Development Talk

Learners are the backbone of Equal Education

 

November 30, 2009

High school learners work with Equal Education to affect change in their schools.

High school learners work with Equal Education to affect change in their schools.

“Equal Education is a movement of learners, parents, teachers and community members working for quality and equality in South African education, through analysis and activism” (Equal Education Annual Report, 2008).

South African high school learners are taking a lead in making a difference in their schools through their membership to the inspiring NPO, Equal Education.

In an education system which remains mostly unequal, these grade 8 to 12 learners, called “equalisers”, set an example to their peers through their dedication to their own education. They also play a leading role in the activities of the organisation.

Equal Education was founded in 2008 as a community and membership-based organisation. Based in Khayelitsha, Equal Education is research-driven and believes in engaging in “…evidence-based activism for improving the nation’s schools”.

The organisation is premised upon the principles of promoting the right to equality and education, as founded within our constitution. Currently, Equal Education is advocating for functional libraries in all schools- “one school, one library, one librarian”. Prior to this campaign, Equal Education successfully embarked on reducing the number of learners arriving late at schools within Khayelitsha.

Equal Education wants to improve education for all children.

Equal Education wants to improve education for all children.

The “equalisers” are described by Equal Education as the most active members of the organisation. They work tirelessly in afternoons, after school, in an effort to effect change in their schools and ultimately communities.

Development Works is inspired by the active participatory nature and structure of the organisation which encourages the ‘ownership’ shown by these young ‘equalisers’ in taking responsibility for their own education.

Click here to visit the Equal Education website.

Filed under: children,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,inspiration,inspire,NPOs,Research,social transformation — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:54 pm

Opinion: The implications of National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa

 

November 12, 2009

Access to quality healthcare is currently not a reality for many people in South Africa. Is NHI the answer? Photo by: US Army Africa

Access to quality healthcare is currently not a reality for many people in South Africa. Is NHI the answer? Photo by: US Army Africa

This opinion piece appears in our latest newsletter. What do you think about the proposed National Health Insurance? Please comment below. If you are interested in receiving our newsletter, please email lindy@developmentworks.co.za.

There are few emotions as unsettling as uncertainty, the dread of the unknown, the fear of what tomorrow may bring.  There are countless developments surrounding us and we wake up each morning to ever-more-grim realities.  More recently in South Africa, the issue of the National Health Insurance (NHI) has generated just this type of anxiety.

The NHI is based on the principle of universal access to healthcare for all South Africans.  The aim is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.  As expected, the NHI will impact differently on individuals, the public and the private sector.  Although most of the discussions are still hypothetical, the guidelines are already irking some.

Medical and pharmaceutical organisations have been trying to make sense of how they might find their place in the NHI and, more importantly, whether the NHI is an appropriate response to providing health within a comprehensive system of social security.  It is impossible to implement an NHI system successfully without this type of debate.

Moral imperative

South Africa needs to reform its public health system. Photo by: World Bank

South Africa needs to reform its public health system. Photo by: World Bank

The bottom line is, it is difficult to argue with the moral imperative behind the NHI, as urgency and commitment of all stakeholders towards creating an efficient system for all South Africans is important, particularly in light of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. However, South Africa first needs to reform its public health system and address the already existing challenges, such as staff shortages and lack of infrastructure, to make sure that it can support the NHI in the long run.

Also, some experts have cited potential challenges which may arise as a result of shifting from a tax-funded public health system to an insurance-funded one.  Some practical issues, such as the implications of allowing individuals who previously used state facilities to choose where to “spend” their insurance benefits, also need to be clarified.

Other experts have also cited potential benefits of the NHI. Maya Fisher-French, in her article published in the Mail & Guardian dated 14-20 August 2009, also stated potential benefits to members of medical schemes, the private sector and government. Her analysis is as follows:

Benefits:

There might be some benefits to National Health Insurance. Photo by: World Bank

There might be some benefits to National Health Insurance. Photo by: World Bank

Benefits to members:

•    They can continue as normal with medical bills administered through the medical scheme;

•    They can continue to access private facilities that remain of a higher standard than public facilities;

•    They can continue to access all the medical services  covered by the existing medical scheme; and

•    They can opt out of the medical scheme at any time.

Benefits to private sector: Continues to exist. As the medical schemes become more affordable because of the lower premiums, it is possible that medical scheme membership would actually increase under this proposal.

Benefits to government: Government can leverage off the existing infrastructure of the schemes’ administration systems.  It can also tap into the claims and cost-management experience of large schemes.

Lessons from other countries

Proposals for national health systems have also been made in other countries. Photo: World Bank

Proposals for national health systems have also been made in other countries. Photo: World Bank

This is not the first time the concept of NHI is being considered and there are many lessons to be learnt from other countries. One of Barack Obama’s reform plans involved the introduction of a national health system in the United States of America and this also caused a heated debate among the Americans, particularly as some felt this was bent on government takeover of private healthcare.  In Britain, on the other hand, the National Health Service (NHS) has been implemented since the 1940s and the British have nothing but praise for this system.    The Britons claim that through the NHS, 1 million people gain access to healthcare every 36 hours.  In response to an attack against Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown added his voice to a twitter campaign saying “The NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death.”

