Wisdom, Absolutes & Art of Listening

Wisdom, Absolutes & Art of Listening
By Westermack Batanyika
A WISE GREEK man once said, “One who forms a judgment on any point, but cannot explain it clearly, might as well never have thought at all on the subject.” It’s the truth of this statement that touches my heart today and inspires my decision to pen some of my thoughts on the subject of wisdom, the world of absolutes we seem to be living in, and the art of listening.
So, if you bear with me, over the course of the next several paragraphs, I’ll try to explain and show, as clearly as I can, why I believe that the quality of wisdom is one of the most elusive and pseudo-possessed qualities of the human character; why the absolutes we love so much to hold clearly betoken our unwillingness to listen and see other people’s perceptions; and finally, why the act of listening, and being able and willing to understand others, should be foremost in our communication. Please, calm your mind and put your thinking cap on as you read through.

PERHAPS I OUGHT to start with a bunch of questions. What’s wisdom and what qualifies a person as being wise? Is it someone with a head full of grey hair? Is it some one with a library full of books, or is it someone with untold success in their field? Or perhaps it’s one who seems to have all the answers, and speaks with confidence and personal charisma of the likes of Adonis? Well, maybe, but again maybe not. I think there’re no straightforward answers to all these questions.
The 7th edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, however, defines the word wisdom as a noun to mean: the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge one has. It also defines the word wise as an adjective to mean: able to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge one has– which in plain language is to say, having wisdom.
Well, is that all there is on the subject? I don’t think so. I think we could probably write a whole book on it, but if I were to add anything now, I’d say that wisdom is very elusive in a sense that the wiser we become, the more and more we realize how much we probably don’t know as much as we think we do; the wiser we become, the more we realize that the views we hold so definitively probably aren’t as definitive– the wiser we become, the wiser we want to be. Any truly wise person acknowledges this.
As I continue to write, my mind rings with the name of one man who truly epitomizes the quality of wisdom. Though he lived more than 2,300 years ago, his philosophy is still highly esteemed today, and he’s even been called the father of Greek and– consequently– Western Philosophy.
In his time, his own government persecuted him, as it was argued that his unorthodox teachings were a bad influence, particularly to young Athenians. And though– unlike his counterpart, the great king Solomon of the Good Book, he lived the exact opposite of la dolce vita, Socrates is arguably one of the wisest men who ever lived.
Back in those days, when this sage of the ages was told by the Oracle at Delphi that he was indeed the wisest man on earth, he denied it. “After all,” he said, “I know absolutely nothing for certain!” Then, he began questioning other people in Athens. Soon he discovered that they, too, knew nothing for certain. After that, he accepted the Oracle’s judgment. But at least he said, “I know that I don’t know. Everyone else fools themselves into thinking they know something for certain. Knowing that I don’t know, makes me the wisest.” Do I think he had a point? You can count on it!

MOST TIMES, IT’S the kind of thinking that we know what we know with absolute certainty that gets us into trouble. It’s this fashion of thinking that propagates absolutes: ideas which we believe are valid in any circumstances. It’s this brand of thinking that makes us like so much to reduce everything, even the most naturally complex, to the simplest sentences and words just to shoehorn all of it into our respective perspectives. It’s this kind of thinking that makes our asses so reluctant to stretch beyond our “niches”.
Need I remind us that, it isn’t that long ago when the whole world absolutely believed the earth to be the center of the universe– with the sun, the other planets and all other celestial bodies revolving around it? Or that the earth was a flat plate resting on the shell of a giant tortoise? Do I really need to reaffirm that, it isn’t long ago when an entire civilization absolutely believed that Zeus was God? Or that servitude was a just system willed by God, as it was pontificated by the Roman Catholic Church? It comes as no surprise that these ideas sound absurd to us today, but the fact is they are ideas that were once taken as gospel back then.
Such absolutes take many forms, of course, but my own personal “favorite” is prejudice. By way of an example, haven’t you ever come across that girl who makes it her conviction that “all boys are cheats”? Or met that guy who would cynically– and hopelessly– declaim that, “…shit…there ain’t no true love nowadays; all these chicks ever need is cash. You got it; you got ‘em all!” Well, that one guy or girl did you bad yes, but that doesn’t tarnish them all, does it now? As another example, it’s always fascinated me and captivated my sense of wonder how we fathom nothing of philosophy, theology, the workings of space-time, quantum mechanics or particle science and yet, when it comes to God, everyone’s an expert– the ultimate pundit even! My only question, which naturally follows from the foregoing discussion in this paragraph is that, for those of us who continue to hold absolutes, what makes us think we’re any wiser than these old, “absurd” civilizations?
Please, make no mistake my dear reader. I’m not saying that these absolutes of ours are always wrong, instead, I’m asserting that they aren’t always right, and that maybe we ought to learn a thing or two from some of the greatest minds from time immemorial.
Thomas Edison; the brilliant American inventor behind the common incandescent light bulb, and many other great discoveries once said, “We don’t know a millionth of one percent about anything.” Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), that phenomenal writer and humourist, once said, “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know, it’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” Albert Einstein, in all his intellectual might and genius still believed that, with the exception of the speed of light, everything else in the universe is subject to change! Where, then, does that leave our absolutes?
That said, I’ll be the first to concede that one of the most fulfilling experiences we can have, comes from voicing our opinions and having someone listen. Can you imagine, for example, how boring, unfulfilling, and annoying relationships would be if there was no talking? Or worse still, if one party talked whilst the other party or parties didn’t care to listen?

