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Bloggers
14 October, 2011
7 October, 2011
Greetings from Camp 6 ("Petanque") at the end of stage 5 ("Tethis Ocean March") of the 2011 Sahara Race.
What started at 07h00 on Thursday morning ended this morning at 07h00 - 24 hours later - when I crossed the finishing line after running 86.4km.
With only a 2km "celebratory run" left for Saturday morning, I have officially completed the Sahara Race. What an amazing experience. Words can't describe the toughness of the race, the extreme conditions but also the beauty of this unique landscape.
6 October, 2011
The rape and death of a Cape Town woman at a fake job interview recently put into focus the risks of meeting with perfect strangers when appying for a job. While this type of occurence is more exception than norm, “the few bad guys can spoil it for everyone,” Tania Bownes of nonprofit employment agency, DreamWorker, in Cape Town rightly points out.
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6 October, 2011
One might assume that interventions end once a project has completed its funding cycle. But this is not the case for three beneficiaries of a programme run by the Maths Centre incorporating Sciences, funded through the South African Social Investment Exchange (SASIX). We were inspired by a recent report received from the Maths Centre which tells of how these learners initiated a seminar for Soweto schools to continue sharing their knowledge.
Expanding the project’s impact
6 October, 2011
While the private sector gives with one hand, too often it is busy taking back with another. This is especially true with unrealistic debt levels encouraged in poor communities that counteract any good achieved by corporate social investment (CSI) and companies in general. GreaterGood's CEO, Bridgit Evans takes a critical look at the poverty trap that debt can create.
6 October, 2011
At an evening hosted by Symphonia at Grove Primary on 26 September 2011, entitled ‘Captains of Industry: How Can Business Leaders Make a Meaningful Contribution to Education in South Africa?’ Professor Brian O’Connell, rector and vice-chancellor at University of the Western Cape, spoke on the need for all South Africans to work together to change the state of education in South Africa.
A human rights issue
6 October, 2011
Greetings from camp 5 ("Half Moon") at the end of stage 4 (40.6km)
Made it in one piece in 7h45. Just feels amazing to be here. Another tough hot day, with the wind straight from the front for most of the day.
Now for the big one. After running almost 4 marathons in the past 4 days, tomorrow we take on 86.4km - a Comrades on tired legs! Tonight I'm getting rid of everything in my bag not needed tomorrow or on Friday.
Made it in one piece in 7h45. Just feels amazing to be here. Another tough hot day, with the wind straight from the front for most of the day.
Now for the big one. After running almost 4 marathons in the past 4 days, tomorrow we take on 86.4km - a Comrades on tired legs! Tonight I'm getting rid of everything in my bag not needed tomorrow or on Friday.
2
5 October, 2011
Welcome to Camp 4 at the end of the third leg (official name Sea of Sand)..
Before commenting on today's run I just want to say happy birthday to my fantastc wife Dalene. I am thinking of you and the boys every step of the way. Miss you lots!
Today's leg covered 42.k km and it took me 8h00 to finish it.
Before commenting on today's run I just want to say happy birthday to my fantastc wife Dalene. I am thinking of you and the boys every step of the way. Miss you lots!
Today's leg covered 42.k km and it took me 8h00 to finish it.
1
3 October, 2011
Greetings from Camp 3 ("Sea of Sand") at the end of the second leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.
I completed today's distance of 41.6 km in 7h08, 26th position overall for the day.
There is just one way to describe today's course (official name - "Through the Sand Valley") - brutal - in terms of loose sand and the heat (at least 40 degrees, but to be officially confirmed later today).
I completed today's distance of 41.6 km in 7h08, 26th position overall for the day.
There is just one way to describe today's course (official name - "Through the Sand Valley") - brutal - in terms of loose sand and the heat (at least 40 degrees, but to be officially confirmed later today).
2 October, 2011
The big day finally arrived this morning. At 07h00 we set off on the 37km first leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.
I am very pleased to report that I finished today's leg in 5h15 in 28th position overall. But it was tough, very tough. The heat and soft sand were much tougher than I ever expected. And the landscape is just amazing, oftern there is nothing, really nothing other than kms of flat sandy areas, then a few beautiful sand dunes spiced up the landsacape, before returning to flat, soft sandy areas.
I am very pleased to report that I finished today's leg in 5h15 in 28th position overall. But it was tough, very tough. The heat and soft sand were much tougher than I ever expected. And the landscape is just amazing, oftern there is nothing, really nothing other than kms of flat sandy areas, then a few beautiful sand dunes spiced up the landsacape, before returning to flat, soft sandy areas.
