OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF SKILLSHARE INTERNATIONAL   top

Skillshare Africa and Action Health have officially come together and launched as Skillshare International.
Despite merging in July 2000, the public images of the charities have, until now, remained separate.

All this changed at the end of May 2001 when the process of moving to one united image began.

Over the course of June and July, offices in every country officially introduced the new corporate image to partner organisations, government officials, development workers and the general public, whilst at the same time reassuring them that the vision and values of the organisation remained the same.

Skillshare International Action Health Programme will continue to work in Tanzania, Uganda and India specialising in health.

Each country programme has its own unique variation on the main corporate image helping to promote our policy on localisation and our country specific ways of working.

Skillshare International director, Dr Cliff Allum, said: "These past 12 months have been very challenging for the organisation.

"It's taken a lot of work and effort by staff to bring Action Health and Skillshare Africa together.

"While there is still work to be done, systems to be refined and programmes to be developed, our new image signifies a great achievement by the organisation.

"However, while the names may have changed the vision and values of the organisation remain the same. Our aim is still to work for sustainable development in partnership with the people and communities of Africa and Asia."

DFID AGREEMENT SECURED   top
Skillshare International have agreed a new partnership agreement with the UK Government's Department for International Development
The Partnership Programme Agreement (PPA) defines our new working arrangement with DFID and identifies the resource allocations DFID will make in support of the Skillshare International programme for the next four years.

"The main impact of this new agreement is likely to be in its emphasis on what we achieve in our work and not just our inputs," explains Director, Cliff Allum.

"Fortunately we have been moving away from a 'numbers-based' mentality for some time. We are therefore well placed to respond to this new challenge.

"What it will mean however, is that our need to demonstrate our achievements becomes more important. The Corporate Strategy, Country and Programme Plans are critical elements of our approach and provide a framework with DFID for the new agreement."

Placements   top
Since our last edition of Skillshare News, nine development workers have started their placements while a mixture of 16 development workers and Health Trainers have finished.

Botswana
Alan Hill has begun a placement as Regional Co-ordinator at the YWCA in Maun.

Tessa Sklan has finished her placement as Nursery Co-ordinator for Camphill, Legodimo Trust.

India
Dr Bob Alam has finished his placement at the Singhbhum Legal Aid and Development Society.

Lesotho
Kenneth Reid is working as a Construction and Maintenance Engineer with DRR in Thaba Tseka. Our continued commitment to the TVED programme has seen Stephen Nkanata join the Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru as a Lecturer in Enterpreneurial Skills, taking over from Michael Rigby who finished his placement in January.

Grit Jacob has finished her placement as Marketing Officer at the Crafts and Registry Department at NTTC, as has Stephen Vardigans, Curriculum Development Officer for TVED in Maseru. Danny Showell and partner Sara Impeciati-Showell have finished their placements at Scott Hospital in Morija as PHC Medical Co-ordinator and Nurse In-service Trainer respectively. Sean McGinley, Planning Engineer for the Department of Rural Roads and Erica Platt, Occupational Therapist at LSMHP have also finished their placements.

Mozambique
There have been two appointments at the Institute of Small Scale Fisheries (IDPPE) in Maputo, SocioEconomist Gareth Johnstone and Technician of International Development Rouja Johnstone

Two English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers have finished their placements in the last few months, Vivien Esslemont, who was at the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo and Sylvi Hill who taught in a secondary school in Nacala.

Namibia
Robin Hartle has begun a placement as Technical Advisor at the Yetu Yama Centre.

Sue Solesbury has finished her placement as a Peer Counselling Co-ordinator at YWCA in Windhoek as has Ulrike Grebner, a trainer in home-based care for the AIDS Care Trust. Soile Salo's placement as a Technical Assistant in Communication Skills Research at the National Institute for Educational Development concluded at the end of May.

Swaziland
Sally Hinchcliffe has begun a placement as an IT Specialist at the National Agricultural Marketing Board with partner Paul Mackey taking a placement as Finance Co-ordinator at CARITAS.

