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2 Spring 2021 For YOUTH taking the world by the storm, one day at a time. In hopes to continue to amplify youth perspectives and voices in our society. Celebrating the creators, activists, and leaders of tomorrow. Website: papillonyouth.com Instagram/Facebook: @papillonyouth Podcast: Out of the Cocoon (available on all major podcast platforms) Youtube: Papillon Youth Outreach
3 We’ve taken another leap towards our goal. The year of 2021 continues to bring both unexpected and joyous surprises. With so many variables and changing elements occurring even within a single day, at times, the universe can appear too large to navigate. However, with the support of countless passionate, dedicated, and inspiring youth, Papillon Youth Outreach’s initiatives and mission has continued to spread positivity, inspiration, and hope to individuals around the world. From the blossoming flowers of Boston Common and the Niagara Falls in Toronto, all the way to the neon lights of Hong Kong, the voices of our growing community leave a lasting impact alongside these global landmarks and many more. This spring, we are ecstatic to announce the collaborative volume between Papillon Youth Outreach and Kenya Connect. Through several months of planning, joint virtual meetings, and (lots and lots) of editing, we are proud to announce the release of Papillon Youth Outreach’s second volume: Share Your Voice, Share Your Story. Kenya Connect’s mission in providing equitable opportunities for education aligned closely with our own. Through our goal in connecting creators globally, we are grateful and humbled to have partnered with an organization that stands by advocating for the representation of youth voices within society. We thank Kenya Connect for their continued dedication and support throughout the unforgettable journey and final moments leading to the publication of this volume created with love and passion. Share Your Voice, Share Your Story features works by both Papillon Youth Outreach and Kenya Connect. Students from St. Augustine Miondoni Secondary School, Kenya, were encouraged to explore and reflect on particular moments within their life through the means of words and brush strokes. Each piece captures the genuine emotions and voice of the student. Without further ado, we hope you enjoy this volume brought to you by the creators, activists, and leaders of tomorrow from Africa, North America, Asia, and Oceania. Until next time, See where your wings take you. All the best, Claire Song & Evan Woo Founders & Presidents of Papillon Youth Outreach
4 We are thrilled to be partnering with Papillon in projecting our students’ voices through the collaborative volume. Kenya Connect works to empower students and teachers in 62 partner schools in Rural Kenya to be successful in the 21 st century. Our students have very limited opportunities for exposure as they live and go to school in the village. Our partnership with Papillon has opened new horizons for the students at Miondoni Secondary School to be friends with students across the world through Pen Pal letters as well as creating and sharing their favorite artworks and writings. The program is connecting the youth for mutual learning opportunities by opening pathways for them to share their world views with a broader community beyond the limits of their village. They are also gaining appreciation of themselves, their culture, and environment as they join ranks to be part of a greater global citizenry. James Musyoka Executive Director of Papillon Youth Outreach We here at Papillon are so thrilled to share our second volume! After the release of our first volume, “From, Youth”, we have worked endlessly to collect new work from youth all over the world. This volume contains all types of expression, from art, to photography, to writing, graphic design, and more. Every piece you will see in this volume is unique from each creator because it comes from various backgrounds and stories. I am honored to have the privilege to help work on the creation of this volume, and I hope you enjoy everyone’s pieces. For this volume, we partnered with Kenya Connect, an amazing group whose goal is to empower students and teachers in Kenya to succeed. Working with Kenya Connect has allowed us to open our doors to several students in Kenya to share their own works with us. This has been such an exciting opportunity to work with them and we hope you love their works as much as we do! Elizabeth Morin Editor of Papillon Youth Outreach
