My Last Exam

Hi dears,

Today, I wrote my last undergrad exam. im very grateful to the Almighty God above. Him alone i glorify and lift his name high. God is not good but He is amazing.  I thank God for blessing my parents-Ad & Tukae- they suppported me(financially and emotionally) untill the very end as they had promised. I love them so much. Their happiness is my happiness.

offtopic: I dont usually broadcast my *relationship status* here because my blog is mainly on educational issues but anyways, today ill reveal it to you. I got married early this year to this humble,loving, caring, ambitious..... Yes, so im a wifey to kevin *married* and soon ill be joining my husband to start our own nest.

Back to school, I havent decided yet on what to do exactly but most likely a M.A in industrial relations is def. a number 1 choice at the moment. But i need money oooh so i have to look for a job first and thats my priority at the moment.

Be blessed.
Zita

International Students Protest

Hi dears,

Yes its been a very long time writing. Things pile up then you just keep on procrastinating like "okay, i will post something later on today" then later on today becomes tomorrow morning then the evening comes and you are like on the weekend, then on the weekend and so on...Regardless, here i am! I said no to Procrastination lol.

So today, after my HRIR3450 class, (Yes, I still have two more classes to clear...so right now, im doing my final courses....i'm taking this course mentioned at the start of the paragraph and HRIR2440). So, as i was walking to the university center to grab something to eat, i saw a group of students standing in between the engineering faculty and University center. I was unaware of what was going on but their t-shirts and some were holding posts that read "SAY NO TO DISCRIMINATION". Okay, i was a bit puzzled like whats going on? I was able to ask one of the girl amongst the group who explained to me that "they were against the admission policies for international students who want to enter engineering  faculty. Reason being, The admission procedures were unfair in the sense that, canadian citizens and permanent residents have a way lower GPA entrance as compared to international students." It was mostly a concern of the GPA but at the same time, there are other minor concerns like for instance high tuition fees which is totally understandable in the sense that all international students across Canada and elsewhere pay way too much sometimes triple or double. UofM charges less than other unis but still its expensive. Anyways, so todays protest was mainly about the entrance policies not being fair.

I went further to investigate the claim by having a look at the UofM website which had the admission policies. This is totally true to what they were fighting for. Have a look at the link: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/engineering/undergraduate_studies/1773.html

This is just a brief preview from the link on what it says. 

2014-2015
PROGRAM	CAPACITY	OFFERS**	AGPA (Domestic)	AGPA (International)
Biosystems	36	45	2.75	3.81
Civil	70	70	2.94	4.13
Computer	120***	33	2.81	3.88
Electrical	120***	90	2.94	3.94
Mechanical	120	120	3.06	4.13

** International students make up 13.69% of total offers for this year.

2013-2014 (no distinction between domestic and international students)

PROGRAM	CAPACITY	AGPA
Biosystems	36	2.81
Civil	60	3.44
Electrical & Computer	120***	2.88
Mechanical	120	3.25

Oh dear! I totally understand what engineering students are feeling in the sense that, these students are in the same class together, doing the same course, same professor, same exam setting etc then why not have the same outcome??? Its really painful and it hurts to see such! Why is there a difference from last year???? Why is there a distinction this year? Yet alone only 13.69%???? atleast they would have made it 20% Eh!

Well, I understand engineering faculty is sooooo hard to get in and very competitive but Mh! this I don't understand!!! Okay, lets say its based on the number of applicants(capacity) and overall performance so there is a curve and the curve changes right?. Okay, so as for this is year, it is done!It is what it is! As for the future, I really hope international students wont have to go through such policies, honestly speaking, im not saying that i want international students not to reach their high expectation and not to perform very well, but the gap in between is just too huge. I hope they will find a way to reduce it or atleast equalise it.

Furthermore, again like previously, in my post about the strike that almost happened, proper communication would have reduced this. There should be a clear explanation on why there is a distinction and how they determine it. Such openness is what would avoid future protests cause then students are aware of the policies thus no need of protests cause they either take it or leave it! Let there be an  improved communication.

