Finding a tiny inner Murray?

I just got home from running the British 10k! I never thought I would ever use 'fun' and 'run' in the same sentence but there...I have said it! It was a 'fun run'!

I am one of those people that never train (never seeming to find the time and all!), one of those who also set physically challenging targets and just hopes for the best on the day. Incredibly too, I give myself no room to fail, sometimes taking it for-granted that I would succeed just because my mind is set on it...Hah!

This year, I decided to do things differently; I decided to take part in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge, a few days before the British 10k trusting this to serve as all the training I needed, boy was I wrong! Although I accomplished this in acceptable time,  running the JP Morgan 5.6KM Challenge made me realise how unfit I was, how little prepared I was for the big event. More to the point, it was too late to train! I needed to let my muscles (what little of it I had) recuperate for the Big Event! But was I going to let a little thing like sore muscles deter me? No! You betcha!

Got up bright and early today all raving and excited. I had a few blisters at the verge of healing but so what? My running shoes were not what the doctor ordered...I bought them in a sale not realising they weren't meant for running till I had worn them...minor setback. So I invested in an excellent pair of shoe laces...non slip!

 A blisteringly sunny day but so what? I said to myself 'surely this is an advantage, you herded goats in worst weather with no water and no breakfast! Here you are filled up on good cereal, two bananas and a litre of water! Get on with it'.

2km into the run, the sun became unbearable! I had sensibly put on a hat and a pair of sunglasses but 5 years of living in Aberdeen Scotland kind of made sure I wasn't as 'native' as I thought! Then horror of horrors, my 'non slip' shoe lace undid itself!

Was I going to stop and fix a shoe lace? I had grown up with the fear of stopping, of losing my momentum, of finding myself being unable to start again. Somehow, I have sort of carried that into everything without being aware I had! Although it is very short, I knew there was the possibility that the shoe-lace could trip me over and possibly cause me an injury but I didn't think I could stop of my own free will and be able to carry on again...I may find rest too irresistible.

5km into the run, another runner tapped me on the back and said 'Hey CCL, your lace is undone'. I said 'thanks' and stopped and tied it. I realised that I am all grown up now, my importantly, I own my own will! I can stop and start any time! I can look around and savour the fun of running for a cause so close to my heart, I can live in the moment!

Roll out the fun! So off I went, screaming encouragement to myself and others. Finding an inner strength and a sense of fun I thought was exclusively reserved for others. Not worrying, just being in the moment! The sun became not an inconvenience but a means of seeing all the vibrant colours around me...I broke my previous years' records with a massive grin on my face!

My heart-felt appreciation to all of you for continuing to do what you do to fundraise for girl education. I know it is sometimes not easy, you are also often uncertain if a difference is made. Take it from me, you do make a world of difference.

The big question is; will I do the Run again? Absolutely! With proper running shoes, no tricky laces and some training!

Just like our Wimbledon Hero Andy Murray never gave up, lets each find our own inner Murray (in all kinds of things/ways) and make the world better for girls!

Ladi and her daughters celebrate her British10K run!

https://www.justgiving.com/Ladi-Dariya

 

A Great Year to be a Girl?

This year has been declared 'European Year of Citizenship'. School children around the UK are learning about citizenship and what it means to be a good citizen.

Thanks to Lisa Cornell Head of PSHE at Sydenham High School, year 9 girls and I had a fantastic hour discussing what it means to be a world citizen. It was also a session to explore and discuss the very disadvantaged and often cruel treatment of girls and women in many parts of the world. The girls recognised the need to contribute in any way they can, to make the world better for other girls. They felt 'encouraged to take an interest in politics and the world around them as what happens in one country could snowball into others'. They recognise that with great privilege comes great responsibility.

This year gives me hope. The teaching of Citizenship and equal opportunities as well as the signing of the Commonwealth Charter gives me great hope indeed; hope that this would be a great year to be a girl! A year to be recognised as a partner in society's progress...a year to be seen as an equal (I live in hope)!

