View allAll Photos Tagged Innerstrength
This morning I was feeling particularly depressed about things after another lonely night and some really crappy dreams. Out of nowhere my mind conjures up these images of hopes and dreams being flushed in the toilet and I set off to make it a photographic/
weird reality. Not really liking the result I walked off and went to read a book.
I swear to God not 30 minutes later my 11yr old son comes in and announces to the room, "Did someone lose their hopes & dreams? Because uh.. I found them, they're in the toilet." Hahahaha
We busted up laughing so bad, tears were pouring down my face.
He walks off and comes back a few seconds later and said, "Mom, I wasn't about to fish those out of the tank, so I'm sorry, but I peed on your hopes and dreams and then flushed them down the drain."
Ooooh my g*d.. both of us laid on the bed in each others arms and scream laughed nonstop for the next 20 minutes straight LOL His entire chest was soaked in my tears. When I recovered enough to speak, I told him it's okay... that is all they were really worth anyway and I'll get new hopes and dreams somewhere else :) lol
THIS is the defining moment that helped me to move forward today and to keep breathing... and because of it, I present to you my toilet shot. For better or for worse LoL this is my life. Someone call Roto Rooter.
This photo made Flickrs interestingness page for April 9th
The sweet fragrance of Young Living's Inner Child essential oil blend may stimulate memory response and help reconnect with the authentic self, which is one of the first steps toward finding emotional wellness and balance. Sponsor ID 1069994
...this man exudes it, even when he needs a stick to walk slowly. A street portrait from a small town in northern Rajasthan, India
'One small town in Rajasthan' > being there
© Handheld Films 2017
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Photos: Christine Banlog carries produce to the small stand near her home where she sells later in the day.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog carries large produce sacks up the crowded stairway at the entrance to Sandaga market.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Fruits and vegetables meant for sale at Christine Banlog’s neighborhood produce stand are stored in a makeshift container made of old fan blade covers.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Portrait of Christine Banlog in front of the small produce stand she runs near her home.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog sits at the family gravesite adjacent to her home and remembers her daughter who passed away.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
..this is what it feels like...
..No need to hurry.
No need to sparkle.
No need to be anybody but oneself.
Virginia Woolf | A Room of One's Own ♥
Ombre e raggio accarezzano la pelle. La libertà non è un gesto: è restare se stessi, senza spegnersi.
My New Tattoo on my Left Calf. Japanesse Kanji symbol "Inner Strength" done by Jessie at "In the Blood Tattoo and Rock & Roll" on Carson St, Pittsburgh. It is hard to see but the top portion of the symbol is dark purple faded into black, bottom is black faded into light blue (Mackenzie chose the blue). After getting this I dont think it is done yet, I want smaller symbols on either side of Balance and Power and would like to include piece somwhere but havent decided on this.
Was supposed to have this done Friday but my previous pictures depict the other work I had done that night, instead Melissa treated me to this Saturday Night (I think she felt sorry for me). Oh and yes it has taken me 3 days to process this since I am working with limited mobility of my right hand at the moment.
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Having purchased potatoes from a whole-sale market, Christine Banlog heads to another market to buy more produce.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog shows a payment slip for school fees for one of her granddaughters.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog loads her produce sacks on a motor-bike taxi and heads back to her neighborhood.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Photos: Christine Banlog arranges produce at the small stand near her home where she sells later in the day.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog brings her produce sacks back to her neighborhood where she has a small stand.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Christine Banlog in front of a wall of family photos, including memories and artifacts of her daughter who passed away.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Christine Banlog has been a market woman for 22 years. She is now 64, widowed, and raising her three grandchildren in Nyalla, a locality in the city of Douala, Cameroon.
In 2011 Christine’s daughter died from complications during childbirth, leaving her with three girls, the youngest being only a week old at the time. Today her granddaughters are 17, 12 and 7; and they motivate her to keep going.
Christine’s day starts early, at 5 a.m., as the neighbourhood mosque announces its morning prayers.
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon and known for its whole-sale and retail markets. Christine belongs to the Association of Market Women (ASBY), a national network of women who buy various goods from whole-sale markets and sell them in smaller markets. Locally, the market women are called “Bayem-Sellam”. Since 2014, UN Women has supported the Association by providing financial support and various training sessions for women entrepreneurs.
Every morning, Christine rushes to different markets to pick up produce—some specialize in potatoes, others are known for their plantains or fresh vegetables. She buys her produce and loads up the sacks on a motorbike-taxi to take them to the Nyalla market by 7 a.m., where she has a stand. The early hours are the most profitable time to sell, and the market closes by 3 p.m.
For Christine, 3 p.m. is too early to stop working; she has four mouths to feed and her oldest granddaughter is registering for the public-school examination this year, which will cost her 22,000 Franc. “I use the income to pay school fees even though it’s very difficult; money is not enough,” she says.
After the market closes, she sets up a small stand near her home to sell the produce that’s left.
Every month, on average, Christine makes about 30,000 Franc. She started her business with a capital of 50,000 Franc. However, the profit margins vary by the season. In the potato season, she could make 40-50 per cent profit sometimes.
Since joining the Market Women’s Association last year, she has started growing her business. The Association has provided her with training on life skills and how to manage her finances better.
“Yes, the training has helped me improve my business skills. First, they taught us how to handle the capital, plan expenses and then calculate the profit,” she says.
This year, money is tight. During the recent elections she was not able to keep her usual market hours. Some of the market women, like Christine, are also members of political parties who involve them in campaigning, cooking food for campaign rallies, etc.
When asked about her biggest challenge, Christine talks about the red dirt road that leads to her home.