5 We’d like to thank our friends at Kenya Connect for participating in this volume!
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Table of Contents 7 WRITING 9 Black History Month by Alhamdulillah Durojaiye 10 Everyone Wants to Rule the World by Anita Du 11 I’ve Changed by Elizabeth Morin 12 The Cliffs by Jeffrey Chen 13 The Devil's Snare by Emily Xia 15 Dandelions by Emma Zhou 16 Who Lied? by Emily Xia 17 A Wedding Gone Sour by Jonathan Musyoka 18 A Journey to Remember by Bridgit Loko 19 What can I do to improve my reading? by Esther Nzamalu 20 Frightful Dream by Joshua Mumo 21 After Ten Years to Come by Joyce Nyambura 22 Nairobi In July by Judith Musengya 23 Protecting an Orphan by Judith Musengya 24 Drugs by Margaret Kalunde 25 Life After Ten Years by Mary Mutinda 26 The Day I Will Never Forget by Mary Mutinda 27 Mad Man by Muema Paul 28 A Thief by Muema Paul 28 A Food for Thought Story by Muema Paul 29 Life by Pauline Mueni 30 Lost in the Sky by Ruth Muthama 31 If I had a Bob by Titus Muli 32
ARTWORK 8 Beacon by Nisha Jahae Flowers for BLM by Emily Xia 33 I Can’t Breathe by Emily Xia 34 In Loving Memory by Emily Xia 35 Music in a Pandemic by Michelle Paik 36 Warrior by Fredrick Mwanzia 37 Mama Hen by Esther Mutheu 38 Traditional Way of Communicating by Irene Mutheu 39 My Beast of Burden by Mary Nthenya 40 My Dream Palace by Stephen Mutati 41 Fetching Water by Festus Wambua 42 Earning a Living by Joshua Mumo 43 Homestead Lifestyle by Mary Musengya 44 Church in a Pandemic by Paul Muema 45 Skin Tanning by Nicholas Kioko 46 Mama Hen’s Cosy Wings by Pauline Musengya 47 Messenger by Stephen Mutati 48 49 PHOTOGRAPHY 50 Shout by Justin Lu Spotlight by Evan Woo 51 The Year of COVID-19 by Alina He 52 Fragments of Canada by Shafiya Khan 53 54 MUSIC 55 Grow As We Go - Ben Platt (Cover) by Kara Yang 56 57
9 WRITING
Black History Month 10 by Alhamdulillah Durojaiye But in reality I was only curious They tried to keep us in the dark They told me to sit down and keep quiet Tried to keep us separated from them That it was THE WHITE MAN'S WORLD But against the segregation And it could never be a black man or In the end woman’s THEY were the ones calling to us But my curiosity grew Once a slave, I was controlled and set I didn't listen apart I couldn't listen With the discovery of new crops, I To them tearing us down invented a new start From what you write with, to what you My fellow brothers and sisters and I cook with To them expecting me to give up I knew we were meant for more than just And be what they ‘had always wanted’ slave work When all they ever did was place we were meant to cultivate obstacles in my path NOT to be left under the dirt To keep me from reaching MY excellence We were in the cold and dark But I proved them wrong Doubted, and limited to what we knew And when I did Little did they know that given the They denied that I could have chance EVER achieved such brilliance WE WOULD BUILD TOWARDS THE They said it was IMPOSSIBLE STARS They were angry They told me that it wasn't my place They could not look me in the eye That if anyone was going to figure it out But they shouldn’t have been surprised It would be a man They always doubted me And a white one at that But I never doubted myself AND THAT WAS THEIR MISTAKE
11 Everyone Wants to Rule the World by Anita Du everyone wants to rule the world she dreams of the throne, the power she’s been told of the honour and glory she’s been given promises of the peak and so she climbs she hikes in the rain stumbles through the blizzard crawls through the dunes but she’s a weak one a wilting sunflower and she’s a fragile one her petals crumble at each step but she’s dreaming of the throne and she wants the prestige she knows it’s coming the journey’s end is in her reach but she’s also a foolish one for a mere sunflower is nothing next to the rose the queen of flowers she’s a stunning one breathtakingly beautiful in her thorny glory she wears her crown and claims her throne the feeble sunflower now sees the intricate web of lies the weaving of her false reality there is no promise, there never was a peak but she’s still dreaming of the throne because everyone wants to rule the world
12 I’ve Changed by Elizabeth Morin I’ve changed. For the first 15 years of my life, my thoughts were kept in lock and key. My peers and adults in my life assured me that “no harm” will come from saying all the words that ran access my mind, but the minute I spoke, I was ridiculed with glares and bad grades. Gossip spoke behind my back and being told my thoughts; my own, unique, creative thoughts, were wrong. You see, one of the most important life lessons I learned is that people are mean. It’s something your parents tell you before you step into elementary school on your first day, but you don’t really get it until you’re standing face to face with it in a battle ring. I kept to myself so much, that when I did speak, I would get so worked up over what I would say and how I would say it, that I lead myself into a cycle of anxiety. It became so recurring that I could list the order of what would happen in my head like a to-do list. The end of the to-do list always ended in embarrassing myself in some sort of way, likely running out of the situation in tears, because I knew I would be ridiculed for what I said. I think the lack of human interaction from March to July is what gave me a new perspective on my thoughts. Even now, I see less than half the people I would usually see. Without having to worry about what people would say when they saw me or heard me speak, I was finally able to express myself in the way that I wanted to be. That didn’t necessarily mean a change in appearance, but a change in confidence. A second important life lesson I learned? Confidence radiates off of those who could not care less about people’s bad opinions. Not all opinions, solely judgement. It takes practice, and even I haven’t perfected it. But I have changed. Solely for the better.
