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"Lwati" is an isiSwati word meaning knowledge.
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Contact Details
SANGONeT
P O Box 31392
2017 Braamfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
29th Floor, UCS Building
209 Smit Street
Braamfontein
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935
Fax: (+27) (11) 403-0130
E-mail:
newsletter@sangonet.org.za
WWW:
http://www.sangonet.org.za
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* L W A T I * The monthly e-newsletter of the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)
Executive Director's Comments
Welcome to the 91st edition of SANGONeT’s monthly e-newsletter and the first edition of 2012!
This year will be very special for everyone associated with SANGONeT as we celebrate a significant milestone - our 25th anniversary.
Over the past 25 years our role in support of the NGO sector in South Africa has evolved in line with major developments in the socio-political environment and changes in the sector. South Africa today, and Africa at large, is a very different place compared to the late 1980s. Much has changed for the better, but many development challenges remain.
After 25 years, SANGONeT’s work is still defined by the information and technology needs and requirements of the NGO sector in South Africa, and increasingly, in other parts of Africa. Our mission remains consistent with the reasons which led to the establishment of SANGONeT in 1987 – “to support the effective use of ICTs in Southern African civil society organisations by providing quality services and initiatives. We exist for the purpose of facilitating access, sharing information, building capacity, raising awareness, enhancing reach and impact, and linking people and organisations through the use of ICTs in Southern Africa.”
However, despite SANGONeT’s historical achievements, we have also been negatively affected by various issues which continue to impact on the activities and sustainability of many NGOs - global financial crisis, changing donor trends, problems with the Lotto, lack of government recognition for the work of the sector, etc.
Sadly, it seems many of these issues will remain with us in 2012, adding more pressure on many NGOs in finding a balance between financial survival and the ability to execute their missions.
This is a very unfortunate situation, especially given the critical roles that NGOs perform in providing much needed development and relief services to thousands of South Africans, while at the same time playing a leadership role in advocating for important changes to policies which impact on all of us (e.g. Protection of Information Bill).
More than ever before, it is therefore important that NGOs’ unique contribution to society is recognized and acknowledged by all concerned.
As a result, we will be dedicating our 25th anniversary year to this objective by using our significant online reach - NGO Pulse Portal, Prodder NGO Directory, Twitter and Facebook - and various other activities – conferences, SANGOTeCH and “No Pain No Gain” campaign - to highlight the activities of individual NGOs and the sector in general, the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, and the achievements and impact of NGOs on our society.
We will go the extra mile for the NGO sector in 2012 and invite you to support us with news, information and feedback about your work.
I will elaborate on our specific plans and activities for 2012 in the next edition of Lwati.
If you have any ideas or suggestions on how best we can achieve the above objective and serve the NGO sector in 2012, we would like to hear from you.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Best wishes
David Barnard
dbarnard@sangonet.org.za
Civil Society Information
NGO Pulse
The CSI team published a wide range of range of articles, media releases and newsflashes on NGO Pulse during January 2012.
Selected articles published:
Selected blogs published:
Selected press releases published:
Contribute to NGO Pulse
SANGONeT encourages NGOs to contribute information and articles to NGO Pulse.
To find out how to register on NGO Pulse and what your status allows you to do, click here. NGO Vacancies on NGO Pulse
NGO Pulse includes the most comprehensive list of vacancies available in the South African NGO sector. We encourage NGOs to contribute their vacancy information to this list on an ongoing basis.
To view the current list of available NGO vacancies, click here.
NGO Pulse on Facebook and Twitter
To join the growing NGO Pulse online community on Facebook, click here.
To follow SANGONeT on Twitter, click here.
For more information about NGO Pulse, please contact Butjwana Seokoma at SANGONeT on Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935 or butjwana@sangonet.org.za.
Prodder NGO Directory
Prodder NGO Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory about NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To search the directory or view your entry, click here.
We encourage NGOs and development organisations to review their entries and forward us information about changes and corrections that need to be made.
Please forward your comments to - prodder@sangonet.org.za.
ICT Services
SANGOTeCH Online Technology Donations Portal
SANGOTeCH assisted South African NGOs in saving more than R1.45 million on Microsoft software, Cisco networking equipment, Mailshell Anti-Spam Desktop software, Bytes of Learning, pMailer, SAP, Giftworks and Symantec during December 2011, and a further R2.16 million in January 2012. A total of 83 donation requests were fulfilled during this period.
To view the SANGOTeCH product catalogue, click here.
For more information about SANGOTeCH, contact us on 086 110 6443 or support@sangotech.org.
SANGOTeCH in Southern Africa
SANGOTeCH operates in South Africa and Botswana.
For more information about the SANGOTeCH Botswana programme, click here.
TechSoup Kenya
SANGONeT and the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) are implementing the TechSoup technology donations programme in Kenya.
NGOs in Kenya saved KSH1.92 million on Microsoft software in December 2011.
Techsoup Kenya will soon be launching two new donor partners, namely Symantec Desktop/Enterprise and easyLearning.
The Symantec donation programme is designed to meet the needs of small to medium non-profits. Symantec Desktop products provide security for a single computer whereas the Enterprise products are installed on a server to provide security for multiple networked computers in a medium to large business environment.
easyLearning, a programme of Serebra Learning Corporation, has teamed with SANGOTeCH to offer discounts on its online courses in information technology and professional development. Staff and volunteers have access to more than 1 500 courses that provide practical skills that are in demand in today's global knowledge-based economy.
For more information about the TechSoup Kenya programme, click here.
Technology Consulting
SANGONeT offers a range of customised online applications that include social networking portals, online directories, and constituent relationship management solutions. We also offer a linked technical support desk service.
For more information on how we can assist you, please contact Matthew de Gale at SANGONeT on Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935 or matthew@sangonet.org.za.
Networking and Outreach
SANGONeT’s m-Agriculture Services Manager, Matthew de Gale, and SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, made a presentation to the Free State Cabinet on the potential use of mobile technology for small-scale farmers on 7 December 2011 in Bloemfontein.
SANGONeT’s CSI Intern, Phumla Mhlanga, attended the Knowledge Network Seminar on Youth Volunteering in South African Civil Society from 24-25 January 2012 in Benoni.
SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, made a presentation on the “No Pain No Gain” campaign to a Nedbank business planning session on 26 January 2012 in Sandton.
Contact Details
SANGONeT
P O Box 31392
2017 Braamfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
29th Floor, UCS Building
209 Smit Street
Braamfontein
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935
Fax: (+27) (11) 403-0130
E-mail: newsletter@sangonet.org.za
Website: http://www.sangonet.org.za |
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