Skillshare
International joins Stop AIDS Campaign Speaker Tour
Skillshare International arranged for the City of Leicester to be a venue for the United Against AIDS Speaker Tour in May. Yinka Jegede, a nurse from Nigeria, and Vijay Nair an activist from India, attended the meeting at Leicester's Guildhall to speak about living openly with HIV. Yinka and Vijay's touching and positive stories give a very different impression of people standing up against discrimination and stigma, and of people fighting for the right to the treatments that would keep them alive. Yinka, who is 22 years old, said: "People expect to see skeletons walking on the road to show that a person is HIV positive. I'm looking forward to a situation when people can talk as openly about contracting HIV as they now talk about malaria." Yinka's openness has caused her difficulties. She was thrown out of nursing college when her HIV status became known although she has since completed her nursing training. She is now an HIV activist and campaigner. Yinka has modelled for magazine covers in Nigeria and the UK, directly challenging assumptions about the appearance of people living with HIV/AIDS. Vijay Nair is the vice-president of the Indian Network of Positive People. Treatments for HIV sufferers remain prohibitively expensive in India. The Network of Positive People is supporting campaigns at the international level, targeting drug companies and western governments to ensure that treatment is more readily available for people living with HIV/AIDS. Vijay spoke about the spread of HIV amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in India. Homosexual acts remain illegal in India and Vijay talked about the difficulty of promoting safer sex messages in an environment where fear of arrest and police harassment is a constant and real threat. Vijay
and Yinka's tour of the UK has helped raise awareness of how the global
crisis of HIV/AIDS requires a global response. For more information,
visit www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk Skillshare International receives
commendation from Charity Awards Heather Lamont, Editor of Charity Finance explains: "The certificate of commendation is a new form of recognition given only to a handful of charities. The judges were looking for examples of excellence in charity management which will inspire others and from which other organisations can learn." Our Leadership Development Programme (LDP) demonstrates our achievements in leadership by encouraging other organisations with best practice examples. The LDP has already had a positive impact on the way that our partners work. It has improved the delivery of our charitable objectives and is considered an outstanding example of best practice. Skillshare
International's Director, Dr Cliff Allum said: "It is a remarkable
achievement to receive a certificate of commendation from the Charity
Awards and gain the recognition for our work that we deserve."
News
from India Our country office has been in touch with other agencies in India and the forecast is not optimistic. Elections are due in Kashmir and Jammu in October. This will be a deciding factor for India's stand on the border disputes. Our recommendation is that our current health trainers do not return to their postings until the elections in Kashmir have taken place. We also recommend that new recruits are not sent to India until there is strong evidence of peace on the ground between the two countries, which will not be evident until the elections are over. Despite this, we are continuing to work with our partner organisations in India. As well as securing funding for projects, we are considering recruiting nationals to support the programme. With 50% of our existing partners and most of the new partners insisting on national volunteers due to the essential need for linguistic skills, delay in bringing expatriate volunteers will affect our existing and new programmes only marginally. In the case of Vidya Sagar, Ruth Patil, nee Duncan, an ex health trainer and now a consultant under this project, has been providing the necessary inputs in the absence of health trainer, Katy Thompson. Our country
office staff are still in Delhi but we have contingency plans to move
them out of the area if this becomes necessary. We remain in close
and regular contact with them.
