Nkema Tanzania: Calling on dads to pass on a love of reading this ...

Nkema Tanzania: Calling on dads to pass on a love of reading this ...: They’re just words on a page, but books can take you places and open up worlds of wonder, enlightenment, and imagination for your children...

Calling on dads to pass on a love of reading this Father’s Day

They’re just words on a page, but books can take you places and open up worlds of wonder, enlightenment, and imagination for your children. This June Gus Silber reflects on the role his own father played in shaping his future through books and stories and the power of parents to pass this important tradition on.

I grew up in a house without walls, and a roof that was open to the clouds and the stars. I grew up in a house made of books. Learning to read was like being handed a wand that with a flick, could part the curtains between the real world and the world of dreams.
I didn’t just read, I fell into books, so deeply that nothing could pull me out, not the increasingly urgent yells of my mother calling me to the dinner table, not the pulse of the sun inviting me to play outside. “I’ll be there right now!” I would say to both, and then I would turn the page – just one more page!

I have no memory of being read to by my father, but I have memories of bumping into books, tripping over books and having books rain on my head. They were everywhere. To read was as natural as to breathe.
My father was a teacher and a school librarian. He brought his work home. He painted white bands on the lower spines of the books in our house, classifying them according to the Dewey Decimal System. I always forgot to put them back in the right place.
He was a scholar too. Once, at university, he scored a hundred and ten per cent for a Latin exam. He answered questions that hadn’t even been asked. I didn’t get that from him, alas, but I did get something even more valuable: the magic and the mystery and the wonder of words on a page.

Every single thing you read stays with you, changes you and prepares you for life. To read to your children, to read with your children, to encourage them to read on their own, is to give them a gift that will unwrap the world in all its wonder.
Parents, let there be books, let them be about everything, let them be plucked from the shelves and absorbed into the bloodstream of knowledge and imagination. Children, let books be your guides, your friends, your sailing ships to other lands, your rocket ships to the heavens. And, when your mother calls you to dinner, and the sun calls you to play, please, go. Your book will wait for you, after you have read just one more page.

See 10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day

 

When was the last time you read a book, or a substantial magazine article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet? If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out: reading has a significant number of benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

1. Mental Stimulation

Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia, since keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind. Doing puzzles and playing games such as chess have also been found to be helpful with cognitive stimulation.

2. Stress Reduction

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, letting tensions drain away and allowing you to relax.

3. Knowledge

Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face.
Additionally, here’s a bit of food for thought: should you ever find yourself in dire circumstances, remember that although you might lose everything else—your job, your possessions, your money, even your health—knowledge can never be taken from you.

4. Vocabulary Expansion

This goes with the above topic: the more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak to higher-ups with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.
Reading books is also vital for learning new languages, as non-native speakers gain exposure to words used in context, which will ameliorate their own speaking and writing fluency.

5. Memory Improvement

When you read a book, you have to remember an assortment of characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, history, and nuances, as well as the various arcs and sub-plots that weave their way through every story. That’s a fair bit to remember, but brains are marvellous things and can remember these things with relative ease. Amazingly enough, every new memory you create forges new synapses (brain pathways)and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall as well as stabilizing moods. How cool is that?

6. Stronger Analytical Thinking Skills

Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put critical and analytical thinking to work by taking note of all the details provided and sorting them out to determine “whodunnit”.
That same ability to analyze details also comes in handy when it comes to critiquing the plot; determining whether it was a well-written piece, if the characters were properly developed, if the storyline ran smoothly, etc. Should you ever have an opportunity to discuss the book with others, you’ll be able to state your opinions clearly, as you’ve taken the time to really consider all the aspects involved.

7. Improved Focus and Concentration

In our internet-crazed world, attention is drawn in a million different directions at once as we multi-task through every day. In a single 5-minute span, the average person will divide their time between working on a task, checking email, chatting with a couple of people (via gchat, skype, etc.), keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring their smartphone, and interacting with co-workers. This type of ADD-like behaviour causes stress levels to rise, and lowers our productivity.
When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story—the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing. Try reading for 15-20 minutes before work (i.e. on your morning commute, if you take public transit), and you’ll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

8. Better Writing Skills

This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary: exposure to published, well-written work has a noted effect on one’s own writing, as observing the cadence, fluidity, and writing styles of other authors will invariably influence your own work. In the same way that musicians influence one another, and painters use techniques established by previous masters, so do writers learn how to craft prose by reading the works of others.

9. Tranquility

In addition to the relaxation that accompanies reading a good book, it’s possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility. Reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about an immense sense of calm, while reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders and mild mental illnesses.

10. Free Entertainment

Though many of us like to buy books so we can annotate them and dog-ear pages for future reference, they can be quite pricey. For low-budget entertainment, you can visit your local library and bask in the glory of the countless tomes available there for free. Libraries have books on every subject imaginable, and since they rotate their stock and constantly get new books, you’ll never run out of reading materials.
If you happen to live in an area that doesn’t have a local library, or if you’re mobility-impaired and can’t get to one easily, most libraries have their books available in PDF or ePub format so you can read them on your e-reader, iPad, or your computer screen. There are also many sources online where you can download free e-books, so go hunting for something new to read!
There’s a reading genre for every literate person on the planet, and whether your tastes lie in classical literature, poetry, fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help guides, street lit, or romance novels, there’s something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination. Step away from your computer for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul for a little while.

See 8 Reasons Why Reading is So Important

Why Reading is So Important?
Everyone knows that reading is important, but have you ever asked yourself why that is so? In this post, I will list out 8 reasons why reading is important. I hope you can really find out the reason why reading is so important for you, so you can get a brand new desire to explore the world of reading.

1. Expose Yourself to New Things

Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve a problem, and new ways to achieve one thing. Who knows – you might find your new hobbies within it. Who knows – you might actually explore one thing you really like and it may end up becoming your career and success in the future. Exploration begins from reading and understanding.

2. Self Improvement

Reading does help you form a better you, doesn’t it?  Through reading, you begin understand the world more. Through reading, you begin to have a greater understanding on a topic that interest you; for example: how to build self confidence, how to make plan better before taking action, how to memorize things better and more. All of these self improvements start from the reading; through reading, you create a structured path towards a better understanding and better actions to take in the future.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  -Charles W. Elio-

3. Improve Understanding

The more you read, the more you understand one thing: the A to Z of a thing. Let me give an example here: reading allows you learn more about crocodiles and their habits. That you need to be aware of places it usually lurks for, the purpose of staying away from being harmed or bitten. Or perhaps you can try by real life experience, in approaching the crocodile, to see what happen. It can also help you find out the truth of something, right? Reading also increases the understanding of the rules of life, in order for you to adapt, adopt and accommodate into the society better. To play well in a game, you first need to understand the rules well.

4. Preparation to Action

Before you take action on anything, where should you seek for help and guidance? Reading is an essential way which can help you out. In today’s world, getting reviews and feedback from other people can make a big impact on your next decision, and the pros and cons of each choice. Read about how to cook a meal; how to play chess; which place is nice for the holiday family trip; read the menu before ordering food, read the manual before using a new gadget. These all can help you become more prepared before you really get into it.
Read > Learn > Do > Achieve

Reading is a starting step of many things, which build a more solid stairs for you to climb up achieving something big out there.

5. Gain Experience from Other People

When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone. It can hasten your success towards a goal, as you don’t need to repeat the same mistake while focusing on the right path in achieving one thing. It’s like a mountain of gems for you to discover in books, which contain people’s successes, failures and advice. Life is too short for you to keep repeating the mistakes that had been done by other people in the past, in order for you to reach the results that someone might already reached. There are more than four thousand billionaires and 12 million millionaires today. To become one of them, the first thing is to learn and get to know their past, what they did in the past that makes them where they are today. Reading is a great path to get to know them, and learn from these great people.

The art of reading is in great part that of acquiring a better understanding of life from one’s encounter with it in a book.  | André Maurois

6. Tools of Communicating

Communication is the most important tool which can be transmitted through reading. As you communicate through reading, you understand more, and thus you can communicate better with people. As with a person that knows nothing, he hasn’t had anything to share, and he probably doesn’t even understand what people are sharing. Through reading, you build a more solid foundation for communication. It is one of the most important tools we use every day to connect with each other. Whereas if you don’t read, you can’t even connect with the world and what people are talking about out there, including understanding what this article is all about. Reading connects you with the world.

7. Connecting Your Brain

When reading, you’re in full silence because reading connects directly to your brain. In silence, you seek for more; in silence, your brain is clear and focuses. Thus, you learn and grow, and therefore you feel and see from the point of view of the author about everything in life. Hence you shape a better self.

Because silence exists with total abandon, it is fearless. Because silence is fearless, it holds the power that can break through any barrier. | On Silence

8. Boost Imagination and Creativity

Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. By reading, you are exploring a different angle to see a thing you’ve known, on how different action leads to different results. Books are beyond imagination. It’s like a huge spider web, where you keep linking to more and more to things you knew, and things you just learn, structuring  new solutions and answers.

So in your opinion, why is reading so important to you?