Louise Whitehead, Community Development Officer at SEBENTA has finished her placement.

Tanzania
Reiltin Cadwell's placement as a School Tutor at the OT Training School in Moshi has finished

Uganda
Polly Hauxwell has finished her placement as OT Support Worker with the OT District Support Project.

HEADS OF GOVERMENTS CALL ON WORLD LEADERS TO SUPPORT AFRICAN   top DEVELOPMENT
South Africa President Thabo Mbeki and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have released a joint statement detailing their hopes for the future of the continent of Africa.

As part of Mr Mbeki's state visit to the UK, the two heads of government confirmed their commitment to developing Africa as a region by working in partnership.

The statement, printed in The Guardian newspaper, highlighted the importance of 'developed' and 'developing' countries working together for the benefit of long-term social and economical prosperity.

The statement read: "Africa is calling for its initiatives to be complemented by a new partnership with the international community. This is not an appeal merely for more aid, but for a new, changed relationship, based on mutual interest and shared commitments. The British government has committed itself to this initiative and we will work to persuade others in the international community to join us.

"In particular, the rich countries must do more to help Africa to tackle communicable diseases which ravage the continent, including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. We must also find ways to close the technological divide which threatens to leave Africa behind. And we must reform the world trade system to give Africans more access to world markets so that they can make a living in the world economy.

"At the height of the struggle against apartheid, we dared to hope that South Africa could achieve a peaceful transition to a non-racial democracy. Having achieved that objective, we now dare to hope that Africa can seize the opportunity to build a future of prosperity."

Both men believe that the fight against poverty in Africa is 'the most pressing moral challenge of our time'. However they felt inspired by the great strides made by Africa in recent years, with Africans on the whole showing a preference for democratic governance and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. This, they felt, was having a big impact on the attempts to promote economic growth and development:

"The 18 countries in Africa which have received debt relief have published poverty reduction strategies that include economic reforms and plans to improve government services. Countries such as Uganda, Mali and Mozambique are experiencing high growth rates and poverty reduction. The fastest growing economy in the world in the 90s was Botswana, reaping the benefits of decades of good government. In these and other countries, progress is underpinned by partnership between African and developed countries, and between governments and the private sector."

They also highlighted the importance of a needs-driven process:

"One of the key requirements for faster progress is that developing countries themselves must lead the process of reform. For too long, some donors and international institutions have dictated to governments of the poor; imposing policies which may appear impeccable on paper, but which are ill-suited to Africa's conditions. Lacking local support, such efforts have invariably failed."

Mr Mbeki was on a four-day visit to the UK in June. As well as holding talks with Mr Blair he visited with the Royal Family and addressed Scottish Parliament. While in Scotland he also named a building at Glasgow's Caledonian University after his father Govan Mbeki a veteran in the fight against Apartheid.

To read the statement in full, visit The Guardian website at www.newsunlimited.co.uk and search under 'Mbeki'.

Development Double Acts   top
More frequently, development workers and health trainers are travelling to Africa and Asia accompanied by their partners.

But while the emphasis is usually on the development worker or trainer, what role do partners have to play in international development - if any?

Some partners spend their time looking after their families or supporting their other halves in their work. Having someone to share the experience with is a massive benefit when adjusting to a new country, climate and culture.

Others, like Maureen Hinkins, partner to development worker David Hinkins, strive to find work just as rewarding and important to development.

When her husband David was selected to become Resources Development Co-ordinator for reproductive and sexual health organisation, BOFWA, Maureen knew that she would not be joining him in Botswana as a fellow development worker.

Her skills in administration and office management are not in short supply in Botswana and it would have meant taking employment away from local people. As Skillshare International is a needs-driven organisation it was not possible to find Maureen a job.

However, Maureen was still determined to have an impact while she was out there, as she explains:

"It all started in 1994 when David and I visited Bosnia. We realised then that there are a lot of people in the world that need help. It gave us a strong feeling that we wanted to make a difference."

