BASIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE FREE LAPTOPS.
Under the governments’ quest to encourage the studies of information communication technology(ICT) in Ghana,the government and its partners rLg communications,a Ghanaian technology manufacturing firm have started the programme with a target to reach all schools with 60,000 child-friendly laptops to aid pupils in ICT development.This is in light of how the world is now made up of wires in a sense that the global economy is driven by ICT and so would want to instill in the future generation of Ghana with knowledge on ICT. The programme began with a launch at the International Conference Centre in Accra,Ghana which saw education big wits gracing the occasion including the vice president of the land as the guest of honour and in his statement addressed on behalf of him by the minister of Education,Mrs.Betty-Mould Iddrisu,he said government is going to do all possible to ensure that each child of school-going age gets to know computer and it applications practically to help them compete effectively with the outside world which is networked courtesy the power of technology. Again,this programme was first introduced by the previous administration when it was first known as the “one laptop per child” project but could not see the light due to misappropriation of funds purposely to procure these education materials for our young ones and so development partners ceased in sponsorship for the project until the emergence of rLg communications who has thought deep of the development of the child’s well being re introduced this noble project,to promote the idea of domestication and supported by government.Also bridging the gap between rural school children who do not have any knowledge on computing and those counterparts in the urban areas yet they write an examination on ICT at the final grade of their course resulting in a wide disparity in the results,lack of competition even at the local level within the country. But as they embark on this project,there is still a problem as most communities where there are schools have no electricity and so the question is,how do these eager young people use the laptops when there is no electricity at some areas?Even if the computers’ batteries would be charge,it might probably be done kilometers away from the beneficiary communities and hinder the start of lesson as they would be left behind by time. So kudos to rLg for this noble project and the government its support but the government must not leave everything on rLg as they do much of the project,it should be a partnership thing.Government should ensure that all beneficiary communities are put on the national electricity grid for the effective roll out of the project to ensure an ICT inclined generation in Ghana for better development.
Fear Not, Believe Only
Luke 8tells the story of the woman with an issue of blood. It’s popular for Sunday School lessons and in pulpits across America. We all know the story.
Luke 8:43 begins with Jesus being thronged by a crowd of people.
“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” (KJV)
She was healed with just one touch of Jesus’ garment! This passage alone launched a thousand sermons and songs about God’s wonderful, merciful healing power. It still amazes us today how a simple act of humility and faith changed a woman’s life forever.
But, I’m not here to talk about the woman with an issue of blood. I want to talk about a man named Jairus.
Let’s back up to verse 41.
“There came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.”
Jairus was obviously a man on the edge. In spite of his lofty position, he fell at the feet of a carpenter’s Son in utter despair over his daughter. He finally had the Master’s attention and almost got Him back to his house. But then…
This woman came out of nowhere and caused a big scene. Jesus stopped to talk to her. They had a whole conversation right there. While Jairus waited on the Lord, a servant from his house found him and said, “’Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master’” (verse 49).
Here Jairus was in dire need of a miracle, and he was so close to getting that blessing. And, not only does someone sneak in and steal Jesus’ time, but his window of opportunity closed.
I bet you can idenitfy with Jairus. We have all waited on God and have seen others step ahead of us in line. It can feel like our blessing completely passed us by while God was busy doing something else.
I know I have felt like Jairus before. Years ago, I petitioned God for a husband. I fasted and prayed with the utmost faith that I would find real love.
I did not, but my roommate did — and so did the roomate after her. I’ll never forget the empty feelings I had as I watched friend after friend meet their respective Prince Charmings, fall in love, move out and move on.
I don’t know what Jairus thought, but I had a tough time not questioning God. “Uh, Lord, I’m happy for all these girls, but this isn’t fair. I’ve been here the whole time. Have You forgotten about me?”
Lucky for us all, God knows our hearts. Even though Jesus stopped to bless another, He didn’t forget about Jairus.
Jesus heard what the servant had to say and told Jairus in verse 50, “’Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’”
I like to think that if this were occuring in our modern day, Jesus would have said, “Don’t panic.”
That’s our first reaction after all. When we think that we have missed our chance, we freak out, go into mourning or sulk into bitterness. But that’s not always necessary.
