The list of awards these days seems endless. From the prestigious Nobel prize, to awards for football, music, movies and fashion. Some organisations give awards to outstanding workers and, of course, at a younger age awards are often given out in school.
They're used as ways of encouraging competition, guarding against complacency and rewarding best practice, but do people need rewards in order to do their best?
Have you ever won an award? What difference did it make to you if any? Do certain awards have more value than others? If you've never won a prize how do you feel? Send us your view.
If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Thursday 20 May at 1600GMT, please send us a telephone number to [email protected]. You can also send an SMS message to +447786202008.
When we're young we don't give it much thought, but as we edge towards middle age the need to think about our future care becomes more urgent. Have you made your plans?
Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper has been focusing on the fact that people are living longer and that, for many, the state pension is not enough to sustain them. For most Africans the responsibility of providing for the elderly lies squarely with the family. But can planning early make this less of a burden and give the elderly more dignity and independence?
Do you think African governments need to make state pensions a priority? Are you saving for retirement? Are you struggling to look after a retired family member? Do you have a pension? Send us your views. Join the debate on Wednesday 19th May at 1600 GMT.
This week, you grilled a UN bigwig, took part in crime busting and learned the best way to deal with anger. Below are some of our highlights:
Sir John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, answered some of your questions. As you know, the UN's mission to the DRC would like to conclude operations by the end of the year. Mohammed Bawa in Guinea sent us an SMS message voicing his rejection of that move:
The UN should stay and redouble their forces in Eastern Congo; they should be deployed to take care of the sexual violence and killing.
Here Sir John, implicitly gives the UN position on rape in the DRC:
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In 'Would you pass information to the police?' on Wednesday, we made you aware that the Ghana police force was calling on members of the public to volunteer information on criminal activity. David in Ghana recounts an experience he had, when he tried to do just that:
dave.mp3
Unfortunately, try as we might, we could not get the Ghana Police Force spokesperson to address his concerns or ensure that people who help the police are kept safe. Luckily, Facebook friend Kathy Atenu in Uganda, came to the rescue:
We hope you enjoyed these shows as much as we did. Thanks to all of you who sent us ideas and comments on this blog or via SMS, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget, you too can have your say as early as next week if you send us your suggestions to [email protected]. From us all on Africa Have Your Say, have a nice weekend.
I suspect at some point in your life you've witnessed politicians or public figures in your country losing their cool and flaring up in anger.
For example the countless stories of MP's exchanging blows and throwing chairs at each other during heated debates. Does this influence your opinion of them, after all, don't we all lose our tempers from time to time? For example when we're stuck in traffic and everyone is shouting and blaring their horns.
It's not a pleasant experience and anger is an emotion that many people struggle with. Controversial South African politician Julius Malema has been told to undergo anger management by the ruling ANC for bringing the party into disrepute with his recent comments and behaviour.
In the past anger management classes have been used to rehabilitate Niger Delta militants, and Ugandan youths affected by the conflict in North. Would these classes be be useful in resolving domestic as well as international disputes? Would more education about anger and how to express it healthily help you?
What makes you angry, and how do you express it? Have you developed your own technique of coping with it? Is it ever appropriate to display your anger or have you been victim of someone else's anger?
Send your comments and Join Africa HYS on 13th May 1600 GMT
