#working in cote d'ivoire

[penroseparticle]

✔ 😒 💭 🌎 📅 😡 hopefully none of these are duped

✔ - Sexual Orientation

Bisexual by the barest technicality. I'm one of those pesky bi's who resonates with the percent gay/percent straight and it's like a 95-5 split in favor of dudes.

😒 - Biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is when I realize I let someone get my goose and I'm being a dick because I got emotional. Be better dude

💬 - I wish…

I wish I had my gym regimen back. That I actually can work on, once I feel like. Back together.

🌎 - A country you would visit?

Why not Cote D'Ivoire to continue the trend of Borneo

📅 - Favorite time of the year?

I'm an Autumn lad. Love me some rainy October weather.

😡 - What pisses you off?

I wish we talked more about stuff that made us happy. I'm so tired of hearing about how everything is terrible and we're always in a crisis. I do not have it in me these days dude I'm almost at my limit

[madamlaydebug]

On this day in 2021...

R.I.P.

Go well … you have fulfilled your purpose 💕https://www.patreon.com/RunokoRashidi

RUNOKO RASHIDI

Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence--that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of twenty-two books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence, Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017 and The Black Image in Antiquityin 2019. His other works include Black Star: The African Presence in Early Europe, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2011 and African Star over Asia: The Black Presence in the East, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2012 and revised and reprinted in April 2013, Uncovering the African Past: The Ivan Van Sertima Papers, published by Books of Africa in 2015. His other works include the African Presence in Early Asia, co-edited by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. Four of Runoko's works have been published in French.

As a traveler and researcher Dr. Rashidi has visited 124countries. As a lecturer and presenter, he has spoken insixty-sevencountries.

Runoko has worked with and under some of the most distinguished scholars of the past half-century, including Ivan Van Sertima, John Henrik Clarke, Asa G. Hilliard, Edward Scobie, John G. Jackson, Jan Carew and Yosef ben-Jochannan.

In October 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit Writer's Conference in Hyderabad, India.

In 1999 he was the major keynote speaker at the International Reunion of the African Family in Latin America in Barlovento, Venezuela.

In 2005 Rashidi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree, his first, by the Amen-Ra Theological Seminary in Los Angeles.

In August 2010 he was first keynote speaker at the First Global Black Nationalities Conference in Osogbo, Nigeria.

In December 2010 he was President and first speaker at the Diaspora Forum at the FESMAN Conference in Dakar, Senegal.

In 2018 he was named Traveling Ambassador to the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League RC 2020.

In 2020 he was named to the Curatorial and Academic boards of the Pan-African Heritage Museum.

He is currently doing major research on the African presence in the museums of the world.

As a tour leader he has taken groups to India, Australia, Fiji, Turkey, Jordan, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, Belgium, England, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Peru, Cuba, Luxembourg, Germany, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, the Gambia,Guinea-Bissau,Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Runoko Rashidi's major mission in life is the uplift of African people, those at home and those abroad.

For more information write to Runoko@hotmail.com or call (323) 803-8663.

His website is www.drrunoko.com

[marijamaliccc]

SHASMUN Conference

activity title: SHASMUN Conference

duration and date: 6 hours per day, 13/14 January 2023

type of activity: creativity

Activity description:

Attending the online Shangai Model United Nations Conference, and delegating to the Environment committee as the delegate of The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire on the following topic: “Developing the regulations to improve transparency and prevent greenwashing in the ultra-fast fashion industry”.

Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrates the skills and recognizes the benefits of working collaboratively

Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth

Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experience

Reflection:

Since I live in GTM+1 timezone, it was quite challenging to adapt to the GTM+8 timezone conference schedule and therefor slight sleep schedule change of mine was required.

I sprinkled my formal MUN outfit with a nice pair of Christmas pyjama bottoms. The magic of online conferences.

Preparation and research process, which included writing position papers, opening speeches and draft resolutions turned out to me my favourite part.

Shangai Model United Nations was a great opportunity to get to know people from all around the globe e.g. Korea, Thailand, China, Brazil, Finland, and gather the new perspecitves on MUN as well as the debated topics and learn to use the, for me new, MUN platform, MUN Command .

[beadsofparadisenyc]

Isn’t this brass heirloom necklace from the çpeople of Côte d'Ivoire ca. 1900 being modeled by Angel quite a fabulous statement piece? These Baoule Brass Beads were cast by master metalsmiths using the lost wax method. Fine wax threads were used to achieve the detailed line decorations with great skill. Each single Bead was created from a single wax model. The complex geometric shapes were typical of the Baoule bead designs of the day. Historically, the Baoule were intricately tied culturally and artistically with the Asante kingdoms of Ghana. In both cultures, their love and attraction of the angular, geometric shapes and fine meticulous and complex design were heavily influenced by the designs and jewelry artwork of North Africa, and the finely detailed work of the Kingdom of Benin.

https://beadsofparadisenyc.com/products/brass-heirloom-necklace-baoule-cote-divoire-3

[between-the-kola-and-the-sea]

Reflections on Ethnic Classifications of Liberian Indigenous Pt. 1

I felt like making this to rumniate on the differences in how indigenous identity is considered/counted amongst Liberians (and potentially other west african countries) and the turtle-island indigenous. Being born and raised in the U.S as a result of my mother fleeing the civil war as a child, means that most of my understanding when it came to indigenous structure and classification were influenced by the dominant understanding of tribes and nations here. So in order to better understand my own culture, I had to do individual research into how tribal structure functioned.

