It's almost Christmas! The duck and beef are carefully marinated and prepped, as i sit and drink my freshly brewed cinnamon ground roast coffee (Kenya Arabica Coffigold to be precise) I would to like wish you all

' Simple joys, little pleasures,
Laughter and smiles in big measures.
Friends, family, togetherness, love...
The choicest blessings from above.
Peace, prosperity and happiness too...
All these and more are my wishes for you'

Be merry, let's celebrate with loved ones and appreciate those around us. It's a great time to be joyous and thankful for this past year

Kuwa na Krismasi Njema

Yours Truly

Laviniah
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Yours Truly

Laviniah

Hello all,

As Christmas soon approaches, I am reflecting back on the past month and all the incredible opportunities I have had to be a positive representative of  the diaspora as well as engaging in empowering community events. I was delighted to be invited to the Miss Commonwealth Triple Crown beauty pageant and to be a mentor for the contestants as they prepared for their big showcase and night. Attending the event brought back all the emotions I experienced during the Face of Kenya UK Ceremony, at once I could relate to how the contestants were feeling at that very moment, excitement, anticipation and full of enthusiasm. 

Miss Commonwealth International is a unique culture and charity brand beauty pageant that promotes charity and cultural cohesion. Representing all the sub cultural sectors and countries that a part of the commonwealth, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean and Euro Atlantic, Commonwealth International runs ten pageants represented by their respective reigning queens & king.

Speaking to the contestants as they prepared for their moment on the catwalk and podium, I was keen to know what  motivated them to join the contest, what their aspirations in life are and upon winning how they intend to use their title and platform to make a difference in the community and the world at large. It reminded me of the journey so far, of my own aspirations and how motivated and determined I am to help facilitate some appreciable change and to inspire others to reach their fullest potential in life as I do the same. They were all unique in their own way, from completely different cultural and social backgrounds and countries but the common thread that united them and myself is their desire to want to make a change and the courage to present themselves across a panel of judges and to showcase who and what they to offer in the hopes of attaining this credible position. A young, beautiful girl and contestant who was highly impressive, originally from South Africa and representing her country of origin, had ventured forth to enter the contest, flew to the UK for the first time just a few days prior to the ceremony and had high hopes of taking the crown home and to inspire young girls such as herself to aspire for greatness and to be bold and courageous.

At that moment I also encouraged each contestant to be self assured, to seize the moment and exude total confidence in who they are, their individuality, their uniqueness, their life story and most of all their inner beauty.

I was elated to lend a hand of support to the contestants and to watch them as they took to the stage and captivated the entire room!

More coverage on World's Aids Day and the Global Positive Runway coming up!




Yours Truly

Laviniah

I recently attended my very first commonwealth fair at Kensington Town hall and what a spectacular event which showcases the unique crafts, cultures and culinary diversity of the commonwealth. Not only is it a fun occassion but it is underpinned by philanthropic initiatives where proceeds of the fair support the commonwealth countries league education fund. This body (CCLEF) are committed to changing lives through education and friendship.

In my role as a community champion and the Face of Kenya UK I am delighted when I am invited to participate in a largely community based program and allows me to engage with the community, to learn and assimilate with different cultures of diversity, all the while broadening my knowledge and inspiring me.

My encounters at the fair were inspirational individuals within the community making a difference and being a beacon of hope to others within their communities. A lady who I was enthused to meet at the fair whose incredible achievements and contributions to society astounded me is Joyce Bleastille-Lumsden, originally from Grenada. As I sat down with her, she candidly told me the details of her life that I knew it was imperative to share her story and made me all the more appreciate of the position I am in  to be able to encounter people from all backgrounds and to share their story on this platform to the outside world.

Joyce moved to the UK in the 1960s, she recounted her journey to the UK by sea which 21 days, she came  to the UK through the British council for oversea students to do nursing. Having previously worked as a nurse fro 2 years in Grenada, she went on to attain her registered nurse/midwife British TBA association qualification. She also worked as a district nurse and a practical work teacher, but due to a back injury she took an early retirement in  1973. Not content with settling into normalcy, she forged ahead with doing charity work. Joyce is a member of the Grenada voluntary hospital committee UK that provides support to hospitals and elderly homes in Grenada. She also visits 9 schools in Croydon to encourage the youth to fulfill their goals in life and to set their benchmarks for goals higher and much wider as she has.

Remarkably that isn't all, Joyce was recently featured in a book funded by the NHS entitled Many Rivers by Ann Cramer. Joyce's mention in the book notes and pays homage to her contribution as well as the history of the Caribbean contribution to the NHS.
Not only has she made an impact in her native Grenada, her home in UK but she also lends her support to a charity in Burundi and is a sponsor for  the Mama Philli Bursary program.
I was in complete awe of the phenomenal lady whose achievements in the community and evident input in the lives of others is amazing!

Speaking to her about the commonwealth fair, she said what draws her to this event and has been for many years is the need to support the community and empower youth women and men and especially a chance to expose the diaspora youth to different cultures. It is a great event where all nationalities sit, enjoy and eat together. As we spoke Joyce had a scarf she had purchased that day at the fair from Ghana with the intricate colours of the Ghanaian flag beautifully   draped over her shoulders, now if that isn't a form of embracing and appreciating other cultures I don't know what is!

I enjoyed spending the day with fellow beauty queen -Malkia- Miss Commonwealth Tanzania
I also met and had a great chat with Miss Teen Caribbean UK 2014-Gabrielle Joseph, a contest about young girls with Caribbean heritage. Gabriel represents Trinidad &b Tobago, at the young age of 14 she is full of enthusiasm and huge aspirations. Not allowing anything in life to deter her, Gabriel wants to help other young girls like her who have dyslexia to inspire them, to show them that they too can achieve anything and have the confidence to speak to large crowds and win a title as she has. It was a pleasure to meet her, with such resolve and motivation she is surely poised for greatness!

More to come from ..The Miss Commonwealth Beauty Contest 2014

Yours Truly
Laviniah Karanja