Placements Lesotho Mozambique Namibia Swaziland Tanzania G6:
Responding to the World Summit for Sustainable Development At Skillshare International, we see WSSD as an important chance to promote the values that define all our work and that of our partner organisations. One of our main initiatives has been to establish the Group of Six (G6) to promote sustainable development in the countries where we work. G6 consists of representatives from Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, who are drawn from Skillshare International's partner organisations, regional and country offices, members of Skillshare's Programme Advisory Committees and development workers. G6 activities are taking place in-country, regionally and in the UK. For example, in Botswana, we have become part of a joint initiative to popularise WSSD issues among civil society and the government of Botswana. Stakeholders' meetings have been held in Windhoek and in Maseru to raise awareness about WSSD issues in Namibia and Lesotho. In Johannesburg itself, the G6 members will attend the NGO Conference and participate in session discussions and exhibitions as well as make presentations. G6 have put together a message that they want to be heard across the countries of southern Africa at the time of the summit: "We, as a group of individuals and organisations working for sustainable development in southern Africa, call upon the people, the international community, civil society, the private sector, businesses, governments and donors to support our endeavours in:
For more
information contact David Weatherall on 0116 257 6606 or email earth.summit@skillshare.org Trustee
visits Skillshare's partners in South Africa When I was given the opportunity to visit our partners, I leapt at the chance. I wanted to visit Africa to meet the people and talk together about the opportunities and challenges of the development work they're involved in. Our first visit was to the Itireleng Educational Project Trust in the Limpopo Province (about 500 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg). Its headquarters are in a township at Phalorborwa, on the fringes of Kruger National Park. The project director is Matome Malatji. Itireleng supports the empowerment of disadvantaged groups, rural development and health promotion by using development committees in local communities. Its work fits very well with our priorities set out in the South Africa Country Plan. Vegetable gardens have been established in some villages to improve the community's nutrition and for income generation purposes. Other schemes that local development committees have started with help and encouragement from Itireleng are adult literacy classes, youth groups and HIV/AIDS awareness raising. The Amaoti Disabled People's Association (ADPA) is in an informal settlement on the outskirts of Durban. It is a very poor, semi urban area with narrow mud roads and shanty homes. The Amaoti Centre has a small office and a few brightly painted shipping containers, which are used for classrooms. ADPA provides community based rehabilitation and education programmes for people with disabilities in the settlement and the surrounding areas. The teacher, Fundelwa Gembushe, who herself has a disability, has been trained and supported by a project called Enable, which the Natal Adult Basic Education Support Agency, another Skillshare partner, helps to run. The former Director of ADPA attended the Leadership Development Programme, which has helped the organisation improve its systems. In Pietermaritzberg, we visited Create, a small NGO which also works in community based rehabilitation (CBR). It provides first class training for CBR workers, especially encouraging people with disabilities to train. Bonga Mlaba, is a trainer with a physical handicap. She said: "My father told me that I wouldn't be able to do anything with my life because of my disability." Her own experience has empowered her and encouraged others. Create is looking forward to developing a partnership with Skillshare to improve its management systems and structure. Our last
visit in South Africa was in Johannesburg. We joined Glen Steyn, Director
of Conquest for Life, which is a six year old NGO that works with
disadvantaged groups of young people on a wide range of innovative
programmes. Glen has built up a young staff team and raised funds
to buy the building and establish classrooms, work rooms and a young
people's cafe. Groups of marginalised young people from the surrounding
slums go and stay together on a farm - building trust and confidence,
then return to continue their training with Conquest or to help run
the after school club and other activities. Conquest is also looking
forward to developing a partnership with Skillshare International.