(Please note that I am NOT turtle-island indigenous and may have some facts confused.)

Geographical regions, language diversity, and cultural divisions are used to categorize Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Anthropologists have given names to a variety of cultural zones that have ambiguous borders and are usually accepted with some modification.

Since the commencement of early European and African contact in the late 15th century, these cultural divisions have been mostly based on the locations of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Indigenous peoples retain their original geographic categorisation after being forcibly evicted by nation-states. For example: Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. They are all Cherokee (Tsalagi) both linguistically and ethnically, but have different registrations with U.S government and are now located in different states in the U.S (due to Andrew Jackson's removal policy).

However, Liberia and Cote D'Ivoire are quite different. Currently, indigenous populations along the gold coast (Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, and Sierra Leone) can be categorized into three ethno-liguistic enclaves, one of which being Kru. Within Kru are even smaller "tribes," such as the Bassa, Grebo, and Krahn, and Krao/Klao. These groups, however, only possess linguistic affiliation internally, that even varies in dialect based on the distances between two dako (village). Due to this would be rather inaccurate to claim there is a Krao/Klao "tribe" in the western understanding of the word and more accurate to say the are multiple dako (dakwe) that speak the similar language/dialect and call themselves Krao/Klao on occasion. The strongest depiction of ethnicity, thus far remains at the Dako level.

These dialects are at times even mutually unintelligible. Hence why traditional understandings of a "tribe" may not apply here. The closest example I can consider, and even then doesn't fit well, would be tribal classification of indigenous mexicans, where it is tied moreso to one's native village and language, rather than a political identity.

A major player in the confusion and misunderstanding of Kru identity resides in the fact that multiple European countries in contact revolved around migrant labor. Many indigenous Liberians, particulary "Kru-speaking" peoples worked as stevedores on European ships. The conlfation/corruption of Krao/Klao with "Crew" and later "Kru/Krumen/Krooboys" despite the identity of a native's dako lead to many being mistakenly affiliated with the ethnic grouping.

[ejesgistnews]

How to apply for Guaranty Trust Holding Company (Formerly Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) OND Internship Programme 2024 can be found here on Ejes Gist News.  Guaranty Trust Holding Company (Formerly Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) is a multinational financial institution that provides individuals, businesses, private and public institutions across Africa and the United Kingdom with a broad range of market-leading financial products and services. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria and with subsidiaries in Cote D'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, the Bank currently employs over 12,000 professionals and has Total assets and Shareholders’ Funds of N4.057trillion and N661.1 Billion respectively. Applications are invited for: Title: OND Internship Programme at Guaranty Trust Holding Company (Formerly Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) Location: Nigeria Employment Type: Full Time Job Description This Programme offers OND Graduates an opportunity to gain on-the-job training in banking operations by supporting the day-to-day activities of our Transaction Services Division. The tenure of this Programme is one (1) year. Requirements for Guaranty Trust Holding Company (Formerly Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) OND Internship Programme 2024.  OND Certificate/Notification of Results. One-year Industrial Training Letter from an Accredited Polytechnic. Guarantor Forms, Copy of Guarantor Staff ID Card. Only One Guarantor is required if the Guarantor is a GTBank staff on a minimum of ABO (grade) Two Guarantors are required if the Guarantor is a non-GTBank staff. These Guarantors must work with reputable companies on a full-time basis. Valid Student ID Card, Recent Passport Photograph (White background only). Birth certificate issued by National Population Commission. Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC/NECO) with at least a credit pass in English Language, Mathematics and any other three relevant subjects. Good communication skills, basic numerical skills and a willingness to learn. Benefit Allowance. Application Closing Date Not Specified. How to Apply for the Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) (Formerly Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) OND Internship Programme 2024 Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply online

[african-international-magazine]

Africa's Economic Renaissance

By Ollus Ndomu

In the heart of Africa beats a pulse of resilience and growth, defying global uncertainties to forge a path towards prosperity. As the world grapples with economic challenges, Africa emerges as a beacon of hope, with its vibrant economies poised to lead the way forward.

The Rise of Africa: A Story of Determination

Africa's economic resurgence is not a mere coincidence but a testament to the continent's resilience and determination. Despite facing numerous challenges, from political instability to economic volatility, African nations have consistently pushed forward, driven by a collective vision of progress and prosperity.

In recent years, Africa has witnessed remarkable economic growth, outpacing global averages and attracting attention from investors worldwide. From the bustling streets of Lagos to the sprawling savannahs of Kenya, signs of progress are everywhere, fuelled by strategic investments, policy reforms, and a growing entrepreneurial spirit.

The African Development Bank Group: Leading the Charge

At the forefront of Africa's economic transformation stands the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), a driving force behind the continent's growth agenda. With a mandate to promote sustainable development and economic integration, the AfDB plays a pivotal role in shaping Africa's economic landscape.

Through its various initiatives and programs, the AfDB works tirelessly to support African countries in their quest for development. From infrastructure projects to financial assistance programs, the AfDB provides crucial support to governments and businesses across the continent, catalyzing growth and fostering prosperity.

