Mojatu Berkshire Magazine Issue B011

Berkshire connected 

category 

1 

World Mental Health week 

Depressed in the City 

The Clit Warriors 

Hilary Burrage: 

End FGM Interview 

Kirinyaga 

Empowerment Initiative 

Losing Belly Fat

Let's Talk Mental 

Health First Aid; 

The 3 W's: What is 

it?, Who can help? 

and What can 

help? 

Place and Time: 

9:30AM - 2:30 PM 

Reading Hilton Hotel, 

Drakes Way, 

Reading, RG2 0GQ 

Dr. Matthew M Karangi: Main speaker among others 

Contacts: 07828307997/ 01189 510 279 / 07760259640: utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk/facebook.com/utulivuRDG 

Utulivu Women’s Group Reading Registered Address 555, Northumberland Avenue Reading BerksRG2 8NX 

Charity number 1118448

Editor’s Welcome 

So, what news do we have in 

this 11 th edition of the Mojatu 

Berkshire? Firstly, special thanks 

to all our readers, contributors, 

sponsors and supporters for all 

the continued support. 

Many women who experience domestic violence 

suffer in silence and in most cases they do not know 

where to go for help. Check out the “The Many 

colours” article by Esnas Kiveu Turnbull on domestic 

violence(P8-p11). 

We give a focus on mental health in this article. The 

10 th of October is designated as World Mental Health 

Day. During this day, activities on the global mental 

health education, awareness and advocacy against 

social stigma are extensively carried out. Don’t miss 

out our Mental Health World Day conference on 14 th 

October(p2) and more information on the history of 

the day(p21). Don’t forget to check out other articles 

on the same in this issue. 

We continue to raise awareness on Female Genital 

Mutilation. In this issue with share an interview with 

Hillary Burrage, a passionate FGM campaigner (p14-17). 

Check out our health and food articles in this 

issue(p18-p20). Do you want to know more about 

what our partners in Nottingham are doing? Check 

out (p4-p7). 

Looking for inspiration? Check out the inspirational 

books you can purchase(p24). 

We continue to appreciate and treasure you emails, 

calls and feedback. 

Editor: Cecily Mwaniki 

Email: info@cmnetwork.co.uk 

www.cmnetwork.co.uk, www.utulivu.co.uk 

Editorial 

Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com 

Managing Editor: info@cmnetwork.co.uk 

Graphic Design: Robert Borbely 

Contributors: Kris Gunnars | Michael Henry | 

Maria Cardenal | Emma Huck | Amy Longland | 

Fiona Vale | Linh Chi Le | Patrice Musarurwa 

IT / Social Media: Michael Grant | Ankita Naik 

Photos: Maggie Ndungu | Flarex Media 

Accounts: Joan Muraguri - accounts@mojatu.com 

Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com 

Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: 

Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com 

Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com 

Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com 

Contents 

News & Sports 

Clit Warriors shaking things up ............................ 4-5 

Nottingham Zero-tolerance to FGM city .............. 6 

FGM Cutting Season ..................................................... 7 

Many colours of Domestic Violence .................8-11 

Community 

Knowing You,;Knowing Me ......................................12 

Depressed in the City .................................................13 

Faith & Spirituality 

End FGM Interview With Hilary Burrage ...... 14-17 

Join Clit Warriors Team ..............................................17 

Health & Food 

17 Tips to losing Belly Fat .................................. 18-19 

9 Healthy Foods that are High in Vitamin D .......20 

Education & Career 

Mental Health World Day .........................................21 

Kirinyaga Empowerment Initiative ................ 22-23 

Classified 

Mojatu & Utulivu in Parliament...............................23 

Cover 

Mojatu Photos: Sad depressed 

teenage girl in the park 

Mojatu Foundation / Utulivu Women’s Group Disclaimer 

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily 

those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to 

ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but 

the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, 

nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or 

editorial contributions. 

News & Comments: news@mojatu.com 

Non Executive Directors / Trustees: 

Legal: Kinsi Clarke - kinsi@mojatufoundation.org 

Marketing: Dr. Tabani Ndlovu - tabani@mojatu.com 

Getting the magazine 

Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines 

Subscription @ £24 per year including postage 

subs@mojatu.com 

Address: Utulivu Women’s Group, 555 Northumberland 

Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8NXT 

0118 907 2534 | 0785 9063643 | 07516 962992 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumagazine 

Printers: Mojatu Publications

4 News & Sports 

mojatu.com


News & Sports 

5 

Our Clit Warriors shaking things up in 

Nottingham this ‘Cutting Season’! 

FGM – FACTS, 

Female Genital Mutilation 

In the UK, the summer I explained to them about FGM and they think it’s 

holidays are referred to as such a cool idea to start a conversation as it was 

HELP the ‘Cutting & Season’ ACTIONS 

in relation to Female Genital not what they thought it was. They were all asking 

Mutilation (FGM). It is during this period where for one”. 

many girls are at risk of being taken away to be 

iday cut in the or cutters UK is brought referred into to the as country ‘The cutting to them. season’ I have personally been wearing the T-shirt at 

events including at the Hyson Green Cultural 

to FGM where many girls are at risk of being cut! 

During ‘cutting season’ girls are flown abroad, Festival and also the Nottingham Sports Group 

often under the pretence of a holiday visiting event where we were raising awareness of FGM. 

relatives. On arrival Facts they are then cut, sometimes Most of the conversations I had with people 

that at intentionally the hands alter of someone or cause with injury no to medical the female training, genital started as a result of them reading the message 

al reasons. with non-sterile instruments including razor on the T-shirt and then went to discuss what clit 

blades, knives and scissors. 

warrior meant, what FGM is, why it’s practiced the 

in England and Wales since 1985. 

dangers and how people can get involved. One of 

abuse FGM and has violence been against illegal women in the UK and since girls. 1985, so 

the interesting incidences was when I was talking 

to protect leaving a girl the from country the risk helps of FGM. to keep the practice 

to a group of women about FGM at the festival 

gainst 

covert. 

the teachings 

The risk 

of Islam 

of parents 

and brings 

being 

Islam 

caught 

into disrepute. 

and 

and then a gentleman saw my T-shirt and walked 

prosecuted is reduced, and it also means that 

alth of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk. closer. He started reading the message in the 

girls have time to physically heal from the cutting, 

women so both detection physically, is reduced emotionally when and they psychologically. front and he first seem to be startled and a bit 

return to the 

embarrassed and then I asked him if he wanted 

and women UK. FGM worldwide impacts have on the undergone physical, FGM emotional and 

us to talk about it. By the end of the conversation, 

15 who psychological have migrated wellbeing to England and of girls Wales and are women. likely to have undergone he was FGM. very keen to Empowering know how we Women can engage 

200 new We cases launched a year the are ‘Cutting reported Season in Nottingham. Campaign’ in more men and religious 

Through 

leaders 

Education 

in the 

& Beyond 

campaign 

June 2016 to reach out and raise awareness and and he offered his support to do so. 

to ensure communities 

Help 

and members of public are 

ALL ABOUT OUR WELLBEING 

There were more than 30 clit warriors who took 

extra vigilant during the summer season. We then 

r woman is at risk or need support? 

part in different sports at the Nottingham Sports 

started recruiting ‘Clit Warriors’ to help us spread 

4/7 anonymous Group events on 30 th and 31 st August at the Forest 

the word FGM through helpline the or distribution email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk 

of leaflets and 

ncil Children 

Recreational Grounds. For a second year, Mojatu 

posters, and community Families Direct: sessions 0115 876 and 4800 workshops, 

Foundation recruited girls and women to play 

GM engagement has just happened with or communities about to happen and professionals, 

and this brought both young and older people 

edical taking attention part to in FGM community medical events specialist and in also Nottingham: speaking Carol together McCormick: from different cultures to enjoy sports, 

hs.uk about or 0115 FGM 969 to 1169 family and friends. 

make friends and feel healthier. The ladies played 

upport for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: 

We recruited over 50 women including survivors, cricket, Contact Val- table tennis, netball and football. Through 

@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

religious leaders, community leaders, councillors, our 2016 ‘Cutting Season’ campaign, we have 

community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: Join the 

professionals, students, young people among so Community far reached to over 3, 500 people through 

ntact valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

others. Our ‘Clit Warrior’ t-shirts have been our Community FGM Steering Group, Survivor’s 

outstanding at events and the message reported Date: club, Mojatu magazines, newsletters, leaflets Venue: and 

by most of the Actions warriors who have been wearing Sunday posters, 17 July community 1 pm – 7 pm events, training, Reading social Hilton media Hotel, 

port survivors, them say join they one helped of our them campaigns to engage or projects the public. Cost: platforms £15 Registration and other Fee partnerships. 

