By: Mwila Mwila I was a very happy, charismatic, intelligent, ambitious, beautiful young girl with a bright future, taking life by its horns and educationally competing on a National level, and beating boys in higher Grades. I was growing up in an extended religious home that suddenly fell apart after the death of an uncle that kept the family knitted together and provided for it. Although I was only about three years of age, I can vividly recount in details, the violent events leading to my parent’s divorce, and the quick remarrying of my father, when I was almost four years of age. Though both parents were still alive, I never really had a stable home or a permanent family to live with after that, going from one home to the other, with my grandmother’s home to always fall back on, and she was a vicious, fierce task…

By: Mwila Mwila A Fantastic Job Well was done to everyone who has been in the forefront in the fight for Girl-Child educational Campaigns all across Africa and everyone from the Western Countries who spear headed and or funded any of such Campaigns.  It is such a joy, we have almost crossed the hurdles and impediments of Girl Child Educational hindrances in Africa, although free elementary education still remains a parliamentary debate on the lips of so many obviously unconcerned politicians, who usually bring up such debates only to come across as relevant, for votes or to maintain their political positions. But hey, with further pushing and a little more added pressure, we will be able to speak of an African with at least free Elementary education. And we sure can. It is good to note that, today, most Africans can testify to the fact that, that old Custom traditional mentality, that…

Inferiority complex has been defined as a lack of self-worth, doubt, and uncertainty about oneself and feelings of not measuring up to standard. It is a sign of low self-esteem. It is possible for an individual to feel this way without even knowing it. While the emotions are often subconscious, it often compels its victims to overcompensate in their performance. This can either take the form of outstanding performance or an anti-social ethic. This feeling is very common among teenagers. Teenagers who are victims of inferiority complex may either exhibit it in their excellent performance in academic activities or may become antisocial and may even become a danger to themselves. The greater the feeling of inferiority that has been experienced, the more powerful the urge and the more violent the emotional agitation.” – Alfred Adler Teenagers fall victim of inferiority complex for various reasons; it may be hereditary, it may be…

We all have our different perceptions and definitions of bullying, some say it is a behavior, often repeated and habitual which involves the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others; others have defined it as the use superior strength or influence to intimidate; while the Merriam Webster Dictionary, defines bullying as abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, or more powerful. At some point in our teenage lives or high school, we may have been involved in Bullying, either as a victim or the bully, some of us left that phase of life with the thought, “thank God it’s over”; while others carried on to their adult lives, the effects of teenage bullying; scarred for life or became even bigger bullies in their adult life. It’s no wonder various organizations have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the system finds…

What is her opinion about herself, religion, or people of a different race? By – Boma Benjy Iwuoha I recently came across a piece by Dr. Diva Verdun, called Guarding the Concrete Slab. It was a story about an army barracks that had 4 soldiers on post, guarding a concrete slab and changing shifts, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, for over 80 years. They never sought to find out why they were on constant shifts, guarding the concrete slab, until a new commander was assigned to the barracks. When the new commander asked why the soldiers guarded the concrete slab, he got the answers; “We’ve always done it this way, it’s our tradition or our former commanders instructed us to do this”. The new commander eventually found answers to his questions in an old document in the archives, and guess what; guarding the slab was an…

By: Sejal Parikh Long distance relationships are plagued by far more problems than the gut-wrenching pain of separation itself. In fact, it has been observed that ‘distance’ isn’t the hardest part of a long distance relationship at all. The real challenge implicit within the long distance equation is the discrepancy between your expectations for the relationship and the reality of your current situation. It is within the ‘gap’ between these dual ends of the long distance dynamic that all the long distance relationship problems vacillate. The long distance relationship problems faced by couples can be grouped under three broad categories: Communication problems Relationship problems Psychological problems Communication problems Communication is an important ingredient of all relationships. Especially so, in the case of long distance relationships, where you can’t see the expression on your partner’s face or establish some form of physical contact as a communicative gesture, say,…

Oftentimes as parents, we find ourselves at a point where we have to broach the puberty topic with our kids and young ones. Many parents still find this an “uncomfortable” topic. I remember years back when I first started menstruating, all that talk was done by my mum; when going back to boarding school and we had to make a list of items we needed for school, we were made to take the list with the “girlies” (such as underwear, sanitary pads etc.) to my mum, while the other bulk was given to my dad. When I think back now, I wonder what would have happened if my dad had been a single parent with three adolescent girls. Dads sometimes feel that the puberty talk is for the woman to do, I know single dads that have had to ask their sister, or colleague to talk to their daughter about…