1. Lyn SIYA
Founder of the L.I.F.E. Newsletter
Dear Readers,
This issue of the L.I.F.E Newsletter will be dedicated to our women. Women have been the backbone of our society for years;
their thoughtfulness, sincerity and strength have led many a name to be written down on history’s page. Our newsletter will
pay tribute to a stalwart of society — Dr. Maya Angelou, who braved the negative ills of prejudice to become the person that
she was.
As a young woman living in Barbados of African descent I have also sought to write on the plight of my Nigerian sisters who
were abducted. Many families of the chibok community have been experiencing severe amounts of mental and emotional an-
guish due to this catastrophe. We must become a people that speak up and raise our voices over the evils that exist in our
world instead of being passive and inert.“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke.
A heath directory is also included for locals and visitors to Barbados who are living with or know someone who has a particu-
lar health issue and may need some additional advice or assistance pertaining to their challenge. Thank you for your time, love
and support in reading the L.I.F.E. Newsletter. Any queries and comments you may have can be emailed to:
thelifenewsletter@yahoo.com.
NEWSLETTER
L.i.f.e.
I S S U E # 5 J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
REAL TALK–2 POETIC CORNER-4
FOR MY YOUNG SISTERS-3 HEALTH DIRECTORY-5

2. P A G E 2
REAL TALK (A Phenomenal Woman)
L . I . F . E .
Dr. Maya Angelou-A phenomenal woman
“I am a woman. Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.”- Maya
Angelou
She shared with the world her smile and elegance; she wrote for us, danced
for us and encouraged us to live our lives expressing love and kindness to
everyone we encounter. Growing up as a young girl in Barbados I have al-
ways admired this beautiful lady. The way a human being can come from be-
ing oppressed because of her ethnicity to calling on humanity to embrace each
other despite our differences is truly worthy of being called phenomenal.
In our world we have greed, envy and hate that does nothing more than pull
apart the moral fabric of society. It has resulted in many being pushed to com-
mit suicide and engage in other self-destructive behavior. Her writings dis-
played that as a people, love should hold us up.
Love is the foundation for succeeding in this journey called L.I.F.E. Many
however, have been duped into thinking being ruthless, hateful and spiteful
leads to success – it does not. We have diversion within our respective coun-
tries; some identify as Muslim, Christian, Negroid, Caucasian, Mongoloid,
Hispanic or mix but whatever group or section you belong to let love be the
order of the day.
Many of us who function in the capacity of literary and vocal artists have the
ability, knowledge and wherewithal to exact and influence the wind of change
within our respective communities just like Dr. Angelou. This should arm us
with the necessary momentum we need to become world changers. Dr. Ange-
lou with the stroke of her pen, the utilization of her voice and the deployment
of her mind in being cognizant of her reality as an African-American living in
a racist and segregated community became an advocate for and champion of
human rights. She did not allow where she came from to be an impediment to
her growth but it catapulted her into being an inspiration to many individuals
across the globe.
The power of the pen and voice are blessings that can be utilized to change
and challenge our society to do better or they can be used as a poison to hurt,
and maim groups of people and their environment. Is your pen and voice be-
ing used for good or does it seek to destroy? As the world reflects on the life
and times of Dr. Maya Angelou let us all remember that love is important and
it has the power to trade in a stony heart for a soft one.
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one
yet.”—Maya Angelou