Drakes Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ 

The T-shirts have a message in the front “I am 

b 

• ‘Adopt a tree’ project We were also joined by a team of students 

a Clit Warrior, I speak about FGM” and the back 

up 

from Nottingham University where we worked 

with “End Female Genital 

• Donate 

Mutilation”. 

to support 

One 

our 

Clit 

work 

Health and Wealth Creation, Career development, 

closely with the Rosie May Foundation to raise 

f Change Warrior said “you have no • idea Fundraise how young to support people our work Health and Family relationship, etc. 

awareness. See photos of the male clit warriors 

were interested to know what ‘Clit Warrior’ meant 

Main Speakers among others are: 

helping with raising awareness 

re information, when they saw contact the message Mojatu in front Foundation 

of my T-shirt. Reva Stewarts 

Tracey Marriott 

hone: 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 

Berkshire Health Foundation 

Director of Innovation Adoption, Oxford 

Trust Locality Director 

Academic Health Science Network 

ntine@mojatu.com Website: www.mojatufoundation.org 

This project was supported by 

Working Partners: 

South 

Sudanese 

Association 

in Reading


mojatu.com 

“Sheriff of Nottingham to take Zero-tolerance 

stance against Female Genital Mutilation” 

For immediate release: 

The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Jackie Morris 

is to show the commitment and passion of local 

Nottingham communities by proposing a motion on 

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at Nottingham City 

Councils full Council on September 12 th . 

Councillor Morris has been working closely with local 

group Mojatu to highlight the issue in an attempt to 

help end its practice in the City. 

It is believed that over 60,000 women and young girls 

are at risk of FGM in the UK alone and the Sheriff is 

determined to tackle the practice: 

“Female Genital Mutilation is something that people 

think shouldn’t be talked about but that’s partly what 

makes the practice continue” said the Sheriff. 

She went on to say: 

“That’s why I’ll be moving this motion, to make it 

known that Nottingham is a Zero-tolerance City 

when it comes to Female Genital Mutilation.” 

Valentine Nkoyo, Director Mojatu Foundation and Chair 

of the Nottingham Community FGM Steering Group said: 

“I am so thrilled with this news and grateful to our city 

for taking such a strong stand and we believe that this 

will keep the subject on the agenda. Survivors and the 

community steering group have continued to work 

hard to raise awareness and support those affected 

so this is such wonderful news which will accelerate 

our momentum in tackling FGM in Nottingham and 

beyond. With about 200 new cases reported each 

year in Nottingham only, it couldn’t have come at 

a better time. I am glad that our Nottingham FGM 

Ambassador, Sherriff of Nottingham, Cllr Jackie Morris 

took on board our request and tabled the motion. 

We are thankful to all our funders and partners for 

their support and especially the Office of the Police 

and Crime Commissioner, Nottingham Refugee 

Date: 

Forum, The City Council, Big Lottery Fund, Rosa Fund, 

Nottingham Women Centre, City and County FGM 

Strategy Board, Nottingham Trent University, The 

University of Nottingham among others. This is worth 

celebrating!” 

Councillor Alex Norris, Portfolio Holder for Adults 

and Health at Nottingham City Council is also firmly 

behind the motion and its proposals and said: 

“This motion represents a real step forward in 

tackling FGM and helping support and empower 

communities across our City. The step of supporting 

the establishment of a referral pathway for the City 

has the real potential to help change lives.” 

Motion to full Council reads: 

This Council notes that Female Genital Mutilation 

represents a risk to physical health, mental health and 

quality of life for young women across the whole of 

the United Kingdom. It is believed over 60,000 people 

are at risk of this abuse in this country alone. 

The City Council stands against Female Genital 

Mutilation (FGM) and resolves to: 

• Make Nottingham a “Zero Tolerance” City in 

respect to Female Genital Mutilation. 

Female Genital 

• Work to end the procedure within FGM the city – FA 

by working closely with survivors, HELP affected & AC 

communities and other agencies with a 

responsibility to safeguard and protect. 

The summer holiday in the UK is referred 

• Provide training for staff in to relation help to spot FGM the where signs many girls 

associated with Female Genital Mutilation. 

Facts 

• Work closely with • grassroot FGM is any procedure organisations, that intentionally survivors alter or caus 

organs for non-medical reasons. 

and communities to prevent children being removed 

• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1 

from the city to experience Female Genital Mutilation. 

• Help support potential survivors of Female Genital 

Mutilation to say no and raise awareness amongst 

their peers and communities. 

• Help with Empowering raising Women awareness and keep the subject on the 

agenda Through while Education showcasing & Beyondthe successes of Nottingham. 


• Support the establishment of a referral pathway for the City. 

Notes to editors: 

For more information please contact Nathan 

Oswin, Political Assistant to the Labour Group 

Carol.McCormick@nuh.nhs.uk or 0115 969 1169 

at Nottingham City Council on: 07880349362 

nathan.oswin@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Venue: 

End FGM in Berkshire 

Sunday 17 July 1 pm – 7 pm 

Reading Hilton Hotel, 

Actions 

Cost: £15 Registration FeeJoin Drakes Us Way, in helping Reading, Declare Reading the 

2 nd To help RG2 end 0GQ FGM and support survivors, join one of our c 

City to • of FGM Zero-Tolerance 

Survivors Club 

Health and Wealth Creation, Career development, 

To Female Genital • FGM Mutilation Steering Group in the UK 

Health and Family relationship, etc. 

Contact: 

• FGM Champions of Change 


Reva Stewarts Utulivu Tracey Women’s MarriottGroup For | 0118 more 907 information, 2534 contac 



0785 9063643 | utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk 




• FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against w 

• It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of 

• FGM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam 

• FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, 

• FGM affects girls and women both physically, emoti 

• Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have u 

• 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England 

• Statistics show about 200 new cases a year are rep 

Help 

Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need su 

‣ Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline o 

‣ Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direc 

‣ Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or abou 

‣ Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medica 

‣ For emotional and peer support for survivors in Nottingha 

entine Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

‣ Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanti 

FGM Steering Group: Contact valentine@mojatu.com or 

South 

Sudanese 

Association 

in Reading 

Phone: 01158457009 Mobil 

Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website


Female Genital Mutilation 

FGM – FACTS, 

HELP & ACTIONS 

category 

7 

The summer holiday in the UK is referred to as ‘The cutting season’ 

in relation to FGM where many girls are at risk of being cut! 

Facts 

• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital 


• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985. 

• FGM is a form Female of child abuse Genital and violence Mutilation against women and girls. 

• It is an offence to fail FGM to protect – FACTS, 

a girl from the risk of FGM. 

• FGM is Non-Islamic, HELP against & the ACTIONS 

teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute. 

• FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk. 

• The FGM summer affects holiday girls in and the women UK is referred both physically, to as ‘The cutting emotionally season’ and psychologically. 

• Over 

in 

200 

relation 

million 

to FGM 

girls 

where 

and women 

many girls 

worldwide 

are at risk of 

have 

being 

undergone 

cut! 

FGM 

• 10,000 girls aged under 15 who 

Facts 

have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. 

• Statistics show about 200 new cases a year are reported in Nottingham. 

• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital 


• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985. 

• FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls. 

Help 

• It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. 

Are • FGM you is Non-Islamic, concerned against a girl the teachings or woman of Islam is at and risk brings or Islam need into support? 

disrepute. 

‣• Call FGM is 0808 putting 028 the health 350 for of our a 24/7 daughters, anonymous sisters, mothers FGM and helpline wives at great or email: risk. fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk 

Empowering Women 

• FGM affects girls and women both physically, emotionally and psychologically. 

