New edition of Congress of African Journalists’ International Magazine published
- The latest edition of magazine highlights birth rate issue of Egypt, recent US elections, empowering Ghana’s Street Kids through Sports, ensuring Food Security from Farm to Table and many other topics
Abuja
In his editorial, Nigerian journalist Michael Adeboboye, Editor-in-Chief, Congress of African Journalists CAJ International Magazine (November 2024) wrote “As the year 2024 is running to a close, we sincerely appreciate our partners, collaborators, members of the International Media Cooperation Protocol (IMCP), for standing with us in this bid of creating a pedestal of connection for journalists and media platforms around the globe. We shall keep intact the seal of global contents exchange on which our understanding is building a stronger foundation. And importantly, our teeming readers and friends all over the world. We shall keep the bond stronger as we are moving into a new great and fulfilling year 2025…. Our work is not one without challenges, but with unrelenting faith and undaunted spirit, we are getting there with vitality. The world is at the moment shifting serious focus on its population and consequences on its economy.”
Michael Adeboboy added: “This edition is giving our readers, not ‘everyday news stuff’ written by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid. Ashraf unveils in the story, many comparisons, backgrounds and insights bearing his beam in particular, on the North African Egypt, taking our readers on a voyage of pretty piece: the Egyptian case in respect to Family Planning and Birth Control. This is our cover story for this edition.
“Since 1980 until now, family planning programs have spent about three billion Egyptian pounds, and more than 6,000 family planning units have been established in Egypt’s governorates. But the result was the opposite, with a population of 104 million in 2017. In the eighties, women began using contraceptives and methods such as the IUD and birth control pills became widespread and fertility rates among women in Egypt began to decline. Between 1980 and 1995, there were huge media campaigns, under the auspices of the wife of the former President, Suzanne Mubarak, to promote family planning programs, and women obtained their information about family planning by 40% from television and by 27% from doctors. According to a study entitled “Health in Egypt” published in 2002. Birth control plans continued, but it didn’t succeed, until present. We wonder, what is the reason for the high birth rates in Egypt?…..Contrary to what was expected, many migrants flocked to Egypt, benefitting from the societal security and safe borders, in order to leave the conflict areas in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Eritrea, which constituted an increase of about 15 million people according to official statistics…”reports, Ashraf.
Robert Nestrooy Kayongo highlights the recent USA elections: “Donald Trump secured another term as the President of the United States and many African presidents congratulated him for achieving his goal of taking back the US’s top office but many Africans are justified in questioning his dedication to the well-being of their continent. His initial tenure was marred by unfulfilled promises, deceptive assertions, and policies that detrimentally impacted African interests.”
Empowering Ghana’s Street Kids through Sports is the topic showcased by Dela Ahiawor: Street children’s right to sports has long been recognized as a human right. Sport absolutely has the potential to provide real grounds for optimism and growth opportunities for vulnerable groups in society, including street kids. As well, sport is key in shaping the attitude of kids positively. Clued in on this, Polish-Ghanaian philanthropist, Omenaa Mensah is on a mission to uplift and empower underprivileged children in Accra, Ghana’s capital city by leveraging the power of sports. With unwavering support from ambassadors, including NBA veteran, Pops Mensah-Bonsu- the Omenaa Foundation recently cut sod on the Kids Haven Sport & Art Complex in Accra- aiming to provide sports, arts, and holistic care for Ghana’s street urchins.”
Ensuring Food Security from Farm to Table is a call for Sustainable Practices to Prevent Biodiversity discussed by Mutayoba Arbogast: “In a world where food safety and security are critical to human survival, Tanzania is grappling with significant challenges that threaten its strides toward sustainable development. Each year, over 600,000 people suffer from foodborne illnesses due to unsafe food consumption, with a tragic 420,000 lives lost as a result.”
We are still in Africa, as Donald Tlaka takes us far south to observe “100 Days of GNU and What it Means To Common SA Citizens”. He wrote: “For the first time in 30 years, the African National Congress (ANC) lost elections on May 29, 2024. After 30 years of democracy, South Africans under ANC are still without jobs, high levels of inequality, corruption and crime are still the realities to many. The May 29 was definitely going to be a defining moment for South African democracy. Ten Political Parties came together to form the government of national unity led by the ANC, Democratic Alliance and other parties. Although the 10 parties may give you a different reason for the formation of the government of national unity, the truth is the GNU is a forced marriage that will either blossom into a beautiful union which will be the envy of the fractured “.
Spreading CAJ Magazine’s wings abroad, the First World Forum of Children’s Literature was documented by Russian creative pen Andrey Igorevich Yavny
“Children are our future”… But who would be inspired by such a phrase? As it turns out, quite a few, especially when we step away from clichés and return to the phrase’s original essence. This truth, dulled by countless repetitions, has the potential to ignite thought and inspire hundreds of people. And not just inspire thought, but spur action—to transform an overused phrase into the motto of a new and essential discourse. From October 25 to November 3, the first World Forum of Children’s Literature, entitled “Children Are Our Future: The Role of Children’s Literature in Shaping Character and Preserving Spiritual and Moral Values,” was held in Antalya, Turkey. Now, let us turn to the Chairman of the Russian branch of the World Organization of Writers (WOW).”
One of the new voices in cinema criticism is the Syrian writer Nuha Swaid. She is a graduate of Arabic Literature from Damascus University. She has written dozens of articles and published interviews in cultural, social and legal journalism since 2011. She studied at the NAZAR School of Education, Department of Film Criticism in Cairo. She is a film critic who writes in Arabic on several websites, including Ain Ala Al Cinema (An Eue on Cinema). She is interested in public affairs, especially women’s rights, and loves cinema that champions the issues of peoples. She writes her new articles in French. In this interview with CAJ Nuha Swaid said: “In a world facing crises, cinema serves as a beacon of inspiration and change, honestly reflecting the struggles of humanity. It voices the pain of marginalized groups, illuminating their stories and helping to build collective awareness. Rather than merely being a means of escape, cinema opens the door to discussions about the real issues that affect societies. It enhances understanding between cultures and reinforces the values of solidarity and hope amidst despair. I believe that cinema is not only a mirror of society but also a driving force for change. “
On another side, the Soviet Union remains a special milestone in the history of mankind. This is the reason to see many museums – not only in Russia – are celebration this iconic piece of history. MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL in Antalya opened a special Museum of Social Life in the Soviet Union, while “The artist paints with colors, and we paint with objects”. A school museum is not only a place where exhibits are kept and stories are told, but also a whole space for learning and development. A school museum is a platform for the formation of a comprehensive education, where school children learn new information and can apply it in practice.
A poetry page was written by Elmaya Jabbarova, Azerbaijan, who sang:
“Me and my country/To the tribute you give, honorable island, I was infected without even knowing it. O great Creator, with my poems, My country and I travel the world!
Congress of African Journalists CAJ Chairman Michael Adeboboye publishes its monthly International Magazine in Nigeria, it has an aspiring plan to print the magazine in other African cities and abroad, as suggested by CAJ Secretary General Ashraf Aboul-Yazid.
Read: Congress of African journalists (CAJ) – a Story to be told
_________________