Can't Work.....Won't Work

Is it a case that young people don’t want to work, or is it that they simply just cannot find jobs? They always say the first year after graduation is the hardest to find a job, and I remember people saying to me “once you get your foot in the door then your career will start?” But what happens when you can’t even get your foot near the door? Or in some people’s cases don’t want to even consider going for an education or a job......

Whilst flicking through the news today I came across this,

According to The Guardian online In England young people between the ages of 16-24, “Some 938,000 young people in this age group were "neets" – not in education, employment or training – quarterly statistics from October to December reveal.”

“The latest figures show unemployment in Wales rose by 3,000 in the last quarter to 126,000, which is 5,000 lower than the same period last year.

The number of jobless 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK increased by 12,000 in the three months to February to 963,000.” (BBC Wales online)

I mean fair enough people have disabilities and ailments that prevent them to work which is legitimate, but when people Can work and Choose not to or simply cannot find a job, then there is a problem surely?

I know I maybe stating the obvious here and I’m not saying anything that’s not been said before.

In the Daily Mail Online today the work and pensions secretary Ian Duncan Smith had this to say:

"As we work hard to break welfare dependency and get young people ready for the labour market, we need businesses to give them a chance, and not just fall back on labour from abroad. If Government and business pull together on this, I believe we can start to give our young people a chance."

Give young people a chance! We are keen and eager! We are the future!

Washing your hair can make you feel so much better....

Last weekend I had a night out with friends, which isn’t unusual for a 24 year old on a Saturday night. However I was staying with them, again not unusual for myself, unfamiliar to these surroundings I felt I had to make more of an effort to “fit in” with the locals; this could be to do with the fact that the town was a student town which wasn't “my” student town, extra effort had to be made!

So the night started off great,

all dressed up and great to go, hair had been curled, time taken to apply makeup, and outfit carefully selected days before, I was good to go and par-tay!

However something wasn’t right, I couldn't put my finger on it, and it wasn’t due to the people making me feel unwelcome, nor was it that I felt out of place, it was because I HAD NOT WASHED MY HAIR!

I felt conscious and not quite 100% ready! However the night went on and I had a fab time, especially dancing to old student tunes like, Nina Sky and Wayne Wonder!

The next day after a healthy breakfast and all packed up to go, I took a shower and, yep you guessed it...washed my hair! It seemed that I instantly felt GREAT! And also commented on my facebook how “washing your hair after a night out makes you feel so much better!” which got me thinking of the South Pacific Film- where Nellie Sings – “ I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” where her problem seemed to get better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIAP364nxEo

As soon as her hair was washed, she caught the eye of an admirer! This is not to say that once you’ve washed your hair it’s a guaranteed tool for meeting a man, but it got me thinking to the benefits of how you feel once you’ve washed your hair.

Also when I’m having a bad hair day, I’ll always say to friends “hello, ignore the hair!” as if they were analysing me in the first place!

But be it job interview, a night out, a break up or even to cheer myself up, give washing you’re hair a go! It’s out greatest asset!

Willow Smith did not bring the song out for nothing! Not does Cheryl Cole promote – “ 5 Star care for Great British Hair” for nothing either.

So next time you’re having a bad day, or have broken up with some one, or just want to make yourself feel better- it’s simple- Wash Your Hair!

Dame Anne Owers - Female Chief Inspector Of Prisons

On Wednesday 11^th May 2011, I was invited by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to attaned a talk with Dame Anne Elizabeth Owers. DBE (born 23 June 1947),

For those who don’t know who she is, Dame Anna Owers was the first female Chief Inspector of Prisons for nine years, where her post ended back in 2010.

Before becoming Chief Inspector, she was the Director of JUSTICE, which is a UK- based human rights and law reform organisation.