Aside school affairs, news trending in our society today, Nigerian school girls are still missing, so is the Malaysian Airline, Just today, another Malaysian airline was shot down in Ukraine apparently by a missile. Yet alone,  What is happening in Gaza. God please take control. Life is unfair, yes, the world is a cold place, yes,  but this is just getting too much. The world is a brutal and mysterious place to live in. 

Aside theses major events, I am almost done with my bachelors.

 I wish my muslim friends "Ramadhan Kareem" 

Keep reading,
Zita xx

Jobs

Hey Dears,

Today's post will feature some Labour Related jobs.
I am sure most people do not know what you could do with a Labour Studies degree.Well, at the end of the day, with a LS/LR degree, your knowledge will be around these issues: (judging from the courses you take)

-The Canadian Labour movement

-Working for a Living

-Political economy of Labour

-Employees, Employers and the State

-Labour Law

-Employment Law

-Workplace Health and Safety

-Pensions & Benefits

-Worker's self management

-Globalization and Labour

-Negotiations and Bargaining

-Working class and Labour history

-The skills and knowledge from the field placement.

Here are some jobs you could utilise: Be it in a Gov't position, NGO, private businesses, Union...

-Worker Advocate

-Employment Standard Officer

-Health and Safety Officer

-Human Rights Investigator

-Human Resource Manager

-Labour Relations Board Officer

-Workers Compensation Board caseworker

-Worker Advisor

-Legislative Assistant

-Policy Researcher

-Union Representative

-Union organizer

-Labour Lawyer

PS: My University,-UofM- helps students to attend Mel Myers Labour conference each year. This is a way of networking. You never who you meet and what the person can do for you. Well, I attended last year's Mel Myers Labour conference which had over 350 people. I'm also fortunate to be attending this years conference on March 20 and 21st at Victoria Inn. I am looking forward to interact with like minded people!

Its been a Year!

My dear readers,
I hope y'all are keeping up well. Can you imagine its been a year already? Zita has been blogging for a year now :) Yay!  There might be spaces in between the posts but definetly i try to stay up to date and write as often as i can.
Oh well, cheers to many more years of October 11 which marks a plus one for my blogging years. Thank you for time my dear reader. My audience is actually international! Sometimes i would wonder "there is a reader from this country?"... wow quite impressive :) thanks again.
I also hope you are gaining one or two out of my ramblings. I do this because i like sharing what i think about my course and why i chose it. As they say, "knowledge is the fuel of actions". Again, so many things are happening around at the same with school so i get to share that too. Nevertheless, the bigger picture here is EDUCATION! my mom always said, education will give you unlimited opportunities. Education is the best gift which i believe so too. Thus, alongside education, there comes work and society.
Thank you for sticking around for the year long and for all the reading support.  Keep reading xx

Bullying

Hey dears,

Did u know bullying, violence and harassment happens at the workplace too?

Have u ever felt bullied while working?

Today, i'll write about bullying. 

Actually, instead of writing....i'll share my notes with you since they are straight forward and worth knowing.

There are different types of bullying as illustrated below:

The Constant Critic

Dear Managers please be sure to differentiate between good management vs Bullying.

I hope you have become a step wiser by adding more knowledge on bullying at the workplace xxx

Social Networks

Hey dears,

When it comes to the issue of social networks.....I Shake My Head!

    There is facebook for everything, Twitter for tweets and more of current issues alert, Instagram for uploading pictures only, then Keek for 36 seconds videos and now even for 6 seconds video( I forgot the name). well, there are just too many social programs, the ones i mentioned are just a few common ones. Oh well, then dont forget Whatsupp Viber Ebuddy Bbm and other mobile chatting programs.

     All these programs help us to stay connected. So even no, as i am blogging, all these Blogs help us to connect...making uniting possible.

   However, at the workplace, the use of social networks is strictly prohibited unless during break times and in the exception of certain company's policies. Its even worse when an employee is using the company's asset. In most cases employers premises are monitered. So when u dare facebook or tweet, it directly sends signals to the employer. Therefore to be on the safe side, just avoid social networks at the workplace.