“The first problem is access to road,” she says. “The roads are bad, during rainy season the potholes are full of water. Because of the road, I fell from the bike and sprained my ankle in October.”
Christine doesn’t have insurance, so if she cannot make it to the market one day, she incurs losses.
Access to credit is another challenge for her. “I want to buy a container to store goods. It costs 300,000 Franc to buy a locally made container,” she shares. If she has access to credit, she can buy this container and minimize her daily transportation cost to buy and sell goods and also the time it takes to go back and forth. With some credit, she can grow the business.
At the end of the day, Christine goes home to cook dinner.
“The market woman’s house doesn’t lack food,” she says, grinning. “Whatever’s left over, comes home and we eat that.”
Today, she will make a soup out of smoked fish and dried okra.
Pictured: Dried okra, to be used for making soup.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
The unique jasper triangle gemstone pendant dangles on the handmade knots macrame beaded necklace.
The macrame necklace made with waxed threads of black color and Natural Gemstone round Loose Beads in carnelian and natural colors finished off with silver tone clasp.
Inner strength . . . love . . . beauty . . . courage . . and hope. . . . . . against the fight.
This cancer awareness pendant was made from PMC (Precious Metal Clay .999 Fine Silver)and an original stamp created by me. The top pendant is dome shaped and the ribbon is slightly raised, the bottom pendant is flat with a stamped heart. Once fired, the pendant was tumbled for smoothness, oxidized for depth, and polished for shine.
Hens and Chicks reaching for the spring sun after a dark winter. At times we have to pull from our hidden inner strength to find light after enduring dark times. Please view on black..press L
Beautiful autumn abounds here. The sky's a beautiful, cloudless blue!
I am looking for humorous quotes, for my friends who love quotes out there in Flickrland ... please email them!
This quote, a favorite from my youth, held particular meaning this past two seasons: Watching family and friends endure (and in three cases, succumb to) serious illnesses has been a challenge on many levels. This quote's full of truth. A reminder to be patient in life for what growth comes from challenges, it's full of hope and promise too.
Many friends have inspired me as they face their challenges.
Part of my own solution is to cherish and fuel my mind with the beautiful and fun times around me. Everyday I photograph something beautiful and feel grateful for both the people and the passing moments, too. This mindfulness reshapes the days.
Seeing this beautiful oak tree against this bright , clear blue sky yesterday was such a pleasure! Today, I wanted to share it with all of you.
Celebrate EACH day!
HAPPY BLUE (and orange) Monday!
"Nighty"
nightshooter09
Anxiety and depression affect upwards of 55 million people in the U.S. alone.
Research has shown that hypnosis is highly-effective at dealing with anxiety and depression, and what’s more, is that positive results can often be seen in a fraction of the time. The other benefit with hypnosis is that it’s 100% natural and drug-free – which is also good news given how quick doctors can be to prescribe medication.
Curious to discover more about how hypnosis can be used as a powerful ally in the emotional struggles that haunt depression and anxiety sufferers?
Check out the latest article on HypnosisTrainingAcademy.com to discover why hypnosis works, the techniques you can use to treat it, in addition to 3 scientific studies that back its effectiveness up.
hypnosistrainingacademy.com/how-hypnosis-is-used-for-anxi...
This is David Thibodeau. David was one of only 9 people to survive the flames that engulfed their home, Mt. Carmel. He was 22 years old at the time of the tragedy and was the drummer for the church band. Sadly, David lost his wife and child in the flames.
He continues to drum however, and makes wonderful music to this day. An incredible man and musician who has traveled the country speaking about the massacre and educating people. He now has a beautiful daughter and currently lives in Maine.
I took this shot outside of Ryans Steakhouse in Waco, Texas April 19th 2001, 8th year anniversary of the tragedy. David has become a close friend over the years and continues to be an endless source of laughter. I too am a survivor and know that laughter has pulled me up from the darkest places... I'm so happy David never lost his. He's a wonderful example of strength.
(Who is David? What am I talking about? Click here for more information:)
flickr.com/photos/azredheadedbrat/106198487/
Please come read the names of the deceased here
Please visit Lew Rockwell.com for a recent article on the massacre:
fame comes in unexpected ways, and I'm sure that this gentleman had no idea as he performed his daily errands that he would become the subject of a naming contest!
a couple of contacts have jumped the gun. I will include their suggestions in the list that I will post Thursday and Friday.
George, Mr. Thomas, and Irving.....
originally I thought that I would have my cronies from work and me do the judging, but decided it would be much more fun if YOU were the judges.....
of course, your entry will be the name you want, but come back on Thursday and Friday and choose a name from the suggestion list, other than your own, that you think suits this dapper gentleman the most.....the name with the most votes wins....in case of a tie, then my fellow coworkers will decide......
so, let the festivities (and the naming) begin!
My son has inner strength he isnt even aware of yet. Most people sitting in the E.R. trying to determine if they are bleeding into their kidneys or stomach would be upset and scared... this is how my weird/lovely family deals with it (sometimes) ;)
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Status of the visit: Hospital doesnt have a clue what's wrong with him.
They suggested a trip to the bathroom and sent us home. (I lost faith in this
'guessing' profession a long time ago.)
Dr. Moms treatment plan was injecting him with clotting medicine as a
precaution (he has severe hemophilia A) and giving him some Tylenol for pain.
That's more than a hospital full of doctors could manage *sigh
[If you dont know the story behind the story, please visit here: flickr.com/photos/azredheadedbrat/95251656/]
Best on Black.
“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” Unknown.
Searching for the strength within yourself. Sometimes you can barely find what you are looking for.
Selfdoubt can only be cured by the strength within.
...standing tall: a portrait from a small village in a remote part of rural Madhya Pradesh, Central India
(© Handheld Films 2013)