Does Your Lipstick Contain Lead?

According to studies done by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, 61% of tested lipsticks contain lead. Someone might ask questions like, "How many did they test?" and "How many brands of lipstick exist in the market?"

For me, those questions are largely irrelevant because the most important thing is that I have no way of knowing which lipstick brands contain lead. The FDA does not require companies to list all the ingredients on the packaging. Even when the ingredients are listed on a product, they are listed by their scientific names and we most of us have no idea what they mean.

The FDA also does not regulate the chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products. In various tests, common ingredients (such as parabens) have been shown to be toxic. These days many products tout the labels “natural or organic”. Don’t let the labels fool you. They really have no meaning in cosmetics because they are not legally regulated. You have to read the ingredient list to determine how safe a product is.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is pushing for legislation in the US to ensure the safety of cosmetics and personal care products. The short video below shows the safety issues that are threatening our health as well as suggestions on what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Last Minute Help for Tax Filing

The tax filing deadline in the US is today-Monday, April 18 @ midnight. If you have not yet done your taxes because of lack of resources, the IRS offers a nationwide free tax preparation service for families that make $49,000 and below. Click on the IRS.gov link to find offices in your area that are offering last minute assistance. 

Items you need to bring to the VITA sites to have your tax returns prepared:

• Proof of identification
• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration
• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and dependents
• Proof of Foreign status if applying for an ITN
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
• Proof of Bank routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check   
• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number)
• To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Source:http://www.irs.gov 

8 Kenyan Things to Celebrate about the movie, Leo!

1. It's a story about Kenya by Kenyans.
2. Written by Kenyan, Jinna Mutune.
3. Directed by Kenyan, Jinna Mutune.
4. Produced (financed) by Kenyans, Bernard Wambugu, Chris Kirubi, Julian Kyula, Donald Gichane.
5. Lead actor "Leo" is Kenyan Trevor Gitonga.
6. Soundtrack by Kenyan music group, Sauti Sol.
7. Production team is Kenyan.
8. The possibility that is Kenya - American cinematograper Abe Martinez has since relocated to Kenya because of his wonderful experience during the filming of the movie and to pursue the opportunities he sees in the country.

More Info: http://www.leothemovie.com/

Message of the week

This week we have profiled some amazing people who are doing great things. We hope you found them inspiring and enjoyed our version of chicken soup for the soul. We hope that it reminded you that we all have the potential to.......

Leo - The Kenyan Movie of the Year!

Yesterday, I met with Bernard Wambugu, one of the producers of "Leo", a movie set and filmed in Kenya. Bernard is an entrepreneur based in Houston, Texas with a passion for life and for Africa. I am always excited to speak with him because I am left energized, invigorated and challenged to live life fully.

Bernard is just back from Kenya, where he attended a pre-launch party for "Leo" and he was interviewed on several radio and TV stations. "Leo" has created a buzz and everyone is eagerly awaiting the movie's release later this year. Bernard gave his support to the movie because he wants to tell a different story about Africa - to counteract the mostly negative images we see in the mainstream media. In his own words, "I want to rebrand Africa"! Stay tuned for an upcoming interview with Bernard later this month.

"Leo", is a story about a boy and his dream, but not just any dream - he wants to be a hero. The movie showcases Kenyan talent in all areas of production. The movie script is written and directed by Jinna Mutune. This is her first full length feature film. Kenyan actors include the lead actor, Trevor Gitonga, and Jeff Koinange, lead anchor of Kenyan local TV station K24. One of my favorite musical groups, Sauti Sol, created the original sound track. Check out the intriguing "Leo" trailer below plus the performance of "Leo" by Sauti Sol.

Video: Computer Lab at Thika Primary School for the Blind

To augment yesterday's interview with Irene Mbari-Kirika, check out this video that showcases the work that inABLE is doing.

The video features the opening, in 2009, of the computer lab at Thika Primary School for the Blind. Among other highlights, one of the blind students reads (by braille) a very touching poem where he thanks everyone for their "love and care". Also take a look at the size of the braille version of the Harry Potter book!

