https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/who-europe-discusses-how-to-deal-with-pandemic-fatigue,
viewed, 14th Dec 2021

We are all aware that the unprecedented global pandemic COVID-19 produces some weary, and sometimes cathartic effects on most of us. It is important to be gentle with yourself and with one another and appreciate what we have rather than dwelling on the loss. Gratitude produces positive effects on both physical, and emotional wellbeing. It enhances motivation for better engagement.

Winter is souring on this side of our world. It is time for some yummy soups, thick socks and perhaps a good book. Tokyo Olympic has been brightening up the world if you enjoy watching competitive sport. Excellent work to Ariarne Titmus, our Australian swimmer for winning the Gold Medal in 400m freestyle for women swimming!

In this issue, How-Are-You Magazine brings you amazing women who share their stories about how they successfully changed tracks of their career in pursing their authentic call. Agnes Nsofwa originally from Zambia, become a sickle cell crusader when she found out that her daughter was sick with this illness. Despite having an established career in banking industry, Agnes was so determined to save her little one, she enrolled in a nursing course and founded Australia Sickle Cell Advocacy (ASCA) and has been on the road ever since as the ambassador for sickle cell.

On the other hand, Teurai Chanakira who was born in Zimbabwe but grew up in the UK only to realise that the only reason she became an accomplished lawyer was to fulfill her father’s dream. After a serie of life storms, she realised that ‘Law’ was not at core of her being and yearned to be a personal fitness trainer. As Joan Didion puts it: ‘

‘The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs… to free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves — there lies the great, the singular power of self-respect.’

Upon arriving in Australian Teurai embarked on her dream and has been a successful personal fitness trainer and a holistic health and wellbeing coach. She also went on to write some books

Travelling far East, we enter India, the country where Sanchita Abrol originally came from. Sanchita successfully manages to follow her authentic call of becoming a classical dancer and simultaneously completing university studies in public policy in Melbourne.

Like life on purpose movement puts it, the common thread in the stories of these women is ‘ …And she realises that a fresh start was hers for the taking, that she could be the woman she is always seen on the distant horizon – her future self. One step at a time. Starting today’.

How-Are-You Magazine is a special and authentic magazine for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds. It highlights how migrant and refugee women turned their compelling harrowing life challenges into cornerstones to build stoic and heroic lives for themselves and their families. We believe life’ stories from grass roots Inform, Inspire, Impact and Empower most of us women to build resilience when navigating rough surfaces of our lives. As Dr Maya Angelou once said:

‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possible, without claiming it, she stands up for all women’.

We often celebrate and enjoy women’s achievements, but very seldom do we strive to understand the steps they took to reach the apex of a pyramid. The darker and deeper are the roots, the stronger and taller is the tree. Does it matter whether your achievements are not engraved on Hollywood’s walk of fame or flashed on red carpet? Without any fanfare, it is simply natural for the human soul to find its own way to express itself successfully as a bright star that shines upon all. At How-Are-You Magazine, we celebrate women’s quiet authentic achievements that are silently attained in our own backyard, step by step like a bird nesting

‘When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy’- Rumi.

In this first edition we showcase unique women originally from all parts of the world, unpacking their luggage for the very first time, since landing in Australia. An inspiring role model is Juana Martinez whose childhood was shattered by the revolution in Nicaragua, her home country. The revolution
moulded her into a stoic and resilient World Community Development Worker. She exudes selfless devotion to assist most vulnerable people in Melbourne, South America, and Asia. Despite such a long and demanding trajectory of a career life, Juana dreams of setting up a ‘Women’s hub’, for survivors of family violence in Melbourne.

A movement from darkness to light, education empowers people, as Frederick Douglass puts it: ‘Education uplifts the human soul into the glorious light of truth.’ It liberates and gives us an opportunity to better our lives. Sometimes, education might not be accessible to all who wish to study. Marian beat the odds, despite not qualifying for the Commonwealth’s HELP-FEES to undertake university studies after first arriving in Australia as she was not yet a citizen of Australia. Marian successfully completed a Bioscience Degree at Deakin university. Following in the footsteps of her father, Marian yearns to be a medical doctor one day…

‘Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the perfect present for the test of our civilization’ – Mahatma Ghandi.

To my latest beloved sister Anne-Marie who continues to live through her beautiful children, my nieces, and nephews. – Chantal