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Hold on to your faith, and you’ll have what you ask for.”
Eventually Jesus made His way to Jairus’ house. In the midst of the wailers and mourners, He said rather calmly, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth… Maid, arise” (verse 52, 54b).
I love that. It is so easy to think that our dream is dead when it may only be sleeping. With one word from Christ, it can rise again.
I don’t know what you are facing today, but at times we all find ourselves in Jairus’ place. Whether you feel passed over or completely ignored, I encourage you today to not give up.
You’re never an afterthought to the Prince of Peace. He knows all, sees all, and is touched with the things that trouble you. He knows your suffering and how it hurts sometimes to wait. However, He is on His way to your house to take the remains of your dream and resurrect it.
Just have faith. “Fear not, believe only.”
By Jennifer E. Jones
Child Labor In Yemen
Children form the biggest group in the Yemeni society as children (0-18 year old) constitute more than 50% of the population, there is an increase in the population number in a rate of 3.5% and one in the fertility rate of 7.4%. As a result of that, all developmental plans and programs should take in consideration all requirements and necessary needs for children.
Because of the proportional relation between the increased population and the poverty and unemployment that lead to pushing many children to the labor shop with many risks and hardship.
The phenomenon of child labor in Yemen touches the life of more than 400 thousands who belong to the age group of 14-16 years with a male percentage of 48.6% and a female percentage 51.4% but most of them are from rural areas due to the increase in the population and decrease in the school enrollment rate. In the rural areas the percentage is 94.6% while it is 5.4% in urban areas. Some of these children stopped their studies and work, some still not leaving their school and work at the same time, some of them did not study at all and females form the biggest group of them.
Child labor is not only a Yemeni phenomenon but also seen in other developing countries due to the difficult economic situation and poverty and the increase of the population. Low income and many mouths to feed parents to pushing of the child to a labor shop. Many reasons can be behind this phenomenon, such as:
Poverty: the relation between child labor and poverty is proportional in Yemen, considered one of the least developed countries (LDCs) and among the poorest in the world. We find that child labor is a chronical phenomenon, in particular between the poor, weak.
Unemployment and inadequate salary
Decrease the school enrollment rate and this has many cases, more than 50% did not join their schools or escaped because of absence of schools or the child is a girl who cannot study because of the tribal traditions and habits or parents illiteracy, some said because of their failure in completing their studies.
Early marriage: the child will stop his studies and is going out to seek a different life for him and his family, leaving school and education.
Parents illiteracy: studied proved that more than 97% of child workers are children of illiterate parents.
Chewing Qat: the child who is used to chew qat will work in order to get money to buy qat.
Others: such as the tribal wars breaking out which lead to hindering the educational process due to interruption of the roads that children use to go to school.
There are many risks that children face during their work, especially those who work in mines, plastics, fireworks , fishing, agriculture, and asbestos. Among other risks are the exposure to organic dust or poisons of agricultural source and then become exposed to organ phosphorus compounds. Those who work in mines and in continuous contact with the asbestos may have emphysema.
An important phenomenon other than child labor is street children which has also increased. According a UNICEF estimation from 2000, Sana’a( the capital city of Yemen) by itself has 28789. Often families can’t provide necessary needs such as money for education, money for life’s basic needs such as water and food even the bus fare is raising to 50 Yemeni Rials instead of 30 Rials, which was the previous price. Many families do not own their own house and instead they rent them out on an expensive price. The current situation has a negative impact on the life of the Yemeni children and there is a steady increase in the number of street children who stopped studying in their school. A positive feedback mechanism has been shown between the tense current situation in Yemen and the number of street children, we find that more and prolonged situations lead to more and more street children.
The children on the street become exposed to sexual harassment verbally or physically and then become depressed when they get older. Or they may join gangs and commit crimes and do drugs.
I would like to emphasize that we find such things as the increase in the number of street children, children labor, and children armament among others are due to the unstable current situation in Yemen, especially in the absence of security.By: Raad Ahmed to Gender Equality: Equal rights, everywhere!, Human Rights, Poverty and Hunger, and Education