I’M TALKING ABOUT the art of listening now. All cognitive psychologists– as I’m sure you too– agree that the key to learning any– if not most– language(s) is: to read it, write it, speak it and listen to it being used. And of course it goes without saying, it’s these four aspects of learning a language that are also vital for communication.
From as early as childhood, each one of us begins to learn the four skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening; and continues to hone them through adulthood. Unfortunately enough, for some reason(s) I cannot pinpoint, of all four, listening ends up being the bluntest. Way blunt! “Poor listener” is almost a proverb and certainly proverbial. And no wonder it’s been said that listening is a lost art.
It should be said however, I’m talking not of merely hearing someone– as wave after wave of sound energy beats at your eardrums without you making much sense of what they’re saying. I’m talking about listening– hearing out what others are saying whilst genuinely trying to understand them.
I think, by now, we’ve established that, the need to express our opinions and heard out by others is inherent in us all as human beings. One can only imagine the kind of rampant chaos that would exist if none in this world was willing to listen to the other, and instead, just held blindly to their convictions or absolutes. Would we have peaceful societies? Would homes be homes, or mere houses occupied by people?
I think now of the time during the independence struggles of my motherland, and other African countries. Would you pause for a few seconds, and think what could’ve happened had the British Crown refused to listen, as Mwalimu tried to talk his way toward our independence! Would we’ve shed blood for our land? It’s because they listened to, “…We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection...,” that Lincoln’s immortal message resonated so much with the Confederates and the rest of the riven America. As for whether the story is true or fictitious, I couldn’t say but, you might’ve heard of the story of the tower of Babel. It’s basically a story of men trying to build an impossibly high tower to get closer to God. Half way through the project, God decided to end their endeavour by making them speak different languages. Because they no longer could understand each other, they started to argue and pass judgment on one another, leading to the project’s demise. Speaking different languages meant they couldn’t listen to one another, which led to chaos, and eventual strife amongst themselves.
The moral of the story, it seems, hadn’t been realized soon enough. The Grim Reaper’s scythe has claimed more lives in the name of religion, than any other cause known to man. In essence, most religions are different ways of saying the same thing. We hear things differently because we all speak different “languages”. More often than not, we fight our neighbours not because we disagree with them, but because we don’t understand them. If only we listened; maybe we would understand them and stop the fight.
It’s mostly our recently found concept of tolerance: advocating a willingness to listen, and compromise, that has fostered the fairly peaceful co-existence of our religious and other assorted conflicting institutions. Heaven forbid we go back to our old ways. It’s why we study history! The major setback here is, most of us love to be heard out by others but we aren’t as willing to hear others out. We’re not particularly fond of being on the receiving end. But, if we ourselves aren’t ready to listen, why then should we expect others to, or even think we are any worthier to receive a different treatment from others?
Have we forgotten the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you? Or perhaps we simply don’t know, or even don’t care, what it is? The truth is, a little listening has never done anybody any harm; quite the contrary. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn life lessons and acquaint ourselves with invaluable information from other people’s life experience. Furthermore, it’s worth remembering that, if you’re one of those windbags who don’t bother to stop and listen, every time you open your mouth amidst people who are well informed, you reveal to them, then and there, who and what you truly are– nothing more than just a windbag with bleak prospects of changing. So, it’s in your interest, and wise, to be a good listener– or as that insightful writer, Napoleon Hill, notes:
Genuine wisdom is usually conspicuous through modesty and silence.

