Quote of the week
The idea of an election is much more interesting to me than the election itself...The act of voting is in itself the defining moment.
- Jeff Melvoin.
Comment of the week
Children are generally marginalised, that is to say we do not see or hear them; they make up around six percent of news items. Then, when we do see them 1 in 4 stories about children clearly portray them as victims.
- William Bird, Media Monitoring Africa.
SN-Announce
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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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Children, Elections, Prodder Directory…
The countdown has begun. In 21 days South Africans will take to the polls and vote in the country’s fourth democratic national and provincial elections. The next few weeks are likely to see an increase in campaigning as politicians try to woo voters – as Butjwana Seokoma wrote a few weeks ago: “As the season of promises (read election manifestos) is in full swing, political parties would do well to remember those who are responsible for electing them. It is ordinary men and women, who, just as they voted for a better life in 1994, will do the same in 2009.”
What are the key election issues for civil society organisations in South Africa? Last week we published an Idasa election brief titled “What should we be discussing as we head for the polls?” - we invite you to comment on the article or write a blog and tell us what you think.
In this week’s edition of NGO Pulse William Bird, executive director of Media Monitoring Africa writes that unless the perspective of children is integrated into strategies to address the social challenges South Africa faces, “we are simply wasting our time.” He writes: “ This is not about a touchy-feely ‘children are the future’ nonsense; this is about saying involve, engage and care about children now so we can all enjoy dignity, democracy and equality tomorrow.”
Bird asks what politicians are doing to make this a reality. He says he is not interested in hearing parties tell voters how they will alleviate poverty and reduce child abuse. “I want to know how they are going to achieve this... let’s analyse the plans if they have them” he writes. Click here to read the full article.
We also publish a report back from Aadila Molale on the recent Prodder / GuideStar focus group discussions held in Durban and Cape Town. She writes that the feedback generated through the discussions was very positive as organisations elaborated on the value of an information product such as that proposed by the Prodder / GuideStar model. Despite this, there were also some concerns. She writes, “... Prodder / GSI has the potential to become an exclusive system if there is not a concerted effort to include CBOs and organisations operating in rural South Africa.” Click here to read the full article.
In the article on the NGO Pulse road shows published last week, we wrote that in February 2009, the portal had the most unique visitors in its history. We are thrilled to report that March was even better as 28 965 unique visitors accessed the NGO Pulse portal!
Our Social Media for NGOs course has also proved very popular - in fact it’s full! We plan to hold another in Johannesburg shortly - and are planning one for Cape Town in May or June. Look out for the announcement in the upcoming weeks.
As always, we invite your comments and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Treatment Action Campaign seeks to employ a National Fundraiser to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 3 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- Khanya College invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Marketing and Distribution Coordinator to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 9 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- FoodBank South Africa invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Information & Communications Technology Manager to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 9 April 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The Economic Society of South Africa is calling for abstracts for its Biennial Conference taking place from 7-9 September 2009 in Port Elizabeth. The submission deadline is 30 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- Entries are invited for the Jet Community Awards which recognise individuals or organisations working to improve the lives of local families and community members. The submission deadline is 30 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Southern Africa Trust invites entries for the 2009 Drivers of Change Award which recognises outstanding new ways of working to overcome poverty in Southern Africa. The submission deadline is 10 July 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- EISA, a NGO whose mission is to promote credible democratic elections and democratic governance in Africa, is hosting the Democracy Seminar: Wither Opposition Politics on 8 April 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Human Sciences Research Council is hosting a seminar entitled Lost Youth in the New Global City on 15 April 2009. RSVP on or before 10 April 2009 in Pretoria. For more information, click here.
- The Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Women’sNet and the Department of Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand are hosting a forum on Elections and Paper Promises: What do Political Parties Say About the Problem of Violence Against Women? on 2 April 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, in association with the Graduate School of Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand and Medecins Sans Frontiers, is offering a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from 20 July to 28 August 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Community Development Resource Association, a NGO that works with people who are engaged in social transformation with marginalised communities, is conducting a five-day course on Leading and Managing People Developmentally from 17-21 August 2009 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
- The MDF Training and Consultancy is conducting a one-week course on Change Management in Development Organisations from 11-15 May 2009 in the Netherlands. For more information and to register, click here.
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