David began his placement in 1998 and Maureen soon set about trying to find work.

"As well as wanting to have an impact, I knew that I had to keep myself busy. It was important for me to have a purpose for the benefit of both mine and David's sanity.

"It wasn't about money, that wasn't the reason we went to Botswana in the first place. I had always had a career and I felt I had to do something. If it was something that benefited the people of Botswana, as well as myself, then all the better."

Maureen did some investigating and eventually got a job working in an SOS Children's Village, as a teaching assistant in the kindergarten.

Children's Villages provide homes and communities for orphaned children for which the cause in Botswana is increasingly AIDS. There are many such villages around the world.

Maureen's commitment to orphaned children did not end there. She also became involved on a voluntary basis with an initiative set up by her local church in Gaborone.

"Between March 1999 and October 2000, when we left, I was involved in a feeding project for AIDS orphans and children from disadvantaged families," explains Maureen.

"When the wage earners in a family die, the responsibility for the children is taken on by other families. This puts extra burden on their resources and money gets very tight. Sometimes there's not enough to provide a balanced healthy diet.

"The aim of our feeding project was to provide young children with one hot, healthy meal a day. We fed around 100 children.

"Schools and social workers told us there was much improvement in the children's attention, schoolwork and health after they had begun getting meals from us.

"And you could see it yourself in the children, the way they looked healthier and seemed more full of life. It was great fun and really rewarding work."

The feeding project got substantial support from the local community and members of the church. Money for food was donated regularly and local firms provided meat, vegetables, juice and milk.

Stainless steel tables, essential for safe food preparation, were donated by the local Rotary Club and another generous supporter provided them with a freezer.

"The freezer was wonderful because it meant we could store food more effectively and cut down on wastage."

With BOFWA also involved with AIDS and HIV, David and Maureen could share a common vision in their work in Botswana. The impact of the illness is something which has stayed with Maureen. She, like many other development workers, trainers and partners, finds the enormity of the problem overpowering and frustrating, and readily shares her understanding with those ignorant to the impact of HIV on developing countries.

David and Maureen have now finished their placement with Skillshare Africa but have stayed in development. David is currently working in Zimbabwe with American development agency, Habitat for Humanity. He started in early 2001 and Maureen joined him in April.

Village Health Programme Successfully Localised   top
by Cerian Henshaw and Michele Hare

Skilled and qualified village health workes in the East Ginghbhum District of India are now working successfully on the prevention and treatment of some of the ost serious diseases in India. And, following a three-year partnership with the Singhbhum Legal Aid Development Society (SLADS), health trainers from our Action Health Programme have been able to hand over the responsibility for all training to local staff.

Village health workers are now independently administering to the medical needs of their own communities following completion of their training in the prevention and diagnosis of India's 12 most common diseases - malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis, measles, diarrhoea & dysentery, whooping cough, typhoid, tetanus, worms and tuberculosis.

Steps towards a partnership began in 1996, when SLADS approached Action Health (as it was before it became part of Skillshare International in July 2000) to set up a joint initiative within the Ghatshila Block of the East Singhbhum District to address the healthcare needs of the poorest communities. The aim was to reduce the need for doctors and to provide a better standard of health.

Situated in the hills just 200km west of Calcutta, there are no local qualified doctors, no hospitals, clean water, sanitation, adequate road systems or employment. Within the Indian caste system most are considered "untouchables" and thereby commonly over-looked or marginalised in their need for medical assistance or support. Their livelihoods provide little spare money for expensive doctors' visits and medicines.

A medical co-ordinator, recruited locally by SLADS, and three successive Skillshare Health Trainers, all medical general practitioners, have worked within communities since 1998 to assess and implement a sustainable and locally managed healthcare system.

No fewer than 19 village health workers from 15 villages in the Ghatshila Block are now fully trained and working in each of their villages. By mutual agreement with SLADS, Skillshare International has withdrawn the support of Health Trainers, and the ongoing training and work of the village health workers is overseen by a medical co-ordinator and a qualified doctor in the nearest town, 9km away.

