New Chapter, Who Dis?

Considering that South Africa is such a diverse country, starting a new school or job can be both thrilling and intimidating. As you embark on this fresh journey, it’s essential to approach it with confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. To help you navigate this new chapter and master new beginnings, here are a few DOs and DON’Ts to keep in mind:

1. Do set clear goals and priorities: Establish what you want to achieve in this new chapter, whether academic or professional. Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to help you stay focused and motivated.

2. Do build meaningful connections: Invest time in building relationships with your new peers, colleagues, or mentors. Attend networking events, join clubs or organizations, and participate in team-building activities to foster a sense of community and belonging.

3. Do establish a routine: Create a schedule that balances work, study, and personal life. Sticking to a routine will help you stay organized, focused, and productive.

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself: It’s normal to make mistakes or feel overwhelmed in a new environment. Be patient and kind to yourself as you navigate this transition.

5. Don’t compare yourself to others: Focus on your own journey and progress, rather than measuring yourself against others. Celebrate your unique strengths and accomplishments.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Remember that it’s okay to ask for guidance or support when you need it. Whether it’s a teacher, supervisor, or classmate, don’t hesitate to seek help when you’re struggling.

7. Don’t procrastinate: Stay on top of your tasks and responsibilities. Break down larger projects into smaller, manageable chunks, and avoid putting things off until the last minute.

8. Don’t lose sight of your why: Remember the reasons why you started this new chapter. Whether it’s to pursue a new passion, advance your career, or gain new skills, keep your purpose and motivations in mind to stay driven and focused.

Rethinking New Year’s Resolution

The traditional approach to New Year’s resolutions focuses on outcomes: lose weight, quit smoking, or find a new job. However, this approach can be limiting and set us up for disappointment.

Instead of focusing on outcomes, consider focusing on building positive habits. Habits are the building blocks of our daily lives, and by creating healthy habits, we can set ourselves up for long-term success.

Here are a few habits you might consider building:

1. A morning routine

Start your day with a consistent routine that sets you up for success. This might include exercise, meditation, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee.

2. A reading habit

Commit to reading for a certain amount of time each day. This can help you relax, learn new things, and expand your perspective.

3. A gratitude practice

Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. This can help shift your focus to the positive aspects of your life.

4. A creative expression habit

Engage in a creative activity, such as drawing, painting, writing, or playing music, to express yourself and tap into your imagination.

5. A self-care habit

Prioritize self-care by scheduling time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul, such as taking a relaxing bath, getting a massage, or practicing yoga.

6. A connection habit:

Make time to connect with loved ones, friends, or colleagues, whether it’s through a weekly call, a monthly meetup, or a simple text message.

As you embark on building new habits, remember that the goal is progress, not perfection. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a day or two – simply acknowledge the setback and get back on track. By focusing on the journey, rather than the destination, you’ll be more likely to stick to your habits and achieve long-term success.

Mastering the Clock: A Guide to Effective Time Management

Time is the one resource that we all possess in equal measure, yet so often it seems to slip through our fingers like grains of sand. In our fast-paced world, where demands constantly tug at our attention from all directions, mastering the art of time management is essential for success and well-being. Whether you’re a student juggling assignments, a professional balancing multiple projects, or simply someone striving for a more fulfilling life, effective time management can make all the difference.

Image courtesy of: https://www.freepik.com/

The Principles of Time Management

1. Set Clear Goals: The foundation of effective time management lies in setting clear, achievable goals. Whether short-term or long-term, goals provide direction and purpose, guiding our actions and decisions.

2. Prioritize Tasks: Not all tasks are created equal. It’s crucial to distinguish between urgent and important tasks and prioritize them accordingly. The Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance, is a valuable tool for prioritization.

3. Create a Schedule: A well-structured schedule serves as a roadmap for the day, ensuring that time is allocated to important activities and deadlines are met. Utilize tools such as calendars, planners, or digital apps to organize your schedule effectively.

4. Practice Time Blocking: Time blocking involves dedicating specific blocks of time to particular tasks or activities. By eliminating distractions and focusing solely on the task at hand during each block, you can enhance productivity and efficiency.

5. Learn to Say No: Saying yes to every request or opportunity can lead to overcommitment and burnout. Learning to say no politely but firmly is essential for preserving your time and energy for activities that align with your goals and priorities.

6. Break Tasks into Manageable Chunks: Large, daunting tasks can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Break them down into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks, and tackle them one step at a time.

7. Embrace the Pomodoro Technique: The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves working in short bursts (typically 25 minutes) followed by a brief break. This technique helps maintain focus and combat mental fatigue.

Overcoming Common Time Management Pitfalls

1. Procrastination: Procrastination is the enemy of productivity. Identify the root causes of procrastination, whether it’s fear of failure, perfectionism, or lack of motivation, and implement strategies to overcome it.

2. Poor Planning: Failing to plan is planning to fail. Invest time in creating a comprehensive plan or schedule, taking into account deadlines, priorities, and potential obstacles.

In conclusion, mastering the clock requires dedication, discipline, and a mindful approach. By implementing the principles of effective time management, such as setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and embracing strategic planning techniques, you can unlock your full potential and achieve greater success and fulfillment in both your personal and professional endeavors. Remember, time is a precious resource; use it wisely, for how we manage our time ultimately shapes the trajectory of our lives.

