Quote of the week
It is clear that a large proportion of the increase in deaths was due to HIV.
- Trevor Oosterwyk.
Comment of the week
In many countries throughout the world, the definition of a non-profit organisation has long been that profits are not distributed - not that profits are not made. It has taken South African tax laws a while to catch onto this distinction.
- Nicole Copley, an NGO lawyer.
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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HIV/AIDS, Sustainable Development, Housing…
In this weeks edition of NGO Pulse we return to the furore sparked by Catholic Pope Benedict XVI when he said that condoms are not the answer to Africa’s fight against HIV, but that they “increase” the problem. Annamarie Bindenagel Šehović, an external consultant at Consultancy Africa Intelligence, a SANGONeT content partner, writes that his comments “highlight a schism in the response to the epidemic, drawn along the lines of acceptance and denial, of treatment and prevention, and of survival and living.”
Outlining three options being explored from a treatment position she writes that, “While ARVs might not provide a sustainable ‘cure-all’ response to the accepted reality of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; neither does denial, the ramifications of which are worse.” What is important, she argues, is to “accept the reality of HIV, focus on prevention – ultimately more effective and cost-efficient than treatment – and promote survival and life, instead of dwelling on fear and death.” Click here to read the full article.
We also publish an article by Ronald Eglin, Senior Projects Co-ordinator at Afesis-corplan who writes of his hope that the National Planning Commission in the President’s Office will “ensure that all existing and future government plans include both objectives of equity within and between generations.”
One of the most important challenges facing South Africa and the world in general, is the need to meet the socio-economic needs of citizens without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, he says. “The fact that the government’s current development planning document, ASGISA, and the ruling political party’s new election manifesto are both silent on equity between generations, while other arms of government give serious consideration to how development can be sustainable, highlights the urgent need for more co-ordinated planning within government.” Click here to read the full article.
This edition of NGO Pulse also highlights a new report titled ‘Success at a Price: How NGO advocacy led to changes in South Africa’s People’s Housing Process’, commissioned by Planact that details the NGO sector’s advocacy process on the People’s Housing Policy (PHP) in South Africa. It draws on the experiences of a group of South African NGOs involved in housing policy reform in order to inform future advocacy and policy processes and includes valuable lessons for NGOs, government and other stakeholders. Click here to read the full report.
The next two months will be busy months for SANGONeT as we will be participating and supporting BarCamp Swaziland - an 'unconference' that will bring together 100 technology and media practitioners in the last monarchy in Africa. BarCamp Swaziland is taking place on 27 June 2009. Our Citizen Journalism in Africa programme will be working with rural Swazi youth to cover the conference using mobile technology. Click here for more information.
SANGONeT is also helping to organise the very first NetSquared Jozi Meetup taking place on 14 July 2009. These gatherings provide a networking and collaboration opportunity for all those interested in the intersection of social technologies and social change, whether you're part of a non-profit organisation or a for-profit organisation, a funder or a consultant, a developer or an entrepreneur.
Click here for more information.
SANGONeT in conjunction with the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) in Kenya, is very pleased to announce the launch of TechSoup Kenya. Similar to SANGONeT's own highly successful SANGOTeCH, Techsoup Kenya is an online technology donation portal aimed at the Kenya NGO sector, assisting them by providing software and hardware for very low fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting them to maximise their ICT purchases and infrastructure. Click here to read the full announcement.
Lastly, remember to register for the second Introduction to Social Media for NGOs training workshop presented by the African Commons Project and SANGONeT, taking place in Cape Town on 6 July 2009. Back by popular demand, the one-day, hands-on training programme 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 we invite your comments and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- GOLD Peer Education Development Agency, a NGO working towards the transformation of under-served communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, seeks to employ a Training and Support Officer in Cape Town. The application deadline is 19 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Childline Gauteng invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Counselling Services Coordinator to be based in Johannesburg. The application is 24 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Philani Development Centre invites applications for the position of Human Resource Officer to be based in Zuurbekom, Johannesburg. The application deadline is 3 July 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- Inyathelo - The South African Institute for Advancement invites entries for the 2009 Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards. The submission deadline is 30 June 2009. For more information, click here.
- Mindset Network, a NGO aimed at personal, social and economic development of people across Africa, invites applications to tender for evaluating the impact of Mindset programming. The submission deadline is 15 July 2009. For more information, click here.
- Entries are invited for the Impumelelo 2010 Sustainability Awards which acknowledge contributions to public life and civil society. The submission deadline is 31 July 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The Ceasefire Campaign invites you to the screening of a documentary ‘Bowling for Columbine’, to commemorate the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, on 19 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The South African National NGO Coalition Western Cape, Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the South African Council of Churches, in collaboration in collaboration with the MERSETA, the TETA and a range of other stakeholders, are hosting a Youth Summit on the theme ‘Unblocking Skills and Creating Employment’ from 24-26 June 2009 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
- Afesis-corplan invites rural development stakeholders, government, traditional leadership and civil society to a one-day seminar entitled ‘The Rural Development Dilemma: What Needs to be Done’ on 26 June 2009 in East London. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, in association with the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape, is conducting a certificate course in Crime Prevention Management from 13 July to 18 November 2009 in the Western Cape. For more information, click here.
- Community Education Computer Society, the oldest information communication technology training NGO in South Africa, is conducting a Practical Introduction to Computers course from Mondays to Thursdays in Johannesburg. For more information or to participate, click here.
- Human Rights Education Associates, an international NGO that supports human rights learning, is conducting a distance learning course on Human Rights Litigation from 3 February to 20 April 2010. The application deadline is 1 December 2009. For more information, click here.
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