THANK YOU FOR taking the time to read my thoughts; or maybe to listen to what I’ve to say, I should say! It might not be that lofty piece of writing that could change the world but, on the one hand, I wasn’t looking to change the world. On the other hand, I read somewhere sometime ago that the key to changing the world is one act of random kindness at a time; touching one random person at a time. So, if any part of this piece– no matter how minute– has touched you in any way or maybe even provided a paradigm shift of some sort in your own thoughts, my dear, that’s more than fulfilling for me. That alone, positively warms the red juices of my heart!
I hope by now you appreciate what genuine wisdom truly is, and that it truly comes with a steep price. My only hope in this regard is that your wisdom teeth attest their name, and that when they grow, your personal wisdom grows with them.
To me, to firmly hold absolutes betrays our inability– or more aptly– unwillingness to unlearn, learn and relearn that which we know. This unwillingness fosters bigotry and intolerance. In my experience in dealing with people in business, and otherwise, I’ve seen individuals corner themselves into such untenable positions, all to just not concede others their points of view. It’s critical that we stand our ground for our convictions, but maybe this is no longer meaningful and reasonable in the face of compelling evidence that we could be mistaken. It’s in these circumstances that it’s particularly worthwhile to be flexible.
Be open to new ideas, and know that it’s never too late to learn and hone that essential art of listening. We’ve all probably heard the cliché that “you were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. To do twice as much listening as you do talking”. And maybe it’s a cliché for a good enough reason– its arguable truth appeals to so many. Life’s too beautiful, multifaceted and diverse to limit ourselves see it through our eyes only, and think it ends with only what we know and experience. See it through the eyes of others as well. There’s actually a life outside the box!
In closing, may I borrow from my recently favorite song written by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders, and as recorded by Gladys Knight. I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, I hope you still feel small when standing by the ocean, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance; I hope you dance– for life’s too beautiful, multifaceted and diverse.

Kipanya Leo

a word for today.

"when we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity"

A word of a Day

"Your problems help to make a better person like you are, so regard then as an opportunities to grow in"

Personal Branding can lead to the TOP!

Uniqueness and possessing an identity is a bit of a difficult and demanding task to most artists when they chip into the art industry. Have we ever reflected the relevance of the toil of acquiring the identity?

It is not only for artists to toil, but what matters is the matter of having identity or rather, I can term it “personal branding” is so vital to everyone. It cuts across all professions, whether it’s a politician or an activist, a lecturer or a researcher, an architecture or web designer, a CEO or a human resource manager, it’s for all!

“Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great” Paul Arden.

Having personal branding can be speculated in several issues such as the way you articulate issues, the way you handle shocks, work politics and until to the real professional uniqueness such as the art of writing, presentation, management.

One can acquire a serious outlook due to minimization of jokes, fun and chat during work time, this can further go down to how (s)he takes judgments along the issues and the art of diction, tone in conversations. Some can also weigh that out through how much concentration and devotion has been invested to when one carry duties.

The dress code matters a lot when one wants to acquire serious top personal branding; with clean and smart clothes, one can even create royalty and trust to another in just a first impression. Tom Markert insists “Outward appearances do matter in the corporate world”.

Having lack of seriousness, minimum devotion and lack of a clear mind set can easily lower the personal profile of which brands a person in the way which might minimize the chances of trust which leads to having no wealth in the industry you are in.

Having good personal branding can easily be an icon in your field of which adds value to whatever you do. This can also assist in getting easily to the top, whether it is at the corporate world or other world.

People might now and predict ones next move simply due to his already created personal brand. That’s what T-Bag in “Prison Break” Series depicts “we are captives of our own identity”.

One doesn’t need to go to a witch-craft “sangoma” to acquire a top ranking position or a high paying salary in area of work or winning a competition if at all one can discover the secret behind personal branding.


Learn how icons in your field have been acting and mastering the arts and conducts to create and shape well your own personal branding something which will be a tool to have great value in any place you exist not only at your working place!.

© Michael Dalali

What’s the next thing that comes to your mind after the word marriage?

“…For better for worse, till death do us apart, I will love you with every beat of my heart…”, Shania Twain Laments; it sure sounds like one very sweet statement to make, but take a deep look around you, I’m sure you know a couple or two who have recently married, as in less than 5years, are the outcomes all that sweet?? And all that true??
Marriages are turning into a fashion today, its every young fellow’s fantasy to have “just a small party, with just a few hundred people”, but are marriages all about just that? A party with you looking all made up and dressed in white sitting in the front, some friends and a string of relatives who traveled miles just to come and cheer you…?