AINA ZA MBOGA UNAZOWEZA KUOTESHA NYUMBANI KWA KUTUMIA MAKOPO

Umewahi kujiuliza ni jinsi gani unaweza kulima mboga mboga sehemu unayoishi hata kama una eneo la kutosha kulima mbogamboga? Kwa maisha yetu hususani mijini ni vigumu kulima mbogamboga nyumbani hivyo tumekua tukitegemea mboga za kununua ambazo mara nyingine zimekua si salama kwa matumizi ya binadamu kutokana na maeneo zinapolimwa hata maji yanayotumika kumwagilia.
Inawezekana kuwa mkulima wa mbogamboga mwenyewe nyumban kwako kwa kutumia ndoo ambazo hazitumiki tena, mabeseni hata vyungu ambavyo hutumika kupanda maua.
Leo tuangalie baadhi ya mboga ambazo unaweza kuzipanda mwenyewe nyumbani na jinsi ya kuzipanda
BIRINGANYA
Ni mboga inayovutia sana kwa rangi hata muonekano.
Jinsi ya kupanda:

• Chukua makopo yako au vyungu kulingana na idadi unayotaka kupanda
• Panda mbegu ya biringanya moja au mbili kwa kila kopo
• Mwagilia vizuri na weka mbolea kila baada ya wiki mbili
• Unaweza kuvuna baada ya 16 mpaka 24 baada ya kupanda baada ya kuona ngozi ya nje inang’aa na haina mikunjo.

KAROTI
Watu wengi tunaifahamu karoti kama kiungo kwenye mapishi tofauti tofauti na pia kama mboga, karoti ni moja ya mbogamboga unazoweza kulima kwa kutumia makopo (pots):
Jinsi ya kupanda:

• chagua kopo ambalo ni refu kwenda chini
• Tafuta udongo wenye rutuba ambao hauna mawe inafaa zaidi udongo wa kununua kwa sababu udongo wa kuchukua popote huwa hauna rutuba ya kutosha na huwa unavimelea vya kuua mmea.
• kwa kila kopo moja panda karoti moja kwa mbegu au mche wa karoti
• Usitie mbolea kwenye udongo kabla ya kupanda mbegu
• Ukipanda jitahidi kumwagilia mara kwa mara usiache udongo ukauke kabisa mwagilia angalau mara moja kwa wiki maana maji mengi yataozesha mizizi
• Weka mbolea kuanzia wiki ya 5-6 baada ya kupanda.
• Karoti zitakua tayari kuvunwa baada ya miezi miwili na nusu au vile utakavyopendelea ziwe kulingana na matumizi yako.

NYANYA
3. Nyanya
Jinsi ya kupanda:
• Kwa kutumia makopo yako weka udongo kwa kila kopo
• Baada ya kuweka udongo changanya na mbolea vizuri
• Kwa kila kopo moja panda mche moja wa nyanya au mbegu
• Mwagilia vizuri baada ya kupanda miche yako kwa mfululizo siku za kwanza na endelea kumwagilia miche mpaka itakapokua
• Weka mbolea tena wiki mbili kabla ya kuvuna nyanya zako
• Acha nyanya zako mpaka zikomae na unaweza kuvuna utakapoona nyanya imeiva na kuwa nyekundu kabisa haijalishi saizi itakayokua nayo.
HIZI NI BAADHI TU YA MBOGA UNAZOWEZA KUPANDA NYUMBANI KWENYE MAKOPO

INSPIRATIONAL…STRESS LESS

Unafanya nini pale ambapo huwa umechukia,hauko kwenye mood au uko disappointed?kuna njia chanya tofauti taofuti ambazo unaweza kufanya ili kurudi kwenye hal yako ya kawaida kwa mfano kuna kufanya mazoezi,kusoma novel,kusikiliza muziki,kucheza(dancing),kuongea na mtu unayemuamini kuhusu tatizo ulilonalo,kutembea kwenye fukwe kwa watu wanaoishi karibu na fukwe na nyingine nyingi.
Kwa upande wangu kabla ya kujua nini nifanye nilikua ni mtu rahisi sana kuchukia ambapo hasira hizo zilikua zinazidisha matatizo zaidi badala ya kunisaidia,hali hiyo binafsi nikawa siifurahii sana basi nikawa najaribu kutafuta msaada kwa kuongea,kusoma articles tofauti tafauti ya jinsi ya kukabiliana na hasira na hata kuongea na mtu ninaye muamini kuhusu shida niliyonayo,kwa kiasi kikubwa vimenisaidia sana.
Lakini nikagundua kitu kingine ambacho kinanisaidia ambacho sijawahi kufikiria kwamba kinaweza kunisaidia,napenda sana kusoma misemo(quotes) nikagundua kwamba kwa kusoma misemo tofauti tofauti najisikia vizuri ni kama nimemwambia mtu what I feel na pale ndipo Napata ushauri,pia naona kama tatizo si la kwangu tu bali la wengi.

RAIS KIKWETE AWASILI ARUSHA KUONGOZA MAADHIMISHO YA SIKU YA ALBINO

Mwenyekiti wa Chama Cha Albino Tanzania Bwana Ernest Kimaya akimkaribisha Rais Dkt.Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete kwenye uwanja wa ndege wa kimataifa wa Kilimanjaro(KIA) muda mfupi baada ya kuwasili leo jioni.Rais Kikwete atakuwa mgeni rasmi katika maadhimisho ya siku ya kimataifa wa Albino itakayofanyika katika uwanja wa michezo wa Sheikh Amri Abeid.kushoto no Bwana Godson Molel mwenyekiti wa Chama cha Albino Mkoa wa Arusha.

(picha na Freddy Maro)