On his recent visit to South Africa as part of the African tour, Michael Sidibe, UNAIDS executive director, was also asked for his opinion on the NHI and whether the NHI would eliminate the need for a private health care system.  In his response, he emphasised the need for intensive and open dialogue between the public and private health sectors.  He also added that key in the implementation of the NHI is the understanding that the NHI will not eliminate the private healthcare system, but that this is a formalised opportunity for the two sectors to complement each other and ease the burden on the health system.  More importantly, the process of formalising the NHI should focus on issues of equity, redistribution of opportunity and social justice.  If it does not, this will foster the development of a parallel system and a breakdown in the system, Sidibe said.

Clearly, if South Africa is to launch the NHI, it will be necessary to tailor it to the country’s needs and, should it be successful, it will present a model for building stronger public-private partnerships.

Filed under: access to health care,Africa,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,Policy,politics,poverty,Research — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:01 pm

SURUDEC call for proposals: Answers to queries 10/11/2009

 

November 10, 2009

Work package

Answers in Bold.

Seminars

– maximum of 6 – max budget available = R100,000 including vat (is that 100,000 for 2010 and 100,000 for 2011) spread over 3 seminars each making that about R29,240 per seminar eah year? – No, R100,000 for the 2 years in total, between Jan 2010 and mid 2011 6 seminars.

How many people are we to work on for each seminar?    Maximum 30 people per seminar

Conference

Maximum budget available = R100,000 incl vat   Yes

How many delegates are you hoping to have at the conference? Maximum 60 delegates, over a 2 day period

In both of the above packages the following would need to be arranged:

Event logistics

  • Venue   Yes
  • Food & beverage   Yes
  • Sound, AV   Yes

Event management & preparation

  • Sending out of invitations -   Yes
  • Delegate management: RSVP’s , database compilation, follow ups, name tags, registration on the days of seminars and conference day    Yes
  • Event co-ordination   Yes
  • Procuring and meeting with suppliers   Yes
  • Accommodation and travel   Yes
  • Media engagement & publicity   Yes
  • Invitation design?   Using standard SURUDEC logos etc
  • Programme design & print?   Yes
  • Management & Admin Fees   Yes
Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 4:34 pm

SURUDEC – call for proposals from service providers

 

November 9, 2009

Relating to the call for proposals from service providers for communications and research related services, here are the answers to the questions posed as of 9/11/2009:


Work package 5,6, 17 & 18

Q : It mentions you need stills, do you require a photographer to

accompany us on our shoots to get these?

A : Regarding stills – I would assume that these could be taken from the  material you would shoot.

Q : Will the shoots be booked by Surudec and will they be planned in

such a way as to save on travel costs?

Q :  Will “actors” be provided by Surudec?

A : The case study DVDs are planned to be shot more likely in the first half of

2011 as the projects will only commence activity January 2010 – so there

needs to be space to let the action evolve and then get captured. The

promotional DVD and Community Development Planning processes DVDs could be

done around mid 2010.

We will have 9 projects for Call 1 and 10 for Call – so there will be a

geographic spread – we would liaise with you regarding arrangements and

logistics. Actors would be project people, and I would assume that a script

would be worked out before hand as a consequence of engagement with us, and

reading project briefs etc to give appropriate context and direction.

Work package 14

We are inviting service providers to propose options for the position. After the close of receipt of responses we will then evaluate the merits of each response before making a final decision.

Q : Does the R100,000 budget include our fees / costs,

A : Yes, this is a total package which would include VAT. We would be looking at initially 1 week per month as a minimum. We set this as a pilot phase after which we would then consider a more permanent recruitment into a permanent post. We therefore seek options from a service provider around this framework.

Q : Attached please find our terms and Condition, which must please be signed and mailed back asap.

A : We cannot enter into any agreement with regard to terms and condition at this juncture, but note the document.

Q : What hours are required to be worked per week by the candidate,

A : If we assume 1 working day a week is 8 hours, five days per month = 40 hours.

Q : With regards to company equity, to you have any preference regarding age, race and gender.

A : While internally we have are looking for the most capable person who is able to perform under local conditions to the best of her/his ability.
Q : I have been going through the Terms of References for the various work
packages and am concerned about the budget allocation for the following:

Launch
Newsletter
Conference

The amount budgeted will not be even nearly enough for what has been laid
out in the TOR. Are your budgets cast in stone or is there room for
motivation?

A : Budgets cannot exceed amounts indicated in work packages (including VAT)

Work package 5/6/17 & 18:

Q : How many projects will need to be covered?

A : Call 1 will have 9 projects and Call 2 10 projects

Q : Where are the locations in the Eastern Cape for the various projects?