When speaking about the justice system, which is something I have very limited if any at all knowledge on, she was highlighting the “rights” prisoners should have and for them not be locked up for 23 hours a day. These rights include things like, having a door handle on the prison doors, so prisoners feel they are in a room, rather than in a box. Also the fact that people should not have one place to, eat, sleep and urinate in the same room. Humans should be given their “right” to have privacy.

She mentioned that for a lot of people in prisons at the moment, many mental health problems and maybe it’s those issues we need to address, rather than “punishing” them by keeping them in a cell for 23 hours a day. Also that some of the disabled prisoners, were unable to seek assistance with washing due to health and safety reasons, I mean where is the line? Should a human being who is in prison not be entitled to seek assistance to wash?

The talk for me was insightful and intriguing as we don’t really think about the conditions prisoners have to face, Yes that have committed a crime, and Yes they deserve to do their time, however for me it’s the fact that they have a “right” to have privacy and treatment to help conquer under lying issues going on within their psyche, which can help “prevent” causing crimes in the future.

But due to lack of resources or government funding will these issues ever go away?, Or is it that people will not give ex offenders a chance and argue that they've done wrong and deserve to be treated with the consequences with no true understanding as to why, where, when and how they got there in the first place?

New Shows on Sound Cloud :)

You can catch some of the latest shows produced, edited and presented by myself.

http://soundcloud.com/casandthecity

A show on Bullying- Involving children and young people telling us their experiences of bullying as well as ways to combat bullying.

Global Extravaganza- Young Muslim women perform in front of an all female environment. Rocky Balboa- Eat your heart out! Whoop!

Happy listening, for any information or feedback feel free to contact myself: Cascorner@hotmail.co..uk

It's Clothes Swapping Time!!

You heard it here first!

Due to the success of the last swap, we've decided to do it once again!

EmpowerMe Wales - this blogs Alter Ego!! along with a little help from my Friends! Leena Mooneram will be organising a clothes swap.

Clothes swapping; fun, ethical, and guilt free and it’s taking place at David Lloyd, Cardiff on Saturday 21^st May.

Lost weight and have a wardrobe full of clothes that no longer fit? Have wardrobes full of ‘occasional’ wear that don’t see the light of day? Shoes and accessories that just aren’t quite your style? Swap them.

All proceeds will be donated to Cardiff Women’s Aid. All unclaimed items will be donated to Cardiff Women’s Aid and Cancer Research.

How it Works:

You bring any clean and unwanted items of clothing, jewellery, shoes and accessories that you no longer wear or want and swap them for clothes and accessories that you do want and will wear. It’s as simple as that!

What to Do:

- Check out your wardrobe. Sort out & identify the items you want to swap.

- Drop off your items at one of the locations below.

- Pay £4 at the door on Saturday 21^st May and you can take your pick of whatever is there.

Make a Difference – Make a Swap.

Drop off points – From Monday 9^th May.

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm

Mooneerams Solicitors

36 Richmond Road

Cardiff

CF24 3AS

Volunteers we need you!! be it for an hour or 2!- contact empowermewales@gmail.com or leena.mooneeram@mooneerams.com

Proceeds go to Cardiff Women's Aid and Cancer Research!

Hope to see you there

Cas and Leena

xxx

EmpowerMe Wales' Interview With Creative Boom!!

Interview: Cas Germain, founder of "EmpowerMe Wales"

It gives me great pleasure to say that EmpowerMe Wales got somepress attention!!

Please see the first interview below taken from Creative Boom- "Creative Boom Cardiff is a regional online magazine about the creative industries in Cardiff and the rest of Wales and covers everything from fashion, music, film and photography to art, design, animation and marketing."

http://www.creativeboom.co.uk/cardiff/2010/06/18/interview-cas-germain-founder-of-empowerme-wales/

EMPOWERME WALES is an initiative set up for young women in Wales. Its founder, 23 year old Cas Germain, takes time out to tell us about what inspired and motivated her to set up this organisation.

So how did it all start? Where did the idea for EmpowerMe Wales come from?

