Latest news with #Mariam
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
UK charity funds Gaza medics' University of Leicester studies
Two medical students displaced from Gaza will have their studies in the UK paid for by a pair were the first to come to the UK under the University of Leicester's Displaced Medical Student Initiative to support people with studies affected by war, natural disasters and persecution students, named by the university as Mariam and Layla to protect their identities, were unable to study in the Palestinian Territories as all universities in Gaza have been partly or fully four-year course in Leicester will be funded by a £78,000 donation from UK-based The Hanoon Foundation (THF) which supports medical education in the Palestinian occupied territories. The university will waive tuition fees for students accepted through the initiative while a fund has also been set up to support its Dr Ahmed Massoud said THF was "proud" to support the initiative and help Mariam, who is from the Al-Azhar University of Gaza, and Islamic University of Gaza student said: "Such students will form the spine of the future rebuilt healthcare system in Gaza and the rest of Palestine."Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas' cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 54,056 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,901 over the past 10 weeks, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Layla said: "Gaza is entirely unsafe, entirely destroyed, or burned, including my home university, which has been bombed many times."Despite nothing being clear, I'm counting days to go back to rebuild my Gaza, practice medicine there, give a hand to the most brave, innocent people, and live there until death."Mariam said coming to study in Leicester in 2024 "came at a time when hope was fading".She said: "I have a lot of mixed feelings, but the most important ones are that I am grateful and happy to seize an opportunity like this."On the other hand, I carry a sense of guilt for being here while my colleagues are still facing challenges without similar opportunities."Prof Shameq Sayeed, Leicester Medical School's Director of International Teaching Partnerships, said: "Though their displacement – with family and friends still under constant threat in Gaza – constitutes an ongoing and unimaginable challenge, this funding removes at least one of the barriers to the students' ability to complete their studies and return to Gaza as doctors."
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Borneo Post
With flying kicks into future, Tanzanian girls find strength in Chinese kung fu
Saidi Mfaume (L, Front), a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's Shaolin Temple, teaches his daughter Mariam Saidi Mfaume (R, Front) to learn Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) DAR ES SALAAM (May 27): Mariam Saidi Mfaume tightened her tiny fists, took a deep breath, and launched into a flying kick that sliced through the misty air. Raindrops tapped gently on the leaves above, but nothing could stop the six-year-old from pursuing her kung fu dreams. On a damp evening in the outskirts of Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam, while most children were indoors avoiding the elements, Mariam was practicing kung fu with a group of girls, some older and some even younger than her, under the trees. They were being coached by Master Saidi Mfaume, Mariam's father, a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's legendary Shaolin Temple. For as long as Mariam could remember, kung fu has been a part of her world. 'I started training when I was three,' Mariam told Xinhua with a proud grin, her feet slightly apart, hands ready to block or strike on command. 'Kung fu is in my blood.' Watching her move, small but precise, focused and confident, it is easy to forget her age. Saidi Mfaume (in yellow), a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's Shaolin Temple, teaches his students to learn Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) 'My favorite move is the flying kick,' Mariam said. 'When I jump and kick at the same time, I feel like I'm flying. It makes me feel fast and powerful, just like the kung fu masters I see in movies.' Mariam wants to become a kung fu teacher just like her father. 'I want to teach other children, maybe even have my own school one day,' she said, pausing briefly to call over her three-year-old sister Zarha, who recently joined the training sessions. Their dynamic is tender and determined — two girls, tiny but fierce, kicking through the rain as if dancing with the wind. Just a few meters from the children, Makrina Projest wiped the sweat from her brow after a rigorous two-hour training session. At 21, Projest is the oldest student in the Shaolin Temple Tanzania Kung Fu Club and one of its most committed. Clad in black training pants and a red headband, she adjusted her breathing and smiled. 'I always wanted to learn kung fu, ever since I was a little girl watching Chinese martial arts movies on TV.' 'But no one supported me,' Projest said. 