It’s been a pleasure to meet all the people and share some part of our lives together during the meet. I loved when people recognize you automatically by your blog and meet you in those meets personally. We made a group of friends which still is together after a year of association. I learned various skills to make my blog noticed on a global level by buying the domain. My blogger friends set my blog for various admin settings and on how to set labels etc? It was a great learning which I received whenever I met them.

What keeps me going is the increasing numbers of page views every day and the target that I want to reach 100000 page views by the end of this year. Also, I want to reach 500 posts by the end of this year which will help me get there easily provided I am able to write a good content and take good photographs. 

As Indiblogger says, "I blog, therefore I am" which is really very true in my case as I continue to participate in all of the drives of the blog directory. Also, I have never won the top prize till now so that goal keeps me working hard and smart to attain that sooner. Whatever time I have after the office and on weekends, I think about my blog posts and increasing traffic on my blog. My blog is not making me money but it has given me much more pleasures and satisfaction that I am doing something creative at the end of the day. Also, I think that I have much strong will power and perseverance than others to carry on working on my blog from those who wants to start but are waiting for some miracle to happen.

It’s a great start as I just completed my first year in Indiblogger community and I will continue to strive whichever part of the world I am in. Kudos to Indiblogger and all the fellow bloggers!!!

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

Indiblogger #Indispire - Five Places I wanted to visit

Hey Guys,

Breaking away from the regular travel destination theme of this week's #Indispire, I thought of some of the moments where I want myself to be once again from my life. If there is some time machine or camera that can show me where I was in that timeline of my life, I will be more than happy and amazed.

1. I wanted to see the place and room where I was born. The very first moments of my existence on this planet earth. Crying or wanting to sleep? How do I look like? Yeah, I know, I looked liked me but in real...how was I on my first minute of birth? Who all were there? What was their reactions to listen to this news of my birth? Who was the first one to take me into his arms? Who kissed me first? When I got to see my mother and father? All this stuff is the place where I want to travel as my first dream destination of my existence. 

2. The very first day of my school. How was I like - wanting to go or not? How was I feeling seeing a lot of kids on the gates of the school? Whom did I first met as a child on my first day at school? Who were my friends? With whom I shared my lunch box with? or didn't shared at all? Was I crying the whole time or slept for a while on the bench? Who was my teacher or maid that took care of me in the school? What was I thinking about my parents to drop me to school all alone in midst of rush of kids? These are some of the questions that I wanted to get answers of from my travel to my second phase of life.

3. The very first salary cheque or cash payment which I received for my efforts for whole of the month. Was I happy? What did I do with the money? What was I feeling? Who congratulated me? Where did I went to party? Did I visited some temple or donated something to charity? What was my expression when I saw the salary amount in my account or hands? Who gave me my first salary? It was the biggest struggle in my life to earn my first salary that I really wanted to enjoy now using the travel destination machine. 

4. The birth of my first child. How happy was I becoming the father of someone looking like an angel? What feelings I had as a new generation has arrived in our family? What did I said to my wife? How eager and nervous I was to hold my daughter in my hands? How did the kid react to my holding? Did she cried? Did she smiled when I took her in my arms? What was the reaction of my family and relatives? Who all came to visit my wife in the hospital? What was the reaction of my friends when I broke the news to them? Did I slept or kept looking at the angel? Did I comfort or thanked my wife after this complicated process of child birth? I really wanted to go and relive this second last destination of my life. 

5. The final one is the last day of my life on this planet Earth as I say good bye to everyone. Is it informed death or I died in an instance? Is it a natural death or accident? How happy or sad is my family on my death? Who all loved me and cared about me? What did I do wrong in my life? What are the people's reactions after my death? Is my family ok? Who is taking care of them after I died? What was people's opinion about my life? Are they cursing me or really feeling pain in their hearts? What I have left for my family? Is it a lot of debt or plenty of income for their survival? How many of my company colleagues/bosses are attending my funeral? The time I spent away from home for work was it worthwhile? These all questions gives a lot of perspective as I am on my deathbed. This is the final destination that I wanted to see today or asap before I actually reach there. 