A Continent of Opportunity: Africa's Economic Outlook

According to the latest report from the African Development Bank Group, Africa's economic outlook is brighter than ever, with eleven African countries projected to be among the world's fastest-growing economies in 2024. This optimistic forecast reflects Africa's resilience in the face of global challenges and highlights the continent's potential for growth and development.

Overall, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the continent is expected to average 3.8% and 4.2% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, surpassing projected global averages. This robust growth underscores Africa's position as the world's second-fastest-growing region, trailing only behind Asia.

Africa's Top-Performing Economies

Among the top-performing African economies are Niger, Senegal, Libya, Rwanda, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Benin, Djibouti, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. These countries are projected to experience strong economic performance, with growth rates exceeding 6% in many cases.

Niger leads the pack with a staggering growth rate of 11.2%, followed closely by Senegal at 8.2% and Libya at 7.9%. These impressive growth figures reflect the resilience and dynamism of Africa's economies, driven by strategic investments, economic diversification, and increased consumption.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the promising outlook, Africa's economic journey is not without challenges. Rising geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and political instability pose significant risks to the continent's growth trajectory. Additionally, global economic uncertainties and inflationary pressures threaten to disrupt trade and investment flows, further complicating Africa's economic landscape.

To navigate these challenges successfully, African countries must adopt a multi-faceted approach that includes larger pools of financing, policy reforms, and strategic investments. By bolstering resilience and fostering inclusive growth, Africa can overcome obstacles and realize its full economic potential.

The Role of Sustainable Development: Building a Brighter Future

Central to Africa's economic renaissance is a commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth. By prioritizing environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity, African nations can build a brighter future for generations to come.

Through initiatives like the African Development Bank Group's Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook (MEO) report, African countries gain valuable insights and recommendations to guide their development efforts. By leveraging these resources and embracing a shared vision of progress, Africa can overcome challenges and build a prosperous future for all.

Conclusion: Africa's Time to Shine

As Africa embarks on its journey towards economic prosperity, the continent stands at a crossroads, with boundless opportunities awaiting. With bold leadership, strategic investments, and a commitment to sustainable development, Africa is poised to realize its full potential and emerge as a global economic powerhouse.

As the African Development Bank Group leads the charge, Africa's destiny lies in its hands. By harnessing the continent's vast resources and talent, African nations can overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and write a new chapter in Africa's storied history. With determination and perseverance, Africa's time to shine has arrived.

[larnax]

[ id:

1: a map titled "Is Easter A Public Holiday?" by Dodi Maps, subtitled "Országok, Amelyekben A Húsvét Nemzeti Ünnep":

Countries where Easter is a public holiday: Canada, Mexico, all of the Caribbean, all of Central and South America except Uruguay, all of Europe except Belarus, Lebanon, Syria, Georgia, Armenia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, all of Oceania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Cameroon, CAR, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, RotC, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Madagascar.

Countries where Easter is not a public holiday: Uruguay, Belarus, Turkey, all of SWANA except for countries named above, Djibouti, Somalia, Mauritania, DRC, Mozambique, and the rest of Asia except for countries named above.

Countries where Easter is both a national holiday and not a national holiday: USA

2: a reply from severalowls reading "US government obsessed with being Maximum Christian until it involves giving anybody a day off work"

/ end ]

Countries where Easter (Good Friday or Easter Sunday or Easter Monday- or all of them) is a public holiday.

by dodi_maps

[globalgeography]

Mali

Government type: Transitional government, one legislative council

President: Colonel Assimi Goita (interim) with Prime Minister Choguel Maiga (interim)

Languages: Mali has 13 national languages and roughly 80 spoken languages within its borders. The most commonly spoken is Bambara, as well as Fula, a variety of Mande-family languages such as Bozo and Bobo, Maninka, and Arabic. French is used solely as a working language (with a population of 22 million, only around 9000 people speak French as a first language, and it is rarely used outside of business) (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Religion: 95% Islam, 5% Other

Ethnic groups: Due to the historical Mali Empire, the ethnic makeup of modern day Mali is also highly varied. Still, the population is 33% Bambara, 13% Fula, 9.6% Soninke, 9.6% Senufo. The remaining population are Malinke, Dogon, Songhai, Tuareg, Bobo, Amazigh and others.

Industries: Mainly self-subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry. Otherwise, Malians grow cotton to sell or work as migrant farmers both in Mali and in neighboring countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal) (Encyclopedia Britannica). Mali's economy is held in severe debt to foreign powers, particularly France, as a holdover from colonialism, which contributes to the difficulties developing the industrial sector. Mali also contributes to the global gold trade.

