Biography Submitted on Oprah

Bioqraphv-Tendai Sean Joe (former street-child now international children’s activist)

Some call him a survivor; some call him the hope in the streets

Tendai Joe, a former street child who came to South Africa in 2005 through the

Kruger National Park and landed in a Squatter Camp, where he was greeted with

attacks on foreigners in Pretoria West, but with no option, he lived through the

trauma even becoming a role model among South African youths where he has

been doing life coaching in different high schools.

Born in 1982 to Mozambican father and a Zimbabwean mother, Tendai is the

fifth in a family of 10.Growing up in a farm setting, the family life took a nose dive

when his father was transferred to an Urban area, Chegutu just before the 1992

drought. With a mother who was an informal trader and now faced with no

supplementary income as the farm market was gone, coupled inexperience of

the new cost of living challenges, urban life was apparently a burden to the

family. On weekends and school holidays, Tendai and brothers would sell wire

toys or pick cotton at a nearby farm, before things became worse and it was a

norm not to have food on the table and with none to turn to, scavenging became

the norm, shameful as it was, the society was not even that accommodating and

with talk of sending Tendai and his brother Tawanda to a juvenile institute, the

two landed in the streets.

Life was never that easy in the streets, as everyone saw a criminal element in

every street child. It was a struggle, with young Tendai was fast becoming a

criminal, mentored by older friends in the streets. The dream was to go back

home and live a normal life, going back to Primary School but reintegration was a

far fetched dream for young Tendai and brother. However two incidents drove

Tendai back home, that was after almost 5 years in the streets of Chegutu,

Zimbabwe. Tendai was bullied at school and lost tooth in the process and with no

access to a psychologist the anger in young Tendai was bottled. In 1995 the

family relocated to a rural area near Mozambique, where young Tendai and

brothers once again got Malaria but were lucky to get the vaccine. Tendai was

informally adopted by a teaching couple in 1998 .On the 25th February

2000, Tendai once again became a victim of Cyclone Eline when the bus he was

traveling with from school and visiting his real family plunged into a flooding river.

Tendai completed and passed his High School Ordinary level in 2001 but failed

to get a scholarship, which left young Tendai stressed before he drowned into

depression. Tendai had no one to share all the hardships with at the time when a

counselor or psychologist was desperately needed and the only way out for him

was suicide, but he managed to look beyond the pains.

Considering that he had managed so well straight after the streets. Tendai was to later migrate into South Africa illegally through Kruger Nation al Park in 2005, in pursuit of an evasive dream, Tendai landed in an informal settlement and survived by doing odd jobs

and last year he was among the targets of the ugly xenophobic attacks.

However, today Tendai is a streets activist, legal in South Africa, who has had a chance to

work with some high profile individuals during his tenure as a volunteer at a Cape Town

based Youths Organization where he mentored former street children, drug

addicts and ex juvenile inmates. Tendai also worked mostly on social networking

sites including Facebook and Twitter where he has been very active on children’s

issues.

He is currently planning the Trail of Hope documented motorbike journey across 16 countries with a goal of bringing awareness to the plight of young children across the continent. With adequate sponsorship and support, he hopes to begin the journey before the 2010 FIFA soccer World Cup. Tendai is also in the process of registering a non-profit organization – Trail of Hope Foundation. For more information, please click on http://trailofhope.blogspot.com/ or the organization Facebook page (1,571 members) http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=93611397570&ref=search&sid=683363333.2410510784..1

Quote on Twitter by Tendai Sean Joe – @TendaiJoe “Xenophobia, streetlife, sexual abuse, illegal immigration, malaria, Cyclone Eline, bullying and poverty. I have lived through all of it”

Exclusive :6 November My Birthday

Tendai Sean Joe,1997

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~ Dr. Seuss

It might seem so difficult and i may sound so careless ,but after i asked my brother the same question i could not answer myself,i realised that,in life ,there are somethings we are forced to overlook due to circumstances.Being the african child as i am,i have missed so much in life not by choice or design but by virtue of being me!However i do not regret,neither do i loath those who seem to be born advantaged,for i tell myself that my happiness is of paramount importance that worrying about what i never had or what i might have missed.