That's all. Till then, xxx

Nyota Yako

Yeah Dears, im on a roll with posts today. Lol! Anyways, all about Tanzania!!! 

So another adorable & inspiring lady is Nancy Sumari. She recently launched her own book called 

" Nyota Yako" which basically means "your star" isnt that inspiring? just the title of the book itself brings in some positive and motivational force in you.

 Anyways, so i thought i should share the news with you.

All of these activities are involved with how much you want something...the passion..the effort and most of all the faith you have to achieve it. So yeah, be a change people! Be good and be an inspiration to the next generation.

Pictures source: google image but ofcourse www.mamazuri.com is the real source

Nancy explains about "Nyota Yako"

Video credits: Shamim Mwasha

Nothing to do in relation to the Labour World- this is part of the rollercoaster in achieving the labour degree! xxx

ShuleDirect

Hey Dears,

Recently, as i was browsing on Haki Ngowi's web, i saw a post on april 10th 2013 on "ShuleDirect". 

So this is how i came across these interesting news on the launch of "shuledirect" in Tanzania. 

The "ShuleDirect" program is aimed to improve the education for secondary students in both private and public schools. www.shuledirect.co.tz is an interactive portal where secondary students can log in and have a 101 session with getting help from teachers. In addition, students can also do quizzes and submit them. 

I'm happy to hear any secondary student can access this student portal free of charge.

However, i have a concern on the outreach of this program, the accessibility to those studying in public schools especially in the rural areas where there have limited resources. If it means all secondary government schools should all have internet access for the program to work effectively then that should be in place. 

The ShuleDirect project is a good investment and i would not want to see a waste of such good effort put together by Faraja Kotta Nyalandu and others. i am concerned on public schools since the majority of secondary students in Tanzania go to government schools directly after primary school. I wish i found statistics to support my point view however there isnt any from recent data in the internet. so take it from me just like this..speaking as a Tanzanian that's the truth. In the exception of those who can afford private secondary schools in which i aint much concerned because the majority of these schools are stable to offer ShuleDirect program to their students. None the less, it means parents should push on this program so that their children can get more familiar to the program. When a child is idle then he or she can log onto shuledirect and solve a few questions :)

Anyways, that being said. i would like to say a big hongera to Faraja Kotta Nyalandu, the founder of shuledirect. Indeed she is inspiring.

pictures source: Haki Ngowi.
video: youtube put by Shamim Mwasha

Now Listen & Watch Faraja Kotta Nyalandu as she explains about ShuleDirect

Proud to see Tanzania rising! polepole tu, solutions to last years perfomance in final exams for secondary students zitapatikana tu!

ByeBye Reading Week

Time is flying by so fast my Dears. 

We are now heading towards March as this being the last week in February 2013. 

I had a one week reading break which was quite nice and seemed too short.

I'm now back to school to finish the other half of the semester.

School wise, I have another Op-ed assignment to finish. I will be giving my opinion on how the grievance and arbitration system is a very good way of dealing with problems at the workplace.

Until next time,

xxx

A "village idiot"

Hey Dears,

As i said this semester alot will be going on, as all my courses are based on "Labour relations".

As for last week, I learnt another important work aspect on "Behaviour Based Safety Programs" by Cathy Walker. 

Workplace Behaviour is a very interesting topic to understand because you get to know:

• Aspects like whether it is the employee to blame when incidents like injuries occur at the workplace
• Employer's take on an incident?
• Should Financial incentives at work be enhanced?
• Whats good between internal responsibility system or external responsibility?

So such concepts are well covered by Cathy Walker concerning Behavior Based Safety Programs.

At most times when incidents happen, it is well known to be the employee's fault for being careless or a "village idiot" as referred by Robert Sass, the father of the three worker health and safety rights. Basically the theory assumes that workers are stupid and choose to make bad choices that could be prevented instead of hurting themselves.

