IDEAS, INNOVATIONS AND INITIATIVES TO CHANGE LIVES

KEEP YOUR SCRATCHING BRAINS !
Do you have an idea that you think can change the comminity?
Hey! We invite You and all students and youth worldwide to think, collaborate and invest some of your time into actions that collectively will create tangible impact and a better future for underprivileged people worldwide.
 Is it an innovation or an initiative to contribute to national and world development? This then is your chance to put those ideas into action! Determination: Challenge aims at giving students a chance to innovate and initiate activities and products that will help the sorrrounding communities.We ask you to use your creativity and help one or more underprivileged groups of youths, from the elderly, the orphaned to disabled or abandoned.
Therefore, if you would like to know how each of us can change the world the answer is simple: "just turn your intentions to actions”. Determination therefore brings the much awaited challenge to bring the intellectual abilities into actions while winning alot of prizes and winning projects being adopted and funded.

Dances could be an Idea to reach out to the masses

. ELIGIBILITY:

This contest is available to all registered Students at Mzuzu University and have registered for the Determination: Challenge2012 and are between the age of 18 to 30.Lectureres,  Associates, employees and partners of Determination: Challenge and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies collectively, (the "DETERIN CHALLENGE Entities") and members  are not eligible to participate.

Contest officially opens on:(.......)

Contest Voting starts: (......)

Contest deadline: (.......)

Contest procedure:(.......)

How to get involved?

We are giving a chance to individuals, students association and groupings whether religious groupings, faculty associations, sports teams, social clubs, be it MUTAG, MUAG, MUTHE, SCOM. ST THOMAS, Debate club, MUTSA, C-Tech Systems, CAIPHA, Mzuni Fc, which ever group!
The registration will be done under real names and required information for Determination registration: first name, last name, e-mail address, birth date, country of residence, programme of study, organization. Submissions must not infringe the rights of any third party and must be suitable for publication. Determination reserves right to reject, delete and/or disqualify any solution found in CDeterminatin's sole discretion to violate its Terms and Conditions or these guidelines or to be fraudulent, to infringe upon existing rights of others, to be incomplete, damaged, obscene, vulgar, offensive or otherwise unsuitable for publication. Determination may reject any solution it believes is the result of fraud or was submitted in violation of the game rules. If a potential prize winner is disqualified for any reason, the prize will be awarded to the next user by judging panel evaluation. Determination is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, late or misdirected solutions, and all such entries that are ineligible. Altered, illegible, or incomplete entries are also ineligible.

Presentation entry specifications

• The contest submission has to be the original work of the person or group that submitted it
• The content of the entry must be in accordance with Contest submission format as outlined in the Challenge description.( Which will be communicated during the challenge launch)

Contest prize: ( Will be Communicated during the launch)

· Determination : Challenge's community(Mzuzu University students) will vote for your submission with “thumbs up” and will be able to post comments.

·  A team of Judges  will select  Finalists, top 5 by community votes and others chosen by the the Judges.

·  The Judging Panel will select the final Winners among the  Finalists.

 The winner will be selected according to the following criteria:

·  Quality of the submission – presents most important factors, demonstrates clear structure, showcases depth of thinking and understanding.

·  Impact of the idea – what was the outcome of your idea, which group of people will be helped, how much  the team will engage.

·  Potential development and scalability – does your idea have potential for development to the next level?

IDEAS, INNOVATIONS AND INITIATIVES TO CHANGE LIVES

IDEAS, INNOVATIONS AND INITIATIVES TO CHANGE LIVES

My flag

Black red green
My lovely colours
Peaceful, calm and real
Black red green
My lucky colours
With an ever shinning  sun
We love you, I love you
As I grow older
My black red green
Grew older and wiser
With its ever shinning  sun
Forever black red green
And forever the shinning sun
You conquer your foes
Aiming to change the course
Of time and history
My lucky black red green
You make me happy
All the heroes gone
And the soldiers fallen
But never forgotten
Proud of you
Black red green
We embrace you with owe
The symbols of love
Over the years grew
When you fly in the sky
With your ever shinning sun
You preach love, loyalty and
respect
Yet some tend to lose the
respect
I vow to love and protect
Fight for your legacy
As we continue to rise
Like the ever shinning sun
On your middle
Black red green
With theshinning sun FOREVER

AFRICA DAY CELEBRATIONS LOW DOWN!!!