I know i am five days into my 27th birthday,but what strikes me most is the embarrasing fact that i dont know my mothers birthday.Neither can i lie that we have ever had a birthday party for any of my brothers or siblings.A birthday has been something we worry less about,but is it not supposed to be a celebration of life,of progression ,and evn of achievement!Forcing yourself into this cruel world,managing to come out of that heavenly womb after 9 months,being the baby that cries so loud in the hood,the first year ,second……….fourth…….you count them.

Those years i scavenged.The years o could have had turned into a criminal.The years when i had no rights,no health care ,nameless ,faceless and voiceless.Not in one of them did i celebrate my birthday.I never even bothered to think of it,for it was just another day for me!A day with less possibilities ,a day pregnant with uncertainities.But as i neared my late teens,i had time when i would notice it through isolated birthday cards from my high school sweetheart!And there are those birthdays ,when i was here in South Africa……memories!

I have so much in my thoughts,but what makes me happy is not the cake or having my close friends drinking,dancing and singing.I love seeing children dance,sing ,run and giggle.It compensates for the time i lost,it compansates for my lost childhood.I am so happy that i have had the strength to proceed,the strength to forgive and the strength to share my story,with the belief and hope of inspiring others.I can also thank myself for being bold enough that i told myself that my past is not an excuse,i had no reason to keep the bad memories for they say…..

“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. ” ~ Josh Billings

I might not be what other people want me to be,i may not have all that i wish to be,but i have embraced a treasure………HAPPINESS ,and my happiness comes through compassion .I have a weakness ,a weakness and a never ending will to make a difference.I wake up with a mission,i get to sleep with a mission.My mission is not to change the world,but to change myself so that i understand the world better.And with my birthday just around the corner,i have a wish ,i might not live it but the WISH is still in me.I know i have my friends,i have those who feel the way i feel for the less advantaged.If we all could,just for one day,buy a small present and give to the next person.It does not matter you know the person or not,what matters is you have given with your heart.

I could paint the skies with love,i could run miles with love ,i could blow a baloon that would drop more baloons with love and compassion but all that would not have an impact unless the compassion or love reached its destination.So today i say,Thank you all my friends for being my friends.Without you i would not be this strong.

I HAVE NEVER CELEBRATED MY BIRTHDAY……………….!!!!!!!!!!

Sudan child soldier turned rapper – 11_APR_08

This is my dream to see every child soldier turned into something better in life!

10 Honest Personal Development Tips

1. Don’t expect to be supercharged all the time. It’s ok to feel tired sometimes. You’re only human and when you’re tired just go with it. Learn how to best ‘recharge’ yourself.

2. Don’t worry if you feel down now and again. It’s ok as you’re only human and the times you’re down help you appreciate the times when you’re feeling good. If you’re feeling down just go with it and know that it’ll pass when you’re ready to move on.

3. Don’t worry if you’re not always right everytime. It’s ok to get it wrong once in a while. That’s all part of learning and growing. Don’t beat yourself up when it does happen; just find a way to move on quickly!

4. Don’t worry if you don’t always look your best. It’s ok to be a scruff bag once in a while. It’s the perfect time to get in the zone where you don’t care what other people think. After being scruffy you kind of appreciate yourself more when you look good.

5. Don’t curse yourself when you get ill once in a while. You’re only human and no matter how healthy you are the odd cold or flu bug is going to come and get you! Chill out! Make the most of it. Catch up on your favorite show or enjoy the part where your voice goes all croaky and sexy. Leave you friends some cool voicemails!

6. Don’t become a robot. Allow people to see your human side. If you’re too much of a robot people will no longer be able to relate to you and that’s not a good thing. Let people see the real you and don’t get caught up in the trap of being Mr or Mrs perfect all the time.

7. Gurus still burp and fart too you know! Wind is good. Don’t be shy and just let rip once in a while! Gas will be eternally funny and so you never know who you might cheer up with the occasional passing of wind!

8. Don’t be passive and let people walk over you! Sometimes you’ve got to just step up and tell people how you feel! Trust me when I say keeping it in is worse that trying to rationalise it with new age mumbo jumbo inner talk and bottling it up. You can do all of that and learn later.

9. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Most people can spot a fake a mile off. Just be yourself for that moment. ‘Yourself’ is a loose term and it can change but in that moment don’t fake it. You are who you are!

10. Sometimes there is no substitute for chocolate and ice cream when things aren’t going great. Don’t get me wrong, apples and banana’s maybe good for you but there’s something special about chocolate and ice cream that can’t be beaten. The odd occasional treat is ok!

Every Step I Take Part 1

I still remember the first time i moved into South Africa,my mind was populated with all sorts of things i had heard,from people being thrown from moving trains to a location called Soweto ,where the picture was a line of more than a million shacks,all people spending time playing Kwaito Music or the older ones dancing to Yvonne Chaka Chaka.But was that the reality or thats what the media chose to show us?

Well firstly i was so amazed by the highways and the small towns along the N1 from Messina to Pretoria.However in my mind was the tiny flicker of fear,travelling undocumented for all most 450km ,if the was an accident or anything bad noone would know who i was .Yes it was clear that the whole 15 seater taxi was full of illegal immigrants[the so called kwerekweres] or grigambaz[whatever its means i heard its deragatory].To taxi drivers we were like these on the run terrorists,so fairs had to be high for the risk they were taking to carry us all the way.

2 months later
Life in South Africa was never like what i had thought it would be.Living in fear and unsure when i would be back to Zimbabwe.Yes i had no papers and that was now 2006,i had hoped to find the pastures greener but realised all was now hay!Only those in paddocks were taken care of!How things work,sometimes you simply have to go with the flow but there are times when you give up.I chose to hold on and see where all would take me.Firstly i had landed in a squatter camp called Spruit[near Ludium/Erasmia] in Pretoria.And in all the faces i met and talked to it was all like,be careful the police will pick you up and without a R50 bribe ,Lindela Detention Centre awaited you!Now asking about Lindela there were all sorts of stories ,most negative on how the security guys[Security company with a tender to man the facility] treated foreigners.Well i was never there ,how i survived it is another tale.I was not prepared to be in a police cell,so i had to make sure that everyday i was out of sight of the police,but till when would i play hide and seek?

I needed an Asylum permit to survive.I tried to go to Home Affairs [Marabastaad] in Pretoria and believe me not ,missing was a sign,”corruption propagation in progress”.I dont know how the official had connected with the touts[well a good gang of more than ten guys,suprisingly some of them even shona speaking].With queues which snaked around the complex perimeter with people even selling foodstuffs to the desperate and tired asylum seekers.Well the numbers were almost to five hundred and they had an intake of 60 people per day and i was to join the queue and sleep in the rain and empty stomarched for a week?Well i just had enough taxi money plus launch money so my immediate decision was to go back to the squatter camp,and on the way,it was also a cat and dog game with cops,most of them in search of illigal immigrants[for bribes] than they sought criminals.

Well my decision was to try any other office where i would get the papers as quick as posible and someone advised that i tried Port Elizabeth,that was 1200km from Pretoria!

This meant i needed to raise more money because i was going to be travel a long distance,a risky one for that matter bacause i would be undocumented and whatever happened to me noone knew me.So how would i get the money?That was my challenge now,any odd job was welcome.I knew of Wierda Park,where most of the unemployed Squatter Camp young man went to look for work,off jobs ,just by standing on the robots and having a finger raised.[That meant,yes boss i am prepared to do anything!]

To be continued in Part 2

Text of President Barack Obama’s speech in Ghana on Saturday

Text of President Barack Obama’s speech Saturday in Accra, Ghana, as provided by the White House:

OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody. It is a great honor for me to be in Accra and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I’ve received, as are Michelle and Malia and Sasha Obama. Ghana’s history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president of the United States of America.

I want to thank Madam Speaker and all the members of the House of Representatives for hosting us today. I want to thank President Mills for his outstanding leadership. To the former presidents — Jerry Rawlings, former President Kufuor — vice president, chief justice — thanks to all of you for your extraordinary hospitality and the wonderful institutions that you’ve built here in Ghana.

I’m speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia for a summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy for a meeting of the world’s leading economies. And I’ve come here to Ghana for a simple reason: The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra, as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America’s prosperity. Your health and security can contribute to the world’s health and security. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world … as partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect. And that is what I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. After all, I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family’s … my family’s own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

Some you know my grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him “boy” for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya’s liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn’t simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade — it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father’s generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways, and history was on the move.