‣ Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 

• Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM 

Through Education & Beyond 

‣• Ring 10,000 girls the aged police under on 15 who 999 have if FGM migrated has to England just happened and Wales are likely or about to have undergone to happen FGM. 

‣• Refer Statistics survivors show about needing 200 new cases medical a year attention are reported to in FGM Nottingham. medical specialist in Nottingham: Carol McCormick: 


‣ For emotional and peer support Help for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact Valentine 

Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

‣ Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: Join the Community 

FGM Steering Group: Contact valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need support? 

‣ Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk 

‣ Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 

‣ Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or about to happen 

‣ Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Carol McCormick: 


Actions 

‣ For emotional and peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact Valentine 

Nkoyo at valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

‣ Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: Join the Community 

To help end FGM and support survivors, join one of our campaigns or projects 

FGM Steering Group: Contact valentine@mojatu.com or 07794372214 

Date: 

Venue: 

• FGM Survivors Club 

Sunday • ‘Adopt 17 July a 1tree’ pm – 7 pm project Reading Hilton Hotel, 

• FGM Steering Group Actions 

Cost: • Donate £15 Registration to support Fee our Drakes work Way, Reading, RG2 0GQ 


• Fundraise to support our work 

• FGM Survivors Club 

• ‘Adopt a tree’ project Health and Wealth Creation, Career development, 

• FGM Steering Group 

• Donate to support our work Health and Family relationship, etc. 

To help end FGM and support survivors, join one of our campaigns or projects 

For more information, • Fundraise contact to support our Mojatu work Foundation 

Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 

Reva Stewarts 


Email: Phone: valentine@mojatu.com 01158457009 Mobile: 07794372214 Website: www.mojatufoundation.org 



For more information, contact Mojatu Foundation 

Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: www.mojatufoundation.org 




Tracey Marriott 



South 

Sudanese 

Association 

in Reading


mojatu.com 

So many colours of Domestic violence 

Domestic violence throughout the years has been 

a topic that many people will discuss with either 

a biased view or will fail to address the actual 

problem that is affecting the people affected by it. 

Many women are subjected to abuse for a very long 

time without realising what they are having to go 

through and unfortunately, many may never live to 

tell their story. It takes so much strength to live with a 

violent partner. Sometimes women are so embarrassed 

to report to the police what is happening to them or 

even mention it to a friend. 

”For a very long time, I thought violence against 

women only happened when a woman would be 

battered and hurt physically, little did I know that 

the worst form of domestic violence is psychological 

abuse. I saw red flags from the beginning, but I chose to 

ignore them all. Simply because I believed in marriage. 

I thought through unconditional love , I could change 

people. I used to think I was capable of changing an 

abusive partner through love. How wrong was I to 

THE MANY COLOURS O 

BY Esnas 

have had such a mindset?” I could have died due to the 

prolonged trauma that I was exposed to” . 

A beautiful home A beautiful home is made up of two 

loving people. When love begins to hurt, then it is not 

love anymore. 

Verbal abuse is sometimes discounted and overlooked, 

when in reality, it can just be as damaging as physical 

abuse. The thought that it is not really a serious abuse 

and change of attitude may happen with time is quite 

deceiving. Once an abusive partner always will be an 

abusive partner. Women will ask themselves why they 

never left many years ago; There have never been direct 

answers to such questions. It has always been fear of 

the unknown. Shame that marriage hasn’t worked. The 

stigma that accompanies the divorce. Some continue 

to live in abusive relationship with the hope that the 

abusive partner will realise what the marriage means 

to them and change. “if my children asked me where 

their dad is, what will I tell them?” So is the fear of many 

women . 

There are so many reasons why women stay in an 

abusive relationship. In Africa, many women will never 

dare leave the abusive husband. It will bring shame 

to her family; hence the pressure from her parents to 

keep her abusive marriage going. It is believed that the 

family’s reputation will be affected if a woman left her 

husband and this will affect their social status in the 

society. It has never been what the woman wants. It 

has always been what the others want. In fact, some 

men will brag about physically abusing their partners. 

They think it is a sign of love. 

Below are some of the most reasons why women 

will decide to stay in an abusive relationship. 

1. Fear 

Women often are afraid of what will happen if they 

decided to leave the relationship. This because 

her abusive partner may have threatened to hurt


F DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

Kiveu Turnbull 

her and the children if she left. Some abusive 

partners threaten to harm themselves if the 

abused partner leaves. Many women have fallen 

victims of this sort of manipulation because 

they are afraid that they may live with the guilt 

that they are the reason their partner harmed 

themselves and yet the abuse continues. I 

have built myself back up after such a massive 

heartbreak and painful events. Looking back, I 

am just so thankful that I left. 

2. Embarrassment 

It is probably the hardest thing for a woman 

to admit that she is or has been abused by her 

partner. They feel that they have done something 

wrong by getting involved with an abusive 

husband, and fear that their friends and family 

will judge them. Unfortunately, this happens 

a lot. The society is very quick to judge a failing 

relationship and in most cases taking sides. 

3. Love 

Women will stay in an abusive relationship with 

the hope that their abuser will change. They will 

easily believe the abuser when they say they 

love them and that they will change for them. 

If you love a person, you will want to believe 

what they tell you hoping that their violence 

will end and you will not have to end the 

relationship. Unfortunately, this only prolongs a 

very unhealthy relationship and women in this 

situation tend to learn to put up with abuse until 

they reach the breaking point before they shout. 

4. Low Self-esteem 

Continuous abuse from an abusive partner will 

only lead to a very low self-esteem causing the 

abused partner to believe that the abuse is as 

a result of their own fault. When you begin to 

blame yourself for the ongoing abuse, then 

News & Sports 

9 

you are only putting a very powerful armour 

in your abuser’s hands to continue with the 

ongoing abuse. According to researchers, low 

self-esteem and domestic violence go hand in 

hand. Women will stay silent or carefully chose 

the words to use when trying to converse with 

their abusive partner just in case they lashed 

out or flew off the handle. Remember that 

domestic violence in not just physical abuse. it is 

also emotional and psychological. Women who 

are continuously subjected to this abuse will 

eventually suffer from low self-esteem which 

may never be reversed. 

5. Believing Abuse is Normal 

The environment with which we grow in may 

affect our relationship either in a negative way 

or a positive way. Many women don’t know 

what a healthy relationship looks like. If you 

grew up from a home where men battered 

their wives with impunity as men, then you may 

never have the ability to recognise that you are 

in an abusive relationship. 

6. Lack of Money 

In many parts of Africa, women are expected to 

stay at home and wait on their husbands. Apart 

from raising and looking after the kids, all the 

house chores are left to the woman. In the case 

where both are working, the woman is expected 

to be home early to wait for the husband. 

This may affect the woman’s upward mobility at 

work because she doesn’t have time to refresh 

her career from time to time, while the man is 

busy studying further and getting the pay rise 

from time to time. This idea of women having 

to remain on low wages while men earn more 

is one form of control. In the event a woman 

begins to earn more, abusive people feel less 

in control and the less in control an abusive 

person feels, the more they want to hurt others. 

Recently, I have watched a story that has been 

trending in Kenya in horror. I wished it was a 

scene from a horror movie, but it was not. It a 

girl who married for love. so she thought. Her 

husband chopped off her hands and hit her 

head a few times with a machete because she 

failed to bear him a child, even after the doctors 

had confirmed that he was the one with the 

problem. I know this looks graphic and I am not 

posting it here because I am insensitive, no.

10 category 

mojatu.com 

take the abuser’s side. One major characteristic 

of abusers is that they are very charming, very 

friendly and very generous to everyone else but 

their partner. 

A woman in Kenya whose husband chopped off 

her hands for not bearing him a child. 

7. Disability 

Women with disabilities may feel that their wellbeing 

is dependent upon the abusive partner, 

especially if they are physically dependent on 

them. This can easily influence their decision 

to stay in an abusive relationship. Disabled 

women are more likely to experience Domestic 

violence than able women. The women with the 

disabilities will report abuse that lasts longer 

and is more intense than women without 

disabilities. 