As I happen to be living in one of the noisiest areas in Dar, sinza, popularly known as ‘sinza kwa wajanja’, a corner in Dar where there are many halls for rent, and still many in the making, I happen to come across a good number of weddings, send-off parties as well as bridal showers (commonly known as kitchen party) each week, and as they pass me by, I normally stand and watch as the so known ‘msafara’ passes by thinking to myself “wow, isn’t that great”, but the very moment I start envisioning me at the centre of all that, suddenly, my heart flips coming to think of the already wed couples that I know, who are now just feeling sorry for ever thinking of getting married, if not all the times, then at-least once in a while.
I usually ask myself as I look at so many young and in love couples so desperately making numerous phone calls to designers, MC’s, dashing in and out of stores looking for wedding rings and ‘best caterers’, if they are really ready to ‘tie the knot’, if they have truly thought about what they’re getting into, do they really know what’s in store for them as they exchange vows, or are they just driven by mere fantasies, or just because all their friends are getting married or maybe because tradition calls for them to do so?
Don’t mistake me for a fan in the anti-marital club, I actually do believe that getting married makes your life better, and its one of the important things that one must succumb to sooner or later; but its just that, everything seems to be moving a little too fast nowadays, people get married to people they hardly know, it might be someone they bumped into three months ago, and as it happens, the timing is perfect as you have been searching for a so called ‘soul-mate’, you would hear them say, oh, this is the happiest moment of my life, (why the heck not if every one’s in their best behavior??) the next thing you know, either the husband or wife is thinking of getting a job in another region! Because they just can’t stand the others behavior!


As I was chit chatting with a fellow passenger on a bus trip from Moshi to Dar, he happened to be married and openly said, “I’ve dated my wife for fifteen years before I married her, but the things she does even today, amaze me so much!!” its like somebody you never knew existed… should we lay the blame on the innumerous Hollywood movies and TV series for corrupting our minds… with the “happy endings?, that life becomes ‘perfect’ after you tie the knot? Even the Hollywood stars themselves are not living that kind of life, just try and make a very brief research on the number of Hollywood stars married and living happily ever after… I did something of the sort, and discovered that, there are more divorces than marriages’ (correct me if I am wrong)

Soon after marriages, people turn into other creatures, its like somebody you never knew existed before, you become like a bird who has afallen into a trap and cant escape, and to some, its like life has no meaning anymore, like getting married means no fun, no clubbing, no outings, no date, no flirting!! (But for heavens sake, one can always do these even when with a spouse!!)
Is this the way marriages are intended to be? Instead of having feelings of security, love, warmth, etc, that cant be found elsewhere, one has to normally deal with regret, anger, boredom, stresses and most of all absence of love, a very important aspect that the human species, even animals for crying out loud need so as to remain sane. Even a cat licks and cuddles with her kitties as a sign of showing love.
From my point of view, and that of a couple of people I have talked to, marriage is some thing sacred and very valuable, thus demands special care, attention in choosing the person with whom one feels, (s)he can cope with both in the good times and the bad times, when someone’s weaknesses are openly displayed, (everyone has a flaw, as famous writer Robin Sharma demands, show me one without a flaw)), someone to whom one can act a friend and a lover to the other.
I believe that regret is a proof of great failure to one’s being, emotions and so should be avoided by every possible means, brothers and sisters, it’s wise to think before you act, and if you’ve already acted without thinking, then don’t sit there and cry for yourself, instead, wake up!! And try to make the best out of what you’ve done, then, at least even if you fail, you can say, “I tried”, there’s a Swahili saying that goes, ‘maji yakishamwagika hayazoleki’ (once the water is spilt, you cant re-collect it), so just try and make good of what you have entered to, if you try hard, I’m sure you can.




nuran_idr@gmail.com

Kila la Kheri na Mwaka Mpya 2009

Ndugu,
Napenda kutoa shukrani zangu za dhati kwa wale wote ambao mlikuwa nami bega kwa bega katika kipindi chote cha mwaka 2008...wale waliokuwa wanatumia muda wao kutembelea blogu hii na wakati mwingine kunisisitiza kuweka vitu pale heka heka za maisha zilipo bana sana.

Shukrani kwa wote waliochangia kukua kwangu katika nyanja mbali mbali...sina cha kuwalipa....

Tumeweza kujifunza mengi sana kwa safari ya mwaka mzima wa 2008...tunaingia safari nyingine ya mwaka 2009...nawatakia kila la kheri, ujasiri dhabiti...busara na uwerevu kukabili changamoto za kimaisha.

Napenda tuikumbuke kauli mbiu ya aliyekuwa mtu maarufu duniani kwa mwaka 2008 AP B.H. Obama katika kila tutakacho kufanya kwama "YES WE CAN" NDIYO TUNAWEZA!!

Kila la Kheri katika mwaka 2009....Mungu Awe Nanyi...Inshallah!!

VIJANA WATANZANIA NA NADHARIA YA “NDIYO TUNAWEZA”!

VIJANA WATANZANIA NA NADHARIA YA “NDIYO TUNAWEZA”!
Na Michael J. Dalali.

Moja ya nadharia ambapo wengine wanaweza ichukulia kama falsafa iliyoweza kuchukua umaarufu mkubwa na kuzaa matunda ni nadharia ya “Ndiyo Tunaweza” ama kama kwa lugha ya kimombo ya “Yes We Can” ambayo imeibuliwa na mwanasiasa mahiri na hatimaye Rais mteule wa nchi ya Marekani.