Women unite to discuss mental health and peace activities in the “Only Peace Dialogue”

On 24 February 2022, The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) hosted the ‘Only Peace Dialogue’, an annually held global event aimed to promote IWPG’s activities. Various aspiring women that have a common aim of contributing peace to society attended the event whose theme was “The importance of mental health as we advocate for sustainable Gender Equality”. The event was attended by 148 participants.

The topics presented by the invited speakers included, “The Role of Media in mental health for a sustainable tomorrow”, “Gender equality within Education” and “Gender Equality through the lens of the DPCW.”

Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, studies have shown a decline in women’s mental health due to the increase in Gender Based Violence and Gender Inequality. It is also noteworthy than the risk of anxiety, depression and PTSD due to exposure trauma caused by experienced violence is higher amongst women.

Dr. Julia Mutambara addressed about women’s mental health in the African context

Dr Julia Mutambara, a Clinical Psychologist and Chairperson of the Positive Living and Resilience Center (PORE) pointed out that women play a pivotal role in the society as they are the pillars of families and communities, and that, due to the numerous roles women are obligated to fulfil, they are subject to mental health challenges. Some of the mental health challenges that were alluded to by the speaker include, exposure to hardships – for instance becoming victims of domestic violence; under-representation of women in influential positions at various levels of management; stereotyping of women; and many others. She addressed women’s mental health in the African Context.

Ms Preshanie Maharaj, Principal of Teddy Bears Montessori Pre-school, addressed the issue of ‘Women and Mental Health in the Workplace’ saying, “Women’s mental health is an important element in one’s overall well-being and contentedness, as it is crucial to maintaining cognitive alternates, emotional sanity and the ability to balance our work, parental, societal and personal relationships.” She further shared that the expectation upon women to take up multiple roles- at home and at the workplace- ends up taking a toll if one isn’t mentally balanced.

In 2022, the Southern African branch of IWPG plans to work collaboratively with its peace committee members and IWPG Peace Lecturers from across 10 participating countries to spread peace culture in their communities.

Umtata Women’s Support Centre launches Masiphunge Women Empowerment Programme

Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is a profound and widespread problem in South African communities, impacting on almost every aspect of life. GBVF (which disproportionately affects women and girls) is systemically and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures and traditions in South Africa. Population-based surveys show very high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (SV) in particular, with IPV being the most common form of violence against women.

To address this challenge, the National Development Agency (NDA) granted funding to Umtata Women’s Support Centre (UWSC) to implement a Victim Empowerment Programme in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality at O.R Tambo District within the villages of Baziya, Mpheko, Tabase, Ntshabeni, Msana and Bumbane.

The programme, led by UWSC, uses an approach called Masiphunge (Let’s Have a Cup of Tea) Women Empowerment Programme to specifically target women living in rural areas, and bring them together to share a cup of tea whilst discussing matters that affect their daily lives – through conversation the women share their dreams, pains and achievements. Masiphunge Women Empowerment Programme (MWEP) provides a Safe Space for women to heal and encourage holistic wellness physically, spiritually and psychologically. As a result the women who complete the programme are now Whistle-Blowers of GBVF in their own communities. 

UWSC is an Eastern Cape-based organisation founded in 1999 that deals with Gender-Based Violence, Women’s Human Rights, HIV/AIDS, Sexual Reproduction Health and Rights, and Human Trafficking in the area of O.R. Tambo district municipality. UWSC is the brainchild of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) that set up the Centre because of approaches from desperate women, police and media reports on crime especially on women, which also affects children.

Today, the launch of the MWEP brought together, within the affected area, beneficiaries of the programme, and officials from various government departments and stakeholders including community leaders and traditional leaders led by Chief Thanduxolo Mtirara as well as the South African Police Services (SAPS); National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Women Rights International amongst others. 

“Masiphunge Women Empowerment Programme is a powerful instrument that is intended to heal women holistically – mentally, physically and economically by implementing NDP pillars 2, 3, 4 and 5 that focus on various interventions starting with prevention, through the justice system, care and healing and finally the economic emancipation of the participating women. We have seen significant changes and growth in all the women, particularly the women of Ntshabeni Village who have even mastered our last module that deals with forgiveness” says Mrs Kholiwe Nongauza, Social Worker and Programme Director at Umtata Women Support Centre. 

Mrs Sinenjongo Makhanda (39) of Ntshabeni Village says, “We are so grateful for this programme. Masiphunge came to us and healed us in many ways, even our hearts. We are better and stronger and are definitely healing – the scones we sell now after undergoing a baking course are our bread and butter.”

“It is through NDA strategic partnerships and an effective capacity building programme that we are able to reach disadvantaged communities and contribute to critical causes such as GBFV. O.R Tambo district was identified as a hot spot for GBFV, I believe serious work has been achieved through the Masiphunge programme. It is a pleasure to come and observe the outcome of the programme today and we hope to do more in future,” says Mrs Nokulunga Skeyi, NDA Provincial Manager.    

The Department of Social Development has pledged continued support of this type of programme and the expansion thereof to other villages in the district and beyond. Self-defense classes is also lauded to be one of the additional services that will be included within the programme going forward.