3. THE
NIGERIAN CRY
FOR MY YOUNG SISTERS
P A G E 3I S S U E # 5 J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
BringBackOurGirls
In the country of Nigeria in the chibok community several young school girls were kidnapped in the month of
April. The continent of Africa has had several eventful occurrences in its history: slavery, malnourishment,
lack of education and genocide just to name a few has plagued this continent. We have watched the many
news features, seen the plethora of social media activism, heard many interviews from family members of the
young ladies, Nigerian youth groups and have had an address from the First Lady Michelle Obama where they
all vehemently called for the perpetrators to: BringBackOurGirls. The world has been up in arms and rightly so
over this atrocity. I personally have never visited Nigeria but I have seen many positives coming from the
youth there. As I watch several YouTube clips and tune into BBC Radio shows based on Nigeria; many hopes,
aspirations and goals are being echoed from young Nigerian voices.
These young ladies have become pawns in a very hurtful and painful situation where exposure to being sold as
property, push into slavery and prostitution is very much their reality. Many have been denied their basic hu-
man right of freedom of thought, the desire to obtain an education, what career path they want to pursue and
when to become mothers. Family is and will always be important to the world’s survival because when fami-
lies are unified; love, warmth and happiness abound. The unification of the family unit causes the emergence
of well rounded, disciplined and industrious youth who are equipped with the necessary communication tools
their need in order to provoke thought, promote ideas and challenge conventional thinking in our world.
However, several of these Nigerian families have been broken. Only the heavens know what these individuals
have been experiencing for the past months. Although many of us do not live in Nigeria we can still lend our
love, voices and support in order for these families to be healed. Many of us out here have daughters and we
would never like to be placed in the position of Not knowing; Not knowing if she is being fed well, Not know-
ing what she is feeling at this moment, Not knowing if she is coming back and Not knowing if you will see her
smile, walk or sleep again. Many voices united can seek out the necessary justice that these families so desper-
ately need. Let us join our voices with the Nigerians as we say: BringBackOurGirls.

4. P A G E 4
Poetic Corner: by Lyn-Marie Blackman (MAY 2014)
BringBackOurGirls: The Nigerian Cry
Sleepless nights plague their Mothers,
Angered hearts have their Fathers,
Schools are missing their Students,
Villages are devoid of their smiles,
BringBackOurGirls is the Nigerian cry.
Somber faces greet us on the news feature,
As they hold their signs up a little higher,
They require justice for their family member,
They have been relentless in their plight,
BringBackOurGirls is the Nigerian cry.
Mother’s day approaches us soon,
Father’s day is next month in June,
Many of us know where our children are,
However, these parents have been left in the dark,
BringBackOurGirls is the Nigerian cry.
Upset and heart-broken it has left Nigeria,
Confused and bewildered it has left the media,
Many are praying that the girls return safely,
For girls are a blessing and pleasure in Yahweh’s sight,
BringBackOurGirls is the Nigerian cry.
Let us hold hands together around the world,
Knowing that our concern will not go unheard,
Pain and misery have been abounding daily,
Let’s make it our mission to fight this catastrophe,
BringBackOurGirls is the Nigerian cry.
L . I . F . E .

5. Designed by
Lyn SIYA 2014
Health Directory
Caribbean HIV&AIDS Alliance (CHAA)
Barbados Country Office
General HIV and AIDS Information and Service advice
Tel: (1246)228-4306 /4205
HIV Support Groups
Ladymeade Reference Unit (LRU), Ladymeade Gardens
Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael
Tel: (1246) 437-8215
United Gays and Lesbians Against AIDS Barbados (UGLAAB)
Vashti Inniss Empowerment Centre
General HIV and AIDS Information and Service advice.
Tel: (1246)426-3323
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
HIV care and treatment including services to assist in the Prevention of Mother -to- Child transmission-(PMTCT)
Tel: (1246)436-6450
The HIV Food Bank
Nutrition Education, Nutrition Assessment and Food Assistance
Tel: (1246) 467-9399, 467-9505
The Ladymeade Reference Unit
Voluntary Counseling and Testing, HIV care and treatment including services to assist in the Prevention of Mother –
to– Child transmission -(PMTCT).
Tel :( 1246)417-2821
Barbados Cancer Society
Tel: (1246) 436-8888
Barbados Family Planning Association
Tel: (1246) 426-2027
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados
Tel: (1246) 437-3312
PAHO/WHO
Office of Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Countries
Tel: (1246) 426-3860
National HIV/AIDS Commission
Tel: (1246) 310-1000