人生

生活从来都不是一帆风顺的，成功从来都不是唾手可得的。生活从来都不是容易和一帆风顺的，出现挫折，一要通过自己的努力去改变.

Some treasured things

Family ties are treasured things
and far though we may roam,
the tender bonds with those we love
still pull our hearts toward home

得不到的永远是最好的

Women still the najority of the world's poor

Image credited to www.chipchick.com

Today is the 101th anniversary since March 8 was first observed as International Women's Day in 1911. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

The very first International Women’s Day was held in 1911 to protest unfair wages and poor working conditions for women. Granted, a lot has changed for the better for women, still much remains to be done. It was noted on the IWD website, “the unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence
against them is worse than that of men.” It is a fact that "Women are still the majority of the world's poor, unhealthy, underfed, and uneducated. They rarely cause violent conflicts but too often bear their consequences and Women are absent from negotiations about peace and security to end those conflicts. Their voices simply are not being heard." (quote Hilary Clinton)

Of Zimbabwe's 1.3 million orphans, some 100,000 are living on their own in child-headed households!

Photo credit to http://aaron9902.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/topic3-child-labor-poster/

Photo credit to http://riteshmin2.blogspot.com/2011/08/child-labor-prohibition-and-regulation.html

According to a 2010 UNICEF report, 13% of Zimbabwean children are engaged in child labour (which the International Labour Organization (ILO) defines as work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful to children and that interferes with their schooling). In the capital, Harare, the figure is closer to 20%.

A study of child labour in Zimbabwe conducted by the Ministry of Labour together with international and local partners including ILO and UNICEF, released in June 2011 concluded that "the prevalence of the worst forms of child labour is on the rise and cause for concern." The report identified poverty as the main driver of children being employed, along with "the breakdown of the family unit due to HIV and AIDS, as well as the inadequacy of the social services delivery system."

According to UNICEF, of Zimbabwe's 1.3 million orphans, some 100,000 are living on their own in child-headed households. Many such children are forced to leave school and find work as street vendors or labourers on tobacco farms, tea and sugar plantations, and in mines in order to support younger siblings.

PLEASE READ FULL ARTICLE ZIMBABWE: Child labour on the rise

Some years ago (18)

Date of entry: 11 July 1948 Sunday

University education constantly calls to my heart. It is my thought now and again that without going through this stage of studies,very little can be done, very little or no success at all can I achieve during the course of my career. I must determine therefore to go to an university at the first opportunity.

Today my thought is centering at the St John University at Shanghai. This university as I have heard, offers a course in English of an advanced standard, much better than those in other Chinese universities. Besides, it is situated in Shanghai, the biggest city and port in China, the centre of culture, industry and commerce.

The subject I would choose, I think, should be English Literature. I should try to be a translator, reporter, a journalist, an editor, a school master, a writer, a secretary, etc.

I should save $1000 a year and after 4 years I should be studying in my desired university.

By Woon/Joon SC

Note: My father never realized his dream of pursuing a university education, but his desire was realized 4 folds through his children and many many folds through his 16 grandchildren