13 The Cliffs by Jeffrey Chen She took her time getting to the sea. The mist clung to her skin, it curled around her and made her lashes heavy with dew. She wrung the handkerchief she held in her hands over and over, like she was nervous. She was nervous. The cliffs were abrupt, jutting over several hundred meters of nothing but air before the waves below crashed into the rocky bottom. Before that was nothing but wavy grass, where the girl currently stood. The sea roared below her, though she could not see it. She felt her hair trailing behind her, like fire, or a streak of paint left by a careless stroke. The ocean looked incredibly vast. There was, she thought, no word capable of describing it in its entirety. The girl stepped forward again, letting her feet slug through the tall grass. Someday she would become a part of the sea. And someday everyone she knew would become a part of it as well. It was the sea that had swallowed ships whole. It would eventually swallow everything. The wind came in fierce gusts, like the breath of a giant. Each gust pushed the girl back, just a tiny bit. Her feet dug into the grass, the grass that was itself an ocean, swaying with its own currents and waves. Here where the earth and the sea and the sky meet, it was probably the oldest place on earth. The girl felt glad knowing that she was in such a special place. Birds. She thought. There are no birds. There weren’t any birds. There wasn’t anything. The cliffs were the same as they were millions upon millions of years ago. Someday, it would cease to exist, but not today. Not for a long time. The mist no longer reached her, this close to the edge. The wind pushed it back, keeping it as a barrier between the cliffs and the outside world. This barrier was a shield, keeping this piece of space separate, contained, isolated. She could feel she was the first human to set foot here in a long, long time. The wind was getting stronger. The girl fought back, putting her arms in front of her face to cut it in half. This was definitely not a normal wind. It, whatever it was, was trying to push her out of the cliffs. It was trying to push her back onto the other side of the mist. I have to do it now, she thought. Desperately, the girl took the tiny box out from her dress pocket. She tried striking the match against the side. Once. Twice. Three times. The wind extinguished it each time. Her feet were getting lifted off the ground. The wind was carrying her backwards. Slowly, she felt herself getting pushed back more. And more. And more. Tears were in her eyes as tried with all her might to stay standing against the now roaring wind. Her back was now directly touching the mist again. She felt it tickling her skin, creeping up the heels of her feet and her back, pulling her back in. No. She thought. You will hear what I
14 have to say. She turned her back to the ocean, blocking the wind with her back. She gripped her match and struck it one last time. A flame appeared. Frantically, the girl took out her handkerchief that was now soaked with sweat. She let the tip of one corner touch the flame. The wind instantly stopped. The girl almost fell to the ground but managed to stay standing. The flames danced up the cloth, slowly making its way towards her fingers. The fire burned a million bright different colors. The girl turned around and walked back toward the edge of the cliff, letting her handkerchief dangle in front of her. Suddenly the wind started again, though in a different direction. The girl felt her feet being pulled forward towards the cliff and into the sea. The wind was even stronger than before. It felt like a vortex that was trying to suck her out onto the air and into the disappearing horizon. Her feet moved closer and closer. The girl felt her heart beat rapidly as she was brought to the very edge of the cliff. The roar of the ocean was directly under her. It sounded like it was beckoning her. The girl let go of the handkerchief, still on fire right as her feet got swept into the air and she flew over the edge. She watched the handkerchief flutter in front of her, sucked away at an impossible speed into the distance. Almost immediately, it was gone into the horizon. The girl felt her body in a euphoric state of fear. She was suddenly aware that she was falling into the ocean with nothing but huge rocks below her. As she tumbled through the sky, the girl remembered