8. Pregnancy/Parenting 

The pressure to raise their children with both 

parents together, may contribute to many 

women not to leave abusive partners and 

especially if the abusive partner threatens 

to take or harm the children. Pregnancy has 

always been a licence for abusive partners 

because they think they can get away with their 

abusive behaviours, owing to the fact women 

will always want to stay with the father of their 

children. 

9. Cultural/Religious Reasons 

Traditional and religious gender roles can make 

it difficult for young women to admit to being 

abused. Culture or religion influence so many 

relationships, especially in Africa, Asia and 

Middle East. Because of the fear of bringing 

shame upon their family, most women opt to 

stay in an abusive relationship which may in 

some occasions lead to severe depression due 

to prolonged trauma. 

10. Social/Peer Pressure 

If the abuser is popular or famous, it can be hard 

for a woman to tell their friends for fear that 

no one will believe them or that everyone will 

11. Distrust of Adults 

Younger women may feel like they have no 

adults to turn to or that no one will take them 

seriously and especially if the relationship was 

not initially supported by parents/ guardians or 

friends. 

12. Distrust of Police 

Many women and young adults do not feel 

that the police can or will help them, so they 

don’t report the abuse. In some cases, the 

police will tell the victim that they are wasting 

police time especially if the victim doesn’t 

have evidence of physical abuse. There are 

so many colours of domestic abuse. It can be 

physical, psychological, emotional or financial 

manipulation. 

13. Language Barriers & Immigration Status 

In the case of undocumented persons, they may 

fear that reporting the abuse will affect their 

immigration status. This happens a lot. Foreign 

women are likely to encounter domestic abuse 

due to lack of knowledge on how the system 

works in the country of residence. Also, if their 

first language isn’t English, it can be difficult to 

express the depth of their situation to others. 

What to do? 

If you feel you are a victim of domestic abuse, call 

the police. If you are afraid to call the police, book 

an appointment with your GP only if you are sure 

they won’t take sides. Like I said, abusive partners 

are smart. If they thought you are likely to report the 

abuse, they will go to the GP you both go to ahead of 

you and report that they are very distressed because 

you are distressed and therefore you are distressing 

them with your distress. I knew that at some point 

things had to change. So many teardrops. I knew it 

wasn’t going to be long. The change was going to 

come somehow. 

“My Partner came home one day and said to me our 

GP wanted to see me. We had had a share of our 

problems and rows. When I went to the GP, the first 

question she asked me was when was the last time I 

had spoken to my mum or family. Because I did not 

understand why she had wanted to see me, I was 

very bubbly even though she could detect some 

stress deeply lodged inside of me and sometimes 

escaping to the surface. She asked if being away from

vv 


my family distressed me at all. As soon as she said 

that, I immediately sensed why I had been asked to 

see her. I was given a form to fill. I learned one thing 

along the way. Stay away always from people who 

think you are hard to love. 

Those living in the UK when I say on the scale of 1-10 

do you feel like harming yourself…….and many 

other questions, they will understand what I mean. 

It means that you are just seconds away from either 

being diagnosed with mental health issues or you are 

just about to be permanently labelled with mental 

health issues, depending on how you fill in the form. 

I thought to myself: Wow, what a trap!!I told the GP I 

will take the form back to her the next day. 

Of course, I knew what that meant and how quickly 

it could have changed my life to the downhill if I 

had answered 9-10. So I never filled the form at all. 

And I think the GP realised what was happening and 

never insisted that I fill the form. What a backfired 

plan it was because I called the police anyway when 

I learned that it was becoming dangerous for me 

and the children to continue living with an abusive 

partner”. 

category 

11 

The women outreach in the UK are very supportive. 

Road to recovery programme which is covered in 

a period of 12 weeks will leave every woman so 

empowered and ready to move on. Report abuse. 

Don’t be silent. Remember, you are not alone. The 

women outreach centres are in many cities and 

towns. In most cases, the police will point you in the 

right direction.

12 

Community 

mojatu.com 

Knowing You – Knowing Me for Our Well-being: Be Involved 

By K. A. Singo 

On the 20 th May this year, I attended a very interesting 

mid day event in the week of mental health awareness 

sponsored by Utulivu women’s group. It was one 

of an eye-opening event I have attended recently. 

That evening I couldn’t help wondering how in a 

wealthy society, where there are lots of social services 

institutions established to help residents of various 

communities fail to reach all those who need help. 

From the different speakers I found that there are 

lots of people suffering in silence in our communities. 

These suffering individuals had one thing in common; 

mental health related issues. 

Mental health is simply how individuals think, act and 

cope with life challenges and stressors that form our 

daily experiences when we interact with other people 

or have contact with different things. The state of our 

mental health in many ways influence the way we look 

into ourselves, into our lives, people around us, and the 

way we react to them. 

Mental health strongly influence ones potential for 

achieving their desired goals and potentials and thus 

becoming an important tool for us to obtain and 

maintain a feeling of well being. One of the strongest 

elements that help us to have a good mental health is 

our ability to form interpersonal relationships. Failure 

to do so pushes us to self made comfort corners, 

which act as self-made naughty corners of loneliness. 

As these corners grow bigger and bigger, we tend to 

push even the people we live with away. As a result, 

our minds cannot cope and they end up blowing up 

through stress and depression. 

Many adults have experienced such times when they 

feel abandoned and left alone to solve problems they 

cannot solve. Being an immigrant myself, I can tell you 

that one of the hardest thing in life is to move away 

from the place you have called home, moving away 

from people you have called family, relatives and 

friends, discontinuing from the place you have called 

work place, and uprooting and planting yourself in a 

new soil, new home, new street and trying to grow new 

relationships. This will always affect ones mental health 

What I discovered in the last twenty years of being 

an immigrant is that there is plenty of help around 

me than I have ever imagined. The barriers between 

my needs and the solutions to my needs as I have 

discovered is, knowing the right person and the right 

place to seek assistance. Seeking help in difficult times 

and even in good times is one of the things most 

immigrants do not do. There is a fear and sometimes a 

shame of approaching the people we find in our new 

lands. Our neighbors, our colleagues at work or college 

or school and even the institutions that save us like 

police, council, hospitals, and surgeries and even in our 

religious canters. 

Most immigrants come short when it comes 

to communicating about our feelings. Most 

underdeveloped societies thrive in togetherness, while 

most societies and people in developed world thrive 

in individualistic views. They operate on what I want, 

what pleases me and what my heart wants to follow. So 

coming from an environment of togetherness to one 

of oneness, pushes most immigrants to a brink, as we 

don’t know where to turn to until things become very 

desperate. We suffer alone until we collapse 

If you happen to read this, I would like to suggest to 

you that there are lots and lots of resources out there 

in our communities and there is no need for you to 

suffer alone. Our mental health thrives when we share 

our feelings through different ways including music, 

dance, religious events, and community events. I urge 

you to involve yourself with your neighbors, in your 

community centre, and in street events. There are lots 

of clubs in the community doing different activities 

and indeed you can find your passion in one of them. 

Where you cant find what interests you, find out from 

your local vicar, councilor, MP, or your local church, or 

mosque how you could start a club or organization 

of your passion. One of the characteristics of human 

beings is to have goals and desires. Regardless of ones 

age or work, we all cherish a feeling of well being, a 

feeling of satisfaction upon reaching our goals and 

a yearning to be congratulated. All of these things 

happen in our brains, minds and thoughts. Before we 

are involved in actions our minds have already been 

taxed with the duty of thinking. Anything you can 

imagine you can manifest and therefore put yourself 

out there and answer a call to build your community. 

Remember what Zig Zigler said. “They climb high 

those who help others to climb.” He also said, “you 

can get what you want when you help others get 

what they want. Be involved and give vitality to your 

mental health.


category 

13 

Depressed in 

the City 

By Angela Wanjiku Mugo 

“With the symptoms you’ve presented, I can diagnose 

you with depression…” 

A whole me? Depressed? How? I couldn’t quite 

wrap my head around what my doctor had just told 

me. How could I be depressed? In the eyes of most 

African homes, I had nothing to be depressed about. 