Well, I could argue for the rest of my life but to pick a few : 

• The nature or kind of work matters
• Employer's supervision is necessary
• Proper working equipment 
• Proper training and enough knowledge
• Unsafe acts--->unsafe working conditions

Such issues should be taken into consideration before pointing fingers to the employee as being the one at fault in workplace accidents.

With regard to financial incentives, organisations are rewarded for having less injuries. There has been criticism on organisations giving financial incentives to make them not report accidents which is why i asked earlier on should they be improved? is it necessary to have financial incentive?

Last but not least, health inspectors??? is it better for the organisation (internal responsibility) to have their own health and safety committee in the workplace instead of an external source like health inspectors having to monitor their working standards now and then?

Such cases are interesting to know as a worker you should know your right when to be safe.

What do you think of the video? 

Schools Safety

My Dears,

Honestly, today i woke feeling so happy that its Friday. Then i was happy because one of my close people was graduating. So the day seemed really nice and finally i can relax a bit although i still have my reading to do for the exam but still the thought that its a Friday just brightens up the day :)

But later on during the day as I was browsing as usual, came across breaking news about knife attack on 22 children left wounded in China. After a while again, I read about the shootings in the United States also involving chidren at school.
Dah! It is scary. I'm just too shocked with what is happening to our World. I pray for the lost souls to rest in peace and for God's comfort to families that have lost their loved ones.

 In China

In the States

This is soo sad. 

Left with LABR1260

I thank God for his mercies. I'm only left with one exam to complete this semester.

Yes continue to pray my dears. God does wonders coz I believe if you act, God acts too.

The last exam is from my major course for the degree. Almost everything educational in "MonLabourWorld" comes from this particular course called "Working for a Living". So yes, i do have a giant understanding in the field but still i wont be able to look at my notes during the exam so it is not a guarantee that i have an A* :) still alot has to be done. I have fourteen topics that need to be reviewed. I'll share them with you...

1. Work before Capitalism
2. How Capitalism Transformed Working Life Part A
3. How Capitalism Transformed Working Life Part B
4. Unpaid Work
5. Working For Wages
6. Work in the South
7. Work in the North
8. Workplace Rights in Canada
9. Work and Health
10. Live to work or Work to Live? Part A
11. Live to Work or Work to Live?Part B
12. Young workers
13. Working class responses
14. Working class alternatives

So this is how my weekend is gonna be :( just digging into books books and books!

Anyways, Yes its all about the history of WORK! WORK WORK and WORK!...This is what i chose to study. I have to stay I love what i'm studying. These topics are so interesting and very flexible. The analysis of the topics could be used in any country not just in Canada. Although yes!, an emphasis is placed on Canadian Employment standards particularly Manitoba Employment Laws.

For the love of my motherland, I do alot of comparisons between Tanzania and Canada. Yes, solutions will one day be found for better working conditions in both countries. For now, let me get the knowledge first :)

Be blessed Dears and don't forget to Pray for my last exam xxx

Aspire to Inspire

Hey Dears,

I love this quote

 " There's no need to be perfect to inspire others. 

Let others get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections."

Think about the quote while looking forward to the weekend :)

xxx

Week Update

GHOST WALK 2012

As we all know Halloween comes on the last day of October every year. Honestly, I am not a fan of this celebration. I would not dress up for it or look forward to it....However this year, I was curious to attend the Ghost walk tour which i did.

OmG! I thought I left all these creepy Ghost stories back home but nope... They do exist even here.I only got a chance to visit eight buildings as the tour was only 75 mins but there are many haunted buildings in Winnipeg and some of them are even closed for years. Like Winnipeg's most haunted building 

"the Masonic temple" has been closed for almost five years. Here is a link to watch the video and get more information on the most haunted building in Winnipeg...

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/society/celebrations/halloween-and-tales-of-canadian-ghosts/the-friendly-masonic-temple-ghost.html

Yaniiiiii......The ghost stories were sooo scary.... the narrator made them even moreee scary...