Interview with Irene Mbari-Kirika, Founder and Executive Director of inABLE

Exciting things are happening at Thika Primary School for The Blind. We had blind children blogging during the World Cup and they are now building websites for their school. In the words of one student:

“The computer program has restored back our sight. If I can now read newspapers, send emails, and do research for my project, it’s a whole new world, it’s amazing!”

6^th Grade Student, Thika Primary School for the Blind

To find out more about this organization that is making such a positive difference in the lives of these children, Makuti Lounge sat down with Irene Mbari-Kirika, the Founder and Executive Director of inABLE and the driving force behind this change. (In the interests of full disclosure for our readers, I should point out that my husband is a co-founder of inABLE).

Makuti Lounge: What is the mission of inABLE?

IMK: Our motto says it all; “disability is not inability”. inABLE works with blind and visually impaired children to provide them with the resources they need to enable them to become productive members of society. Our vision is to provide the same educational, technological and employment opportunities that are available to sighted children.

Makuti Lounge: What inspired you to create this organization?

IMK: In 2006, I founded an organization called “Our Reading Spaces”. The goal of the organization was to build libraries in rural Kenya. Our first library was scheduled for Kairi Village where the local community had donated land for the project. Before the library was built, we organized a program at Kenya National Library Services in Thika. The library invited children from the schools in Kairi Village and the nearby Thika Primary School for the Blind. Despite the presence of the blind students, the reading event did not change their program to accommodate the blind students. At the end of the reading program, there was a competition among the children and one of the blind kids won against a sighted kid. I realized that there is no difference in the ability of blind kids compared to sighted kids. After the program, the teachers asked if we could set up a library at the school. They have a severe shortage of books. Braille books are very expensive. A typical Standard 6 Math textbook costs about Kshs. 380. The braille equivalent costs about Kshs. 7500. That is way out of reach of either the school budget or the budget of the individual student. Most books in the school are shared between 3 to 4 students. I committed to helping them but I have to say I did not know what I was getting into.

Makuti Lounge: So it seems that the organization evolved from Our Reading Spaces to inABLE. Tell us more about that.

IMK: When I came back to the US, I started doing research on resources for the blind and visually impaired. I realized that it would not be easy to simply set up a library and stock it with braille books. They are very expensive even here in the States and they are big volumes, taking up a lot of space. Through my research I realized that computers could fill this gap that was created by a lack of books. Because of the specific needs of this school, their “Reading Space” needed to be a computer lab. Our first computers were generously donated by individual donors. The project took off quickly and with such success that it has now become our main focus. We continue to maintain “Our Reading Spaces” as one of the programs run by inABLE, and the library at Kairi Village has been open since October, 2010.

Makuti Lounge: How do you deal with the challenge of managing projects from so far?

IMK: inABLE has excellent staff on the ground. Robert Mwaniki the Computer Program Manager and the Computer Instructors, Peter Okeyo and Caroline Ngondi, are very committed to the cause. We also have a very dedicated inABLE team member, Catherine Wamwangi, who serves as our liaison between the schools and our various sponsors and partners. Through Skype and Google Talk, we are able to have very frequent meetings with both our staff and our partners and sponsors in Kenya. We also use Skype for conversations with the students to learn more about their experiences in the computer lab as well as their hopes and dreams.

Makuti Lounge: What success has inABLE enjoyed?

IMK: We have successfully maintained the computer lab for 2 years and currently employ 3 instructors. More importantly, the children have learnt how to use the computers, how to type, and send emails. They have mastered the special software for the blind. Some of them are even able to work on special projects such as blogging and building websites. The kids were blogging during the last World Cup and they are currently building a website for the school. We have also trained their teachers to be computer savvy. Some English teachers now require the kids to type their essays and submit them via email. By developing such strong computer skills we increase the employment opportunities for these children.

Makuti Lounge: What has contributed to the success of inABLE?

IMK: Apart from our staff in Kenya, we have a very strong team of founders and volunteers. People who strongly believe in the cause and are committed to the success of the organization. Most importantly, the whole school has embraced the project – the principal and the teachers and above all the children, who are so determined. We are very grateful for the support from our local partners such as ABC, Rotary Club of Thika and ICEVI. And for the support of local sponsors such as Safaricom Foundation and Access Kenya.