I was healthy, my family were alive and well, I had a 

roof over my head, three sources of income, and a 

promising future. 

So what exactly did I have to be depressed about? I 

often attributed my low moods, insomnia and other 

maladaptive symptoms to stress, fleeting anxiety and 

general daily stressors. I was sure that the Doctor was 

wrong because on paper, my life was perfect. I told 

myself that I just had poor coping skills and needed 

to grow up. These negative thoughts worsened my 

condition. I soon realised that this line of thinking had 

a LOT to do with my cultural upbringing, the fact that 

depression was not something that was often spoken 

about, and if so, was associated with laziness, fragility 

and being downright ungrateful. 

According to recent studies ,BAME communities are 

the least likely to be diagnosed and report incidences of 

depression, but have the highest number of psychotic 

disorders, such as Schizophrenia, under the Mental 

Health Act. This unusual finding has been attributed 

to cross-cultural differences; African societies tend to 

promote a more outspoken, expressive and generally 

“louder” way of life, whereas as Western societies are 

usually the complete opposite. Such differences are 

often hugely misinterpreted, leading to an alarmingly 

high rate of misdiagnosis, wrongful treatment, and 

the onset of unpleasant side effects and further 

misdiagnosis which can easily be avoided. 

Conversely to this, Western societies tend to promote a 

more open dialogue for discussing feelings, emotional 

health and wellbeing. Most African societies do not 

have this component integrated within them, which 

may explain why depression is not often reported; 

it is simply something that is not well explained or 

understood. As a consequence, our people suffer in 

silence. They are left to articulate the complexity of 

their emotions, which may worsen their plight. Hypermasculinity 

within African societies leave our men the 

most vulnerable to experiencing depression, which is 

reflected in the alarmingly high rates of male suicide. 

So What shall we say to these things? What do we 

tell confused members of the diaspora who are torn 

between two opposing cultures? The answer lies in 

education. No good ever came out of remaining silent. 

Mental health must be prioritised in the same way 

physical health is. It may not be that our people do 

not value mental health, but rather it is not spoken 

of enough for it to be important. As members of the 

diaspora in particular, while it is important that we 

use our knowledge to better the general status’ of our 

various motherlands’, let us not forget that mental 

health is just as much a priority as other areas of life. 

After all, it is the condition of our minds that ultimately 

determines our destination.

14 


mojatu.com 

An Interview With Hilary Burrage: How 

She’s Fighting to Stop FGM in the UK 

By Ayaan Hirsi Ali 

Q: Could you share with us how you began 

working on the issue of FGM? 

Ms. Burrage: I first heard of FGM (then called 

female circumcision) back in the 1980s, from my 

Mum, a Quaker and a member of amnesty, now in 

her 90s. Deeply alarmed, I wrote to my Member of 

Parliament but he told me not to worry, it was all 

fixed because we had a new law banning FGM. 

If only my MP had been right…! It wasn’t until 

the early years of this century that I realised 

his optimism was far from justified. I saw on 

the Internet announcements of the Day of Zero 

Tolerance to FGM and began to research the 

facts. Horrified by what I learnt and, having 

spent most of my professional life as a sociologist 

teaching and researching social issues, equality 

and policy, I decided I would have to act on what I 

was discovering. 

And so, having retired previously for health 

reasons, I began to use my time to lobby and raise 

awareness about FGM via the Internet and social 

media. A couple of years later I was approached 

by two different publishers to write books on FGM*, 

then, towards the end of 2013, the Guardian began 

their #EndFGM Global Media Campaign and they 

asked me to be their consultant. Since that time 

my ‘retirement’ has been in theory only. I’m a 

completely free agent but my focus is firmly on 

finding ways to protect and help girls and women 

facing FGM and other human rights abuses. 

…even now few people, even in regulated 

professional caring roles, are confident about 

what to do if they suspect a child is at risk or 

has been harmed (from FGM). 

Q: Over the years, what trends have you 

noticed regarding FGM in the UK? Has the 

situation improved or gotten worse? 

Ms. Burrage: The really big shock, now three 

or four years ago, was realizing that estimates 

of FGM prevalence in the UK were woefully 

understating the problem. There are not, as we 

had thought, ‘only’ twenty or thirty thousand Britishbased 

women and girls who underwent or are at 

significant risk of FGM, there are around 140,000 

of them, spread across the whole of the United 

Kingdom, a figure proportionately comparable to 

the half million both in the USA and in mainland 

Europe. 

We know these figures make sense because 

as of last year, hospitals in England have 

to report when they encounter patients with 

FGM (the reporting is anonymous unless the 

person is a child, when protection must be 

considered), and there are around one hundred 

cases reported every week even on that basis. 

Hilary Burrage and Dr. Morissanda Kouyate, 

the Executive Director of the IAC (Inter-African 

Committee) 

The absolute figures have almost certainly risen 

over the past decade, but that’s probably because 

of demographic change – there are now more 

people in Britain from traditionally practising 

nations and communities. When people in the 

diaspora move to western countries usually one of 

two things happen: either practices such as FGM 

are abandoned because there is a new way of life 

or, in some instances, migrants, in what may feel 

to be a strange and possibly bewildering different 

place, put even more emphasis on tradition and 

heritage, so FGM can feature again in groups 

which had ‘at home’ almost given this practice up. 

When I was first alerted a decade ago, almost 

nobody in the UK knew much, if anything, 

about FGM. Now people from all walks of life 

– politicians, legal, education, health and care 

professionals, journalists, artists, taxi drivers and 

shop-keepers, the person on the street – are to

Nottingham connected 


15 

some extent aware of it. This is obviously good 

news although even now few people, even in 

regulated professional caring roles, are confident 

about what to do if they suspect a child is at risk or 

has been harmed. I attended two Parliamentary 

meetings which considered mandatory reporting 

of FGM only last week, and there is still a very 

long way to go. 

…in developed nations we do have more 

resources – assuming policy makers can be 

persuaded to use them – to enforce that (FGM) 

prohibition. 

Concerning the increased prevalence of FGM in 

the UK, I would add, however, that in a way the 

newly emerging figures, whilst extremely alarming, 

are also helpful. If people in the diaspora come 

into countries such as Britain they must learn that 

FGM is absolutely not OK, and this can only be 

for the good. For many their country of origin also 

prohibits FGM, but in developed nations we do 

have more resources – assuming policy makers 

can be persuaded to use them – to enforce that 

prohibition. 

I have been following the UK situation closely for 

some years (my book Eradicating Female Genital 

Mutilation offers as a ‘case study’ the subtitle ‘A 

UK Perspective‘), and I am cautiously hopeful 

that, although the absolute numbers in Britain 

are daunting, the situation is beginning to be 

addressed. But I am also acutely conscious that 

we must never, for one moment, be complacent. 

(Harmful Traditional Practices) are economic 

crimes in a very fundamental sense, and 

they have massive fiscal impacts on the 

communities and even on the nations where 

they are practised… These practices won’t 

stop whilst there is significant financial reward 

to be gained. 

and all of them are at base concerned with money. 

In other words, they are economic crimes in a 

very fundamental sense, and they have massive 

fiscal impacts on the communities and even on the 

nations where they are practised. 

The individual suffering is always paramount, but 

with 200 million women and girls alive today who 

have experienced FGM, even before we consider 

other HTPs, I suspect that overall these gendered 

crimes are almost akin to human trafficking in their 

global economic consequences over time. 

Most enforcement agencies at every level 

from local to international have barely begun 

to acknowledge either the human rights or the 

economic aspects (of FGM). 

It follows that a very committed emphasis on 

the criminal aspects of FGM is essential. These 

practices won’t stop whilst there is significant 

financial reward to be gained. Most enforcement 

agencies at every level from local to international 

have barely begun to acknowledge either the 

human rights or the economic aspects, however. 

Alongside this there is very important work to be 

done in educating communities – girls and boys, 

men and women alike – on the grim outcomes 

of FGM and other traditional practices. Even 

knowledge of anatomy is often lacking, and 

sometimes the men are unaware of the impacts, 

whilst the women believe them simply to be a 

‘normal’ part of womanhood. 