what she should do. She started waving her arms up and down, as if trying to stabilize herself in the air. The sound of the ocean was getting louder and louder and the girl could catch glimpses of the rocks and crashing waves below her every time she spun. This time. She thought. I’ve figured it out. She started flapping her arms once again. They changed. The girl closed her eyes and started picturing the sky. The sky that could be a million colors in the same day. The sky that was actually nothing, but just the empty space that it described. It was her home. Then she changed. The girl felt herself suddenly stop falling. Her body was suddenly jerked still, as if the wind had suddenly blown upwards and saved her. She looked down and saw the ocean and the rocks still several meters below her. She smiled. She flapped her wings and flew upward.
15 The Devil's Snare by Emily Xia 1. Tanka of My Fault Mouth opening in a silent supplication is it my fault to smile and thank him, not knowing what would ensue, temptation. 2. Freeverse of Temptation My mother once told me Don’t pray to God to resist Temptation. Pray to never meet Temptation as once you taste his poisoned wine, you are ensnared in his honeyed web of desire to the ends of time. 3. Triplets of Desire Once a man felt a gaping hole in his chest so all throughout life he conquered from east to west to find his missing piece and fill his aching chest. And thus he became an emperor, a husband, a person of fame, a tyrant, a Casanova, a villain to blame, but he never filled the hole till he took a brisk stroll and saw the empire that he alone had control. The piles of gold before his throne, the enemy he used as a stepping stone, the world beneath his crown of bone. And then he realized that the hole in his chest was merely a nest for his own desire that could never be impressed.
16 Dandelions by Emma Zhou Beaming blossoms of delicate dandelions, A lucent patch of honey gold; its realm, A glass kingdom among villages of stone. Fulfilling desires, a puff at dusk. Picked up by a small breeze; Crescent abroad by morning. Effervescent, they rise singing airy notes, Mending pains unseen by a gaze. Grounded by few roots, trampled in darkness Still they stand strong, Beaming blossoms of delicate dandelions.
17 Who Lied? by Emily Xia I may be young but I always hear about what the teachers always spout: The sky is blue The trees are green The air is clear and unseen Now I may be young but even I know that those only exist in the paintings of van Gogh When I look up the sky is not blue but an ashy stew of Witch’s brew When I look down the trees are gone and they only exist when they are being drawn They tell me that air is clear, but I promise that I have seen the air: gray and choking and unclean. So just who lied Who cut down the tree? Or did my eyes deceive me?
18 A Wedding Gone Sour by Jonathan Musyoka I woke up excited ready to start the day. Birds sang their soul-searching songs while the sun shone brightly exposing its flickering rays in the piece of a broken mirror. I went to the shower and took a cold shower ready to start the day. Having done all my work, I went to take my breakfast. We ate in a hurry so as not to miss the view of my sister's wedding. We entered in the car and without wasting any time, we reached the church. The church was beautifully decorated with balloons and colorful flowers. Many people had arrived. I got inside the church and sat near to my parents. Suddenly we heard the beeping of cars and women singing in their melodious voices. We knew the bridegroom and the bride had arrived. The bride had worn a beautiful long white dress which swept the floor. Together they walked to the altar where the priest was. After all the speeches were made, the priest asked whether anyone objected to their marriage. At first, there was a total silence. The priest asked for the second and third time. No one objected. As they exchanged their vows, a young tall woman entered the room as she held two babies. “This is my husband and these are his children, if you want proof, here is our marriage certificate,” claimed the woman. The bridegroom fled away while the bride cried bitterly not knowing what to do. The crowd walked away from the church in a big surprise and confusion. To this day, as you ask my sister, why she is not married, she ends up breaking down in tears. That day will ring on my mind.
