WAKISO, Uganda, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Forty teachers of the Chinese language in Ugandan secondary schools graduated from a Chinese language training program on Wednesday, after an intense nine-month training in a Confucius classroom at Luyanzi Institute of Technology.
The graduates, who engaged in a Chinese language training program for Ugandan secondary school teachers, are part of the east African country's efforts to train 500 teachers to teach the Chinese language in 1,000 schools in the country, according to Grace K. Baguma, director of Uganda National Curriculum Development Center.
Baguma said the government has already approved the syllabus for teaching the Chinese language at the advanced secondary school level, and at the university level. Degrees in Chinese studies are being offered.
Zhong Jianghua, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the training of Ugandan secondary school teachers in the Chinese language is critical in promoting the people-to-people relationship between the two countries. - Xinhua
United Kingdom’s Prince William Friday mourned the death of two wildlife reservists Mark Jenkins and his son Peter who died in a plane crash on Thursday at the Tsavo East National Park.
The Prince of Wales took to social media to express his grief while revealing his long-time friendship with the deceased.
“Yesterday, I lost a friend, who dedicated his life to protecting wildlife in some of East Africa’s most renowned national parks. Mark Jenkins, and his son Peter, were tragically killed when flying over Tsavo National Park while conducting an aerial patrol,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Tonight, I’m thinking about Mark’s wife, family and colleagues who’ve sadly lost a man we all loved and admired.”
Jenkins, a wildlife ranger and his son Peter (a game warden) lost their lives after their aircraft crashed on Thursday morning while on patrol in the park's north-eastern boundary.
There are claims they may have been shot from the ground as they tried to drive out cattle that were in the park.
The Kenya Wildlife Service Wildlife Service said it learned with deep sorrow about a fixed-wing aircraft crash that occurred in the Kone area along the Tiva in Tsavo East National Park.
“The plane, a Cessna 185 registration number 5Y-DHS, belonged to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), crashed at around 7.15 hours while on patrol in Huri – the northeastern boundary of the park, regrettably instantly killing both occupants on board,” KWS said.
Prince William’s friendship with Jenkins dates back to 2001 when he visited Africa for a three-year period where he learnt about game conservation, wildlife and its environment.
The friendship blossomed since Jenkins was following Prince's work with the Tusk Trust.
Prince William is the patron of Tusk Trust, a UK charity organization, which protects endangered wildlife species.
Global conservation organization Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) based in Germany also paid tribute to the Jenkins, terming him as a "lifelong conservationist and experienced bush pilot." -CYRUS OMBATI, The Star
NHS's annual mental health report reveals over 3 million people in England were in contact with secondary mental health, learning disabilities and autism services at some point during the financial year 2021-22.
With 992,647 of those people under 18 years of age, this is a 16.2% increase from the previous year.
Martin Preston, Founder and Chief Executive at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere has shared seven key ways one can safeguard their mental health during the festive season.
Prioritise time for yourself
With work Christmas parties and festive family gatherings soon to be in full swing, it can be quite difficult to make time for yourself.
As lovely as catching up with friends and family can be, constantly being surrounded by people may lead to feeling socially drained - especially if they've got any personal issues they are dealing with.
Therefore, it is important to strike a balance and ensure you are still allocating yourself some solid 'me time' in the midst of all the festive fun.
During the festive season, perhaps try making some festive DIY Christmas decorations to feature in your home. As well as the mental benefits this provides, you'll also be saved from spending your money on store-bought decorations.
Take time out from social media
During the festive season, it's common for people to post about what they're up to. For individuals that are spending Christmas alone, or perhaps mourning the loss of a relative, seeing the upbeat festive content of others can be especially difficult.
What's more, many fall into the habit of making comparisons through what they see on social media, and this leads to people not appreciating what they do have. With this in mind, taking a break from social media over Christmas may do wonders for your wellbeing.
Keep active
Due to shorter days and dark nights, it can be difficult to find the motivation to stay active. However, keeping fit is very important, especially if you tend to struggle with your mental health over the festive period. Even something as little as going out for a walk in the fresh air everyday will make you feel better.
Limit alcohol consumption
Delamere's recent drug and alcohol survey found that one in twelve Brits confessed that they used alcohol to diminish depressing thoughts. As we head into the festive season, it is expected that many people will continue to over-indulge on the booze - but doing this will have a negative impact on your wellbeing.
This is because heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that regulate mental health. While a drink may relax us, it's important to know that overconsumption of alcohol can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety in the long run.
Talk to loved ones
Whether they are near or far, always try to confide in loved ones if you are struggling. If the festive season is especially tough for you, make sure your friends and family are aware of this.
For instance, you could inform them of certain triggers that have a negative impact on your mental health, so they can try their best to help you avoid these this Christmas. By simply voicing your concerns, you'll find that such a weight will be lifted, making you feel like you aren't struggling alone.
Give back to the community
The beauty of helping others is that this act of kindness will make you feel good about yourself. From The Salvation Army to various food banks, there are numerous causes you can contribute to over the festive period. It's the season of giving, after all!
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