…education and enforcement go hand-in-hand 

in the eradication of FGM and, indeed, of all 

HTPs. 

Q: What do you think is the most effective 

approach for addressing FGM? 

Ms. Burrage: Firstly, FGM is not ‘just a single 

thing’ on its own. It is one aspect of the whole 

grim issue of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) 

and must be seen as such. Whether the overt 

rationale has moved on or not, all these practices 

comprise aspects of patriarchy incarnate – the 

literal imposition of men’s will onto female bodies – 

UN Geneva Book Launch at the IAC Conference

16 


mojatu.com 

But despite the external reality that FGM is 

extremely damaging to young women’s future 

prospects, some community members will 

continue to believe that FGM and, probably, early 

/ forced ‘marriage’ is essential for their daughters. 

This belief must be challenged. 

It is a fundamental duty of democratic nations, 

both generally and also specifically in regard to 

FGM, to ensure that girls and boys alike receive 

an education. In developed nations the issue of 

school drop-out when girls reach the puberty are 

not an obstacle, and it is vital to ensure also that 

girls don’t disappear for other reasons either. Plus, 

we must make it clear to all children that whilst 

marriage is never a necessary condition for adult 

status, education is. 

Of course people in different traditions will see 

status and honour in different ways, but these are 

in the end private matters which individuals must 

resolve for themselves. No-one has a right to say 

how mature individuals should live their lives; but 

our society overall has an absolute obligation to 

ensure that every child reaches adulthood healthy, 

unharmed and well-equipped to cope as their own 

person with the obligations and opportunities 

which becoming grown up brings. 

So, in summary, education and enforcement 

go hand-in-hand in the eradication of FGM and, 

indeed, of all HTPs. 

Politicians may like standing shoulder-toshoulder 

with brave survivors of FGM, but they 

are in my UK experience less enthusiastic, 

even when they provide some funding, about 

actually delivering on properly thought-out 

(inter)national provision to deliver eradication. 

Q: What are the barriers in preventing FGM 

from happening in wealthy countries like the 

UK or US? 

Ms. Burrage: Political will is the main barrier, 

with the corollary that this can only be driven or 

supported by corresponding public concern. 

Politicians may like standing shoulder-toshoulder 

with brave survivors of FGM, but they 

are in my UK experience less enthusiastic, even 

when they provide some funding, about actually 

delivering on properly thought-out (inter-)national 

provision to deliver eradication. Yes, the British 

Government has promised creditable sums to 

international programmes; plus in the UK we 

have had reasonably good legislation for some 

decades, and multi-agency guidance also for a 

while now. But UK funding to stop FGM has not 

been generous and the impact here remains far 

from impressive – not as yet even one successful 

prosecution, for instance. 

Some European countries such as France (with 

about 100 convictions since the 1980s) have gone 

for criminal investigations on the basis of already 

enacted general legislation such as the prohibition 

of bodily harm, whilst others, including the UK, 

have taken forward specific legislation which as 

of very recently even includes specific protection 

orders. This appears to be having some small 

measure of positive, increased traction. 

But we don’t as yet know in any detail how much 

impact various methodologies have. Either way – 

general (no need for new legislation) or specific 

(legally better, but takes time to bring to statute) 

– could be reasonably effective as long as there is 

full attention also both to context: what, we must 

ask, does the community need to know in order 

to make sense of the legal action and to provide 

proper public resourcing. 

At the moment however, as various narrators say 

in my second book, Female Mutilation: The truth 

behind the horrifying global practice of female 

genital mutilation (which reports on activity in five 

continents, including North America, Australia 

and Europe) much of the on-going effort is by 

members of local communities who receive little 

substantive resourcing or genuine support from the 

professionals who are also involved. No wonder 

these activists are cynical about the sincerity and 

determination of their political leaders. 

Q: What needs to happen for FGM to be 

eradicated? 

Ms. Burrage: 

1. In the end, money speaks louder than words. 

We can talk forever about the absolute necessity to 

end FGM and other cruel patriarchal practices, but 

whilst the economic rewards of undertaking these 

practices outweigh the impacts of investment by 

our leaders in eradication, they will continue. 

2. Likewise, use the right words. 

In my view the euphemisms must go, now: no 

more glossing over cruelty in formal public and 

professional discourse. We must tell it as it is: as 

the Inter-African Committee and many others 

insist, in formal discourse FGM is indeed female 

genital mutilation. It’s also essential to move from 

talking about ‘cultural practices’ to discussing



17 

FGM and the like as criminal harm, bad traditions 

and human rights abuses. 

3. Spread the message! 

Programmes such as the Guardian Global 

#EndFGM Media Campaign and training in places 

such as Kenya, Gambia and Nigeria, for young 

journalists can reach many, many corners of the 

globe. Likewise, be sure to include a whole range 

of people as activists and enforcers and make sure 

all relevant professionals are equipped with the 

knowledge and understanding they need to tackle 

FGM. And we also need to be talking to boys and 

men, in traditionally practising communities, in 

schools and other shared public places in the UK 

and US, and in political contexts. 

4. Develop a proper paradigm. 

I have tried in my writing to make the case for a 

conjoined discipline– which will bring together all 

the aspects of this very complex subject. There is a 

danger that, without top-level direction and without 

a clear understanding of parameters for action for 

various types of activists and campaigners, we will 

begin – however much they are not intended – to 

see professional turf wars. In nations such as the 

UK, the time simply for awareness-raising is past. 

Co-ordinated interdisciplinary research, analyses 

and actions are now the order of the day. 

5. Remember the ‘4 E’s’ of Eradication (See full 

paper in the next issue Issue B012) 

• Engagement (in communities) 

• Education (about FGM and, critically, 

also as preparation for adult life) 

• Enforcement (legal protection and 

prosecutions, or FGM protection 

orders) … and 

• Economics (addressing the fundamental 

bases of these human rights abuses). 

This interview was originally published by the AHA 

Foundation. Hilary Burrage, previously a college 

lecturer, is a sociologist, author of two on female 

genital mutilation (FGM) and a consultant on FGM 

for the Guardian Newspaper. She is currently 

campaigning to STOP FGM in the UK. Visit https:// 

hilaryburrage.com or Twitter @HilaryBurrage 

Hilary will be part of the Mojatu Foundation’s 

discussion board on the actions needed in 

terms of policy and mental health support 

for FGM survivors during the Nottingham 

in Parliament day on 25th October 2016 

See: www fgmworldwide.org 

Join Clit Warriors to enjoy sports and healthy living activities 

Athletics, Crickect, Football, Netball, Table Tennis and many more 

Free training and fun activities offered - Contact Valentine on 

T: +44 (0) 115 8457 009 | M:+44 (0) 7794372214 | E: valentine@mojatu.com 

167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR

18 Health & Food 

17 TOP TIPS TO LOSING BELLY FAT 

By Franziska Spritzler 

mojatu.com 

Belly fat is more than just a nuisance that makes your clothes feel tight. Fat inside the belly area is also termed 

visceral fat, and can be seriously harmful. Although losing fat from this area can be difficult, there are several things 

you can do to reduce excess abdominal fat, leading to a happier, healthier life style. 

1. Eat Plenty of Soluble Fibre 

Consume high-fibre foods every day such as flaxseeds, shirataki noodles, Brussels sprouts, avocados, legumes and 

blackberries. Soluble fibre absorbs water and forms a gel that helps slow down food as it passes through your 

digestive system. This type of fibre promotes weight loss by helping you feel full so you naturally eat less. 

2. Avoid Foods That Contain Trans Fats 

These fats have been linked to inflammation, heart disease, 

insulin resistance and abdominal fat gain in observational 

and animal studies. They are found in some margarines, 

spreads and some packaged foods. Read ingredient 

labels as they are often listed as “partially hydrogenated” 

fats. 

3. Limit Your Alcohol 

Too much alcohol can make you gain belly fat. Cutting back 

on alcohol may help reduce your waist size. 

4. Eat a High-Protein Diet 

Protein is important for weight control. Good protein source at 

every meal, such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, whey protein or nuts. 