Makuti Lounge: What challenges have you experienced in building inABLE?

IMK: Our greatest challenge and the one thing that keeps me awake at night, is that we need funding for training both the students and the teachers at the school. Without training this program cannot succeed. We have been very fortunate to have some dedicated sponsors that have given us grants for equipment and we are very, very thankful. Without the computers we would not have a starting point. On a whole, funding for recurring programs such as training is much harder to get because many grants are not structured that way.

Makuti Lounge: We understand that you are participating in the Global Giving Challenge. What is that about?

IMK: This month we were selected by the GlobalGiving Foundation (www.globalgiving.org) to participate in their Open Challenge. If inABLE raises $4,000 total from 50 or more donors by April 30 we earn a permanent spot on their site. That will give us access to many new streams of donors. GlobalGiving is a respected portal for charitable giving and they have several corporate partnerships. Plus, many donors and companies go there to look for worthwhile projects to support. I am asking your readers if they can help us achieve this goal by donating on our website, www.inable.org.

Makuti Lounge: What is next for inABLE?

IMK: Our immediate goal is to roll out the current computer lab program to the other 8 blind schools in the country. We continue to work with our partners to create programs that will develop strong employment related skills to give the children viable employment prospects. Long term, through the Mwangaza project, we are working closely with Georgia Institute of Technology to research and develop assisitive technologies to teach math and science to the visually impaired.

Makuti Lounge: What advice do you have for others who want to create a non-profit organization?

IMK: Take the time to learn from others. Similar but older organizations have gone through their growing pains and one can learn from some of their lessons. Also, take the time to learn the needs of your community and be willing to let those needs influence and change your mission if need be.

Makuti Lounge: inABLE is a full time job for you, and working across 2 time zones I am sure sometimes it feels like 2 jobs. What else keeps you busy?

IMK: You are right; it is a full time job. I spend a lot of time with my family, my husband and 4 year old son. And also with my parents and siblings and my 8 year old niece. They make life worth living.

Makuti Lounge: You are currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. Can you talk about your experiences as an immigrant? What obstacles do you think immigrants have to overcome to be successful in the US?

IMK: In the 12 years I have been here, the most important thing I have learnt is to take advantage of the opportunities that are here. Whatever you can learn and take back home, then do so. The greatest obstacle that we need to overcome is the fear of being different. Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of being treated negatively because we speak with accents, don’t understand the culture, etc. We spend a lot of time either trying to fit in or trying to stay apart. Instead, embrace the fact that you are different and that you have had different experiences. I consider myself a global person and I am open to meeting and learning from other people. To do that successfully, I have to present myself as I really am even though I may be different from the people around me.

Makuti Lounge: How has the experience of developing inABLE changed you as an individual?

IMK: I have been totally humbled by this experience. To see these kids with challenges and to see what they have overcome, I have developed great compassion for others and I have learnt to count my blessings. I am also learning not to judge a book by its cover. I do not focus on what the blind and visually impaired students cannot do but on what they can do.

Makuti Lounge: Irene, we all want to know, how do you do this? What keeps you going?

IMK: My faith; realizing that indeed there is a higher power who makes things happen. I believe this work is my calling. And I am committed to doing it. I don’t really know how it gets done. All I know is that there is a job to be done and somehow it is getting done.

Makuti Lounge: Any final words?

IMK: I will leave you with my favorite quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.,

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve”.

To support the inABLE GlobalGiving challenge, please go to www.inable.org.

To follow inABLE, please visit their blog at www.inableus.blogspot.com.