…expose a real touch of raw
African aesthetic beauty
BY: CHARLES NAMALELE



Martin Nkasala was the director of Ceremonies



Last night ’s Africa Day
Celebrations, organized by
Mzuzu University Determination
Initiative Network, saw the jam-
packed university hall
reverberate with staccato echoes
of authentic African merriment
as hordes of lecturers and
students united in one voice of
black pride and camaraderie,
reports Department of
Publications.
The massive celebrations that
made Mzuni join the rest of the
continent in celebrating Africa
Day, were held under the theme
‘ Celebrating an African Child’.
The event took place around
campus the whole day and the
indigenous intellectuals were
seen clad in their traditional
regalia as an epitome of genuine
Africanness. It was a thrill if not
a tantalizing spectacle to see
Mzuni ’s handsome men and
ultra-beautiful ladies clad in
zitenje and mipango that
sparkled with the bonafide
African colours of black, red,
green and yellow. Most
intellectuals conversed in their
mother tongues like Tumbuka,
Yao, Nkhonde, Sena, Chichewa,
Ngoni, Lambya, Lomwe and
many other local languages.
The celebration reached its
climactic pinnacle with a
nocturnal spellbinding showcase
in the main hall. Traditional
dances by Level One Tourism
students were a touch of
splendour and so were poetry
recitals by Kanthu Kamthunzi,
Ellen Kanyenda and Jahebic
Banda. Carrying the night to
maximum heights was the Gule
Wamkulu showcase by Gabriel
Kaferapanjira and his
‘ entourage’.
Launched at the function, the
first of its kind ever in Malawi,
were the ‘Support a Child
Initiative Raffle Draw’ and Charity
Fund.
The Determination Initiative
Network conducted the
celebrations in conjunction with
the Entertainment, Special Needs
and Social Welfare directorates
of MUSREC and some faith
groups. 

Broad smiles: Black is the beauty
of the brightest day as is
evidenced from these faces
wreathed in captivating grins.


The brainchild of Dennis Imaan
(Level 1 Tourism student),
Determination Initiative Network
is a Youth Grouping which is in
its formation stage on campus
and is principally aiming at
promoting young people in
areas of culture, environmental
management, self reliance,
community service, talent and
academics.
According to Imaan, the
Network believes that young
people have the power and the
ability to create the best world.
“ We realize the knowledge and
the skills young people have and
believe that if they are well
nurtured and sharpened, they
can greatly contribute to the
country ’s socio-economic
development,” he says in a letter
of invitation served to this
roving journalist.
In a related development, Dennis
Imaan confided to this reporter
that very soon there will be an
official launch of the Network,
that is, sometime after all the
registration procedures have
been finalized. He further said
that apart from him, the other
person who played a vital role in
the preparations for the event
was Joana Magombo.

BACK TO MY ROOTS’ ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

DETERMINATION INITIATIVES NETWORK

• 
  ‘If people from the vicinity of Mzuni complained that they had nowhere to go on Independence Day then they are being economic with words because the varsity student community organized an appetizing gala under the auspices of Determination Initiative Network, this reporter can describe the whole event.
  
  The celebrations, which marked forty-six years of Malawi’s independence, reached the climax on Tuesday night with several traditional activities spicing up the episode. Among them were traditional dances like gulewamkulu,
  

  

  poem recitals, music performances, comedies, chinkhoswe, weight lifting and an indelible and first ever raffle draw.
  
  According to Martin Mkasala, the events coordinator for the organization, the event was organized to remind Malawians where they are coming from and to re-create the bad image that people outside there have about university students.
  “You know we are future leaders, but our future starts today. It is high time we had shown the world that we are responsible citizens,” said Mkasala who was also the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Mkasala said the event had been organized in the African way because Malawi is in Africa and we cannot do away with Africanism. He added that the event was a success despite the problems they faced to prepare the event. He bemoaned the tendency of late registration of activities by students as it delays the whole programme. However, he said they really appreciate the support they have received from the student community. He also disclosed that the organization would communicate to the student community on how much was collected on the day. Mkasala also hinted that people should expect more next semester.
  