Nadharia hii inamchango mkubwa sana katika ujenzi wa taifa lolote na si Marekani tu ama si kwa ajili ya chama cha demokratiki pekee cha marekani.

Nchini Tanzania tumeweza kushughudia nadharia mbali mbali ambazo zimeweza kutekelezeka na kuwa na msisimko katika maisha yetu ya kila siku, mathalani falsafa za mwalimu Nyerere na nadharia zake kama “Ujamaa na Kujitegemea” ikiwa mchango wa mabadiliko kwa Taifa zima la Tanzania.

Nadharia ama falsafa nyingine huwa na kutumika kama misemo ingawa si lazima misemo hususan ya kusiasa ikawa na sifa za kuwa falsafa ama nadharia.

Vijana wa kitanzania wanamchango mkubwa sana wa kuishi nadharia ya “Ndiyo Tunaweza” katika kuchangia kuleta mabadiliko makubwa sana katika Nyanja mbali mbali ambayo hata kimazoea tunafikiri hayawezi kutokea.

Lakini tukumbuke mabadiliko mara nyingi huitaji watendaji wa kuyaleta, na mabadiliko kwa wakati mwingine hugharimu.Lakini mabadiliko yana uhumimu hasa katika kuelekea ustawi bora wa jamii hususan katika nchi yetu ya Tanzania.

Kwa makala hii itajikita katika muktadha wa mabadiliko ya kisiasa ambayo vijana wanaweza kuchochea katika kuyaleta na kuweza kufanya mabadiliko katika ustawi wa maisha si tu kwa vijana bali kwa Taifa zima kwa ujumla kwani hata Mwalimu alisha tuhusia kwamba maendeleo huja na kuchochea kwa uwepo wa “siasa safi”!

Kwa tathimini rahisi tunaweza kubaliana bado sana ushiriki na ushirikishwaji wa vijana hususan katika michakato ya kisiasa bado ipo finyu sana nchini Tanzania licha ya wao kuwa na asilimia kubwa sana ya asilimia 68 katika idadi ya watu nchini.

Tuchukulie umuhimu wa kujitolea kwa vijana katika mchakato mzima wa kisiasa mathalani katika kampeni na kuelekea uchaguzi. Kuna mwamko mdogo sana katika kushiriki kimadhubuti katika kampeni, uchaguzi na kusimamia zoezi zima la kiuchaguzi bila kujali itikadi ya chama!

Lakini ni katika kipindi hiki ndipo vijana wanaweza kupoteza maslahi yao kama wasipo kuwa makini kusimamia mchakato huu.

Mathalani tuchukue mfano; vijana tukimwona mgombea ambaye tunamwamini kwa uwezo wake na hoja anazotoa zikiwa na uhalisia na kuelekea kutatua changamoto kubwa sana zikabilizo Taifa twaweza kusimamia mchakato wa kuhakikisha usambaaji wa taarifa zake, kudhibiti uchafuzi wa siasa-propaganda, na hatimaye kushiriki katika kulinda kura zoezi ambalo linaweza hatimaye kumpata kiongozi safi na bora kwa ajili ya maendeleo toka ngazi ya vyama hadi taifa licha ya kujifunga kiitikadi wala chama.

Tumeweza ona na kusoma jinsi vijana wa marekani waliweza hata kuomba udhuru katika sehemu zao za kazi na kwenda kushiriki katika kulinda na kusimamia zoezi la upigaji na uhesabuji kura achilia mbali wachache ambao hata waliweza kuomba udhuru mapema na kushiriki katika kampeni.

Tunapaswa kujitoa katika kuyaelekea kuyapata mabadiliko ambayo tunayaamini hususan katika kufikia demokrasi ya kweli. Wakati ni sasa, na tushiriki ipasavyo katika kuyaleta maendeleo hususan katika Nyanja ya siasa, NDIYO TUNAWEZA!!

©Michael J. Dalali, 2008.

Uhuru Day na Vijana wa Dodoma!!!

Tanzania Youth Vision Association

Commemoration of Uhuru Day
47 Years of Independence
9th December 2008
St. Gaspar Conference Hall-At Dodoma
From 08:30 to 14:00 HRS
“Leadership, good governance, accountability
and the significance of foreign aid from independence to date-lesson to be learnt by Young People”

Confirm Participation:
Salum 0787-154922, Michael Dalali 0717-011 112, 0755-459 783
NB: CONFIRM EARLY CHANCES ARE LIMITED!!
ONLY WHO WILL CONFIRM SHOULD ATTEND.


KARIBUNI NYOTE!!!



tyvavijana@yahoo.com
www.tyvatz.org

OBAMA has made a History!!

Shime Tuunge Mkono siku ya Kiharakati Umoja wa Mataifa

Ilikuwa Kenya sasa inanyemelea Tanzania....mwanzo ni kama wa kufungiwa kwa MwanaHalisi!

Heko waandishi wa Habari hususan Jukwaa la Wahariri kwa kusimama kidete na kutoa msimamo katika hili ambao utakuwa fundisho!

Pia ni ishara hai kwamba Katiba yetu inahitaji mabadiliko makubwa sana.

Aluta Continua!!

Ujumbe wa Leo

“The value of action is that we make mistakes; mistakes show us what we need to learn”
-Peter McWilliams

Falsafa ya “Fundo” la Muwa na Taifa Makini

Falsafa ya “Fundo” la Muwa na Taifa Makini

Na Michael Dalali.

Falsafa kadha wa kadha ni miongoni mwa nadharia madhubuti zitoazo fikra pana kwa jamii huku zikifungua mawanda mapana ya mitazamo ambayo ni muhimu kwa udhabiti wa jamii endelevu.

Licha ya nadharia ya falsafa ya “Fundo” la muwa yalihusu kwa upana Taifa zima lakini kwa kuwekeza nguvu katika rika la Ujana kama rika tete na tegemeo kwa taswira ya Taifa lolote ndipo kiini cha mabadiliko yatajikita na kutoa cheche zisambaazo kama moto katika nyasi kavu kwa makundi yote katika jamii.

Ujana ni moja ya umri ambao hutazamwa kwa umakini sana na jamii makini kwani ni katika kundi hilo taswira na hatima ya Taifa hujengeka.

“Nchi inayoweza kudumu na kuendelea ni ile tu ambayo wananchi [hususan vijana] wake wanatafakari masuala, wanasaili na kujisaili, wanakosoa na kujikosoa, wanabishana kwa dhati. Kila siku wakitafuta kipya kinachoweza kuwaendeleza, wanasaka ujuzi na maarifa bila kupumzika, wanakataa kumezeshwa “kweli” zisizo na msingi wowote. Nchi isiyokuwa na watu wenye sifa hizo si taifa bali ni mkusanyiko wa watu ambao silika yao lazima iamuliwe na watu wengine ambao maslahi yao yanaweza kuwa ni kuwafanya watumwa” Jenerali Ulimwengu.

Katika jamii yetu ya Tanzania vijana ni tunu ambayo licha ya uwezo na umakini wake bado ina changamoto nyingi sana ambazo falsafa ya fundo la muwa inajaribu kuzichambua kuelekea utamu halisi.

Licha ya kelele nyingi sana za vijana katika kudai kushirikishwa bado kuna haja na deni kubwa kwa vijana wenyewe kujidhatiti sana katika kuelekea ushiriki wao wa madhubuti ili hatimaye waweze kula utamu wa muwa.

Ni namna gani vijana wanajiandaa na changamoto za kimaisha ambazo zinakuwa mithili ya fundo katika kuelekea utamu wa rika walilopo? Je jamii inawasaidiaje kuvuka vizingiti wa changamoto hizi mithili ya uwepo wa matumizi ya visu na vifaa kama hivyo katika uvunjwaji wa fundo la muwa?

Vijana wana elimu bora yenye kuweza kuwawezesha kukabiliana na changamoto wa mazingira waliyopo ama wana bora elimu?

Wengi wamekuwa wakikimbilia kufananisha mafanikio ya kitaaluma na upatikanaji wa alama za juu mathalani daraja la kwanza ama “A”, sawa hicho ni kipimo kizuri kimoja wapo lakini hakitakamilika endapo mhusika hataweza kulitafsiri daraja alilolipata ama alama aliyoipata katika matendo hususan kujikwamua na changamoto zake zimkabilizo.

Kwa kumiliki daraja la kwanza ama alama ya juu ambayo huwezi kuitumia na kuidhihirisha hususan katika kukabiliana na changamoto kadha wa kadha katika fani husika ama maisha yako ni sawa na debe tupu!

Lakini hii inatokana sana na namna ambavyo mfumo wetu wa kuelimisha ulivyo. Lakini si mfumo tu, bali hata mhusika jinsi alivyo na anavyojirahisi na kuukubalia mfumo umpeleke ndiko siko!

Hapa ndipo wasomi na wataalamu mathalani Will Durant aliwahi kusema; ufahamu ni nguvu, lakini busara pekee ni uhuru [tafsiri ikiwa yangu] “Knowledge is power, but only wisdom is liberty”!

