Quote of the week
If you get health, then you have opportunity for literacy. Health first, then literacy. Once you have literacy, then you have a chance to bring in the new tools of communication. Let people reach out and have access to the latest advance.
- Bill Gates quotes (American Entrepreneur and Founder of Microsoft.
Comment of the week
In the past year, the Internet user base in South Africa has seen its highest rate of growth since 2001, increasing by 12.5% to 4,5-million.
- Internet Access in South Africa 2008 Report.
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. For more information about SN-Announce, click here.
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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Social Media, Online Safety, AIDS Conference...
According to the Internet Access in SA 2008 Report produced by World Wide Worx, South Africa’s Internet population is expected to grow as much in the next five years as it has in the 15 years since the Internet became commercially available in South Africa. Access to increased and affordable broadband will no doubt result in more NGOs investing in their ICT infrastructure and skills, and as a result, strengthen the scope and impact of their work. Parallel to this, as the number of individuals using the Internet and other ICT tools on a daily basis grows, the demand for online content, services and products will also increase.
But as David Barnard, SANGONeT’s Executive Director and Matthew De Gale, ICT Services Manager write in this weeks’ edition of NGO Pulse, despit`e the power of social media to transform the way in which non-profits accomplish their missions, in South Africa, the uptake is still limited and in most cases not part of a broader strategic approach.
Reporting on their participation in the recent Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco they write that “traditional NGO activities such as fundraising, networking, advocacy and information-sharing will directly benefit from increased emphasis on, and the availability of a wide range of affordable online services and applications… With South Africa’s high mobile phone penetration, as well as the eagerly awaited increase in local broadband capacity in the next few years as a result of the arrival of the Seacom and other undersea cables, South Africa might be on the verge of an exciting period of growth and development in social media uptake.” Click here to read the full article.
Also writing about social media, Nicolle Beeby, who is part of the Civil Society Information Programme team at SANGONeT, reports on the launch of a new campaign called ‘Keep Your Chats Exactly That!” The campaign aims to prevent young people from becoming victims of violence or harassment when they use the Internet and their cellphones. It raises awareness, disseminates information and promotes the use of the information and communication technology (ICT) – including the Internet and cellphones - tools for positive social participation.
She writes: “Through campaigns like the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence and the work of organisations in the violence against women sector, many of us know what our rights are and where to go for help. But what happens when this violence happens in cyberspace? Do we know enough to protect ourselves from harm? Do girls and young women know of the potential dangers in online spaces? “Click here to read the full article.
We also publish an article by Jonathan Mundell, Director of the HIV & AIDS Unit at Consultancy Africa Intelligence, a SANGONeT content partner. Mundell provides some highlights from the Southern African AIDS Conference which was held under the theme 'Scaling up for success'. He writes that aside from discussions around the use of HIV treatment as a possible prevention strategy, there was also a significant focus on the improvement of treatment strategies and outcomes themselves.
“Only time will tell whether the abundant research findings that were presented at the conference will ultimately lead to a more effective response in the region most profoundly affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic,” he writes. Click here to read the full article.
Lastly, we encourage you to read and comment on the Open Letter from the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) to Premier Nomvula Mokonyane in which SWEAT Director, Eric Harper writes: “We thank you for you open mind, passion and concern to protect the human rights of sex workers and ensure that criminals do not capitalise upon the situation.” Click here to read the full letter.
As always we invite your comments and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- Rural Education, Awareness and Community Health, a NGO that sensitises rural farming communities and other stakeholders on issues of sexual harassment and sexual violence, seeks to appoint a Trainer to be based in the Western Cape. The application deadline is 25 May 2009. For more information, click here.
- Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Public Finance Researcher to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 29 May 2009. For more information, click here.
- The World AIDS Campaign, a global coalition of national, regional and international civil society groups united by the call for governments to honour their AIDS commitments, seeks to employ a Communications and Advocacy Officer to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 30 May 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa is calling entries for the Ubuntu International Youth Voluntary Service Award 2009. Prizes will be awarded in three categories. The submission deadline is 1 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Elsevier Foundation, a philanthropic organisation sponsored by Elsevier, a global publisher of scientific, technical, medical information, is calling for grant proposals for its 2009 Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries and New Scholars programmes. The two programmes will provide grants of up to US$50 000 a year. The submission deadline is 1 August 2009. For more information, click here.
- Entries are invited for the World Habitat Awards. The winning projects receive an award of £10 000 and an individually designed silver trophy. The submission deadline is 1 June 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The South African Law Reform Commission is hosting a one-day workshop on Sexual Offences: Adult Prostitution on 26 May 2009 in Johannesburg. The Commission will be conducting similar workshops in other provinces from 28 May to 30 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- BMTN Business Solutions and Training, with endorsement from the Association for Rural Advancement and the University of Pretoria, is hosting the Land Reform in Southern Africa Conference from 24-26 June 2009 in Pretoria. For more information, click here.
- The South Africa Institute for Race Relations is hosting the Fifteen Years of Freedom and Democracy Conference from 27-28 May 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Unit for Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS and Health at the University of South Africa invites applications for its short course on Advocacy Project Planning on HIV and AIDS. The registration deadline is 29 May 2009. For more information, click here.
- Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement is conducting a course on Advancement and Fundraising Basics from 25-26 June 2009 in Durban. The registration deadline is 19 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Human Rights Education Associates is conducting a 10-week distant learning course on Project Development and Management in the NGO Sector from 16 September to 24 November 2009.The application deadline is 15 June 2009. For more information, click here.
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