  The events started earlier in the day with sales and displays of various local foods such as therere, thobwa, charcoal burnt sweet potatoes and cassava. The afternoon schedule commenced with prayers in the hall conducted by Pastor Monica Nyondo of Christ Embassy Ministries. However, the prayers were poorly patronized, a thing which Mkasala attributed to lack of seriousness among the students community.
  
  

  

  Impersonating Malawi’s former leader, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda

  
  However, the story was different when other activities started in the evening as people flocked into the hall in en masse. Members of Mzuzu University Theatre (MUTHE) sent the audience into rapture when they impersonated Malawi’s former leaders, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda and Dr Bakili Muluzi as well as the incumbent, Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika.
  
  Bhahat Zimba a level one Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences student played the part of Kamuzu. In a typical Kamuzu attire he greeted the audience with the MCP slogan kwa-a-cha! Dressed in a black suit, Wilson hat and holding a flying whisk, he reminded people of the father and founder of the Malawian nation. Martin Mkasala took the character of the first president in democratic Malawi, Dr. Bakili Muluzi. Donning a grey suit and a UDF scarf, he sent the audience into laughter when he quoted the former leader; “Amayi nda bambo, ndamva kuti ena amanena kuti ndidzakupatsani feteleza waulere, kodi uleya ndi ulere ndizofanana? Nanga ine ndili ndi fakitale yopanga feteleza?”
  
  The former MUSREC speaker Samson Chiphwanya came on stage but this time wearing the face of the incumbent head of state, Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika. His heavy Lomwe accent mimesis sent the audience into a cloud of laughter and excitements. Beside him was Madam Callista in DPP colours, a role that Wehma Chimwezi played.
  Even the opposition leader, Honourable John Tembo, was not spared with Jaheibic I, comically impersonating bwana JZU on the stage.
  
  Probably, the pinnacle of the event was the chinkhoswe ceremony, which was typically traditional. Forth year Bachelor of Education Science student and former charismatic speaker, Madalitso Chikaonda, acted the role of bridegroom while third year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management student, Felistas Chirwa, was the bride.
  
  Tsitsi Chirwa, a level one Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Religious studies could not hide her excitement and was full of praises about the event. “I have really enjoyed the event. It was wonderful. The chinkhoswe portrayed real Malawian tradition. These people really prepared for the event. Am happy!” said she with a loud tone as a sing of her maximum joy.
  
  Last on the menu was the raffle draw that was organized to raise funds for a disabled child, Talandira of Kasungu who was born without both arms. Assorted items like pens, wristwatches, tumblers and fashionable caps were up for grabs. Samson Chiphwanya was the luckiest man by winning the grand prize, a Samsung E250I mobile phone with camera, internet and MP3 player facilities,
  
  Asked on how he felt for scooping the prestigious prize, the out going speaker was full of praises to the Organizers. “When I bought the ticket, I was just doing it for the sake of assisting the kid because I was so touched. I did not know that I would be the winner of this phone. I’m so happy indeed,” he explained. He further urged the organizers to bring in more activities to engross the student community after the boggling academic work.
  
  Determination Initiative Network is an organization founded by Dennis Imaan, a level one Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management student with an aim of empowering the youth through charity works and other activities. Membership is open to all students.
  
  However, the event did not go without drama as one first year Bachelor of Science in Water Resources Management students, who was drunk, undressed right in front of the audience. This did not go well with the respectable intellectuals and they immediately whisked him away from the stage amidst beatings.

TRACING DETERMINATION INITIATIVE NETWORK!



“Determination’s funds come from fundraising drives that we involve ourselves in and most largely selling of local food such as Nkhwani wotendera, Khwanya, Utaka wootcha, Thobwa, Mbatata yowotcha, Futali and many other food stuffs on Campus at Mzuni”.



Dennis and Joana when they visited Talandira's home



He might be just any other guy on the streets but this far he has achieved what a lot of young people can only hope for.

 Born Dennis Sangulukani Imaan but” born again”  Dennis So’Favoured  Imaan is a 2^nd born in a family of 3 is the young man behind the story.