High protein intake promotes the release of the fullness hormone, 

which decreases appetite. Protein also raises the metabolic rate and 

helps retain muscle mass during weight loss. 

5. Reduce Your Stress Levels 

Stress can increase belly fat by triggering the adrenal glands to produce 

cortisol (stress hormone). High cortisol levels increase appetite and drive 

abdominal fat storage. Engage in pleasurable activities that relieve stress such 

as walking, yoga, meditation and dancing. 

6. Don’t Eat a Lot of Sugary Foods 

Sugar contains fructose, which is linked to chronic diseases increased abdominal fat. 

7. Do Aerobic Exercise (Cardio) 

Aerobic exercise is an effective way to improve health and burn calories and is one of the 

most effective forms of exercise for reducing belly fat. 

8. Cut Back on Carbs, Especially Refined Carbs 

Reducing carb intake can be very beneficial for losing fat, especially abdominal fat. You don’t have 

to follow a strict low-carb diet. 

9. Replace Some of Your Cooking Fats With Coconut Oil 

Coconut oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It can boost metabolism and decrease the amount of 

fat you store in response to high calorie intake. To boost belly fat loss, it’s best to take about 2 tablespoons 

of coconut oil daily. Remember, coconut oil is still high in calories. Instead of adding extra fat to your diet, 

replace some of the fats you already consume with coconut oil.


Health & Food 

19 

10. Perform Resistance Training (Lift Weights) 

Resistance training, weight lifting or strength training, is important for preserving and gaining muscle mass. 

11. Avoid Sugar-Sweetened Beverages 

Sugar-sweetened beverages are loaded with liquid fructose, which can make you gain belly fat. Sugary drinks lead 

to increased fat in the liver. To lose belly fat, it’s best to completely avoid sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, 

punch and sweet tea and alcoholic mixers containing sugar. 

12. Get Plenty of Restful Sleep 

Sleep is important for many aspects of health, including your weight. People who don’t get enough sleep tend to 

gain more weight. Make sure you’re getting sufficient quality sleep. 

13. Reduce Your Food Intake and Exercise 

Consuming fewer calories than your body needs is important for weight 

maintenance. Keeping a food diary and tracker can help you monitor your 

calorie intake. 

14. Eat Fatty Fish Every Week 

Fatty fish is incredibly healthy. It’s rich in quality protein and omega-3 

fats that protect you from disease and may help reduce visceral fat. 

Fish oil supplements can significantly reduce liver and abdominal 

fat. Good choices include salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel and 

anchovies. 

15. Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Diet 

Drinking apple cider vinegar has impressive health benefits, including 

lowering blood sugar levels. It contains a compound called acetic acid, 

which has been shown to reduce abdominal fat storage in animal studies. 

16. Eat Probiotic Foods or Take a Probiotic Supplement 

Different types of bacteria found in probiotics play a role in weight 

regulation, and having the right balance can help with weight loss. Probiotic 

supplements contain several types of bacteria. Make sure you purchase one 

that provides one or more of these bacterial strains. 

17. Intermittent Fasting 

An eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting is 

good for weight loss. This could be through 24-hour fasts once or twice a week or 

every day for 16 hours and eating all your food in an 8 hour period. This decreases 

abdominal fat within a period of 6-24 weeks. 

Originally published by Kris Gunners of Authority Nutrition

Originally published by Kris Gunners of 

Authority Nutrition 

20 Health & Food 

mojatu.com 

9 Healthy Foods that are High in Vitamin D 

Vitamin D is unique, because it can be obtained from 

food and sun exposure. However, up to 50% of the 

world’s population may not get enough sunlight, and 

40% of people in the US are vitamin D deficient. This is 

partly because people spend more time indoors, wear 

sunblock outside and eat a Western diet low in good 

sources of this vitamin. 

1. Salmon 

Salmon is a popular fatty fish and a great source of 

vitamin D, especially wild salmon. 

2. Herring and Sardines 

Herring can be served raw, canned, smoked or pickled. 

It’s also one of the best sources of vitamin D. Pickled 

herring, sardines and other fatty fish such as halibut and 

mackerel are also good sources. However, canned fish 

contain with a lot of salt, so definitely limit your intake. 

3. Cod Liver Oil 

Cod liver oil is a popular supplement. If you don’t like 

fish, taking cod liver oil can be a good way to obtain 

nutrients that are hard to get from other sources. Cod 

liver oil contains 450 IU of vitamin D per teaspoon (4.9 

ml), and is high in other nutrients, such as vitamin A. It’s 

best to be cautious with cod liver oil and not take more 

than you need. 

4. Canned Tuna 

Many people enjoy canned tuna because of its light 

flavour and the fact that it can be kept on-hand in the 

pantry. It is also usually cheaper than buying fresh fish. 

Light tuna is typically a better choice than white tuna. 

5. Oysters 

Oysters are a type of clam that live in salt water. They are 

delicious, low in calories and full of nutrients. Oysters 

are full of nutrients and provide 320 IU of vitamin D. 

by Kris Gunnars - Authority Nutrition 

They also contain more vitamin B12, copper and zinc 

than multivitamin pills. 

6. Shrimp 

Shrimp are a popular type of shellfish, yet unlike most other 

seafood sources of vitamin D, shrimp are very low in fat. 

7. Egg Yolks 

While most of the protein in an egg is found in the egg 

white, the fat, vitamins and minerals are found mostly in 

the egg yolk. Pasture-raised chickens that roam outside 

in the sunlight produce eggs with levels that are three 

to four times higher than caged chicken. Choosing eggs 

from chickens raised outside or that are marketed as 

high in vitamin D can be a great way to help meet your 

daily requirements. 

8. Mushrooms 

Wild mushrooms or mushrooms treated with UV light 

are good sources of vitamin D. However, commercially 

grown mushrooms, on the other hand, are often grown 

in the dark and contain very little vitamin D2. 

9. Fortified Foods 

Natural sources of vitamin D are limited, especially if 

you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fish. Some foods are 

fortified with vitamin D, including cow’s milk, soy milk, 

orange juice, cereals and oatmeal making them a good 

source of Vitamin D. 

Take Home Message 

Spending some time outside in the sun is the best way 

to get your daily dose of vitamin D. However, getting 

sufficient sun exposure is not possible for many people. 

Getting enough from your diet alone is difficult, but 

not impossible. Eating plenty of these vitamin D-rich 

foods is a great way to make sure you get enough of this 

important nutrient.

Nottingham connected Education & Career 21 

Mental Health World Day 

By Cecily Mwaniki 

10 th October is designated as World Mental Health 

Day. During this day, activities on the global mental 

health education, awareness and advocacy against 

social stigma are extensively carried out. It was first 

celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World 

Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health 

organization with members and contacts in more 

than 150 countries. 

This year’s theme, ‘Dignity in Mental Health— 

Psychological & mental Health First Aid For All’ is 

aimed at enabling us to contribute taking mental 

health out of the shadows so that we feel confident 

in dealing with/tackling stigma, isolation and 

discrimination that is a continuous experience to 

people with mental health, their families and carers. 

The concept of mental health first aid started way 

back in 1945 after the Second World War however the 

idea was not universally promoted widely until much 

later due to stigma, ignorance, poor knowledge and 

discrimination. The fact is, delivering mental health 

first aid training alone is not enough but mental 

health promotion and good access to healthcare and 

voluntary services in addition will help. 

With the increasing world crisis including wars, 

immigration, family issues, financial issues etc., better 

understanding of mental health first aid is required. 

In the UK, one in six adults in the UK have a common 

mental disorder. Around a quarter of the UK population 

will seek help for a mental health issue every year. 

Despite researches and much work on mental health 

support in the UK, mavy people still experience stigma 

and delayed treatment and support. 

Researches show that women are more likely to 

experience a common mental health disorder and in 

a more severe way than men. Black people were less 

likely to be treated and poorer people were more 

likely to have requested but not received a specific 

mental health treatment. 

Mental Health First Aid 

If someone cuts his/her figure or bumps their head, they 

get out first aid kit, but what do you do when a loved 

one has panic attacks or symptoms of depression? 