Capital City: Bamako- located in in the southern-most region of Mali

Currency: West African CFA franc (abbreviated XOF), colloquially called simply "francs"

Land and Environment: Modern-day Mali is landlocked, with half the country made up of the Sahara desert with very light population density (for the entire Northern half of the country, population density maps list as having "between 1 and 5 persons per kilometer") (NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center). The Niger river is also a great source of activity for the country, with major irrigation projects along its banks. The river runs from the Guinea border to the southwest, through the capital Bamako, north through Timbuktu in the center of the country, and back southeast into Niger and Nigeria. The largest ethnic group, Bambara, primarily live along the upper Niger river (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Brief History: The lands of Mali have been the site of many empmires, cultures, and regimes. The namesake, the Mali empire, extended from the center of present-day Mali in Timbuktu (Tombouctou in French) in all directions, included most of present-day Niger, the former Ghana empire, through to the Atlantic. The empire gained power in the 11th century because of the rapidly growing gold trade, unified by King Sundiata (for more information, see Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali). The decline of the Mali empire in the 15th century led to the country changing hands many times over: the Songhai empire ruled, then were dispersed/devastated by Moroccan armies, then pressure from the French in Senegal triggered religious wars in Mali which ended in the country building a theocracy (the Segou Tukulor empire). The French, seeking control of the Niger River in competition with Britain, occupied Bamako in the 1890s, driving out the local aristocracy. In 1959, Mali and Senegal united to form the Mali Federation, and it gained independence in 1960. The nation started with a strong socialist basis, but following economic instability as a brand new nation, there was a series of coups that culminated the March Revolution, mass protests in Bamako with violent military retribution. The conflict ultimately ended because soldiers refused to fire their weapons and joined the pro-democratic cause. Although there are still political instabilities, a bigger issue is conflicts between ethnic groups. With climate change gradually growing the Sahara, the Fula are moving into the higher populated regions, sparking tensions between the different groups such as the Ogossagou massacre in 2019. This is within the context of an ongoing Mali War since 2012 between the northern and souther halves of Mali.

[alcove1]

Zipline bridging gaps with drone delivery

Zipline is an American company that designs, manufactures, and operates autonomous electric drones for last-mile delivery. It was founded in March 2014 by Keller Rinaudo, Keenan Wyrobek, Ryan Oksenhorn, and Will Hetzler. Zipline operates distribution centers in Rwanda, Ghana, Japan, the United States, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and Kenya. As of November 2023, its drones have made more than 750,000 commercial deliveries and flown more than 40 million autonomous miles.

Zipline's primary focus is on delivering medical supplies to underserved communities. The company's drones have been used to deliver blood, vaccines, and other essential medications to hospitals and clinics in remote areas of Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. Zipline has also begun delivering medical supplies to underserved communities in the United States.

In addition to delivering medical supplies, Zipline is also exploring other potential applications for its drones. For example, the company is working with Walmart to deliver prescription medications to customers' homes. Zipline is also working with retailers to deliver consumer products, such as groceries and pharmaceuticals.

Zipline's drone delivery service has a number of advantages over traditional delivery methods. First, Zipline's drones are able to deliver essential supplies to remote areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by road. Second, Zipline's drones are able to deliver supplies quickly and efficiently, which is critical for medical emergencies. Third, Zipline's drones are environmentally friendly, as they produce zero emissions.

Zipline is a leading player in the emerging drone delivery industry. The company's innovative technology and partnerships with governments and businesses around the world are helping to make drone delivery a reality.

[dessertgeek]

Okay I must add on to rant about the despair bit.

An example that I'm slogging my way through is in the last ~2 years there's been this increased attitude of 'oh all cacao will be gone soon anyway,' which I think is mainly thanks to a 2018 report. But I don't think the article itself is getting discussed though, only the fear.

Because if you read the article, it's mainly on the risk of viability of cacao if climate change gets worse for Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. And while those are the two largest cacao producing nations in the world, neither are within cacao's native range, and cacao farming really only happened there thanks to colonialism. (And there are so many issues going on, from poor monitoring to child labor. The countries are trying, but really cacao farmers need to be paid more, and the only ones doing enough of that are direct/transparent trade cooperatives and a handful of farm groups, which are so tiny compared to the big makers.)

And on top of that, that article 1) discusses ways to help cacao already being researched back in 2018 and 2) barely touches on cacao in its native range, which would be important info here and I don't get why it's missing. (Like there were a lot of Brasilian bean to bar efforts going on with Mission Chocolate and Luisa Abram Chocolate already in 2018, so why skip those details?)

I get being scared, I do. But likely there are folks already working on the stuff we're scared about, and we can help them. And that adds up.

reading the history of climate change coverage in the media in the USA and it is absolutely infuriating how the whole thing can be summarized as: Then there was widespread concern among the public and people started to demand solutions!...then the conservative faction and fossil fuel lobbies together intentionally spread disinformation and lies to slander the scientists and deceive people, reanimating the putrefying corpse of climate change skepticism again and again to create the utterly false illusion that there was controversy.

From inflammatory news coverage, to podcasts, to dark money supporting anti-regulation, pro-fossil-fuel campaigns, to mysterious armies of bots on the internet...climate change denial just keeps coming back, like an infestation of evil mold.

There were so many periods in the last 40 years where the tide was finally turning and THEN a bunch of rightwing dipshits working together with corporations redoubled their efforts to come up with lies, and everything backslid into complacency AGAIN.

[yankbarry]

Yank Barry: A Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Making a Global Impact

Mr. Yank Barry has been recognized for his continuous efforts in the fight against hunger and has received almost 24 awards since 1995. These awards include the India Humanitarian Service Award in 2008, the Bahamian Red Cross Humanitarian Award, the Cote D'Ivoire Humanitarian Peace award, and the Juarez Mexico Hands of Love and Hope Award. These awards are a testament to his dedicated work in delivering food and providing hope to those who are hungry across the globe.

