In 2012, Tamarind Translations was
involved in various activities aimed at supporting the welfare of its network
of translators in Kenya as well as disadvantaged children in neighbouring
communities. Through the Tamarind
Linguists Forum (TLF) and the Swedish Workplace HIV AIDS programme, our company
established a Google group where up to 40 freelance translators based in Kenya
exchange information on Health and Wellness. There are monthly discussion
topics, with a pause for evaluation, after every 3 months. The following were
discussed in 2012:
·
Computer Vision Syndrome - This
topic focused on the effects of spending long time in front of a computer
screen that leads to impairment of vision. Translators are particularly
vulnerable to this. Members shared best practices on how to avoid this
including the use of special screens and regular breaks.
·
Diabetes – This topic covered the shocking
statistics of Diabetes worldwide, where to get free Diabetes and BMI screening
on World Diabetes Day, Diabetes in Children, how to live with Diabetes, tips to
prevent diabetes and activities to mark World Diabetes Day.
·
Global Warming – Discussions centered on the
consequences of global warming on our health, Climate change and eating right,
climate change and its impact on our health. Members challenged each other to
play a role in averting climate change.
·
Diet and Nutrition – Members
discussed here
centered the benefits of Amaranths, Turmeric and Nuts, Nutrition tip for women
– Don’t cut out the fat!, Health benefits from Nuts, Nutrition tips for various
seasons in a woman’s life, Nutrition tips to ease the symptoms of PMS, Good
nutrition for women of all ages, and Women wellness.
·
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)– here discussions focused
on how Chronic Kidney Disease is a silent killer, statistics for CKD in Kenya,
symptoms of CKD, who can get it, causes of CKD and treatment for CKD. The topic
was enriched by the participation of guest moderators: Mr. Valentine Imonje of
The National Kidney Foundation of Kenya (NKF) is a local Kidney
Foundation www.nkf-kenya.org, and Prisca Oyono of HemoCue
Kenya Ltd. NKF’s mission to
ensure kidney health and improved lives for all Kenyans and make sure the
screening of kidney disease is a primary concern and is available to all
Kenyans countrywide. HemoCue (a Swedish Franchise in Kenya), on the other hand,
sells products used in all medical facilities to test for Diabetes, Anemia and
Early Kidney Disease and more. Members were sensitized about NKF’s Kidney Early Detection and Evaluation Program (KEDEP) aimed at
enabling members of the public to check their
kidneys.
·
Fitness and Exercise- Reminders on how sitting all day
is damaging your body and how you can counteract it, how exercise counteracts
aging effects, how exercise can improve mental health. Members pledged to take
up exercising and related habits like drinking water throughout the days.
·
HIV – Under this topic discussions centered around 10 facts on
HIV/Aids, challenges facing discordant couples, HIV stigma and discrimination
in Kenya workplaces and special eating needs for people living with HIV/Aids. A
case study of one who said “I’m too scared to take a HIV test’ was shared and
discussed as well. Members took it upon themselves to get tested.
·
Safety: How to deal with grenade
blast situation. This was in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Kenya in late
2011. Members shared guidelines on how to react appropriately in a bomb
/grenade blast situation.
Other
Key Activities
·
November 2011 Peer Educators day out at Lukenya. 5 peer
educators met colleagues from other Swedish companies in Kenya and learnt a lot
about team building, leadership and issues around reproductive health
·
September 2011 TLF Launch & Wheel of Life presentation - the forum was launched with the
participation of 50 members and guests. A moderator from NOPE presented the
topic of work-life balance
The TLF online forum has had a visible impact on the health and
lifestyles of members. Many have given their testimonies about their improved
dietary habits, work-life balance, physical fitness (weight loss).
Indeed, the programme won the SWHAP Most Innovative Intervention Award in 2011,
underscored by the uniqueness of approach by use of internet to reach translators
wherever they may be in Kenya and abroad.
Tamarind
Translations has adopted this project as its staff health and wellness project,
and Community Social Responsibility initiative. Once in a while, Forum members
go out to serve disadvantaged children in the society. On 7 December 2012, the
team visited Garden Children’s Home Nairobi where they not only
played games, cooked and served food, but also donated various goodies to the
children in the spirit of Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment