VALUABLE YOU SUMMER CAMP HAILED SUCCESS

Majestically Rare teamed up with Teeky Arena & Events to provide a world class summer camp for girls age 10 -13. Valuable YOU Summer Camp was designed to equip girls with tools that will help them value themselves as treasures and present themselves effectively anywhere in the world. The programme was well thought out to give your daughters an experience they will never forget.

Valuable Activities included Essential Leadership Skills, Confidence Building, Money Management, Communication in Action, Global Etiquette, Personal Grooming, Diction, Creative Writing, Hair Care, Public Speaking, Cake Dressing, How to be Charming, Zumba & Salsa Dancing, Healthy Living, Theatre Workshop, Outdoor Sport Games including Tug of War, Fashion show.

Thanks to Eziafa Nwokola, Madame Solange Inengite, Tokunbo Chiedu, Design Essentials, Osarhieme Fola Alade - Sweetheart, Dr Nonye Umeike-Barrow, Debbie Egwuogu-Debbie Grills, Yinka Enahoro -Jewelled Butterflies, Sophia Innih Mbakwe-Green Butterfly Interiors and Emmanuella Onobun for taking time out of your busy schedules to support Valuable YOU.

Thanks to the Guardian Newspaper who allowed us to share our weekly updates in the Valuable YOU Column. 

Thanks to Connect Nigeria for coming out to Film 

Meet the Boss at our summer camp and to all our fans for encouraging and supporting Valuable YOU Summer Camp for Girls 2015.

Finally, Special thanks to our pioneer girls namely Lolia, Anjola, Toluwani, Ethni, Nicole, Evana, Norma, Tyra, Taffy, Tammy, Kelechi, Fope, Adaora, Venetia, Isadora, Ogechi, Diane, Ogechi 2, Keziah and Micaya who passed through this year’s Valuable YOU Camp. 

Here is the link to snippets of the Valuable YOU Summer Camp by Connect Nigeria.

http://connectnigeria.com/cntv/2015/08/09/cntv-meet-the-boss-rita-okoye-ceo-majestically-rare/

A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPASSION

Compassion is a word that brings up a lot of warm feelings to some but others just can’t relate to it at all. We know that our environment is harsh especially for us living in a county like Nigeria but wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were more compassionate?  I have listed below ways in which we can achieve this.

More Empathy

I understand empathy to mean putting myself in someone else’s shoes. It doesn’t mean taking on their issues but it shows another person that I understand what they are going through and care. One of my stewards recently shared with me that her sister died. If I didn’t show compassion, I would have just been in more of hurry for her to clean my house. But I listened and showed concern and empathy about this tragic death. Empathy doesn’t always have to be as extreme as when someone dies. It is just the ability to show that you care.

More Care

How much do we care for others? In a town like Lagos, it is very easy to get bogged down with one’s life and not care about other people. I call it the “Me, Myself and I syndrome”. We can get so bothered about what we are going through that we forget that others maybe going through worst challenges. In order to be more compassionate, we should take our minds off ourselves and find a way to care for others with more pressing needs than our own.

More Sensitive

I think that we can learn to be more sensitive, even if it doesn’t come naturally. Sensitivity shows compassion. We can be slow to speak and ask ourselves if what we want to say will help another person or destroy them. Some people do not think that name calling is destructive but is it. Just watch a person’s spirit go down when you call them stupid, foolish or idiot. Wouldn’t it better to say kind words?

Kind Words

Speaking of kind words, I always say to my three children that if you haven’t got anything kind to say to each don’t say anything at all. That is the rule in my household. We try our best to only say kind words that will lift and build one another. You may say, ‘I will find it difficult’. Yes at first it might be difficult and it takes time to kick off old habits but it is possible if you are deliberate. Try your best to speak only kind words to others. It will increase your compassion.

Charitable

There are so many charities that are screaming out for donations. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be clothes, food or just your time. Giving something is better than nothing. And it helps us to take time off ourselves and think about others.

Let’s try and be a little bit more charitable this week. Let’s try and be a little bit more compassionate.

HOW TO BE CHARMING

Not many people are born with charm. Only a few have that natural ability to be very likeable. The truth is, when you are charming it works in your favour. It opens doors. It promotes you. It gives you opportunities that many would dream for. So why not work on your charm. Listed below are a few things that you can do to make yourself more charming.

Smile More

Smiling seems very easy to do but many people don’t smile enough. Smiling shows another person that you are happy to see them. It shows that you are a warm person. Everyone wants to be around a person who smiles and is happy.  I remember as a student at University, I had a part-time job in the supermarket as a cashier. On busy days when there were long queues at my till customers would wait even though other cashiers were open and ready to serve them. I found it strange and would ask customers to join other queues but they would say I was the only one smiling and they were happy to wait because I made their shopping experience better. From that day onwards, I made an effort to smile even more.

Be Genuinely Interested In Others

Have you noticed that people love talking about themselves? You only have to look at social media to see how people want to share and talk about who they are. So why not make an effort to be interested in others?  Ask people about themselves. Ask where they live. Ask what they do. Ask about their hobbies. When you show interest in others, it makes you more charming.

Remember Names

People love it when you remember their name. It makes them feel important.  But it can be challenging remembering names, especially when you come into contact with lots of people. The best thing to do when you meet someone for the first time is repeat their name back to them. If you have an opportunity, also write it down. Another way to remember a person’s name is to identify them with something or someone else that has the same name. If you do any of the above, you will find yourself remembering names better.

Be A Good Listener

Listening shows that you care. It shows that you are interested in what others have to say about themselves. When speaking with others, make sure you give them eye contact. Don’t stare at them but make sure you look interested. Be an active listener, that means when speaking nod in agreement or ask questions if you don’t understand.

Have A Sense Of Humour

People love happy people. They also love people that don’t take themselves and life too seriously. They also love people who are incredibly optimistic and positive. Is that you? You can be charming by thinking more on the bright side of life. Don’t worry. Be happy.

VALUABLE YOU ANTHEM

Recite this Valuable YOU  Anthem daily and you will always feel valuable and watch our delightful camper recite it in her own unique way.

EMPOWERING GIRLS WITH VALUABLE SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Valuable YOU Summer camp has been running for the past two weeks and the girls have been fully engaged.  Below I will share what they have been up to.

Day 1 - Building Self Confidence

The girls were introduced to the vision of Valuable YOU Summer Camp and what to expect. They were introduced to the Valuable YOU Anthem which they recite every day to reaffirm how valuable they are. The first discussion we had was on building self confidence and I went through the tools to achieve that. I introduced them to games that are directed at building confidence which they all took part in and enjoyed. Mrs Eziafa Nwokolo, visited in the afternoon and spoke to the girls about believing in themselves. She said, the three most important people they should listen to are God, their parents and themselves.

Day 2 - Etiquette and Table Manners

We continued some of the daily activities described in day one such as the Valuable YOU anthem and diction. The theme on Day 2 was about Etiquette and Table Manners. We discussed etiquette and how important it is to have good manners where ever you go. I told them the importance of making a good first impression. The girls took part in dressing a table and also brainstormed all they knew about table manners. They played fun etiquette games including using magic words in different languages. The key learning here is that you need to have good manners wherever you go in the world. Our guest speaker was Madame Solange, Fashion blogger and personal stylist. She showed the girls images of different styles. She talked about knowing your body type and importance of personal style and having your own uniqueness. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 3 - Essentials of Good Leadership

Today was about essentials of good leadership. I went through a presentation that I usually share with corporate organisations but I toned it down to suit their age. We discussed essentials of good leadership and ways that they would improve their country. They took part in leadership games that included being blind folded and being led by the leader who gave instructions. The girls had a chance to play some outside games which included a tug of war which they all enjoyed. Our guest speaker and parent Ama also gave the girls some words of wisdom and told the girls how important is it to be confident. She said she was fortunate to have a father who taught her to believe in herself so she never lacked confidence. In their creative writing session, they wrote down all their key learning and then read it aloud to the group. Throughout the week I kept reaffirming how valuable they are.

Day 4 - Money Matters

Entrepreneurship, Team Building & Money Management are all buzz words that the girls heard from me. My valuable girls were taught money management and budgeting. They were given a budget to plan a fabulous party for my god daughter. It was difficult to choose the winning team but the girls that understood what the client was looking for and within budget were declared the winners. Our guest speaker Osarhieme Fola-Alade, CEO at SweetHeart By Cassata Silcilana came by with her eldest son and taught my girls cake decorating. She is one of the finest dessert makers in Lagos. The girls got hands on practice and decorated their own chocolate cake. The verdict yummy! As promised Design Essentials donated goody bags full of haircare products for the girls. The girls enjoyed treasure hunt and water sports, along with a host of themed money management games.

Day 5 - Personal Grooming

I shared tips on how to be naturally charming which will give them a competitive edge wherever they go. These include smiling, remembering people names, asking questions and being interested in others. There was plenty of role plays, dress up and lots of fun and games both indoor and out. In addition, lots of practical demonstrations on how to look after oneself and the girls had fun dressing up. Kemi, owner of KLs Natural Beauty bar, and educator on behalf of Design Essentials spoke to girls about how to care for the hair and one lucky girl received a hair massage which is important for hair growth. 

Day 6 - Communication! 

I shared valuable tips in communication that I gained at BBC and beyond.  The girls had great fun taking part in role play. They were shown the best ways and bad ways to communicate. All these are tools will help them stand out anywhere in the world. They learned APA Communication that is Aggressive, Passive and Assertive styles of communication and they also discovered which is most effective with a bit of role play.  I think my valuable girls deserve an award in acting for show casing communication skills through role play. They also produced a radio jingle for our Valuable YOU TV show. The camp ended with a  Pop Idol themed dance session. The girls got down to some serious tunes.

Finally

All great things must come to an end. Next week is the final week of Valuable YOU Summer Camp for girls at Teeky Arena and Events Place.  The girls will engage in activities that cover personal power, public speaking and healthy living. They will also produce a full theatre production of their time at camp. Confirmed guest speakers will include Dr Nonye Barrow of Party Shop, a doctor turned remarkable entrepreneur and Sophia Mbakwe , an oil & gas senior executive, turned exceptional interior designer extraordinaire.

Click link to view photo snippets
https://www.facebook.com/riri.okoye/media_set?set=a.10153576161483706.1073741876.609508705&type=3&pnref=story

VALUABLE YOU SUMMER CAMP SUCCESS! WEEK ONE

I started a Valuable YOU Summer camp this week in partnership with Teeky Arena & Events Place. These are the nuggets for week one.

Day 1 – The girls were introduced to the vision of Valuable YOU Summer Camp and what to expect. They were introduced to the Valuable YOU Anthem which they recite every day to reaffirm how valuable they are. The first discussion we had was on building self confidence and I went through the tools to achieve that. I introduced them to games that are directed at building confidence which they all took part in and enjoyed. I am very passionate about girls speaking properly and eloquently which also builds confidence, so we also did some fun tongue twister activities. Mrs Eziafa Nwokolo, visited in the afternoon and spoke to the girls about believing in themselves. She said, the three most important people they should listen to are God, their parents and themselves. The girls also had some fun dancing to Zumba and taking part in a treasure hunt. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 2 – We continued some of the daily activities described in day one such as the Valuable YOU anthem and diction. The theme on Day 2 was about Etiquette and Table Manners. We discussed etiquette and how important it is to have good manners where ever you go. I told them the importance of making a good first impression. The girls took part in dressing a table and also brainstormed all they knew about table manners. They played fun etiquette games including using magic words in different languages. The key learning here is that you need to have good manners wherever you go in the world. Our guest speaker was Madame Solange, Fashion blogger and personal stylist. She showed the girls images of different styles. She talked about knowing your body type and importance of personal style and having your own uniqueness. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 3 Today was about essentials of good leadership. I went through a presentation that I usually share with corporate organisations but I toned it down to suit their age. We discussed essentials of good leadership and ways that they would improve their country. They took part in leadership games that included being blind folded and being led by the leader who gave instructions. The girls had a chance to play some outside games which included a tug of war which they all enjoyed. Our guest speaker and parent Ama also gave the girls some words of wisdom and told the girls how important is it to be confident. She said she was fortunate to have a father who taught her to believe in herself so she never lacked confidence. In their creative writing session, they wrote down all their key learning and then read it aloud to the group. Throughout the week I kept reaffirming how valuable they are.

We resume Monday July 20th from 10am to 1pm

Daily entry is N4,000 and includes lunch pack

Venue! Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (4th Round About), Lagos.

CAMP NEWS! VALUABLE YOU SUMMER CAMP - WEEK ONE

Valuable Summer Camp for Girls resumes next week Monday 20th July at 10am sharp. Even though it’s a public holiday, we are open. Lined up for next week includes discussions on public speaking, personal grooming and more on leadership with hands on experience. More indoor and outdoor fun games including one of my favourite, Valuable YOU themed – It’s a knock OUT, egg and spoon race and other fabulous games. We also have a line up of confirmed valuable guest speakers including a doctor turned business women, interior designer and cake designer. 

One of my girls this week said ''Tweeky Arena is so posh and I didnt realise I was going to have so much fun'' lol. The girls are in for a valuable treat because they are worth it. 

If you would like your girls to attend then register at ritaokoyeis@gmail.com or send an SMS to 08068997439
Daily entry is N4,000 per day which includes a lunch pack. Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (4th Round About), Lagos.

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