In November 2010 Yank received the Gusi Peace Prize for Social Services, Philanthropy and International Humanitarianism in Manila, The Philippines. Yank was also named Philanthropist of the Year at the GLA 2011 Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This award was presented by The Leaders Magazine and the American Leadership Development Association. The most recent acknowledgment of Yank's humanitarian efforts is his nomination for 2012, 2013 & 2014 Nobel Peace Prizes. These awards are a by-product of Mr. Barry sharing his good fortune in a tangible way.

Founded in 1995 by Yank Barry, Global Village Champions Foundation is the vehicle through which Yank, Muhammad Ali and numerous World Class Champions have provided over half a billion meals to people in need across the globe. Celine Dion, Michael Jordan, Buzz Aldrin, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Dr. Michael Nobel are only a few of the exceptional people who have joined Yank as he strives for "A Day Without Hunger" on a global scale.

Born in Montreal Canada in 1948, a gifted musician, Yank enjoyed 27 years in the music industry as a singer, composer, arranger and producer. His career began in 1965 as the lead singer of the Footprints singing Never Say Die. In 1967, he became the lead singer of the touring Kingsmen, best known for Louie, Louie. He has enjoyed success in the field of advertising jingles. Some of his jingles include Kellogs Raisin Bran, Dr. Pepper, Kodak, Red Lobster and General Motors.

In 1990, Yank developed Vitapro, a dehydrated soy-based meat-replacement product. While traveling on business, Yank witnessed desperate living conditions that touched his heart. He started donating some of his food products to various charities and NGOs in Canada and the US. Soon Yank's dear friend Muhammad Ali joined Global Village Champions and they brought food, medical supplies, clothing and educational tools to refugee camps, orphanages and areas stricken by disaster all over the World.

Working together with local agencies and NGOs he has helped countless people in their time of need, often traveling to politically unstable areas when very few would lend a helping hand. Yank's goal is to have delivered 1 billion meals by Dec. 31, 2013. Yank invites you to visit the website often and follow our progress as Global Village touches the lives of people around the World. For more details visit: https://www.gogvc.com/  

[icompletesports]

Complete Super Eagles Fixtures

The Super Eagles fixtures will begin their AFCON qualifying campaign at home against Sierra Leone before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe or Mauritius between May 30 and June 14.

It will be a Group a double header against Guinea Bissau in September, with the two matches taking place between September 19 and 27. The Eagles will then play away in Sierra Leone before returning home to face Sao Tome or Mauritius.

These matches will take place between March 20th and March 28th, 2023. Mauritius has filed a protest against Sao Tome, claiming that their opponents used an ineligible player in their crucial qualifying game.

In addition, the player scored the goal that advanced Sao Tome to the competition's group stage. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance to the 2023 African Football Championship, which will be hosted by Cote d'Ivoire.

"I will encourage the Nigeria Football Federation to do whatever it may take to guarantee that the Super Eagles benefit from the AFCON," Ekpo told Completesportsnigeria.com.

"They ought to verify that the Eagles play quality games to keep them in shape."

"Also, the coach must go around and monitor the players because injuries can occur while they are playing for their club sides." As a result, he would have the opportunity to seek replacements.

"He should also make the team very competitive in order to bring out the best in the players during the qualifiers next super eagles fixtures."

The History Super eagle of Nigeria

Nigeria played its first formal game in October 1949, while still a British territory, after competing in unofficial matches against other city states during the 1930s. Before their upcoming matches in England, the Nigerian Super Eagles played exhibition matches against working-class teams such as Bromley, Bishop Auckland, and South Liverpool. The team's first notable achievement was winning gold at the Second All-Africa Games. This was followed by third-place finishes at the African Cup of Nations in 1976 and 1978.

In 1980, Christian Chukwu's team, led by players such as Segun Odegbami and Best Ogedegbe, won the Cup for the first time in Lagos. The Nigerian Olympic men's football team won the football competition at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, defeating Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. In a rematch of the 1996 competition, they finished second in a competition similar to this one at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, falling to Argentina.

Consider visiting our site for more information about super eagles fixtures.

[avenirdelight]

The World She Deserves

Ben Chilwell & Jack Grealish

Ben is trying to build the world she deserves. But Jack, someone from her past, suddenly comes back.

Third week of March. The England National Team was back for their World Cup campaign. And Ben was extremely grateful that he got chosen to be a part of the squad.

Ben had had a few bumps here and there since the last camp, but the smooth run and overall good performance in the past few weeks had granted him the call up. No words could describe the excitement of going back to the camp, especially after a good four months. Getting back with the boys sounded extra exciting even though they were just going for a couple of international friendlies as preparation for the upcoming World Cup. Nevertheless, it wasn’t less important and Ben was ready to give his best.

The camp had been going really well so far. Ben had been training well—he didn’t get to play in the match against Switzerland yesterday but he believed he would be given the chance to play against Cote d'Ivoire in a couple of days. He’d been spending time with the boys, catching up on lives and having the most fun like they always try to do. It really could’ve been perfect. 

Everything would’ve been perfect if Ben didn’t come to the camp with personal baggage in the first place. Everything would’ve been perfect if Ben didn’t wake up every day with a problem that troubled his mind.

Everything would’ve been perfect, if Ben didn’t need to face his girlfriend’s ex, Jack Grealish.

Chilwell dating Grealish’s ex? To some people, it might sound complicated, even messed up. Were there no bro-codes between them? Ben remembered someone saying that long ago.