Skillshare International will continue to support the project financially in the short term but plans are being made to find sustainable funding from within India.

Identifying an Identity   top
Skillshare International's change of name brought with it the challenge of creating a new logo that would form the identity for our work across ten countries.

The task began in December 2000 when the Board of Trustees formally agreed on Skillshare International as the name by which the organisation would be publicly known.

Rebecca Watson, Public Relations Officer for Skillshare International, was part of the team responsible for facilitating the design process.

"Our first question was, how can we design a logo that encompasses all we do?" explains Rebecca.

"We took key words from our Corporate Strategy - 'sustainability', 'sharing', 'two-way process', 'equality', 'continuity' and 'unity' - and used them to form the basis of our ideas.

"The finished logo is an amalgamation of these key words. Because our work is so varied we knew an abstract symbol would be the most appropriate. The aim is not necessarily to demonstrate those key words through the symbol but to create an identity which encompasses our values."

The circular effect of the logo signifies sustainability and continuity. It also helps to show the unity of the organisation. The fact that it is not a complete circle but one made of two parts demonstrates how Skillshare International works in many different ways to towards the same aim.

The two crescent moon shapes are the same size and therefore 'equal'. They have been designed to 'support' one another in the circle to demonstrate how Skillshare International works together in support of sustainable development. Neither of these 'moons' has any sort of dominance over the other, reinforcing our commitment to building equitable relationships with our partners.

The style of the font for 'Skillshare International', was also thought about in great length. The strength and boldness of the word 'Skillshare' emphasises where our priorities lie. The circular style of the letters mirrors the circular design of the symbol.

The task was by no means completed with the approval of design. Work then began on choosing suitable colours, checking for cultural sensitivities and creating a number of digital versions suitable for technology in all countries.

The finished result, is a logo that will grow with the organisation as it works for sustainable development in Africa and Asia

HEALTH TRAINER WINS TOP AWARD   top
Neil James, a Health Trainer working with local communities in the Orissa District of India, has won a prestigious award from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

The Katharina Von Kuennsberg Award is awarded each year to the most outstanding example of primary healthcare in an international context.

Neil's work with his partner, Anita Cross, for MASS was deemed 'a valuable initiative in an area of great need'.

Claire Burden, International Projects Manager for the RCGP, said: "Neil's application was very strong and full of great detail and enthusiasm, which convinced us of the value of its worth.

"We made seven or eight awards for international projects this year but Neil's application was so strong we had no doubts about awarding him the highest honours with the Katharina Von Kuennsberg Award."

MASS was developed to empower the communities that live in the forested areas of Orissa to analyse their needs and plan their own development goals.

Through their work they came to realise that one of the main causes of concern to local people was illness, due to insufficient health support.

To try and rectify this problem MASS approached Skillshare International and in August 2000 Neil and Anita joined the organisation to identify training needs for MASS staff.

Speaking of their work Neil said: "The broad aims of this project are to improve the health of the rural poor by offering them an honest, inclusive system of basic primary care, training village women to become village health workers.

"Hopefully, the knock-on effects of improving health and health awareness will aid empowerment of the people and have positive economic impact on the community."

Staff comings and goings   top
Michèle Hare has joined the Cambridge office as Action Health Programme Officer on a temporary contract until the duties of the post can be localised.

David Harries became Acting Country Director for Lesotho in April and will remain there until the end of July when he returns to the Leicester Office. In David's absence, Poli Shajko has taken on the role of Head of Skills Development with Ann-Marie Moore moving into the position of Administration Officer. Faith Davis has been recruited on a short-term basis to undertake the duties of Administrative Officer.

Cerian Henshaw, joined Skillshare International on a four-month contract in March as a Public Relations Officer. She left the organisation in July. Rukysh Batta, has left the Leicester Office after two-and-a-half years as an Administrative Officer.