19 A Journey to Remember by Bridgit Loko I remember vividly it was on a Monday night, when my mother told me that we would visit my Aunt who lives in Machakos the next day. That day I woke up at the crack of dawn when the birds were singing their melodious songs to welcome the new day. I made a short but sensible prayer to thank God that morning He had shown us. I rushed to the kitchen and prepared my breakfast which consisted of tea, porridge and Irish potatoes as a true African dish. Within a fraction of a minute, I took a bath and wore my new white dress. My mother had already worn hers. We went to the bus stop to board a matatu. I was as happy as a king. It was my first time to board a matatu. Within a short time, a matatu came. I jumped up and down and boarded the matatu. While I was in the matatu I could see the trees going round. I was happy to have a seat near the window where I could get fresh air during the journey. There was good music which was being played in the matatu. It was so entertaining. After a while, the matatu got a puncture. I did not know what happened, I just heard the bus rolling from one point to another. Many people died and others were badly injured. My mother and I were so lucky to be well though my mother had a cut at her head. All those who were injured, were rushed to the hospital. Those who had died were taken to morgue. That day we could not make it to Machakos to visit my aunt. I will never forget that day.
20 What can I do to improve my reading? by Esther Nzamalu I go to school everyday I want knowledge and skills I want to make a difference on earth I want to leave a mark before I depart But how can I if I don’t respect my teachers? How can I if I don’t read? How can I if I don’t write? How can I if I don’t listen and practice what I learn every day? There’s fun in school We play and sing and laugh There’s hard work in school We read and write and think There is success after school For those who wait and hope
21 Frightful Dream by Joshua Mumo One day, I woke up very early in the morning and found that I was alone in the house. All other doors were opened. I was so confused as a pregnant nanny. I was so stranded and wondering where my family members had gone. Within a fraction of time, I started figuring what I could do because all rooms had their doors opened. However, my first option was to rush to my neighbor’s place to check if my family members could be there. While I was running, I heard people screaming so loudly and vehicles shooting. I ran faster as I could. When I reached there, I found that it was an accident which had occurred between a lorry and a personal car. Some people got injured and were rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, others passed on and were taken to mortuary. People who had come to witness were so sad at the incident. After a while I found myself in bed and that was just a dream. What a memorable night it was!
22 After Ten Years to Come by Joyce Nyambura After ten years to come I am Joyful Joyce and I am in grade 10 at Miondoni high school. I usually put more effort in my studies. I usually perform well and my teachers could congratulate me. After ten years to come, I wish I would be a doctor working at Machakos level 5 hospital. I will save the lives of many people for others who would be brought there for treatment near death. Therefore, I will be twenty-six years old. I will make sure that I give patients the right dosage. I would earn a lot of money therefore I would make sure that my parents are comfortably living. I will provide every essential to them so they will bless my work and I. I will be giving them advice about prevention is better than cure and ensure cleanness and social hygiene. I would even drive my own car. My life will be comfortable.
23 Nairobi In July by Judith Musengya Cold, cold, freezing cold, No money for charcoal, Electricity is the story to hear, When leaders come for votes, Cold, cold , freezing cold, Here in Kangemi slum The timber walls squeak The corrugated iron sheets rattle Cold, cold, freezing cold, The biting wind whistling through The gaping cracks in my shanty Leaving my body numb
24 Protecting an Orphan by Judith Musengya Once upon a time, there lived a woman with two children, a daughter and a son. The mother left home and went to the market and left her children with house chores to do. When their mother went to the market, her children moved out to play with their friends. As they walked on the way, they saw a small boy sitting on a muddy floor. They moved towards the boy where he was seated. As the children were coming closer to the boy, the boy stared at them. When they reached, the boy asked, “What do you want?” they answered, “we want to play with you.” Since the boy was so kind he told them, “well, you can join me.” They played together until the weather changed. It started to rain. They decided to go back home and wear their coats. The boy didn’t know where to go but he was helped by his two new friends. They went with him to their house. When they reached home, they found their mother had returned back. Their mother was very surprised when she saw the boy. Her children explained to her why they came with the boy. After a conversation with her children, she decided to stay with the boy and provide all basic needs to him. Mother decided to take him to school to start his education journey. The boy was good in school and his studies too. After he completed his Primary education, he was taken to Secondary school to continue pressing on his studies. He worked very hard in school and managed to go to University to further his studies. After pursuing his dream, he was employed by Kenya Defense Forces. His life changed for the better. He could not repay all the good deeds offered to him by the good Samaritan. He supported that family and raised their standards of living.
