Memory Mdyetseni - Living Hero #2

Africa’s socioeconomic circumstance leaves its citizens with few choices and little hope when faced with disasters such as HIV/AIDS and famine. Because of their role and position in society, all these challenges hit women the hardest.

Approximately 65% of the women in Malawi are illiterate and therefore cannot engage in meaningful economic activity or employment save for casual labour and peasant farming. As drought exasperates the already critical situation, many women are forced to make desperate decisions. When things like wild tubers, roots, and termites have failed to sustain their families, women have found themselves joining the sex trade just to get a little money to buy maize. They argue that it is better to die five or 10 years later from AIDS than to die now from hunger.

As an orphan from a young age, Memory Mdyetseni struggled to complete her education in her homeland of Malawi. Despite all the odds being against her, Memory graduated from university in 2006 with a degree in education, a lifelong dream she once thought to be unattainable. She is now the co-founder and Director of Atikana Pa Ulendo (Girls On The Move) Secondary School for Girls in rural Malawi. This project is a joint Canadian/Malawian initiative that is giving Malawian girls the opportunity to move forward, to improve their lives, and to take ownership of their futures. APU is an all-girls’ secondary school (grades 9-12) in rural Malawi. With a total of 72 students, APU’s goal is to reach its capacity of 320 students within the next four years. The first group of girls began form 1 (grade 9) in January, and the hope is that 80 more will fill their places next January when they move up to form 2.

It may seem like a daunting goal, but it is already a small miracle that each of these girls are where they are today. Memory is putting her considerable talents and passion into improving the lives of hundreds of other young girls who are suffering the same hardships that she has overcome.

During the 2005 famine in Malawi, Memory undertook the daunting task of launching her own Famine Relief Effort in her home region of Kasungu. She and her husband Henry Mdyetseni, risked their lives to purchase, transport and distribute hundreds of bags of maize to thousands of the poorest villagers in Chamama, near Kasungu.

Through her work with girls education, as well as through her Famine Relief Effort, Memory has become a respected role model in her community. She has single-handedly changed the views of the male leaders in her community who are now encouraging their daughters to continue with their schooling. Not only are they willingly accepting leadership from a woman, but they are actively seeking Memory’s advice. Because of Memory, hundreds of little girls can now believe that they too can have a future – a future that includes education, health, independence and empowerment.

Memory Mdyetseni, my living hero #2.

“The world belongs to the stubborn." – Memory Chazeza Mdyetseni

Ideological Insanity

Today’s big headline in the Edmonton Journal reads - “Terrorists target USA via Alberta”. Apparently it may be effective to disrupt the energy supply to the US by attacking Alberta’s oil and gas industry. When I think of Rona Ambrose’s Canada Day speech from last year where she stressed how important Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan was in keeping Canada safe, I have to wonder why my risk of being harmed by a terrorist attack has increased so dramatically since 2001.

I have always wondered who decides who is classified as a terrorist and who is classified as a freedom fighter. Logically and obviously, the definition is in the eye of the beholder. Technically a terrorist is defined as anyone who engages in terrorism. Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. From my perspective, pretty much every country on the planet can be accused of engaging in terrorism. Again it all depends on one’s perspective and personal ideology. This uniqueness in ideology is what all the fuss is about. Anatomically and physiologically we are the same but ideologically we are different. Ideology is learned, not genetically predisposed so I have to believe a solution is possible.

I know my personal ideology has evolved over the years through dialogue and education. I can’t think of any of my ideological shifts being induced through force or intimidation. Therefore it is not a huge logical leap for me to assume that there was not a shift in American ideology after the attacks of September 11th nor will there be any shift in Afghan or Iraqi ideology generated by the current wars in those countries. I am left to wonder what we are expecting to accomplish with these wars when the same tactics that are being used do not work on ourselves.