But despite the progress that has been made — and there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa — we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea’s when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent.

In many places, the hope of my father’s generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it’s easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father’s life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.

Now, we know that’s also not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or a need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And by the way, can I say that for that the minority deserves as much credit as the majority. And with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana’s economy has shown impressive rates of growth.

This progress may lack the drama of 20th century liberation struggles, but make no mistake: It will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of other nations, it is even more important to build one’s own nation.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana and for Africa as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of great promise. Only this time, we’ve learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa’s future. Instead, it will be you — the men and women in Ghana’s parliament — the people you represent. It will be the young people brimming with talent and energy and hope who can claim the future that so many in previous generations never realized.

Now, to realize that promise, we must first recognize the fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends on good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That’s the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I’ve pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa’s interests and America’s interests. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of perpetual aid that helps people scrape by — it’s whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I’ll focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy, opportunity, health, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: Governments that respect the will of their own people, that govern by consent and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable and more successful than governments that do not.

This is about more than just holding elections. It’s also about what happens between elections. Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves … or if police — if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top … or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end.

In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges … an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people’s everyday lives.

Now, time and again, Ghanaians have chosen constitutional rule over autocracy and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously — the fact that President Mills’ opponents were standing beside him last night to greet me when I came off the plane spoke volumes about Ghana; victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition in unfair ways. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we’ve seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three-quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person’s vote is their sacred right.

Now, make no mistake: History is on the side of these brave Africans, not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.

Now, America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation. The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. But what America will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and responsible institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance — on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard … on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting and automating services … strengthening hot lines, protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

And we provide this support. I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights reports. People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don’t, and that is exactly what America will do.

Now, this leads directly to our second area of partnership: supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base of prosperity. Witness the extraordinary success of Africans in my country, America. They’re doing very well. So they’ve got the talent, they’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit. The question is, how do we make sure that they’re succeeding here in their home countries? The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities — or a single export — has a tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.

So in Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been very responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and in their infrastructure … when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we want to put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves. That’s why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers — not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it’s no longer needed. I want to see Ghanaians not only self-sufficient in food, I want to see you exporting food to other countries and earning money. You can do that.

Now, America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. That will be a commitment of my administration. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; financial services that reach not just the cities but also the poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interests — for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, guess what? New markets will open up for our own goods. So it’s good for both.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine and more conflict. All of us — particularly the developed world — have a responsibility to slow these trends — through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping — leapfrogging the dirtier phase of development. Think about it: Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and biofuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coasts to South Africa’s crops — Africa’s boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They’re about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to market; an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It’s about the dignity of work; it’s about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it’s also critical to the third area I want to talk about: strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. I just saw a wonderful clinic and hospital that is focused particularly on maternal health. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn’t kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives — often provided by donor nations — many African doctors and nurses go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. And this creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

So across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care — for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.

America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy, because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience but also by our common interest, because when a child dies of a preventable disease in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

And that’s why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges — $63 billion. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and we will work to eradicate polio. We will fight — we will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won’t confront illnesses in isolation — we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.

Now, as we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings — and so the final area that I will address is conflict.

Let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at perpetual war. But if we are honest, for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

These conflicts are a millstone around Africa’s neck. Now, we all have many identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe or who worships a different prophet has no place in the 21st century. Africa’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God’s children. We all share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families and our communities and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justified, never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systemic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in the Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. And all of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, in Ghana we are seeing you help point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon … and your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peace and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational forces to bear when needed.

America has a responsibility to work with you as a partner to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there’s a genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems — they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response.

And that’s why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy and technical assistance and logistical support, and we will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: Our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. And that must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don’t, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa’s future is up to Africans.

The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. And in my country, African Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We’ve done so despite a difficult past, and we’ve drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos, Kigali, Kinshasa, Harare, and right here in Accra.

You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: “It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice.”

Now that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people all across Africa and right here in Ghana. In places like Ghana, young people make up over half of the population.

And here is what you must know: The world will be what you make of it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease and end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can … because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future. And it won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you every step of the way — as a partner, as a friend. Opportunity won’t come from any other place, though. It must come from the decisions that all of you make, the things that you do, the hope that you hold in your heart.

Ghana, freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom’s foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say this was the time when the promise was realized; this was the moment when prosperity was forged, when pain was overcome, and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Yes we can. Thank you very much. God bless you. Thank you.

Memories Brought By Air France Flight 447

How some events shatter dreams,and how the world reacts is just another mystery no man will ever come to understand.I am no more than just another water related accident survivor .And as i been lying to myself all along that i will forget everything that happened on that fateful 25 February late afternoon,the more i realise its all will be fresh to me.No amount of evidence will heal the pain some people are going through right now,yes for PR reasons Air France ,the govenment and Boeing will have to do what they are supposed to do.But the truth remains to be seen,if there was a researcher to ask air passengers who have been using Air France before,i bet with you the confidence has gone down!Yes thats the human reaction.

I was reading a magazine yesterday,and shockingly someone said the accident victims died a less painful death.Please editors ,be sensitive,be human.

Well in February 2000,i had a similar accident by road.Upto this day my relationship with water is never the same,i dont trust water,i know how it took my friends in seconds,how it took my teacher,how it took my personal possessions.When i heard that i plane had disappeared in the Atlantic ,one thing i had in mind was the accident i had.Trying to imagine that some of the passengers in the bus i was travelling in were never founder upto today is torture in itself.And here we are talking of a mid air accident noone will ever live to tell.

To the people who wrote that its less painful to die in a water accident i ask yout to please revisit your instincts.

Link to my Bus Accident Article

http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=3532&fArticleId=qw951655022784B253

Trail of Hope

Well its been days since i last updated my blog.I got remended of a few things i been forgetting because i have been busy.I promised my brothers son when he was two weeks old that one day,i would make him proud.He is one angel who helped me to reconnect with myself.I was so lost in anger and worry till 2004 when this little angel came into the world.For the next two years i was to be home with him,with his father rarely at home due to work,we got this special connection that will make us friends for ever.

My love for children was rekindled,my pains started healing with each and every moment i spent with Addrianne.We played together,he slept in my bed,he would wake me up early in the morning,i would sometimes try to ignore him but could also not stand seeing him cry.As months passed i started playing funny games with him.Before he could talk he already knew where to find me.I know happiness but Addrianne taught me to be more than happy.With all the anger buried in me,Addrianne taught me to forgive.With all the impatience in me Addrianne taught me to be patient.Should i say he was my mentor?That would not be enough to acknowledge the part he played in my life.I got so connected to my childhood,i got the deeper me comig out in him.I had dreams for him,dreams that became dreams for every child in the world.

I never wanted Addrianne to cry,i was so protective i did not want anything to harm him.Stage by stage i watched him as he grew.He had friends ,but he wanted to be with me most of the times.He destroyed a lot of things in the house and his own father ,my brother would shout at me!I was never that angry because i knew Addrianne was happy,Addrianne was still innocent!

I wrote this post because i miss him,its been long since i last saw him,but i would like to tell him one day,that he is my greatest inspiration.He is now 5 years old,i want him to have a better life,a happy and safe childhood.I want him to shine in the world,but he wont shine when other children were not allowed to shine ,so i take on TRAIL OF HOPE for every child,because i love children.They must not live my childhood,they must have a better one.

Hout Bay Motivational Session

I could see the excitement in the children’s eyes as i walked into the room.I knew i was 15 minutes late and i was almost letting down my friend,Toni Stuart down because she had promised her students that,Tendai would be there.

Yes its a 20 minute drive from Cape Town,a nice road along the coast where i could see beautiful ocean waves dances glamourously ith each other as Wes-Linzi’s only boy child gasses the little blue Renault Palio down the hillside,with the mighty seven sisters,Table Mountain range standing firm to our left.

Oh we got lost and drove into Mandela Park the settlement notorious for its serious xenophobic attacks in May 2008 and also popular for the Habitat 4 Humanity one day Welshman built houses.Well its a township of contrasts surrounded by the spendour and glitteratti of Cape Town in outskirts of a well off Hout Bay suburb were a Lambo driving by is just another daily car!Imagine with all the poverty people are living in.