Supporters
get their say A number of supporters attended the DFID forums in Manchester, London, Norwich and Totnes to discuss trade, the environment and the private sector in relation to development. John and Marion Grant were among 240 delegates who went to the Manchester forum held in May. "DFID's message was that we live in a world where globalisation is inevitable…[and] where economic development requires certain preconditions, including peace, democracy effective legal systems and addressing debt relief." John Earl also attended the Manchester forum: "One of the issues discussed was that development agencies need to integrate matters concerning the environment into their future policies and future planning, tackling both poverty and environmental issues." Alan Anderson went to the forum in Norwich: "I was surprised by the interest shown by local (East Anglian) farmers who were concerned over their own current economic plight, but were also worried about the current global trade in food. The dumping of subsidised food from Europe and the USA into the markets of poorer countries was felt to be a severe cause of poverty." The forums gave supporters the opportunity to present their own views. At the Totnes forum, John Poynton spoke about the importance of supporting smaller NGOs and the far-reaching effects of targeted small-scale projects. He raised the issue of AIDS on training and development in southern Africa. Everybody recognised the importance of developing partnerships with communities in the developing world. We would
like to thank all those who attended the forums as supporters of Skillshare
International. You can discuss the three themes presented at the forums
with others by logging onto www.dfid.commlive.com Skillshare
International lobbies for Trade Justice Hailed as the biggest mass lobby of Parliament ever, the day received great media coverage. The key messages were that free trade is not fair trade and that poorer countries should not be forced to liberalise their industries and services when protectionism is still so strong in the North. It is hoped that the political pressure applied by the lobby will force the UK government to make these trade issues a higher priority. Over 200 MPs were transported by cycle rickshaw to talk to their constituents in the queue outside the Houses of Parliament. A Mexican wave of sound ran from Parliament, across Lambeth Bridge to the London Eye at 3.30pm. Throughout the day, campaigners listened to inspiring speeches by key players such as Martin Khor, Director of the Third World Network. Ann Matthews, one of our trustees, and some of Skillshare's other supporters were among the crowd of 8,000 to 12,000 people. Ann explains: "It was wonderful to take part in such a huge, well organised and well supported event. The Trade Justice Parade has given us a chance to lobby Parliament and urge MPs to add their voice to speak out for trade justice." Trade issues affect all of the countries where Skillshare International works. With the forthcoming WSSD, it is an important time to raise these issues with the UK government. Skillshare
takes on Global Perspectives in Schools If we're ever to achieve global sustainable development, it is vital that young people in the North understand how their lives are linked to those of people in the South. Over the last six months, Skillshare International has been co-ordinating an exciting initiative for schools in the East Midlands. The programme of research and planning which we are carrying out in partnership with DFID, local education authorities and development education centres is called Global Perspectives in Schools. Global Perspectives in Schools aims to show how an international perspective can be included in every lesson and every subject in the school. For example, in literacy, primary school teachers can look at storytelling traditions from other countries. In secondary school science, the principles of energy conservation can be taught by looking at the energy efficient wood-burning stoves used in many African and South American countries. In A-level geography, students can be encouraged to look in depth at how international trade issues are impacting on the least developed countries. The preliminary results of the Global Perspectives in Schools show huge variations in the teaching of international perspectives across the East Midlands region. In many schools teachers - often with little support - are providing incredibly rich input for their students in relation to international issues. But in other areas, children are still leaving school without a real sense of the global dimension to the subjects they have studied. Ultimately, the aim is to enhance opportunities for young people to expand their knowledge about the wider world and to enable them to be positive and optimistic about their relationship with it. A central priority will be to emphasise the importance of this work among local education authorities, headteachers and teachers by encouraging them to take the lead in promoting it through schools. By ensuring that a global dimension is integral to core educational practice, young people can acquire the skills and be empowered to support global sustainable development, democratic values and human rights in an international context as well as in their local communities. Volunteer
Treasurer needed for International Voluntary Service Responsibilities will include preparing the annual budget and presenting budget control reports to the national Co-ordinating Council; contributing to the development of international financial guidelines and a fundraising strategy; and participating in the National Co-ordinating Council. Ideal candidates will have experience of financial control within the voluntary sector and of fundraising for voluntary organisations. You should be able to attend up to four Co-ordinating Council meetings per year (held at weekends). This post is unpaid except for expenses. Interested applicants should send their CV to John Finn, Acting Treasurer, c/o IVS Scotland, 7 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN. For an informal discussion, contact John Finn on 0131 552 4507 or email john@johnfinn.fsnet.co.uk In July, Mr Garden Hengua began as the new Finance and Administration Officer in Namibia. Sylvia Ngwenya joined the Regional Office as the administrative officer in April. Robin Greenwood left the organisation in May to go and work for Christian Aid. Dennis Lane is the new Programme Director East Africa and is going to be based Nairobi. We are delighted to welcome Amanda Mukwashi who took on the new role of Head of External Relations in June. After nine years at Skillshare International, Ann Marie Moore left the organisation and moved to London. Yvonne Corkin has also left the organisation. Carol Ward is the new Selection and Placement Officer. In July,
Caroline Frankland joined the organisation as the new Office Manager
and Jessica Lowe started as the Organisational Communications Officer.
|