Yup, probably said too much here already. So much more to say but the topic is way too volatile. I encourage anyone who wishes to find a solution to visit http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/ or watch the documentary Torturing Democracy. It is impossible to not question the real motives behind the Iraq and Afghanistan wars when one considers the only outcome possible when tactics such as these are being employed.

What do we stand for and what are we willing to die for? I always thought we stood on the side of good, no matter what. When one stoops to using the very tactics we have condemned our enemies for using, our enemies have won.

“The healthy man does not torture others - generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers”
- Carl Gustav Jung (1875 - 1961)

Selfless Acts

At the beginning of the UBBT challenge I never really put a lot of thought into the 1000 acts of kindness requirement. I figured this one would kind of be self perpetuating and just a matter of logging the acts. However when one puts a little thought into it, the specifics of the requirement become a bit of a conundrum.

The first snag one runs into is the definition of a kind act. Does it really count if it is something that I would have done anyway? Is it really a kind act worth documenting if I also benefit from it? First off, there are really few selfless acts. Everything I do for others tends to reciprocate back upon me. I can’t think of any kind thing that I have done for another that hasn’t given me a piece of my soul back. I definitely feel a lot better about myself and the world in general and my personal situation in life always benefits from helping others. I found myself asking that if I would have done the act anyway and it really isn’t a selfless act, what is the purpose of this test requirement?

One of the most difficult things to maintain in a hectic lifestyle is the mindfulness required to stay in the moment. So many of our actions and reactions are generated without a thought and without awareness. We can go through an entire week with little or no memory of the experiences of our routine days. These routines make it easy for us to keep our thoughts on the mistakes of our past and our concerns for the future rather than on the gift of the moment. Ironically one can really only utilize the experience of the past to shape the future if that experience is used in the here and now.

I have found by documenting my daily acts of kindness, no matter how insignificant, I am forced to stay in the moment and recognize my actions in their purest form. While documenting these acts may not give me any extra insight into myself, since we all tend to perform kind acts throughout our lives without thinking about them, the exercise of documenting them does bring me back to the moment. The real benefit I am finding from being in the moment is that not only am I forced to notice what I am doing to make a difference, I am now also noticing what I am not doing but could be doing. Self awareness definitely imposes a great sense of responsibility upon oneself.

Sometimes our inactions speak to the world louder than our actions and for that reason the acts of kindness requirement of the Ultimate Black Belt Test is, for me, the most defining characteristic of this entire project. It’s amazing what can evolve from one simple question.

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.”
Thich Nhat Hahn (b. 1926)

Off and Running

Had a pretty good week this week. I was fortunate to have spent some time talking to Coach Tom about the student members I am bringing on to the UBBT and our conversation really helped solidify my focus and ultimately, theirs. This project speaks to me on so many levels but the biggest value it brings to my kung fu is that it gives me an excuse to train. Having a full time job while running a full time school makes for a fairly hectic daily schedule when one is also dealing with personal challenges along the way. I have never lacked for excuses to not spend more time on my own personal development so having this personal mandate for the next sixteen or so months is a great opportunity for me to grow and more importantly, do it guilt free. Having a bunch of my students share this journey with me will definitely maximize the value of the experience.

I was actually standing outside Canada Post yesterday when Master Dave McNeill called to see if I had received my cane shipment from him, I have to tell you, his canes are works of art. Every time I have the opportunity to speak with him he freely offers his expert advice and assistance. What has always impressed me with Master McNeill is how genuine he is. He always remembers our previous conversations and my personal situation so his advice is never blind or empty. As always, I got some great support concerning the care for my reconstructed knee that seems to be taking forever to get back online.

My conversation with Master McNeill reminded me that the chances of anyone completing UBBT 6 without suffering major setbacks is unlikely. I actually have an advantage by going in with a hobbled knee in that my whole approach and plan will take this limitation into account so I am definitely mentally ready for this.

“Today, I begin my “black belt test” again. My life is my test.”
- Tom Callos