Everyone knew that Ben and Jack went way back. They had known each other since they were teenagers, seen each other grow up and be the professional footballers that they were today. Jack had been one of Ben’s best mates; they always shared with each other. Ben knew a lot about Jack’s relationship with her since he’d been there before it even began. Along the way, he’d become one of her closest friends too.

And the downfall of their friendship began when Jack did something that left her completely heartbroken. Ben stuck with her, partly because he couldn’t agree with what Jack had done, but mostly because he felt for her more than he felt for Jack.

So if you asked Ben whether he and Jack were still friends, there was a bigger chance for him to say, “Well, we’re still teammates on the national team”.

But dating “Jack’s ex”—Ben really hated that label—had never been a problem. Surprisingly, everything worked out just fine. Definitely not easy, though; it was a long and painful process. But Jack had always been out of the picture since she and Ben realised that what they had was special and serious. She had cut off everything with Jack completely. Jack had hurt her real bad and she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

Everything was fine, until last month, Ben came home to her sitting in the living room, in tears, saying that she had just met up with Jack.

To say that Ben was furious would be an understatement. He was angry because he’d been absolutely clueless about it. He’d had a hard time understanding at first, but eventually he understood that, just like she explained, she needed to see Jack to finish all the unfinished business between them, and to end it for good. Ben trusted her.

But he didn’t trust Jack. He felt like he had the right to know why Jack had suddenly come back. Because in all honesty, Ben didn’t like it. He didn’t want his girl to have anything to do with Jack again.

That was the reason he came to the camp with a plan to confront Jack about this thing.

—

Three knocks and no answer. Three more knocks on Jack’s door and Ben finally heard the man answering from inside. A moment later, a freshly showered Jack opened the door, and the man couldn’t even conceal the surprise and slight panic on his face when he saw Ben.

“Hey, mate. Can we talk?”

“Yeah, yeah, come in.” Jack opened the door and walked into the room. Ben followed suit, but he left the door open. He didn’t know what could happen; there might be a possibility that things would get ugly or he would lose control. It was best for the door to be left open so someone could hear if a fight had taken place.

“Look, you know why I’m here. I’m just gonna go straight to the point,” Ben said as he leaned back against the table, slightly sitting on it. “She told me you went to see her.”

Jack threw his phone on the bed and sat himself down on the edge of it. He ran his hand through his dampened hair, trying to keep it out of his face as he raised his head, meeting Ben’s glare.

“I did.”

“Yeah, I don’t appreciate it.”

The tension grew impossibly fast in the room. Ben wasted no time on making his point clear. He tried to be calm, but the tone of his voice and the look on his face perfectly showed how bothered he was. He was determined to let Jack understand that Jack had crossed a line and he was upset because of it.

Jack dropped his gaze. There was a thin silence before he responded. “I’m sorry,” his voice was small. Almost scared, and it just sounded silly to Ben, even more silly that Jack didn’t even have the courage to look at him when he said it.

“Is there something you said to her that I need to know?”

Jack shrugged. He looked like he was thinking. “Nah. I just apologised to her. Said that I regret everything I’ve done in the past. Regret that I hurt her.”

“You regret it?” Ben sniggered, shaking his head in disbelief. “Okay. And what’s the motive?”

“The motive?” Jack furrowed his brows as he looked at Ben.

“You travelled all the way to London to see her, you must’ve wanted something. So what is it?”

Jack opened his mouth, but it seemed like he hadn’t had the proper answer, so he closed it again, looked out the window as a little shaky breath escaped his lips. He needed a moment to find the right words to say.

“I swear to God, Jack, if you’re trying to get her heart back or anything, you should’ve known better because I would never let you—”

“No! No, mate, no way,” Jack cut him off. “I’d never do that. Chilly, you’re my friend. And I respect both of you.” Jack sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair again. “I just— I just needed to do it.”

“Explain, then,” Ben shrugged.

Jack scratched the back of his neck. He completely looked rattled. For a split second Ben thought that he should feel bad for confronting Jack like this, but Jack should’ve had expected this. There was no way that Ben wouldn’t do anything when the Brummie had gone to see his girlfriend sort of in secret.

“I got stuck, mate. Everything I do doesn’t feel right. And I just knew that it’s because I tried to run from all the consequences of what I did. But I finally have the courage to try to set it right. So I did,” he shrugged. “I made a terrible mistake and I’m trying to own it. I’m not asking her to forgive me, but she deserves a proper apology.”

Jack sighed again and the pregnant silence soon followed. Ben just looked down, staring absentmindedly at his crossed legs. He was processing everything that Jack had just said. It was actually a simple answer—Ben honestly had expected to listen to something more complicated, he’d prepared for the worst. But he wasn’t sure if he could just be relieved after knowing Jack’s modest reasoning.

“You don’t know how much she suffered, mate, how much she was hurting.”

“I do, I—”

“No, you don’t. You can’t possibly understand,” Ben snickered as he shook his head, shooting Jack a sharp glare. “You fucking called off an engagement, mate. On your own. You fucking dumped her.”

Ben could go on and on about this. He could blame Jack or list off the things Jack had done wrong. But whatever happened between Jack and her was their business; it wasn’t his place to say anything.