Yeah, I did wanted to visit the day of my marriage once again, so that I could stop myself from doing it. But if I would have stopped it, I would not become father to a lovely daughter and could not travel there so I have dropped this dream destination out of my list to keep it at 5. Else, surely I would love to revisit the day I got married and check out my confusion and happiness as whole family is celebrating and dancing in this big fat wedding. There are always some funny moments in everyone's marriage that you will always remember. It can be some relative or some ritual or someone dancing with full on alcohol effect or whatever the case may be. 

Till that time, I reach my final destination - I am living in this longest destination of life called MARRIAGE!

Cheers!!!

These images are taken from various internet sources by Googling on Google baba!

Follow me on twitter at @araijain  or @thelifesway 

Indian Independence Revisited via WeChat App

As WeChat App came into existence along with the idea to get any number of people in a group chat, I thought what would be the debate if I can get people from different era in the struggle of Indian Independence came along and present their point of view. It's going be controversial but let's see it from an social perspective. The people whom I choose to be in my chat are Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawahar Lal Nehru along with Mohammad Ali Jinnah. 

Mohandas KaramChand Gandhi is called as Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu and known to us as the father of India. We came to know more about his principles through “Lage raho munna bhai” where the main character followed his simple teachings of life and wins a lot of hearts in the end and saved a lot of lives. He was the central character in the Independence struggle as he captured the essence of Indian public and motivated them to join in his non-violence (Ahimsa) movement. He started many andolans, one of which is featured in our currency note today. I still remember these remarkable words in a song – De dee humein aazadi, bina khadag bina dhaal, Sabarmati ke sant tune kar diya kamaal! 

Bhagat Singh referred to as Shaheed Bhagat Singh was the most revolutionary freedom fighter who was hanged at the age of 23 years. He has inspired more number of people worldwide than any other freedom fighter till date. According to some books, he was the first one to come up with Poorna Swaraj idea which was later advocated by INC. We have seen his life journey in many of the movies and Rang De Basanti too.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was called as Lokmanya because of his exceptional leadership skills and trust of people conferred in him. "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!" is the slogan people remember him for. He was the one who started the Sarvajanik Ganeshtosav in 1894. He was the BAL of the famous trio of BAL-PAL-LAL. 

Subhash Chandra Bose also known as Netaji was the one who attempted to overthrow the British rule by creating an army of his own. He has been the most pragmatic leader whose death is still a mystery. As per Clement Attlee, then PM of Britain, the INA activities led by Netaji was one of the biggest reason to leave India. He showed exceptional courage throughout his life and saw an opportunity to lead Indian soldiers working in British forces to turn against them during World War II. His famous motto was: "Give me blood and I will give you freedom".

Jawahar Lal Nehru, lovingly called as Chacha Nehru whose birthday is celebrated as Children Day in India, was the first Prime Minister of Independent India. He was the longest serving Indian PM as he held the office for 17 years. He wrote many books like Discovery of India & his speech “Tryst with Destiny” is one of the greatest speeches which he gave on the eve of Indian Independence. 

Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor General of Pakistan and leader of All India Muslim League. He is known as the “Father of the Nation” in Pakistan. He was instrumental in having a separate nation for Muslims when the power sharing failed between Congress and his party for United India. 

So we have all these people amongst us on WeChat and they are talking to each other and after initial talks about what they did in the struggle of Indian Independence and how their standpoint was right, it was my turn to ask them questions regarding the present state of India and their opinions on the same. Though this discussion can be continued for the life of the blog but let's say this time for WeChat thing, we will restrict to a single question. 

Let's start with the issue we are facing daily in terms of numerous incidents of eve teasing, rape and many forms of exploitation of women and kids? How will you tackle this issue and what can be done to stop them or how can they be eradicated from our society?