The Founder and Director

” I was born on the 16^th of August, 1988 at Nkhoma Hospital. I attended several primary schools before I went to Mzimu woyera Seminary in Chikhwawa where I did my standard 8 and the rest of my secondary school before I went to Kasina Formation House where I spent six months in a state of meditation and reflection while making a decision whether to pursue a priestly vocation before God called me to serve him in another way not as a priest. I have grown up with my Mama having lost my dad when I was 11. I am a born again Christian and I value that above everything! I am more of everything and less of anything. I have had stints at Poly (UNIMA 2008) and Catholic university of Malawi (CUNIMA 2009) before I joinedMzuzu University (Mzuni 2009) (a bit too much) where I am currently studying Tourism and  I am the Vice President of the Mzuzu University Tourism Student’s Association (MUTSA) which I am proud to say I have helped its formation. I am the founder and Executive Director of Determination Initiative Network (DETERIN) not to talk about Determination Tourism Consultancy Company which I am running with Rachel Warren. She is Malawi’s first and only home trained anthropologist who is an assistant

Lecturer at The Catholic University of Malawi having graduated from the same institution a year ago and the company will be opening its doors as soon as all the logistics are finalized. I am a very regular guy, down to earth and an ardent follower of soccer and a zealous Manchester United fan.

 Basically that is who I would say Dennis Imaan is”.

 

<>

Dennis Durind Africa Day 2011

Talking about my stand in the public domain, then we will be talking about my involvement with Determination Initiative Network (DETERIN) which is a vibrant network of positive minded, bold and dynamic young people. It was an idea I conceived in 2007 after my secondary school education and begun to nurture when I was doing fun line mix on radio 2 FM from Mema studios in Lilongwe with Themba Bwanali and was working with a dancing Crew that we called ‘Deter Kids’ and were part of Deter Entertainment. We tried to broaden the group but several controversies creped in and I left that was when I went to Poly where I was to study Engineering. Efforts to start the group at Poly proved futile as I was so into school stuff and at the same time I was trying to find a way into the tourism industry which was becoming my passion by day.  So at Poly I was busy trying to launch my first tourism project Which I dubbed “Malawi Face of Tourism” then, but before I knew it there was a” Miss Tourism Mw” on the streets with the same concept that we had developed and were in the initial discussions with the ministry of tourism .( No hate feelings about what went on though)

With a growing passion for tourism, studying Engineering was like a torture that after a year of my”D journey,” ( as engineering is known at Poly) I unceremoniously left UNIMA for an unknown destination in 2008.I had applied for Mzuni during this period and I was waiting for the intake which was delayed from April and was released later in  July when I was picked to pursue Tourism a course of my life.

Trust me I was confident I was going to be picked but waiting became excruciating. I ended up staying home for 6 months

while I went back to work with Deter Entertainment in Lilongwe and I made up my mind that I did not need school anymore prior to the intake if I was not selected to study tourism at Mzuni. It was until my sister dragged me to go and enroll for a bridge program at The Catholic University just to freshen up my brain where I Studied Political leadership and Geography for months while majoring in anthropology was becoming the only option I could take due to its relation to tourism.

So DETERIN is a brainchild of my passion for working with the youths and the exposure that I have gone through. Determination Initiative Network is a Network which is established to reach out to the youths with basic information and encouraging them to take leading roles in their communities through different initiatives while empowering them to be determined in realizing their goals and making a difference in their communities. This is done through action and not words.

OUR VISION is;

“A generation of determined and focused young achievers, making  positive changes in their communities and in the world around them”.    So Determination is about doing what is supposed to be done and nobody is doing it yet.

There are several areas that we are looking at and at the end of everything; we just want the youths to realize that it is possible to make positive changes in the communities around them. At DETERIN, what others call difficulty, we do it in a day and what they say is impossible we achieve it in a week. We don’t believe in quantity as we work for quality. It’s about passion, dedication and all in all The Determination to be the best.

We could say the teams that are making things happen are currently in Mzuzu at the Varsity where initiatives is the order of the day  and in Lilongwe where Deter entertainment is holding things down in the entertainment realm. We can not overlook the support we are getting from Poly, Catholic University, Chanco and MCA Bt Campus.

This far we have under our belt, organizing of Africa Day Celebrations 2010 at Mzuzu university which marked the birth of the Mzuni Network and 2011 which has galvanized our relationship with the corporate world and the government.