2
27 September, 2011
I have just come up with a new phrase – ‘fundraising paralysis’.
Where the pressure to bring in the funds just feels too much, where I doubt the methods which make sense on paper and where I feel isolated talking a language that no one understands, marks me as a bit wild and crazy.
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20 September, 2011
[ in HIV prevention ] [ in national strategic plan ] [ in NSP ] [ in SANAC ] [ in Sexual and reproductive health and rights ]
On 15 September 2011, Marie Stopes South Africa, WISH Associates, Ipas South Africa, Dr Marijke Alblas, Childline South Africa and NACOSA sent a submission to the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) regarding the upcoming National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB 2012-2016 (NSP).
Although we commend Draft Zero of the NSP as a comprehensive and useful piece of work encompassing significant learnings from the previous NSP, the limited strategies proposed to address HIV prevention are of concern.
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13 September, 2011
We hear a lot from government, civil society and the editors forum about various threats to media freedom in South Africa. But until now the voice of working journalists has been relatively silent. Now a few concerned journalists are getting organised and have prepared a Declaration on the Protection of State Information Bill.
They are calling on all journalists working in the community, public and commercial media to add their names to the statement.
Here is the Declaration:
They are calling on all journalists working in the community, public and commercial media to add their names to the statement.
Here is the Declaration:
8 September, 2011
I have a dilemma.
I have recently met with an entrepreneur who runs a call centre and who can show that he brings in nearly R2 million a year for the charities he is contracted to. His team works through the telephone directories, calling people and collecting donations essentially on my behalf.
This is wonderful. It would wipe out the gap in my fundraising target, at no risk to me and with no effort.
Essentially, I sit back and watch the money roll in.
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7 September, 2011
The most important document guiding government’s response to HIV in South Africa is the National Strategic Plan for HIV, AIDS and STIs (the ‘NSP’). This document is South Africa's ‘HIV Constitution’, defining national objectives and commitments on HIV treatment and prevention.
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6 September, 2011
[ in Alleviation of poverty ] [ in GCAP ] [ in human rights in South Africa ] [ in leadership ] [ in MDGs ] [ in National Welfare Forum ]
Day two of the seminar started on time at 9h00 with a wonderfully concise and accurate account of the proceedings of day one, the key points raised and the ways to meet the challenges. But before I get to the summary of the day, I want to reflect briefly on the presentations of the afternoon from civil society which got me thinking again about what can only be described as a level of mediocrity that has seeped into the nature and content of civil society engagements.
5 September, 2011
When I received the call from my colleague Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi, at the Socio-Economic Rights Project based at the Community Law Centre (CLC) asking me to attend the ‘Consultative Seminar on the Role of Parliament & Provincial Legislatures in the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)', I balked at the idea. For starters, seminars in Parliament are not particularly enjoyable; they are pretty stuffy affairs with protocols and lots of dull PowerPoint presentations and even less engaging speakers.
1 September, 2011
[ in digital fundraising ] [ in digital media ] [ in Facebook ] [ in Google ] [ in Online Fundraising ] [ in Social Media ] [ in spring clean ] [ in springclean ] [ in Twitter ]
Happy Spring Day!
As we celebrate the packing away of winter clothes, heaters and blankets and look forward to the advent of Spring and warmer weather, isn't it time you gave your charity a much needed digital spring clean? Dust away the cobwebs with these 10 tips we've devised to revitalise your fundraising, both online and offline.
1. Review your website
30 August, 2011
[ in armed conflict ] [ in humanitarian assistance ] [ in Libya ] [ in medecins sans frontieres ] [ in surgery ] [ in Tripoli ]
A three-person Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) team is currently in Tripoli with supplies and is starting to support facilities that are already overwhelmed with patients wounded in the fighting currently taking place in the Libyan capital. MSF has also dispatched teams to Zlitan, east of Tripoli, and Al Zawiyah, to the west, to support hospitals faced with an influx of wounded. Speaking from Tripoli, Jonathan Whittall, MSF Emergency Coordinator, describes the situation on the ground.
29 August, 2011
As I write this I am angry and confused. As a woman, social activist and researcher, I feel the need to address the issue of the ‘scandalous sex-tape’ between the male prison warden and female police officer in Krugersdorp. I have both seen the video and followed the story in the media, on Facebook and Twitter and am still struggling to understand what is happening about this incident from a leadership point of view as well as a gendered and human rights perspective. It is from this departure point that I would like to share my humble opinion on the matter.
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