Jack gulped, gritting his teeth. “I know. Believe me, I know how fucking stupid I am and I’m gonna remember it forever. I’m sorry that it took me too long to fix it and–” Jack paused. He started to sound frustrated. “I’m sorry that I didn’t ask your permission to go see her. ‘Cause I know you won’t let me.” Jack said. Ben's heart dropped when he remembered that she said the exact same thing. “But It’s really over now. I won’t disturb her again.”

“You better.”

“I promise.”

Ben clenched his jaw, refraining himself from saying more. It was funny how Ben used to love hanging out with Jack, even got a bit sad every time they got separated, but now all he wanted to do was to punch Jack right on his face. It didn’t seem real that Jack had been someone that meant a lot to him.

She might have forgiven Jack, but Ben needed a longer time for that. It just pained him seeing his best friend ruined her life—she was a genuinely good person and she didn’t deserve the deep scar that Jack had left on her, the scar that had taken Ben everything to mend.

“I’ve never got to say this to you but… I’m glad that she’s with you.”

Jack’s words brought Ben back to the room.

“I regret the way I did it but I don’t regret calling it off,” Jack continued. Ben was immediately all ears again. “‘Cause she deserves way more than I gave her. And if there’s one person that can give her the world, I know it’s you.”

Ben’s heart clenched uncomfortably when he saw the sincerity in Jack’s eyes; Jack really meant what he said. 

“Take care of her. Don’t hurt her like I did.” Jack said. He sounded honest and genuine.

“You didn’t even need to tell me that”, “You no longer have the right to say that”, “I’m already taking care of her, and I won’t ever hurt her” were the few things that came up on Ben’s mind, but he didn’t say any of it out loud.

Ben just sighed as he ran his hand through his hair, tugging it in frustration in the process. He looked far out the window, at the shaky trees outside, as he slowly took a deep breath, trying to ease himself up a little bit. He’d planned to make it quick and simple, but now he knew it was impossible—he should’ve known that it would be this hard. It felt like he was about to kick someone out of his life, someone that had always been a part of it; maybe he was doing it, Ben wasn’t quite sure.

“Look, Jack,” Ben started. He looked at Jack who immediately met his darkened eyes. “I don’t care if you still care about her, if you wish you hadn’t done it, or if you can’t move on, whatever. I don’t wanna know. It’s your problem. Don’t make it ours,” Ben said. He couldn’t sound more serious than this. “She’s moved on and we’re happy. I hope you can respect that.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Good. And I really want you to let her go. Forget about her. She’s with me now. She’s mine.”

Jack nodded his head, clenching his jaw. They had always avoided talking about this whole thing before, and it was the first time for Ben to say it out loud for Jack to hear—that she belonged to Ben now.

Ben stood up, slightly tugging the hem of his shirt to get rid of the messy wrinkles, getting ready to leave. But before he walked out, he shot Jack one more serious look.

“I’ll give her the world she deserves, Jack, the world she wants. I’ll make it and protect it for her.”

—

It was already past midnight, but Ben couldn’t stop tossing and turning in his bed. He was having some trouble sleeping. The talk he’d just had with Jack a couple hours ago was playing in his mind like a broken record. His voice and Jack’s sounded so loud inside his head and he couldn’t shut them up.

He had said everything he wanted to say and he was glad that he finally let everything out of his chest, and it almost annoyed him that he was still thinking about it just as much. Although he was now feeling significantly better—he had to hold everything in for a whole month—the anger that had been sitting at the bottom of his heart hadn’t quite disappeared completely. It seemed like it would take him some time to let everything go.

After another failed attempt at sending himself to sleep, Ben’s hand eventually travelled to the side of the bed and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. The clock on his phone showed “01.02 AM”—he only looked at it briefly before his eyes darted to the photo that he set as his wallpaper.

It was him and the love of his life, hugging, and behind them was the beautiful sea and orange sky of Ibiza.

A little frown made its way to his face as well as creases on his forehead. He felt his heart clenching—it hurt, but he found warmth and comfort in the pain like always. This feeling felt familiar, only because it was the thing he always felt every time he got reminded about how much he fucking loved her.

She was his woman, the person he loved the most in this world, the woman he saw himself spending his future with. He hoped he wasn’t being selfish, but he wanted her all to himself. Everyone from her past, especially the ones who left nothing but scars on her heart, should bid their goodbyes to her. Because there was no place for them in the world Ben was building for her.

After contemplating for a minute, Ben found himself dialling her number. His heart beat rhythmically with the ringback tone, somehow his nervousness building up with every dull sound coming out from his phone speaker.

She didn’t answer but Ben didn’t want to give up. He waited for another five minutes. He still felt like he wouldn’t be able to go to sleep if he didn’t at least listen to her voice, so he gave it another try.

“Babe, is everything okay?” This time it didn’t take long for a soft, hoarse, slightly concerned voice to greet him from the other side. “It’s… Past midnight.”

“Hey, babe, sorry for waking you up,” Ben answered. “Everything’s okay.”

She yawned and it sounded like she was shuffling in her bed under the thick blanket, and he swore he would do anything to be right there with her right now, pulling her close to him and holding her tight.

“You can’t sleep?” she whispered.

Ben only nodded, then he realised that they weren’t on a video call. “Yeah, can we switch to video? I want to see your face.”