Soon were were gasing down to the habour,Linzi on the wheel and before long,i was at the school.We went in with Linzi and there i was met by anxious eyes waiting to hear what i had to share.For the nest hour it was all laughes as i shared my past in a comedic manner,i didnt want them to feel sorry for me,but i wanted to inspire them,something i easily did just by letting them understand how it is to be a streetkid and what it takes to raise from the dust to be here!

Well Trail fo Hope has started the inspiration.

Human Traifficking Was Big Money in Zim

Scrapping of Visa hits many ‘Vultures’ Saturday, 16 May 2009 17:13

 

IT is 7am and the South African embassy, which was one of the busiest foreign missions in Harare until three weeks ago, is serene. Before South Africa scrapped visas for Zimbabweans visiting that country, the embassy would be a hive of activity as early as 4am with people jostling for the first spot in the queue to submit visa application forms. It was also an opportunity for street kids to make a killing by securing entry numbers in the queues for those who fail to come early enough.

 The street kids would charge between US$5 and US$15 for places they had secured in the queues. The embassy’s security guards were in it too. Like vultures, they would wait for those arriving after 8am. By that time all prospective travellers seeking to submit their applications would already be in the embassy courtyard. The enterprising guards would ask for a few dollars in exchange for allowing late arrivals to squeeze in. For some, R700 was enough to secure them a six-month long visa without having to queue at the embassy. They also did not have to go through the process of looking for the R2 000 worth of travellers’ cheques that the South African government required for any Zimbabwean wishing to visit that country. Street photographers were among those who benefited from the crowds that turned up at the embassy.

Each working day they waxed lyrical as they sought to attract people for instant passport photographs. However, a visit to the embassy last week showed a different picture, just weeks after South Africa scrapped its visa requirements. It’s now back to the drawing board for most of those who had found a lucrative business outside the embassy. The mood is equally gloomy at the embassy’s visa section where many employees are anxious about their future. “There is uncertainty and we just do not know what is going to happen,” said one of the employees. “The rumour is that these people will be reassigned to other departments.” Head of the visa section, Dennis Nzuza, had no immediate comment. A security guard at the embassy said the scrapping of the visas was a blow to most of his colleagues and many others who made a living out of people applying for visas. “You must understand that many commuter buses used to ferry people to and from the city and there were always people for them. It’s a short distance therefore it is very lucrative,” he said. “We also had photographers and those who knew people inside and could make the processing of applications faster — for a fee, of course. All this is gone.”

 At Roadport bus terminus, the effects of the scrapping of the visa are also felt. As a result of the prohibitive R2 000 worth of travellers’ cheques and equally daunting Zimbabwean passport fees, bus drivers made money, charging between R1 000 and R1 500 for travellers without the proper travel documents. “Most drivers here built houses,” said Cuthbert Dandaro, a bus driver. “Smuggling people through the border and many roadblocks on the other side was a thriving business. “I know drivers and conductors who were making as much as R10 000 a trip.” In Bulawayo the popular omalayitsha (human traffickers) who drove flashy cars which they bought using proceeds from their business of smuggling people into South Africa are no longer having it easy. “Just like the foreign currency dealers these guys are feeling the pinch,” said Pindai Dube, a Bulawayo-based journalist. “They used to be the guys about town who would not hesitate to spend even when Zimbabwe was burning, but now they are suddenly humble like everyone else.”

 The scrapping of visas has not resulted in an influx of Zimbabweans into South Africa as initially feared. Figures provided by the Department of Immigration do not indicate a huge jump in the number of Zimbabweans visiting South Africa. The department’s director of operations, Givemore Charamba, said between May 5 when the visas were officially scrapped and May 12, only 7 055 people who did not have visas crossed into South Africa. Another 14 204 who already had visas entered the neighbouring country. “There is nothing alarming about those statistics. Those are the normal numbers we were getting even before this measure,” Charamba said. “Although I do not have the statistics of people coming into Zimbabwe, I am told there is also nothing out of the ordinary.” South Africa was deporting an average of 10 000 illegal immigrants from Zimbabweans every month before the visas were scrapped.

 BY JOHN MOKWETSI