We know many lives have been saved by passers-by 

through physical health first aid kits however; mental 

health first aid is viewed differently due to ignorance, 

stigma, poor knowledge and discrimination. The 

question is, do you have a mental health first aid kit? 

You should have one which involves: 

• Assessing for risk of suicide and harm 

• Listening non-judgementally 

• Giving reassurance and information 

• Encouraging appropriate professional 

help 

• Encouraging appropriate self-help 

strategies 

Today as we observe the mental health world day, it is 

hoped that you will the opportunity to see and hear 

services showcase what they do , how they do it and 

what more needs to be done to equip our mental 

health first aid kits more and make mental healthcare a 

positive reality hence the 3 W’S of our conference today. 

For support contact: 

Cecily Mwaniki | 0785 9063643 

utulivucoordinator@live.co.uk 

www.cmnetwork.co.uk, www.utulivu.co.uk

22 Education & Career 

mojatu.com 

KIRINYAGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE 

By James Mugo 

Committee Members 

Kirinyaga Central Sub-County Empowerment Initiative 

(KEI) was formed early in 2016, to address the problem 

of drug use and misuse and its effects especially to the 

male child. Kirinyaga district is in Central Kenya, which 

has been identified by the Kenyan National Campaign 

Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA), as the 

epicentre of high drug use and misuse in Kenya. 

The World Health Organization says about 2.5 million 

people die annually, and many more succumb to illness 

and injury, as a result of harmful alcohol use. The WHO 

also says that alcohol is increasingly affecting younger 

generations and drinkers in developing countries. 

Kenya is one such country that is experiencing these 

negative repercussions from alcohol abuse. 

In a 2011 report, NACADA, says alcohol and drug abuse 

are the major social problems in Kenya, with serious public 

health ramifications. And, the consumers are starting 

young. NACADA estimates that half of all alcohol and drug 

abusers in Kenya are between 10 and 19 years old. 

“The alcohol problem is catastrophic. It is a disaster. 

Especially in Central Province and the areas around 

Nairobi, the alcohol problem is really, really huge,” 

said Ndirangu. “It’s been going on for 10 years now, 

generations are wasted, young men have become 

almost impotent, alcoholism, many issues of 

unemployment, disintegration of the cultural ways 

of living of the past, extreme capitalism. I think there 

are many reasons why this has happened, but it is 

catastrophic. Many people are drinking very cheap 

alcohol and that is dangerous for their health.” 

Proliferation of alcohol 

This cheap, home brew, called chang’aa - literally meaning 

“kill me quick” - often contains methanol, a toxic, nondrinking 

type of alcohol that can cause blindness and 

even death. Drinkers in poverty-stricken rural and slum 

areas are particularly vulnerable to its effects. 

Kenyans also are drinking brand-name spirits and 

beer, though, in addition to traditional liquors and 

cheap manufactured alcohol. 

No matter the type, when alcohol consumption is 

taken too far, the user’s family feel the effects; neglect, 

misuse of funds and increased domestic violence are 

all too common results, said Mary Wainaina, a program 

coordinator at Eden Village rehabilitation center. 

Young adults at high risk 

The NACADA strategic plan for 2009 to 2014 estimates 

that alcohol and drug abuse is highest among young 

Kenyan adults between the ages of 15 and 29. 

Initiative 

KEI is a local community based initiative formed in 

early 2016, initially as OPERATION SAVE THE BOY- 

CHILD primarily in Kirinyaga County. This idea came 

after the committee of 13 people sat at Kagumo Town 

Hotel to deliberate on the “State of the Nation” and 

how best to play a part in national building. 

From the above meeting, it sufficed that “Our House 

is on Fire”, and it needed a collective measure to 

extinguish before it spread out. By “fire” means the 

myriad problems facing the youth from high school 

to post high school. In view of this, it was noted that 

president Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan President 

had ordered a crackdown on illicit brew that mainly 

affected the boy-child through to adulthood, that 

makes Central Kenya in particular to experience 

irresponsible parentage, broken homes, lack of models 

in the family; particularly the boy-child who finally 

turns out to be the proverbial child of the irresponsible 

and promiscuous leopard. 

With broken homes and poor parentage, it was noted 

that teens in high school and post high school get 

wasted because of living in an environment where 

joblessness and hopelessness is the norm.


category 

23 

Furthermore, it was noted that, drug addiction 

is another challenge, since gangs smuggle and 

sell drugs to students in local secondary schools. 

The situation is compounded by the realisation 

that the teens who are engaged in liquor are also 

engaged in drugs, and the situation gets from bad 

to worse. Subsequently, a few students continue 

on with education, but others get jobs which they 

can’t keep, others are recruited by criminals, others 

discreetly join militant and/or terrorist groups like 

al-shabaab, others continue on with life almost 

normally only to misbehave in other bad ways such 

as in domestic violence, political violence especially 

when politicians misuse them for expediency as 

opposed to posterity. 

The above gave KIE a hint that the future of our County/ 

Country is at stake. And because some political leaders 

have benefited from this hopeless state, especially during 

the general elections, which is done after every five years, 

we felt that political leadership may not deliver to fruition 

Our Objectives 

1. To save the boy-child who is badly affected by 

drugs and liquor 

2. To address the challenges of the youth and 

students 

3. To engage the society on matters regarding the 

youth in the light of terrorism and other emerging 

diversionary groups that target idle youth 

4. To facilitate discussions that are geared towards 

rehabilitation and other forms of addressing the 

youth agenda 

5. To provide ethical teaching that will empower 

the society and create the desired future 

opportunities for the youth 

6. To establish various activities, across Kirinyaga 

County that will benefit the youth 

this noble project, as sober society is a threat to the 

existence of some. Hence, who is to bell the proverbial 

cat? We noted that we have a role despite our limitations. 

If the presidential decree against illicit brew did not 

succeed as some political leaders owned some of these 

dens of illicit brew, and indeed made a lot of money by 

exploiting the poor, how could we trust them to bring 

sanity? It is because of this mistrust that we teamed up 

as scholars, community leaders and church leaders in our 

locality to seek a panacea to this great test facing our land. 

If you have any query, please do not hesitate to contact 

at: jamesmugo39@gmail.com or 07962264000 

Thank you. 

James Mugo 

PATRON 

Our Appeal 

We are operating on a shoe string budget & other resources. 

We are appealing to our friends and well-wishers in 

Kenya, United Kingdom and beyond for: 

1. Financial donations 

2. Material donations like computers to help us 

operate our office and deliver the service and 

programme 

3. Training course designers 

4. Trainers for capacity building 

5. Mentors 

6. Employers to give our boy child a chance 

7. Website designer and administrator 

8. Book keeper/accountant 

shalom@mojatufoundation.org 

www.fgmworldwide.org 

Phone: 0118 907 2534 

Mobile: 0785 9063643

Leverage your your unique unique strengths and and be be inspired and and empowered to to 

incorporate them them in your in your life’s life’s skills. skills. Inspired and and empowered people people 

bath bath in their in their inspiration: 

• • Achieve health health and and wealth wealth 

• Build • Build strong strong family family and and social social networks To To get get a copy, a copy, 

• • Advance your your career career 

please contact: 

• • Become a more a more positive ‘you’ ‘you’ 

T: +44 T: +44 (0)1189072534 

• • Remove the the obstacles 

M:+44(0)7859063643 

holding holding you you back back 

info@cmyoucannetwork.co.uk 

• • Become an asset an asset to your to your community 

Cecily Cecily Mwaniki • • Develop your your personal success success plan plan 

or online or online at at 

www.mojatu.com/youcan 

Scan Scan to to view view 

& order & order books books 

relationship dilemma and and Financial well-being. 

She She founded ‘’UTULIVU’’ organisation which which got got the the Queens Award Award in in 2011 2011 for for 

voluntary service. Her Her motto motto in life in life has has always always been‘Aspiring To To Inspire Inspire Before Before I Expire’. I Expire’. 

She She is is happily married with with two two children

Mojatu Berkshire Magazine Issue B011

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?