Someone says "Leap year, baleful year" and this 2020, at the moment, is confirming these popular beliefs. At Kola Beach We are used to work in a holiday atmosphere, with happy and carefree people, who enjoy days between the beach, swimming pool and ocean, drinking a cocktail and eating fresh fish every day. Those who experience this type of holiday want to be surrounded by smiling, trained and friendly staff. Obviously we can all have problems, thoughts and worries that can turn off our smiles and blur the light of our eyes. But we are uncompromising that part of our professionalism lies in leaving problems outside the gates of our workplace and transmitting, with verbal and non-verbal language, all the serenity we are capable of. It takes a certain positivity, attitude and training to see the glass half full, however difficult this year is really making it.
Santiago, the protagonist of Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea, used to say
"Anyone can be a fisherman in May"
highlighting the fact that true attitudes are seen when things are not going as well as they should go and in the midst of difficulties.
We'll remember this 2020 forever, that's sure! But despite everything is overshadowed during a global pandemic like the one we are experiencing, not only disasters and tragedies are happening in these first months of 2020. Turning points and good news that few of us know and that can distract us from the monothematic news of these days are happening too. Here are some small examples that, despite the enormous necessary importance to be given to Covid 19, can tear us a smile, a "WOW" making us understand that the World and life go on and we must not let them escape distracted by the lockdowns and all those measures of prevention that will also make us win this new challenge.
KENYA'S FIRST GREEN BOND STARTS TRADING ON THE BOURSE
Jan 2020
On 13th Jan 2020, Kenya’s first green bond was listed for trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange offering investors the chance to put money into an environmentally-friendly fixed income security for the first time in the bourse’s 65 year history, as written by reuters.com.
This capital will be raised for projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green transport and waste-water treatment.
The following week, the green bond was also listed on the London Stock Exchange which is a first also to have a Kenyan shilling bond listed in the United Kingdom.
Not bad for a bareful year, isn't it?
KENYAN FARMERS FIND SWEET SPOT WITH NUTRITIOUS, DROUGHT-HARDY CROP
Feb 2020
Meru Friends Sacco, a savings and credit cooperative, run this reality in Maua town. It was born to help people access nutritional food in a region where crops are routinely destroyed by drought.
They found a crop that would fight malnutrition issues, boost climate resilience in the area.
The farmers chose sweet potatoes because they are known for being rich in Vitamin A and essential minerals, therefore the hot, dry weather is ideal for the sweet potato.
Before they joined the project, farmers used to rely on brokers who bought their produce at “throw-away prices”, said Martin Munene, agriculture director for Meru County. Now they sell directly to the factory for 50 Kenyan shillings per kilogram, double what they got before.
Not bad for a bareful year, isn't it?
RARE WHITE RHINO BORN IN KENYA
Mar 2020
On realisation that all rhinos were on the brink of extinction, conservation efforts were stepped up and coordinated across multiple countries.
This is what saved the Southern White Rhino. From an isolated population in South Africa of not more than 50, the Southern White Rhino has recovered to 20,000 ranging across the region.
Najib Balala, confirmed the birth of the white rhino calf at the Meru National Park.
Not bad for a bareful year, isn't it?
HOW MANY NEW BIRTHS THERE WERE IN KENYA TODAY?
Apr 2020
Now it's 12.08pm and from midnight 2339 kenyan families are celebrating the arrival of a new born.
According with countrymeters.info, Kenya welcomed 500,014 new born this year.
Not bad for a bareful year, isn't it?
MADAGASCAR CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH MASSIVE TREE-PLANTING
Mar 2020
The country is the world's most biodiverse island and it plans to keep it that way.
To celebrate its 60th birthday, the Government challenged its citizens: plant one million trees for every year Madagascar has beed a formal nation.
Not bad for a bareful year, isn't it?
Beautiful things happen every day. must be seen. should be appreciated. must be enhanced. They must be held tight for moments like the ones we are experiencing today to give us something solid to hold on to for strength and move forward.