MG – This is really a bad state of India. Every girl is the daughter of India. We have a history of strong culture and value of respecting women. During Independence struggle, women were equally participating through various ways for this common goal. Many of the great leaders of modern India were ladies only and showing this kind of disrespect, I will not accept at all. As I said in one of my quotes, “Be the Change you want to see”, each and every citizen has to stand up against this crime. I know initially some of you will face the heat as faced by many but then slowly when everyone's respecting their wives, daughters, women this problem will be solved. It's all in the mind that they are weaker sex but it's not the case. Women should also not accept this type of behavior from anyone and should immediately confront the person who is doing it to them. Women should always be the empowered citizens of Modern India.

BS – I lost my life at the age where people are watching movies and having fun. I am really angry to see what has happened to Nirbhaya and many other girls and it is happening daily. If this has been my time, I would have killed all those who even eyes any women with disrespect. I think strong action should be taken against such people and it should be swift action. It's time that every one from the younger generation has to stand against these anti-social elements. It's the youth who defines a country and I see my country's teenagers and students as the courageous lot. They have to stand as a wall against all who disrespects women even if he is one of their close friends. They have to stand on the values and principle to respect women. They will be standing for their mother, sisters, friends & society. They have to educate those who falls into this peer pressure to pass lewd comments to become cool or something like that. It's the right attitude towards women that matters. 

BGT – Being a lawyer myself, I want the cases like these to be taken immediately. In the present state of affairs many of the cases are pending in the courts for like ages. The court taking so much time, makes the criminal fearless and more powerful as he feels that he is above everything in this country. He continues to do several such things again and again. Our judiciary needs to be as much advanced as advanced is our science and technology. With a strong judicial system in place, a feeling will come that LAW is above everyone and has the same rules for every citizen of India. It serves all with equal eye and not being biased towards some minister's son or minister himself or powerful ones. 

SCB – I totally agree what BS has said that country's youth is the key and they will be the army to change India. I also think of the government and bureaucracy should be held by strong leadership. Law enforcement holds the key to successful solution for this problem. Government have come up with this helpline numbers and several other funds etc but we do require an infrastructure built up in this country. With the roads, telephone, television penetrating in all the villages and country so is the knowledge that women are equal part of the society. As country has more infrastructure facilities, more and more people will get more opportunity to change their lives through better jobs and social interactions. 

JLN – Totally in sync with all of your ideas, I think, Education too should be made compulsory to everyone irrespective of age and gender and can sit in a class bench. To teach everyone is the responsibility of youth who can serve as volunteers. The education system should incorporate some compulsory Social Initiative as a part of their courses for which they will be graded. This can happen through NGO's or various government initiatives. They will be given degree certificates if they are able to successfully add value to the society as a whole in all the years of their school and college education. This is in sync with foreign countries where you have to compulsory serve in Army or other initiatives as a part of social security program. Education can enlighten human mind and can be a solution to this problem. 

MAJ – You all are aware about what happens in some of the Arab countries to someone who disrespect women. I strongly recommend that the same action should be taken and that happens in full public view so that the there is a fear of such crime. Democracy has given us power but that doesn't mean we misuse the same. A single incident showcased live on TV will definitely change the country's attitude towards women. If even then these crimes are reported, then let many of these criminals face the heat. I have seen many criminals getting punished for the crime and then after serving their jail time, they again enter the society to do the same crime in a more severe scenario. It's better to make citizens of country fearful rather than criminals. 

After listening to all of the ideas, I think the power is vested with all of us to stand against this crime. I will do my part for this India Shining & social change initiative, ARE YOU DOING YOURS? 

WeChat App can really help us all to stay connected all the time and can have a group to ping in case we find ourselves in some life-endangering situations. Anyone from the group can come to your rescue and this way we can stand together as One for All & All for One. 

More features of the application can be seen at YouTube - WeChat's Youtube channel.

In the end I would like to add a disclaimer that this is my personal interpretation and doesn't represent anyone else ideas and should not hurt sentiments of anyone. 

Thanks & Regards!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

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