The Uglies of Being an Immigrant

While immigrating to a new country presents limitless possibilities, it comes with a set of challenges that many people do not like to talk about. I try hard to dwell on the positives but sometimes it is good to look at the realities and learn how to deal with them. Here are some sad realities of living abroad

1. There are many people with PHD's that drive taxis in developed countries
2. Like many other places in the world, getting a degree does not guarantee a job. It is definitely not enough to just get a degree. You must also develop serious selling skills. 
3. You will be lonelier than you initially expected
4. Your quality of life may suffer due to long work hours
5. You will struggle with the cultural differences
6. You will struggle with dealing with racial issues which are still a reality in many places
7. The nice car, house with a picket fence sometimes comes at a high price
8. If you fall on hard times, you may find yourself alone. 
9. Your community abroad may not be the same as the community you left at home. Most people are trying to survive and manage their own lives
10. You may not receive a call when you submit your resume if you have an ethnic sounding name
11. You may end up doing a job you never imagined to make ends meet
12. Your accent may sometimes cause a perception problem

The USA today posted an article about Educated immigrants struggling to find work. What are some unpleasant situations you have encountered? 

Thought For The Day

8 Troubling Facts about American Schools

1. American 12th graders rank 19th out of 21 industrialized countries in mathematics achievement and 16th out of 21 nations in science. Our advanced physics students rank dead last. 
2. Since 1983, over 10 million Americans have reached the 12th grade without having learned to read at a basic level. Over 20 million have reached their senior year unable to do basic math. Almost 25 million have reached 12th grade not knowing the essentials of U.S. history. 
3. In the fourth grade, 77% of children in urban high-poverty schools are reading “below basic” on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 
4. Currently, average black and Hispanic 17-year-old children have NAEP scores in math, science, reading and writing that are equivalent to average white 13-year-old children. 
5. In 1995, nearly 30% of first-time college freshmen enrolled in at least one remedial course and 80% of all public four-year universities offered remedial courses. 
6. 76% of college professors and 63% of employers believe that “a high school diploma is no guarantee that the typical student has learned the basics.” 
7. Only 38% of U.S. public school teachers majored in an academic subject in college. 
8. 40% of public high school science teachers have neither an undergraduate major nor minor in their main teaching field and 34% of public high school math teachers did not major or minor in math or related fields.

Source: Bennett, William J. “20 Troubling Facts about American Education.” Empower America.

American School Series:What to expect from Kindergarten

I may be the only one but the American school system seems daunting to me. I can imagine it is overwhelming for parents who did not grow up in America to know how to help their child through school. A big difference between other education systems is parental involvement. However in America, the teacher is the parents partner and it is not just enough to make sure that your child gets to and from a good school and they do their homework. Parents have to be so much more involved in their children's learning and the choices they make will affect the quality of education that their child gets.

I never went to Kindergarten so it is a pretty foreign concept to me. I started school when I was 3 years old and was in nursery school until I was five. It seems to me that kindergarten and preschool are what other countries call nursery school. With the advent of preschool, children have learned a lot by the time they get to kindergarten. It is important to prepare your child for kindergarten to make sure they do not fall behind. In most states children go to kindergarten when they are five years old. There are state-specific rules that dictate when the child should have turned 5. In some schools, getting admitted is serious business and some private schools have long wait lists. Depending on what you want for your child, do your research 2-3 years before your child is scheduled to start so that you know how to prepare. Click here for a great article on important readiness skills.

Here are some great videos on how to prepare your child for this important life change.

If you moved to the US after preschool age, you can click on this ehow website to get resources on how to prepare your child at home.

Conversations: The Man Behind the Art of Nonconformity

Chris Guillebeau is one of the most interesting bloggers in blogosphere. He writes a blog called The art of non-conformity. His focus is on unconventional strategies for life, work and travel. Here is a great conversation between Chris and Lee stranahan who is a blogger for The Huffington post. I love a great conversation and I hope you enjoy this one. 

Don't Be Tempted By Payday Loans

Every week I notice a new "payday" lending outfit in my neighborhood. It seems their marketing strategy is to set up as many stores as they can in very visible areas. In this way, they are in your face and tempting you every day with their ‘easy terms”.

The proliferation of these loan sharks has me very worried. Getting a payday loan is the first step to perpetual debt. The easier it is to get a pay day loan the harder it will be for people to avoid debt. And debt is a crushing monster; not the American dream we are working for.

