Quote of the week
The Internet is the most important single development in the history of human communication since the invention of call waiting.
- Dave Barry.
Comment of the week
It is unfair to subject sex workers to such ghastly working conditions on the grounds that their work is immoral and sinful. The demand for sex work will always exist, and those forced to resort to sex work are punished in the worst way – by having their vulnerability exposed and exploited in ways that other citizens are protected against.
- Charlotte Sutherland, Consultancy Africa Intelligence.
SN-Announce
SN-Announce is an e-mail advertising service with a readership of more than 10 000 people. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free. For more information contact Nicolle Beeby on +27 11 403-4935 or nicolle@sangonet.org.za
Prodder Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory of NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To view the directory, click here. Order your copy of Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008, here.
SANGOTeCH
SANGOTeCH provides software and hardware to NGOs at discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners. It supports NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure. For more information about SANGOTeCH, click here.
BackaBuddy
SANGONeT supports BackaBuddy, an online fundraising website which combines the power of sport and the reach of the Internet in support of NGOs in South Africa. For more information contact David Barnard or Matthew de Gale on +27 11 403-4935 or e-mail: info@sangonet.org.za
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Road shows, CSI, NGO Tax…
“You are 88kgs overweight!”
That is how the long-awaited SANGONeT road shows – in Durban and Cape Town – began. But considering that we were travelling with development calendars, Prodder directories, laptops, banners and a printer, 88kgs was perhaps not too onerous a price to pay.
The road shows provided SANGONeT the opportunity to introduce the new NGO Pulse portal to NGOs and also to showcase practical ways of how information and communication technologies (ICTs), including NGO Pulse, can be used by civil society organisations. Read the blogs by Butjwana Seokoma and Nicolle Beeby to find out more. Next week, we will publish an article on some of the key lessons we took from the Durban and Cape Town events and also introduce you to the NGO Pulse Community group. In the meanwhile, thank you to all those who participated!
In this week’s edition of NGO Pulse, we publish an article by Butjwana Seokoma, SANGONeT’s information coordinator, who recently attended the Trialogue ‘Making CSI Matter’ conference in Johannesburg. He writes: “The recent 'Making CSI Matter' conference explored different models and approaches for CSI and development. However, for CSI to truly make an impact in the development sector in South Africa, and to matter to NGOs, we need to create the space for an honest assessment and deliberation about the nature of the relationship between CSI programmes and NGOs.” Click here to read the full article.
We also publish a short article by Erika Wessels, a senior tax consultant at KPMG, who writes that NGOs would do well to know that there are a number of potential tax benefits for non-profit organisations carrying out public benefit activities in South Africa. “Once an organisation is exempt from income tax in terms of section 10(1)(cN) of the Act, and becomes a Public Benefit Organisation (“PBO”), provision is made that certain receipts and accruals of that organisation will be tax exempt. PBOs are permitted to carry on limited business or trading activities on a tax-free basis within certain specific parameters, but will be taxed on receipts and accruals derived from any business undertaking or trading activity that falls outside the parameters of these permissible trading rules,” she writes. Click here to read the full article.
On another note, are you trying to decide whether to ban or integrate Facebook into your organisation? Think Twitter is inane - or informative? Can blogging *ever* be worth the time?
The African Commons Project and SANGONeT are pleased to present a one-day Introduction to Social Media for NGOs workshop on 6 April 2009 in Johannesburg. This hands-on training will introduce you to the cutting edge of web 2.0 tools and how they can be effectively used by you and your organisation to enhance operational practice.
As always, your comments and ideas are welcome.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- Oxfam GB, a leading international NGO working in over 80 countries to address poverty and suffering through supporting development, humanitarian and advocacy interventions, seeks to employ a Global HIV and AIDS Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Advisor to be based in Pretoria. The application deadline is 20 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Freedom of Expression Institute, a NGO established to defend freedom of expression, to oppose censorship and to promote media diversity, seeks to appoint an Executive Director to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 27 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Operations Manager to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 31 March 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The International Centre for Journalists invites nominations for the 2009 Knight International Journalism Awards. Winners receive a trip to the United States and a US$1 000 cash prize. The submission deadline is 13 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Goi Peace Foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation invite entries for the 2009 International Essay Contest for Young People. The submission deadline is 13 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Open Society Institute invites applications for the Open Society Fellowship, which supports outstanding individuals who work in initiatives that inspire public debate, shape public policy and generate intellectual ferment. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information, click here.
New Events
- SANGONeT and Microsoft are hosting the SANGONeT-Microsoft NGO Roundtable on 24 March 2009 in Bryanston, Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The AIDS Law Project is launching its 18 Month Review of AIDS, Health and Law in South Africa on 24 March 2009 in Johannesburg. RSVP on or before 19 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Desmond Tutu Foundation is hosting the 4th Southern African AIDS Conference from 31 March to 3 April 2009 in Durban. For more information and to attend, click here.
Training
- The African Commons Project and SANGONeT are conducting a one-day Introduction to Social Media for NGOs workshop on 6 April 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- Ditshwanelo CARAS Trust is conducting a workshop on Understanding Racism and Sexism and Developing Good Practices from 27-28 April 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- Khanya-African Institute for Community Driven Development, in partnership with the University of the Free State’s Centre for Development Support, is conducting a four-day certificate course on Understanding and Applying the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach from 25-28 May 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
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