A week to Celebrate the Commonwealth

Monday the 11th of March was a wet, snowy, windy and exceptionally cold day in London (even by British standards)!

It was nevertheless, a day that made many hearts warm! It was not just a day set aside to commemorate men and women from around the Commonwealth who fought alongside Britain during the 1st and 2nd World war but also to celebrate all things Commonwealth.

The theme for the Commonwealth this year is 'Opportunity through Enterprise'. Through a mix of world music, dance and personal testimonies, the event celebrated economic innovation throughout the Commonwealth and our shared commitment towards youth, social and sustainable enterprise.

The Commonwealth Charter which 'recognises that gender equality and women's empowerment are essential components of human development and basic human rights', was signed by the 54 member countries; a triumphant closure to an amazing day!

Activities continue throughout this week at various venues to celebrate our shared heritage and common goals.

 

GET INVOLVED! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!

No matter how indifferent we pretend to be, we want to make a difference! We want to leave our footprints on the sands of time. However little we are able to contribute, the seed we sow is capable of growing into a big tree. This tree in its turn would have seeds that will make other trees… a single tree CAN start a forest!

The plight of girls in Developing countries hasn’t changed. Girls are still being denied education, yet history has shown time and again that educating women is the one thing that makes sense! If half the population is denied the means to contribute towards nation building how will an aspiring nation develop?

Every girl wants to play a part in developing her community; education gives her the ability to do so. Please help create change. Our target of sponsoring 1000 girls through secondary schooling in their own communities is not ambitious. The ripple effect however, will blow your mind! These girls will go on to support boys and girls in their 1000 communities, who will go on to support 1000s of others in other communities…do you start to get the picture? It is a fact that nearly 90% of income earned by girls go to their families and community.

Let’s change this

 

 

To this

 

Please give what you can. Most importantly, get your school, family, friends, organisation etc involved!

Let change start with you! Help make every girl count.

Click below to donate

DONATE NOW

Email: ladi.dariya@yahoo.co.ukto arrange a speaking engagement/assembly.

THANK YOU!

A Week to Celebrate Africa

Students at Wimbledon High School set aside a week in November to Celebrate Africa. The week highlighted the plight of children and young people and that of girls and women. Students wrote poetry, did art pieces and displayed these for parents and teachers to view.

Pictures of African scenes, families and every day life were also donated by a very generous photographer for display in the school's auditorium.

As part of the school's 'making a difference policy', Ladi and her team were invited to speak to the students about the difficulties of growing up as a girl in rural Africa. Parents  and pupils donated generously to support the education of girls in Africa. The school has also committed to making this an annual event as part of the school's anniversary celebration.

What a fantastic opportunity for the girls whose lives will be transformed by the generosity of this school!

Eltham Hill makes a massive difference!

Tim Layton and I were invited to Eltham Hill Technology College for Girls (soon to be Eltham Hill School) for their 'Make a Difference Day' in support of the CCLEF's 'Thousand Schools for a Thousand Girls' Initiative and what a difference they made!

From dancing, to cheerleading, to fashion shows and lots more, the girls made such an impression. These girls, who do not cease to amaze, also donated their old school uniforms to be sold as textile to enable them raise enough to put a girl or more through secondary school! They are providing an opportunity for these girls to have the chance of a better life...the chance that society denies them!

From angelic singing, to steel pans and sing-alongs...it was delightful. A triumph!

A huge 'thank you' beyond words!!

BURNTWOOD'S BIG WALK TO SCHOOL!

What an amazing day Saturday the 10th of March was! The Burntwood's big walk to school started from the Rwandan High Commission at Seymour Place central London, to Burntwood School in South West London. Seven miles of good natured banter and lots of laughs among friends, family and teachers all for a good cause. Burntwood's walk is to raise sponsorship money for the two girls they are putting through secondary school in Rwanda through the CCLEF's TSTG Initiative. Lots of young children took part (including 4 months old Anna in her pram).  What an amazing achievement!