Naye Marcus Garvey mmoja ya wanaharakati wa kutetea haki za watu weusi aliwahi andika kitabu chake cha Ujumbe kwa Watu “Message to The People” ambapo alitanabaisha umuhimu wa kujiimarisha kwa kutafuta maarifa na thamani yake mathalani kuweza kudhihirisha pundi mhusika anapokuwa na maarifa ama ujuzi fulani anaweza kuwa kama mtawala katika maarifa hayo na kupelekea kushinda washindani wengine nakupelekea kujijengea umahiri na kuaminika.

Mara kwa mara tofauti kubwa sana na hata wakati mwingine hupelekea baadhi kuogopwa katika jamii licha ya udogo ki umri huja kwa uwezo wa ufahamu na kuweza kuhusianisha ufahamu huo na mazingira halisi yamkabiliyo mhusika, hapo ndipo dhana na umuhimu wa maarifa huja.

Hapa ndipo wanaibuka vijana ambao huhitajika sana na wenye soko katikati ya madhila ya ukosefu wa ajira ili tu waweze kuchochea maendeleo ya jamii kwa umadhubuti wao wakuwa wanafikra “Think Tanks”!

Vijana hawa wanaweza kupinga vizingiti kadha wa kadha mathalani vya umri, ujana, kisomo cha wastani wa juu[ingawa si lazima idadi nyingi ya shahada] na kuweza kuosha mikono yao na kustahili kuaminiwa na kutegemewa kama wabobeaji wa fikra “Think Tanks” ambao huweza kutoa mitazamo mipya.

Ikumbukwe si kila msomi ni makini na mwenye uwezo wa kung’amua maono na kuwa mwanafikra “Think Tank!” lakini nchi mathalani Tanzania inaweza kufanya juhudi ya dhati kutengeneza vijana kama hawa wanafikra pana kufaa katika matumizi ya nyanja mbali mbali mathalani taasisi za kiserikali, binafsi, mashirika ya umma, vyama vya kiraia, vyama vya kisiasa.

Kwa kila taasisi makini na madhubuti itajitahidi kuweza kupata wanafikra makini na pana “Think Tanks” kama hawa ili kuelekea ustawi wa taasisi hiyo.

Kwa ustawi wa taasisi tunapaswa kupata vijana wengi sana wenye uwezo wa juu wa kifikra “Think Tanks” ambao wanauwezo wa kuona zaidi ya maono ya kawaida.

Lakini si tu taasisi zetu kuwa na vijana wa kutosha wenye umakini wa kifikra na maono “Think Tanks” bali pia kuwa na taasisi zenye fikra na maono “Think Tank Institutions” hata kuweza kukinzana na hatimaye kupata ulalo mzuri wa hoja ambazo huhitajika katika ujenzi wa jamii makini yenye kuelekea ubora wa ustawi na si taasisi moja kumeza nyingine na kubaki pasi mpizani ama changamoto katika utendaji wake.

Mwalimu Nyerere aliwahi kutanabasisha Taifa kwa ujumla katika kitabu chake cha Tujisahihishe kuwa moja ya makosa ambayo tunapaswa kujisahihisha ni kutojielimisha.Na kuchambua fikra za wengi kuwa mosi; kusoma ni mpaka kujiunga katika vyuo mathalani Vyuo Vikuu ama nje ya nchi. Pili; kufikiri kuwa tunajua kila kitu na hatuna haja ya kujifunza jambo lolote zaidi.”Mwanzo wa elimu ni kutambua kuwa hatujui kitu!”.

Je ni kwa namna gani vijana tunang’amua fursa hiyo na kujiandaa ipasavyo kuweza kuwa wanafikra makini “Think Tanks” wenye kuweza kutoa maono mapya katika nyanja za fani zetu? Ni kwa vipi vijana tunajiandaa kuweza kukabiliana na misukumo ya changamoto za kimaisha mathalani ukosefu wa ajira na kutumia umahiri wa fikra na maono kujinasua katika changamoto hizo?

Na ndiyo maana Hayati Bob Marley aliweza imba tungo ya ukombozi wa kifikra katika Wimbo wa Ukombozi “Redemption Song” ;

“Jikomboe kutoka utumwa wa kiakili,

Hakuna mwingine isipokuwa sisi wenyewe

Tunaoweza kukomboa fikra zetu

Wala msiogope nguvu za kiatomiki

Sababu hakuna hata moja itakayosimamisha muda……..”

“Hakika huwezi kula muwa pasi kula fundo” na “tamu ya muwa yenyewe ni fundo”!

© Michael J. Dalali.