A :                           LOCATION OF CALL 1 PROPOSALS

(Ignore numbers in parenthesis)

Project Number:      1 (5)

Location: OR Tambo, King Sabata Dalidyebo, Mqanduli

Project Number:      2 (7)

Location: Baviaans Municipality within the Cacadu District Municipality

including Willowmore, Steytlerville, Baviaanskloof, Rietbron,

Fullerton and Miler

Application Number:  3 (8)

Location: Makana, Ndlambe and Sunday’s River Municipalities – Fort

Brown,  Douglas Heights, Carlisle Bridge, Committees Drift,

Alexandria, Zuney, Grootvlei and Paterson

Project Number:      4 (10)

Location: Amathole District

Project Number:      5 (14)

Location: Thornhill Settlement, Kouga Municipality in Cacadu

District

Project Number:      6 (16)

Location: Sunday’s Valley Municipality

Project Number:      7 (17)

Location: All near Keiskammahoek and Amahlathi Municipality,

Amathole District

Project Number:      8 (20)

Location: Lesseytin Community, Lukhanji Local Municiplaity, Chris

Hani District Municipality

Project:             9 (27)

Location: 12 villages in the targeted municipalities of Ngqushwa, Makana

and Ndlambe

LOCATION OF CALL 2 PROPOSALS

(ignore numbers in parenthesis)

Project Number:      1 (1)

Location: Cacadu District, Klipplaat, Ikwezi Municipality

Project Number:      2 (2)

Location: Makana, Ndlambe and Sunday River Municipalities – Manley

Flats, Bathurst, Collingham and Zuney

Project Number:      3 (3)

Location: Tsilitwa Village, Mhlontlo Local Municipality, OR Tambo,

Eastern Cape

Project Number:      4 (4)

Location: Cata, Amatole District Municipality, Eastern Cape

Project Number:      5 (6)

Location: 11 villages situated at Nqabara in Mbashe Municipality,

Amatole District

Project Number:      6 (8)

Location: Community owned farm outside the town of Indwe

Project Number:      7 (11)

Location: Villages of Upper Mnyameni, Lower Mnyameni and Upper

Gxulu, near Keiskammahoek, Amahlathi Local Municipality,

Amathole District Municipality

Project Number:      8 (15)

Location: Chris Hani District Municipality, Intsika Yethu Local

Municipality, Kwamzola District, Block C, Ncora Irrigation

Scheme, Ncora, Eastern cape

Project Number:      9 (18)

Location: 52 Villages – OR Tambo and Amatole Districts (49): KSD,

Nyandeni, Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill (Lusikisiki) municipalities; and Amatole District (3) – Mbashe and Mnquma municipalities

Project Number:      10 (24)

Location: Baziya Administrative Area in ward 16 at King Sabata

Dalindyebo Local Municipality in OR Tambo District

Municipality

Q : What size poster do you require?

A : A2

Q : A total of 500 or 1000 copies required of the DVD?

A : See details in each respective work pack:

Work package 5 – 500 copies

Work package 6 – 100 copies

Q :  Will the DVD be in English or Xhosa?

A : English, with the ability to bud over on master copies if required

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 4:32 pm

End Conscription Campaign turns 25 – now wants to focus on current issues

 

November 5, 2009

Gavin Young’s sculpture "Botha's baby" at the ECC exhibition.

Gavin Young’s sculpture "Botha's baby" at the ECC exhibition.

During the 1980s, when the apartheid government in South Africa deployed troops not only in Angola, but also in townships within its own borders, there was a brave group of people who said: “No, I refuse to be part of this”.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of that defiance, the End Conscription Campaign (ECC). It was celebrated this weekend with seminars, art exhibitions, films and a thanksgiving service at Spier wine estate, outside Stellenbosch.

The ECC was originally launched by a coalition of human rights, religious, women’s and students’ groups, including the Black Sash, the National Union of South African Students and the Young Progressives. According to an article in Die Burger of 31 October 2009, altogether 7589 young men failed to report for military service in 1985. Some were sent to jail for their refusal to comply to compulsory conscription.

Willemien Brummer reports in Die Burger that the ECC was always very creative, for instance tying yellow ribbons to trees – a symbol for calling troops home. The art exhibition at Spier is thus a fitting way to commemorate the campaign’s 25 years. Works of well-known artists such as Jane Alexander, Penny Siopis and William Kentridge are on display.

Gavin Young’s sculpture of a baby’s high chair with a gun in the tray, entitled “Botha’s Baby”, shows how South Africans were born into a society where aggression was institutionalised.

Compulsary conscription ended in South African in 1993, but a campaign for peace such as the ECC is still relevant if one takes into consideration that violence and the use of guns is still pervalent in this country.

Many other countries still have compulsory conscription, many are manufacturing deadly bombs and some have to deal with still live landmines, left behind after wars.

Eight photos of child soldiers confront you in the exhibition. This is still a reality in some countries.

Laurie Nathan, former ECC national organiser told Die Burger the weekend at Spier was a celebration of what they achieved, but also a chance to address contemporary issues.

Filed under: arts,peace,rights,violence — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:44 pm