Funny thing is, at times i would look at my friends' faces and see from their expressions that the story was kinda scary...or even when a total silence would occur when waiting to hear whats next...mmmmmh.... I have to say, everyone was keen  listening to the tour guide. well, except for me with taking pictures lol

mmmh...Shame, I don't remember each and every ghost in the story so in that case, the video below will give you a sneak peek or atleast a lil bit of sense of what i was listening to on Tuesday evening :)

Apparently, The belief of souls haunting the living is treasured throughout the year not just on Halloween.

Hapo sasa!!

Watch...

View a few pics from the tour....I did not take many pictures because my fingers were FREEZINGGGG...Holllly!

If you can spot moi and malkia wangu

 Us all heading for the Ghost walk tour Winnipeg 2012

Malkia wangu at the Old Market square

About to start the Ghost Walk

More of the ghost walk

 One of the most haunted building in Winnipeg...ohh my, now im scared of getting in yanii after what i heard..

Listening attentively, mimi busy na pichaaa haha

Anyways, The end.

Have a blessed week ahead my dears

P.S : I passed my Op-Ed assignment as it was a fail or pass so im happy ...on to the next one :)

Any help on Op-Ed, im willing to help out :) send me an email

xxx

Working Life

Hey Dears,

 "Special Sunday" is here!!! So whats our special dish for today?

This week I learnt a lot about Work in the North, then for the past few weeks I have been learning about Work in the South. Then I thought, oh wow! Its good to come with comparisons between the two sides and share it with you.

 First of all, 

As a starter/appetizer, we all do ask ourselves questions about jobs....I will provide answers to what i think. Understand my answers to these questions are highly subjective

Why are jobs sooooo important?

Zee's answer

Income earning "work hard, play hard"

What do we want from jobs?

Zee's answer

1. An interesting, satisfying and trusting job which offers security.
2. Financial security meaning good pay
3. Meaningful or useful to the society sometimes to achieve self satisfactions

What do we get from the jobs and why so?

Zee's answer

Unless self employed but control over the job is plays a key role.

No wonder when it gets to Friday, for those who feel tooo controlled at their workplace they think of "TGIF"-Thank God its Friday and find relief in the sense that they don't have to be answerable to their duties assigned by their bosses during the week days.

Understand that most interesting jobs tend to be least alienated, for instance teaching, a teacher has to follow the curriculum but as a professor at university, more control over what he or she teaches. But still control is present.

Wages and Fringe Benefits

Jobs gives us wages and other fringe benefits like free health care, housing, a free car etc. This provides us job security on top of the contract.

I'm sure if i was to ask you the list of questions on jobs, then the questions will go on and on and on but those are a few I chose.

Main meal

Work in the South	Work in the North	Comparisons
Climate ideal for agriculture (farming, largest sector)	Short growing season plus cold makes farming difficult	Type of jobs
The economy wholly based on agriculture, nowadays mining and tourism	The economy is based on manufacturing	economy
Most employees are paid at the end of the month as Salary	Most employees are paid according to hours worked in every two weeks, "pay day".  In Manitoba the minimum hourly wage is $10.25 as per October 1st	Payment method
Usually, most people have one job, starting from 8am to 4pm a duration of 8 hours work per day	Usually having two jobs is common, for instance a day job or weekend job and an overnight job	Number of jobs

Dessert

 I hope this delicious dish filled you up  :) 

xxx

Thanks to Op-ed assignment

Who knows? I wouldn't have come across this video, but thanks to Op-ed assignment for I researched more and found a very nice video with live examples to use for my Op-ed :)

As I continue to write my op-ed on Domestic workers in Tanzania, I came across a very touching yet inspiring video "Hyena square in Dar Tanzania" a full documentary video on a girl called Elisa who started off as a domestic worker, she was mistreated even worse raped by the husband of the family and the story continues.....

watch the video for more

I was touched. I had to share the video today, I just couldn't wait for 

"Special Sunday"

Daily Sundays aka Sunday Special

I noticed that most of my free time falls on Sunday. 

So I will keep up with the "Sunday Special" updates on MonLaborWorld. However, I'm subject to changes within the week, if something special comes up and I cant wait for Sunday then i'll pop by and alert you.