25 Drugs by Margaret Kalunde You can inhale, you can swallow You can chew, whichever way Drugs come in different forms Tablets, roots, leaves, powder-name them “Taste a little, just a little, there is no harm in tasting a little,” says a friend Take care! Great care! Say no! Remain firm The drugs are highly addictive, with serious effects The users hardly realize this despite the Warnings through media and other platforms They have become social misfits Thy steal, fight and shout unnecessarily Mental disorders are now on the increase Take care! Great care! Say no! Remain firm The young and old-all are affected Slowly by slowly the drugs damage The internal organs Heroin, nicotine bhang and mandrax Threaten the health of many Take care! Great care! Say no! Remain firm The affected drop dead One by one –we cry for the innocent souls Pieces of advice seem to have landed on Deaf ears Take care! Great care! Say no! Remain firm
26 Life After Ten Years by Mary Mutinda After ten years I will be a farmer. I will be keeping animals like cows, goats, sheep, donkeys and camels. I would like to be the producer of milk at our market. I will also be keeping animals for meat. I would sell the animals to get income. The income I would use to treat the animals, pay the Laboure’s and do some work at home. I would be farming at the shamba. I would be the farmer and I could plant crops like kales, spinach and tomatoes. After selling the vegetables I. would earn income and create employment for members who need to be employed. I would respect the Laboure’s as my brothers and sisters. I will be respecting one’s property.
27 The Day I Will Never Forget by Mary Mutinda It had been a bad year for us as candidates. Our journey in primary school was coming to an end. As I wrote the social studies paper, I could not wait for the bell to ring. The bell rang and the invigilator gave out the papers. The invigilator who was as tall as a giraffe and he looked as happy as a king’s daughter walking around the palace. He said the subject is going to take two hours fifteen minutes. I had the paper as fast as I could. As soon as the bell rang when I had not finished. I had not answered some of the questions in Christian religious education. I had nothing to do except to write any answer or to ask one of my classmates who was as fat as a pregnant woman gave me the answer. When I looked at the question paper the answers that she gave were wrong. Before the invigilator could reach where I was seated I was almost over. He looked at me as if I had a head that resembled the map of Africa with all its physical features in it. I was the last to give out the paper. He looked very busy and ready for his job. When he took the papers and went outside some candidates started abusing the president of the school. A girl who was as short as a hammer and as fat as a pig told them to stop. The pupils told her to tell the headteacher. A boy who had shaggy hair that a barber could shed tears said the words. Before they could say any other words the headteacher arrived carrying sticks. When they saw him they passed through the windows. A boy who had a face that made me remember my grandmother's old shoe was left standing at the corner. “I was sitting down looking at them”, the boy said. He told him to tell the other boys what had happened and what they had done was not good. After the headteacher’s words they went home peacefully. I will never forget the day until my grandmother becomes a girl.
28 Mad Man by Muema Paul A mad man found a sane man having a shower by the river. No sooner had the same man applied the soap on the whole body than the same sane man ran after the man. If you unexpectedly met them, whom would you think was mad? A Thief by Muema Paul A man caught a thief at night in his compound. Just when the man was going to raise the alarm, the thief said, “Do you remember what I said in the Bible? I have come again. Blessed is you among men, that you have stayed awake as I told you”. The man smiled and replied, “Sir you have fallen into the hands of Pontius Pilatus again. I will nail you tonight! The thief fainted.