Not only are these payday lending stores at ever corner, they make it very, very easy to get a loan - No credit check required. But there is a catch. They charge outrageous interest. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, payday loans in some states have annual interest rates of up to 400%!

The loans are also structured in such a way that it is unlikely that you will be able to pay it back when it is due. If you can't pay the loan back, they make it very easy for you to roll the loan into a new one - for a fee of course. And if you do this a couple of times you can end up paying more in roll-over fees than the amount of the loan you borrowed. And you still have to repay the loan.

Seriously, I don't understand how these payday people are allowed to operate. I know we live in the US where capitalism reigns supreme but the payday loan business model is designed to make money from people who don't have money to repay the loans in the first place. They make easy profits because with such high interest rates, people will find it difficult to pay the loan and they will roll the loan over several times.

I know we are in a recession and many folks are out of work, but I assure you that a payday loan is not the answer to your problem. And in case you think you can take the loan and not repay it back, know that payday lenders are very, very aggressive in collecting the debts owed to them. So how can you avoid selling your soul to this devil?

The safest way is to build a savings account that you can tap into for emergencies. The only way to do this is to set aside your savings every month before you pay any bills or spend any money on yourself.

If you can't save money and pay your bills every month, you need to take some drastic measure such as:

1. Move to a smaller apartment or get a roommate.
2. Sell your car and buy a cheaper one preferably in cash so you won't have monthly payments.
3. Be honest with yourself and your friends. If you can't afford to go out to the latest trendy restaurant, suggest a cheaper place, or meet for dessert instead of dinner.
   

If your car breaks down and you don’t have money saved to get it fixed, don’t be tempted by a payday loan. Consider all other options first including:

1. Car pool with a friend or co-worker.
   
2. Use the money you had set aside for groceries and other activities to fix the car. Eat ramen noodles if you must. They are cheap and filling and don't have a 400% price tag.
   
3. Stop spending unless it is absolutely essential and necessary to get through to the next pay day.
   
4. Work out some payment terms with the mechanic.
   

A payday loan is like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Do anything and everything possible to avoid one.

American School Series: Choosing a Preschool

A study released by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) shows that the type of preschool a child attends at 4 years old, will affect how he or she learns at 7. The study, the largest of its type to date, followed 5,000 preschoolers in 1,800 schools across the world.

This begs the question; what kind of preschool should your child attend? According to Larry Schweinhart, president of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, a researcher on the study; “Early childhood education enhances a child's development when the emphasis is on children initiating their own activities,  limiting instruction to a larger group  and providing materials for exploration in the classroom.” In other words children need to learn to choose freely so they they can discover what they gravitate to. 

According to the study the following points were without question:

Language performance at age 7 improves when:

1. Academic activities were reduced and more emphasis was placed on free choice of play, arts and crafts, music and practicing motor skills.  
2. The preschool teachers are well educated and are aware how their students learn. 

Thinking skills at age 7 improve when:

1. Children are in a less structured environment
2. The number and array of tools and materials they have to choose from increases.

In a nutshell, children become better thinkers and perform better when they fully participate in their own learning. With that in mind, a parent should look for the following in a potential school as suggested by the National Association for the Education of Young Children

1. Are children spending time with tools and materials or are they left unattended and expected to sit quietly for a lengthy period. 
2. Do children have access to various activities during the day? Are different toys available that teach them different skills such as building blocks, crayons, sandbox etc
3. Do the teachers work with individual children or break them up in small groups or is everything done in a larger group setting?
4. Does the classroom display the children's work and promote individual expression?
5. Are children learning in context of their everyday experiences such as counting by taking attendance or the alphabet by identifying things in nature. 
6. Do children have ample time to explore and play or is everything very structured? 
7. Do children spend some ample time outdoors?
8. Is the Curriculum easily adaptable to different learning styles and learning speed?
9. Are the teachers reading to the students in small groups?
10. Do the children seem to enjoy their time there? Do they appear settled? Are the parents happy?

If you keep these things in mind then you can get your child off to an excellent start. For additional reading, visit the sources listed below. 

Source: http://www.naeyc.org/

            http://www.education.com/topic/preschool/