Sawa, until the next "Sunday Special" , Enjoy the week ahead.

Keep on walking with me as I pursue my Labour Degree

Week Update

This week,

One of my Favorites graduated with a Bcomm Degree in Finance & International Business Administration.

I'm heading thereeeee Sibz, Me coming up NEXT :)

I'm proud of you dear roomie, friend, and now even close sisters. I love you much much and wishing you even more SUCCESS "darling". Keep on keeping on. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU SIBZ! 

As my mama would put in Swahili, 

"Elimu ni Ufunguo wa maisha " = "Education is the key to Life"

P.S : Her GPA is just on point...me is following.... 

Labour Studies?

Hey dears,

So if you are wondering what Labour Studies (L.S) is all about, i would love to share my knowledge with you.

So far im doing one major course called working for a living. I have to complete two of each level to acquire my L.S degree. This means, I have to take two courses from 1000 level, two courses from 2000 level and 2 courses from a 3000 level. This is just a General major degree in labour studies if you want to specialize, you may attempt to go further with masters. 

Anyways, As for now... If you are thinking what is L.S? why LS? where should I take a L.S degree? how? who? etc etc and etc....well, ill try answer some of your questions with what i know.

I'm doing my Labour Studies degree as a major and a minor in management from the University of Manitoba. My main prof is David Camfield. a very good prof, he is even making me like the course more and more and even moooooore....he is very interesting. Karen Naylor is also my other prof plus Julie Guard. Okay, it doesnt matter where you acquire your degree, all in all is the usage. If the opportunities are there then grab them as much as you can because a golden chance never comes twice. I thank God i got this chance to pursue a canadian Labour studies degree.

Soo, what are the elements in L.S?

Personally, I would say LS may be more  political but it has both business and Arts qualities although mostly in Arts. Initially, I wanted a HR degree under Bcomm but then since i had to take maths, which i did but it did not go well, so i had to look for a pathway that would led to the same career of dealing with employees and employers which was why i chose L.S.

With L.S, I get to learn topics like the history of work, how the workplace has changed and what could be done to improve the working conditions. Seriously, when you think about it, we spend alot of our lives working, so basically it is essential to know about the workplace, most of it may be logic but then there may be deeper meanings which is what L.S provides.

Yes, I enjoy my course soo much to an extent i decided to write on it hahaaa

We all know, studying is not easy, and we do not just want to "study to study" as my dad says. We all try to Study with a purpose and atleast say we attend a course and know by the end of the course, something will have changed in terms of expanding our knowledge.

However, sometimes we have no choice but to attend a "filler" or an "elective" course just to fulfill a specific  requirement.

Anyways, feel free to share some of your courses in brief and what you like about them. You can send me an email to zarlgal@yahoo.com and i will publish them or you might want to just mention them below as a comment.

Walk with me as i pursue my Labour degree xxx

Number 1

Together we can make the world a better place. "KARIBU"

Thank you for your time, I would love to take this opportunity to thank you again for visiting zithoinetta.blogspot.ca

To begin with,

Zithoinetta is derived from ZITA and ANTOINETTA.

Zita aka Zitty is the one typing, who made MONLABORWORLD possible. Lets see if Antoinetta will be interested to continue with blogging. But for now, I am the only one writing.

Why are you here?

Okay, this spot right here will act like a "warm bath" after a loooong tideous day.

Basically, I want to share with you my passion for studying towards a Labour degree.

Oh well! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! Noooo, come down, its not just EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION! MONLABORWORLD will consist of everything not just studies although studies will take up most space in the blog. 

The reason "Mon" is there and not just "Labor World" means there's a roller-coaster of events. In life we all have our own interests and desires. The best thing is to have that "done" feeling after accomplishing a desire that you have long craved for. As for me, interacting with people as much as possible, brings in that "done" feeling to have said "I increased my network of connections". Therefore, blogging will enhance my people skill and i hope you enjoy the daily sessions of Monlaborworld. "ASANTE"