ANGALIZO: Makala hii iliwahi kuchapwa katika gazeti la MWANANCHI mnamo tarehe 30.09.2008 katika kolumu ya Tafakuri Tanduizi....hii ndiyo makala halisi kabla ya maboresho ya wahariri.Shukrani zangu za dhati kwa wahariri na menejimenti ya gazeti la Mwananchi kwa ushirikiano. Na hasa kwa namna ya pekee wana Tafakuri Tanduizi wenyewe "Wanazuoni".mathalani Kamaradi Chambi Chachage kwa kuendeleza harakati.

Aluta Continua!

Septemba 20, 2008

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
KUKAMILIKA KWA MUHULA WA KWANZA YA PROGRAMU YA MAFUNZO KWA VIJANA
“SCHOOL OF TYVA”

Ndugu zangu waandishi wa habari,
Awali ya yote napenda kuwashukuru kwa kuitikia mwito wangu wa kuja kuzungumza nanyi. Nasema hivi kwa sababu kwa nguvu zenu hususan katika taaluma yenu hii ya habari na umuhimu wake mkubwa katika kuelekea jamii huru, ahaki, yenye uwakilishi bora mathalani wa vijana kazi ambayo mnajitahidi kila kukicha.

Tanzania Youth Vision Association [TYVA] ama Asasi ya Dira ya Vijana Tanzania ni asasi ya vijana, isiyo ya kiserikali na isiyofungamana na itikadi, kikundi wala chama chochote cha kisiasa. TYVA ilianzishwa mnamo mwaka 2000 na kupata usajili wakitaifa mwaka 2002 kwa hati ya usajili nambari SO.NO. 11454.

Dira yetu: Kuwa na jamii huru, ya haki, ya kidemokrasia na yenye amani ambayo ina ushiriki hai wenye manufaa kwa vijana.

Asasi ya Dira ya Vijana Tanzania [Tanzania Youth Vision Association] kwa kushirikiana na shirika la British Council chini ya Mradi wa Debate to Action “DTA” imeweza kuendesha mafunzo yenye lengo la kujengea uwezo kwa vijana nchini mathalani katika ubunifu na usimamiwaji wa miradi, uongozi ili waweze kuimarisha utekelezaji wa mradi wa Debate to Action hususan katika ngazi ya asasi shiriki.

Programu hiyo ambayo ilipewa jina la “School of TYVA” imeweza kutoa matunda mengi toka kuzinduliwa kwake mnamo Mei 4, 2008 hadi leo hii Septemba 20, 2008 ambapo muhula wa kwanza unamalizika kuruhusu kufanyika kwa tathimini, kuboresha na kupanua programu.

Programu hii imeonesha mafanikio kwa kiasi kikubwa, kwani idadi ya washiriki imezidi kuongezeka maradufu kuanzia vijana nane tulipoanza hadi zaidi ya mia moja leo hii.Umahiri katika kusimamia matukio na kubuni miradi katika ngazi ya asasi pia umeongezeka.Wadau walioonesha nia ya kufanya nao kazi imezidi kuongezeka, ikihusisha asasi za kiraia pamoja na wafadhili mbalimbali.

Ndugu wanahabari, kwa kutambua mchango wenu kwenye maendeleo ya asasi za vijana na taifa kwa ujumla, wito wangu kwenu ni kuwaombeni kufikishia taarifa ya fursa hii adhimu na thabiti kwa vijana wengi zaidi nchini. Hii itaboresha ongezeko la vijana wenye uwezo wa kushiriki kikamilifu katika michakato ya maendeleo.

Nikirudi kwa wanachama na vijana kwa ujumla, niwakumbushe kilomita moja huanza na hatua moja. Pamoja na nia thabiti, fursa tunazozipata, na uwezo tunaojijengea ndiyo nguzo muhimu katika kuwa wadau wakuu katika michakato ya maendeleo.

Kwa kuhitimisha, programmu hii ya School of TYVA kama ilivyoalezwa kabla imekamilisha muhula wake wa kwanza leo tarehe 20 Septemba 2008 kutoa fursa ya kutathmini tulipotoka, tulipo, na tunapoelekea. Hiyo itashirikisha kamati kuu ya programu, asasi kwa ujumla na wadau wachache wenye nia ya kusaidia na kufanya nao kazi. Taarifa zaidi zitatolewa kwa umma, pindi tathmini itakapokamilika.

TYVA imejitolea kwa dhati kukuza uwezeshaji na kujing’amua kwa vijana kwa kuwa na programu fahamu, zenye kujenga uwezo na mitandao yenye kulenga vijana, yenye kuzingatia jinsia, rafiki kwa mazingira na zipatikanazo kwa ufanisi na kwa vijana walio katika mazingira magumu.

Asanteni Sana Kwa kunisikiliza!
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Imetayarishwa na;

……………………
Justin M. Rwelengera
Mkuu wa Idara ya Mafunzo na Uwezeshaji
0713-03 99 77