Some of the material that were donated as raffle draw prizes

 The 2010 event was initiated as a way of raising  awareness and  Funds for our kid brother Talandira Banda a kid from Kasungu who was born without both Limbs to an HIV positive mother. We were at it again on 6th July (Independence Day) when we hosted another event to wrap up the raffle draw that we had launched on Africa Day.

 I personally gave out all my fancy Wrist watches, caps, jewelry and a phone as prizes to be won when people bought raffle tickets which were going at K100 each. Several people came in again with additional materials and others contributed cash towards this project that we dubbed “Support a Child Initiative” At the end of it all, we were able to raise about forty Thousand Kwacha which we used to buy household items, clothes, maize and gave Talandira’s mother a capital for a small business.



It was in our first semester that we got recognized by the students’ community as we were voted the best social group for the academic year 2010/2011.



5A crowd that Determination enjoys when they host events at Mzuni



We also have the approval of Mzuzu University as the College ambassador Group that portrays the best image of the institution.



We don’t hold ourselves in high esteem but we are determined to take the lead as long as youth initiatives are concerned because we are driven by the choice between doing what we want now and what we want most. And it’s amazing how fulfilling it is to see our accomplishments when we don’t care who gets the credit as we see the bigger picture and work towards it. In addition to our outreach programs, we also hosted “Mzuni‘s got Talent” Contest from which the winners had a chance to perform alongside Lulu and Mathumela Band, The Music Crossroads winners in Tikhu Vibrations Co-founders Tionge and Khumbo Hango, Body Mind and Soul, Bafipa Band and many more artists at the Mzuzu annual Arts Expo event organized by AFRO Nyasa.  



As a sign that Determination is on the verge to swim the most feared but untried waters and come out victors, this year we hosted the Africa Day Celebrations in conjunction with The Mangochi Tourism Association in an event dubbed “Mangochi tourism Expo” In an exciting event, the group enganged Nde’feyo entertainment who had Maskal, Young Kay, Nthumwi Piksy, Biriwiri and Mizati Band rocking Mangochi Day and Night at Villa Tafika and Zithere Pano Leisure Centre along Malawi’s budding diva Riandy and The Sticky Voiced Binge! They also roped in Thambo n E Entertaiment to make the event a success as we did not have any financial muscle to Seattle the artists and all other involved bills!



“Looking at what we have done I feel like determination is about to achieve something now. We have been preparing the group to come out of the cocoon and challenge the nation.

“I give much credit to the dedication that the team members show to the group! It is a group of unbelievable and determined lads.”

 We have major plans coming up as we will be unfolding our next project which is a “MY EARTH!! GO Green Campaign” It’s an exciting and very important project as it is tackling climate change issues and it’s being designed in  the best way to engage the youths in this fight.



Mock Traditinal Chinkhoswe funds Determination



Some quarters think we are heavily funded by some big organizations from elsewhere but trust me, Determination’s funds come from fundraising drives that we involve ourselves in and most largely selling of local food such as Nkhwani wotendera, Khwanya, Utaka wootcha, Thobwa, Mbatata yowotcha, Futali and many other food stuffs on Campus at Mzuni. We once did a raffle draw and a Traditional Chinkhoswe when we were fundraising for support a child Initiative. But selling food is our main source of income.

Talking about inspiration, I would say I personally get my inspiration from my mum, my own life and  the Tv! I watch a lot of Christian Tv and news and I read the bible lot. I see what the real world is looking for. I would not hide my admiration and inspiration I get from Edward  Eduardo Kankhomba. The guy works very hard for the nation and he is a real model I look up to.  I also have respect for everybody who is sacrificing something for the good of someone not expecting something in return.

To the corporate world, if only they could lend the Youths a hearing ear, our nation could be free of some of these woes that we are experiencing. The same could also be said about the government.

To my fellow youths, all I would say is let’s stay focused, be bold and flexible mindset is very important.  Let’s not chase dreams but chase the Dream Giver and we will be amazed by the ideas He will give us.

For those who would like to join us they can get us on our facebook page from where all the details are available or visit us at Mzuzu University as we are expandind our coverage areg to reach out to other institutions and go into locations

.

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