“Sure, I probably look hideous, though… I was so tired yesterday…”

A smile found its way to Ben’s face when he saw her on his screen. Messy hair, puffy face, slightly reddened nose, but she looked incredibly cute. “Hello, you,” he teased, letting out a soft chuckle when she pouted and briefly covered half of her face with the blanket.

“What’s troubling your mind?” she asked a moment later. Her squinted eyes were staring at the screen.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged.

“Are you nervous about the game tomorrow?”

Ben shook his head. “Not really.”

She yawned again and softly rubbed her eyes. “Benjamin,” she called, blinking her eyes a few times before focusing on the screen again. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on, baby.”

“I know, love…” Ben let out a long sigh, puffing the air loudly through his lips. “I mean, I talked to Jack today.”

The silence swept the whole entire room in a split second. All Ben could hear was the sound of the clock ticking and the ringing in his ears. She dropped her gaze, avoiding looking at the screen. Ben’s heart was also sinking fast—he was scared that she was going to get mad at him.

“I just think that you should know about it— And, uh, he’s not gonna start the next game, that’s why I decided to talk to him today, and—”

“You told me you were going to wait until the camp ends.” She closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at the screen. “Personal matters can’t interfere with work, Ben. Your words.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay? But I’ll start tomorrow— today, I mean. I’m finally gonna play and I just need to get this thing off my mind first,” he shrugged. “You can’t say that it’s selfish of me after what he’s done.”

“I know, I get it.” She let out a long and heavy sigh. “I just wish this camp could’ve been just… Stress-free and drama-free for you,” she continued, drawing a little smirk from Ben. “Well, is there… Is there anything I need to know?”

“Well, I…” Ben looked up to the ceiling, pondering about the things she probably should know. “I wanted to punch him, but I didn’t.”

“Oh, wow,” she chortled.

“I didn’t,” Ben repeated. “And, really, I just talked to him, made my points clear. That I didn’t appreciate what he did, and that… You’re with me now.”

She pursed her lips and nodded. “Okay, and how do you feel now?”

“Uh…” His eyes briefly darted away. That was actually a tricky question. “So much better.”

The corners of her lips tugged upright forming a subtle smile. “Well, if you’re good then I’m good,” she said, and Ben responded with a nod. “Ben, it’s really over now, okay? You have nothing to worry about now, okay?” Ben responded with a nod. “Go win tomorrow’s– today’s game, and then come back home to me.”

Ben chuckled and he felt more comforted when he saw her smiling wider. “I can’t wait to be home too. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. Can I go back to sleep now?” she asked as she yawned, shifting in her bed and pulling her blanket up to her nose again. “I’m really tired, yesterday was, pffft, crazy.” Her voice was muffled by the blanket; she said it with her eyes closed. “We can talk again when you’re back…”

“Yeah, yeah, go back to sleep, babe. See you tomorrow, okay?”

“Mmm, see you tomorrow. Bye.”

“Bye, I love–” But Ben was cut off because she already ended the call. “You…”

Ben sighed with the smile still staying on his lips as he slightly shook his head. He was about to drop his phone when it buzzed and chimed. A notification had popped up.

I love you, good night baby<3

Ben smiled widened again, as he felt his heart pounding comfortably in his chest. It felt a little bit warmer now—his mind was filled with images of her and the voices that had been playing on his head were now replaced with her voice; soft, sweet, and calming.

Ben placed his phone back on the nightstand, before he made himself comfortable on the bed, took one deep breath, and went to sleep.

—

you guys probably don't remember when i gave you 3 prompts to vote—but this one is from the "take care of her. don't hurt her like i did" prompt. i'm sorry that it took me 3 months to finish this piece, but i'm glad that it went through all the process because i think i like the final product and this could be on the top 10 of my personal best.

i'd really appreciate it if you guys can leave votes, comments, and feedbacks because they mean a lot. tell me which parts you like, which lines make you squeal or cry. your comments motivate me! thank you!

wish ben can come back soon<3

My Masterlist🤍

[skeptiquewrites]

Things I Researched for Fics

I love a Google research hole, and was tagged by the inimitable @sweet-s0rr0w (post). Guaranteed I've wandered down some research warrens and emerged with info I can't use. I picked three of my more research-y fics, and things that I learned specifically because otherwise we'd be here all week.

In Every Universe

security clearances for intelligence work, cottages in the Outer Hebrides, streetview of Chita, Russia, event spaces in Kent, Greek Islands, British WWII propaganda posters, burnout for first responders, history of Black British communities, tabloid headlines, iconic european motorbike rides

Home Truths

three hours of the best of antiques roadshow UK on youtube for Harry's heirlooms, museum archives for Cote D'Ivoire, Christian Lattier, and Ouattara Watts for some heritage ideas, English Premier League (to the point where I am still getting match update notifications to my phone), that LeBron conference he walked out of, how many pull-ups can an NHL player do, more tabloid headlines, Fortnum and Mason hampers, signet rings, UK foundry loft conversions for Draco's flat

No Distance

Tiktoks of vacations in Zurich, Old Town Zurich, Zurich day trips, when did British passport colour change, are takeoff rules universal, German names, Ancient Greek concepts to name the uni in Athens after, patents, PHD Defense in UK name

Tell me yours and tag me (if you'd like) @goblinmatriarch @teacup-tai @ghaniblue @nv-md & anyone else.