'My parents said it was for men. My relatives promised to enroll me, but never did.' 'So when I got my first salary last year, I used it to join this club. It was the best decision I've ever made,' she said. For Makrina, another trainee, kung fu is more than physical movement; it is personal empowerment. 'I used to be shy, even afraid. Now I feel strong. I walk differently. I carry myself differently,' she said. 'It's not about aggression. It's about control.' When asked what she dreams of becoming, Makrina did not hesitate. 'An instructor. A master. And maybe someday, I'll visit China myself.' Master Mfaume, 38, now trains 10 female students ranging in age from three to 21. 'When girls come to train, I take it very seriously,' he said. 'Many families still think kung fu is not for women. But I've seen how it changes lives, especially for girls.' The trainees each have a story, he said, and each story begins with courage. 'Some come without uniforms or food. So I provide what I can, sometimes shoes, sometimes a meal. I talk to their parents and convince them that kung fu will not make their daughters violent. It will make them stronger.' Tanzanian children practice Chinese kung fu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) A Dar es Salaam native, Mfaume started his kung fu journey in 2009, and in 2013, he received a three-month training scholarship at Shaolin Temple, which transformed his understanding of martial arts. In 2014, he returned to China for further training in Chinese culture. These experiences enabled him to integrate kung fu into local education and community events. Beyond its cultural appeal, Mfaume said kung fu holds untapped economic potential. 'Many people think it's just a hobby, but kung fu can open doors, for performance, for tourism, for education,' he said. His club regularly gets invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and Chinese corporate events. The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania has also invited them to take part in cultural celebrations. 'There's demand,' he said. 'What we need is support.' Mfaume hopes that kung fu is recognized not just as entertainment, but as an investment in youth empowerment, gender equality, and cultural exchange. As the rain began to ease, the girls lined up for their final routine. Barefoot and determined, they moved in unison, punching, blocking, and kicking in rhythm. Mariam leapt into a flying kick, her face lit with joy. Her father clapped softly, his voice calm and clear. There is something deeply symbolic about a child soaring through the air with such confidence. In a world where opportunities for girls often come with strings attached or doors closed, here in a modest neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, Chinese kung fu has offered not just strength but wings. And as long as there are girls like Mariam, and mentors like Master Mfaume, those wings will only grow stronger. – Xinhua children China Kung Fu Shaolin Tanzania
The Star
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Feature: With flying kicks into future, Tanzanian girls find strength in Chinese kung fu
by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga DAR ES SALAAM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Mariam Saidi Mfaume tightened her tiny fists, took a deep breath, and launched into a flying kick that sliced through the misty air. Raindrops tapped gently on the leaves above, but nothing could stop the six-year-old from pursuing her kung fu dreams. On a damp evening in the outskirts of Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam, while most children were indoors avoiding the elements, Mariam was practicing kung fu with a group of girls, some older and some even younger than her, under the trees. They were being coached by Master Saidi Mfaume, Mariam's father, a martial arts instructor who once trained at China's legendary Shaolin Temple. For as long as Mariam could remember, kung fu has been a part of her world. "I started training when I was three," Mariam told Xinhua with a proud grin, her feet slightly apart, hands ready to block or strike on command. "Kung fu is in my blood." Watching her move, small but precise, focused and confident, it is easy to forget her age. "My favorite move is the flying kick," Mariam said. "When I jump and kick at the same time, I feel like I'm flying. It makes me feel fast and powerful, just like the kung fu masters I see in movies." Mariam wants to become a kung fu teacher just like her father. "I want to teach other children, maybe even have my own school one day," she said, pausing briefly to call over her three-year-old sister Zarha, who recently joined the training sessions. Their dynamic is tender and determined -- two girls, tiny but fierce, kicking through the rain as if dancing with the wind. Just a few meters from the children, Makrina Projest wiped the sweat from her brow after a rigorous two-hour training session. At 21, Projest is the oldest student in the Shaolin Temple Tanzania Kung Fu Club and one of its most committed. Clad in black training