The idea started when I heard the statistic that "Wales has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in Western Europe"

I've also worked with women in Cardiff Women's Aid and wanted to come up with something where preventatives could happen for example teen pregnancies or young women having knowledge about domestic abuse. That is not to say young women shouldn't get pregnant, nor is it saying all men are involved in domestic abuse, but the more "empowered" an individual is about their lives and feel good about themselves the more self and social awareness one has.
There fore by being a young women and working with lots of different people both in media and social, I thought of EmpowerMe Wales. A non profit, initiative for young women to grow and look out for themselves, by deciding and helping them do what they want as opposed to being dictated or told what to do, through positive mediums. For example a clothes swapping event- cheap clothes and helping the environment at the same time, as well as helping other people such as Cardiff Women's Aid in our Case.

Can you tell us about your own background and career?

I graduated in September 2009 with BA (hons) in Media and Sociology at Goldsmiths London. I wanted to pursue my 2 passions, the radio aspect being the media side, and people and empowerment of young people, being the sociology.
2 days after my finals, I started a marketing internship at Kiss 100 in London, and worked with Neil Fox at Magic as a producer for his breakfast show before being the breakfast show presenter at Radio Cardiff for the summer of 2009. I then did a short stint at Bro Radio before training at Red Dragon FM.
As well as having a passion for radio I wanted to work with people, especially women so I started volunteering at Cardiff Women's Aid, as well as organising events to raise awareness of Cardiff Women's Aid and help everyone out, by organising a clothes swap which is EmpowerMe's 1st event. I am now the Radio Coordinator for The Independent Foster Care Services Wales, empowering young people and adults and the whole community by running a radio station and letting them take control of the air waves.

What's been your proudest moment so far?

Mine personally so far is getting the job as Radio Coordinator at the Independent Foster Care Services Wales. Where I get to promote a good cause, and empower young people and the community around me in radio.

Anything exciting ongoing or in the pipeline?

Raising the profile for EmpowerMe Wales through 4 pillars. Education, Entertainment, Exercise and Environment. Would love to do talks in schools about Domestic Violence in teen relationships and empowerment through beauty.

Where do you hope EmpowerMe Wales will be in five years time?

Hopefully people will be familiar who we are and will be a functioning initiative where young women feel happy and confident in themselves and lives through ideas we have and they go onto pursue.

What advice would you give to aspiring young entrepreneurs out there?

Any idea or any thing you want to do or have, just go for it. Don't let anything or anyone hold you back and no matter how hard things get, personally, spiritually, mentally or emotionally, just don't give up. If you believe it anything is possible, its all up to you how you want your life to be.

Taken from Creative Boom- "Creative Boom Cardiff is a regional online magazine about the creative industries in Cardiff and the rest of Wales and covers everything from fashion, music, film and photography to art, design, animation and marketing."

http://www.creativeboom.co.uk/cardiff/2010/06/18/interview-cas-germain-founder-of-empowerme-wales/

Clothes Swapping Event In Cardiff

It's clothes swapping time!!

Empowerme Wales has organised its first clothes swap!!

Date for your diary: Saturday 3rd July

Penylan community centre

Penylan Cardiff,

(Next to Roath Rec, on the corner of Ninian Road)

Time: 12-4pm!!

Small price to pay: £3

For those of you who are not familiar with this craze, do let me explain....

It started on in the US where people would bring their unwanted items and swap with other people for a whole new wardrobe. Since making a storm in the US it's now in Cardiff.

How it works: you come along at 12pm with your bag of clean clothes, no underwear or bikinis for obvious reasons!! :P We then sort them out until 1pm. Then at 1pm you have full access for 3 whole hours to your new wardrobe!!

Enviromentally friendly, fun and most of all for a good cause! What more could you ask for!!

Proceeds go to Cardiff Women's Aid.

Looking forward to seeing you!!

Cas xxx

" Be the change that you want to see in the world" Ghandi