Quote of the week
Human rights violations are among the root causes of most violent conflicts across the globe.
- Dr Mireille Affa'a Mindzie, Senior Project Officer at the Centre for Conflict Resolution.
Comment of the week
The mobile device will be the primary connection tool
to the Internet for most people in the world in 2020.
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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Gendered Xenophobia, Drug Abuse, Newsflashes…
In an editorial written a year ago we expressed solidarity with the thousands of non-nationals who bore the brunt of the xenophobic attacks which rocked the country and joined South Africans across the country as we called for the violence to stop. Last week the Sowetan newspaper reported that “xenophobic attacks are rising amongst foreign nationals in the Western Cape”. We cannot allow a repeat of what happened last year.
Recalling the experience of last year, SANGONeT’s Nicolle Beeby writes about the launch of ‘The Gendered Nature of Xenophobia in South Africa’, a report based on a study that explored the impact of xenophobia on migrant women. “For women a double jeopardy exists - their gender and nationality makes them more susceptible to violence,” she writes.
The study found that as traditional bearers of culture, the issue of identity and belonging is a distinctly gendered problem for women migrants. According to the report, “Maintaining a sense of identity is usually done through cultural dress, food, music and rituals. However, doing so also impedes integration into a new community as this distinguishes them from the rest of the population, thus making them vulnerable to xenophobic abuse.” Click here to read the full article.
We also publish an article by Christo van der Rheede, Chief Executive Officer of the Stigting vir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans, who writes of the devastating impact the drug tik is having on communities and young people. Drawing on his teaching experience to illustrate, he argues that tik is causing havoc in communities in the Western Cape. “Are we allowing our healthy and robust democracy to give way to anarchy and lawlessness?” he asks.
“During the many years I served as the principal of a primary and secondary school, teachers would bring boys and girls who were clearly heavily under the influence of tik to my office. I could sense that my advice and support did not help much. It was traumatic to witness the physical deterioration and loss of personal pride in children who used to be bright and upright youngsters. Even those who made it still suffer psychological and spiritual scars”. Click here to read the full article.
We welcome reports that the “... SEACOM cable landed quietly in Mtunzini on the Zululand coast in March and is on track to go live on June 27”. SEACOM will bring cheaper internet access for South Africa and highlights the need for a comprehensive broadband strategy, as emphasised by the South African National Broadband Forum. It also gives real meaning to the findings of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, that SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, blogs about.
One of the findings of a survey undertaken by the project that the blog highlights is that “The transparency of people and organisations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance or forgiveness”. Click here to read the full blog.
As always we invite your comments and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Centre for the Study of Violence & Reconciliation, a multi-disciplinary NGO specialising in dealing with and preventing violence, protecting human rights and building sustainable peace, seeks to appoint a Project Manager to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 5 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Association for Water and Rural Development, a NGO that works in Bushbuckridge and the Sand River Catchment in Mpumalanga Province, seeks to employ an Action Researcher. The application deadline is 12 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Communications Manager to be based in Nairobi, Kenya. The application deadline is 1 July 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The United Nations Development Fund for Women is calling for proposals for a Campaign Against Women Trafficking for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The budget available for the execution of this activity is US$30 000. The submission deadline is 10 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Dubai International Film Festival, a nonprofit cultural event that takes place annually in December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, invites entries for the Muhr AsiaAfrica Awards. The awards carry a cash prize of up to US$50 000. The submission deadline is 31 August 2009. For more information, click here.
- The University of the Witwatersrand invites applications for its Merit Scholarships and Merit Awards from students with excellent academic records for study in 2010. The application deadline is 30 September 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The South African Human Rights Commission is conducting public hearings on the Millennium Development Goals and the realisation of economic and social rights in South Africa from 8-10 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The SA-Finland ICT Knowledge partnership programme, a bilateral project between the governments of South Africa and Finland, is hosting its inaugural conference from 8-10 June 2009 in Lynnwood, Pretoria. For more information, click here.
- The National Heritage Council is hosting the Heritage Funding Summit from 9-10 July 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Training
- The African Commons Project, in partnership with SANGONeT, is conducting an Introduction to Social Media for NGOs training workshop on 15 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, a NGO that provides cutting edge, groundbreaking training interventions to address skills shortages in South Africa, is conducting a short course on Film and Television Production from 29 June to 3 July 2009 in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 5 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- The University of South Africa invites applications for its semester course on Knowledge Management. The application deadline is 17 July 2009. For more information, click here.
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