pants and a red headband, she adjusted her breathing and smiled. "I always wanted to learn kung fu, ever since I was a little girl watching Chinese martial arts movies on TV." "But no one supported me," Projest said. "My parents said it was for men. My relatives promised to enroll me, but never did." "So when I got my first salary last year, I used it to join this club. It was the best decision I've ever made," she said. For Makrina, another trainee, kung fu is more than physical movement; it is personal empowerment. "I used to be shy, even afraid. Now I feel strong. I walk differently. I carry myself differently," she said. "It's not about aggression. It's about control." When asked what she dreams of becoming, Makrina did not hesitate. "An instructor. A master. And maybe someday, I'll visit China myself." Master Mfaume, 38, now trains 10 female students ranging in age from three to 21. "When girls come to train, I take it very seriously," he said. "Many families still think kung fu is not for women. But I've seen how it changes lives, especially for girls." The trainees each have a story, he said, and each story begins with courage. "Some come without uniforms or food. So I provide what I can, sometimes shoes, sometimes a meal. I talk to their parents and convince them that kung fu will not make their daughters violent. It will make them stronger." A Dar es Salaam native, Mfaume started his kung fu journey in 2009, and in 2013, he received a three-month training scholarship at Shaolin Temple, which transformed his understanding of martial arts. In 2014, he returned to China for further training in Chinese culture. These experiences enabled him to integrate kung fu into local education and community events. Beyond its cultural appeal, Mfaume said kung fu holds untapped economic potential. "Many people think it's just a hobby, but kung fu can open doors, for performance, for tourism, for education," he said. His club regularly gets invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and Chinese corporate events. The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania has also invited them to take part in cultural celebrations. "There's demand," he said. "What we need is support." Mfaume hopes that kung fu is recognized not just as entertainment, but as an investment in youth empowerment, gender equality, and cultural exchange. As the rain began to ease, the girls lined up for their final routine. Barefoot and determined, they moved in unison, punching, blocking, and kicking in rhythm. Mariam leapt into a flying kick, her face lit with joy. Her father clapped softly, his voice calm and clear. There is something deeply symbolic about a child soaring through the air with such confidence. In a world where opportunities for girls often come with strings attached or doors closed, here in a modest neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, Chinese kung fu has offered not just strength but wings. And as long as there are girls like Mariam, and mentors like Master Mfaume, those wings will only grow stronger.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Self-styled spiritual guru cheats family of 5L
Mumbai: A 38-year-old woman from the slum pockets of a transit camp at Parksite in Vikhroli has been booked for alleged exploitation under the guise of exorcism. The woman who claims to be a spiritual guru is also accused of cheating a family of Rs 5 lakh while claiming to treat a woman receiving mental health care. She has been charged under the Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act. Parksite police have identified the accused as Mehjabeen Rais Khan alias Hazrat (Mariam), and are looking for her. The complaint was filed by Sunil Yashwant Salvi, 48, a resident of Sagarnagar, Vikhroli. He accused Mariam of defrauding and manipulating his sister-in-law, who was undergoing mental health treatment. The woman's husband, the complaint said, consulted Mariam for black magic remedies for her condition. Police have registered a case for cheating and under the Maharashtra Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Self-styled spiritual guru cheats family of Rs 5L
Mumbai: A 38-year-old woman from the slum pockets of a transit camp at Parksite in Vikhroli has been booked for alleged exploitation under the guise of exorcism. The woman who claims to be a spiritual guru is also accused of cheating a family of Rs 5 lakh while claiming to treat a woman receiving mental health care. She has been charged under the Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act. Parksite police have identified the accused as Mehjabeen Rais Khan alias Hazrat (Mariam), and are looking for her. The complaint was filed by Sunil Yashwant Salvi, 48, a resident of Sagarnagar, Vikhroli. He accused Mariam of defrauding and manipulating his sister-in-law, who was undergoing mental health treatment. The woman's husband, the complaint said, consulted Mariam for black magic remedies for her condition. Police have registered a case for cheating and under the Maharashtra Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act.