29 A Food for Thought Story by Muema Paul In Primary School, I was very poor in Maths. During exams I’d get between 2% and 8%. The results used to announce sequentially that’s from the lowest to the highest marks. So I would always be the first or second to be called out. One day, the Maths results were announced and my name wasn’t among the first to be called out. The teacher got up to 30%, then 40%, then 50%, then 60% and 70% and still my name had not been called out. Everybody in class kept on looking at me asking, “Guy what’s up? How did you pass this exam?” I hissed and ignored them, feeling so happy! by the time the teacher got to 80%, I was already grinning in excitement. When he got to 90%, he had only one paper remaining. I then asked myself,” Could I have scored 90% in Maths?” I was feeling very anxious and happy now. I thought my dreams had been answered. The whole class was amazed as everyone kept looking at me. I told them to stop looking at me because I have changed for good. It was unbelievable. Finally, the teacher looked up and said, “One idiot here did not write his name on the paper come and get it now?”. I JUST FAINTED. *What do you think the guy scored?
30 Life by Pauline Mueni Life is just a pass. You have to bear with it. It is like flowing water in the river. There are times when you have to consult your friends. In life there are different comforts. There are people with high levels and low levels in life. But all this is just by the way. Life is an important thing in human beings. One has to take care of his/ her life to pursue dreams that you have in future. One has a good life when they have money, life is comfortable. But full of fear. Fear of theft. Therefore, you should be proud of yourself. With students, life is prepared at school.
31 Lost in the Sky by Ruth Muthama The best time to launch a balloon is early in the morning before sunshine. The winds at the time are usually calmer. After sunrise the ground gets hot and heats up the air. This causes air movements near the surface. These air movements are not good either for a landing of a balloon therefore studied the wind reports and forecast carefully before a balloon flight. I had to wake up early and get ready for the balloon flight. This was the part which I never liked about balloon flight. I would then drive to the launch site. The launch site there was a lot on the ground. The burners and the bucket were inspected and tied to the envelope. After this, the launch process would be started. First, air was blown into the envelope using a fan, the burner then lit and the frame directed into the center of the balloon envelope. As the air inside gut and hot and lighter, the whole brightly colored balloon would start upright. Some more burst of the flame and the balloon would lift off. Once the balloon ascends it simply followed the wind. At this point I would forget my lost sleep. As the balloon lazily drifted across the field there was a sense of peace that was almost touchable. Sometimes I got into a place where there was no wind and the balloon would just come to a stop in mid air. It was an unreal feeling of being suspended in space. It was like the time stopped. It was an experience that one wanted to last for much longer. Nature was never restful for any great length of time. Soon the wind would be blowing along. Who had the memories of those brief stopover memories that I wished could be captured in a photograph to be relieved many times over. Nothing is more beautiful than watching the sunrise from a balloon flight. On this day the wind was beautiful to me blowing East. I was able to have a beautiful view of the sunshine.
32 If I had a Bob by Titus Muli I am looking for a job So I can get a bob And buy a book For I value a book More than a hook Then I will sit down under a tree And I will read with endless glee I will learn about the salmon And become wiser than Solomon I will learn about the mysteries sea And I also learn about a busy bee And how he makes the sweet honey And I will learn how to make money When I grow up But Alas! To get a bob I need a job To get a job I have to read a book Please give me a book.
33 ARTWORK
34 Beacon by Nisha Jahae
35 Flowers for BLM by Emily Xia
36 I Can’t Breathe by Emily Xia
37 In Loving Memory by Emily Xia
38 Music in a Pandemic by Michelle Paik
39 Warrior by Fredrick Mwanzia
40 Mama Hen by Esther Mutheu
41 Traditional Way of Communicating by Irene Mutheu
42 My Beast of Burden by Mary Nthenya
43 My Dream Palace by Stephen Mutati
44 Fetching Water by Festus Wambua
45 Earning a Living by Joshua Mumo
46 Homestead Lifestyle by Mary Musengya
47 Church in a Pandemic by Paul Muema
48 Skin Tanning by Nicholas Kioko
49 Mama Hen’s Cosy Wings by Pauline Musengya
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