Development Talk

Social Media: Helping to Educate Mozambique

 

June 13, 2011

 

A new day is dawning in Mozambique.
After nearly many years of civil unrest, the small nation on South Eastern coast of Africa is starting to rebuild. The promise of limitless possibilities beams from the smiles of school children running to new or partially built schools. Unfortunately, these smiles often turn to tears as financial backers of many development projects are failing to meet their commitments. As the global financial crisis strikes panic in the hearts of funding institutions, money initially earmarked to help develop post war Mozambique has all but dried up. In response to the growing number of commissioned development projects losing financial backing, Celio Mondlane of Fundacao Joaquim Chissano and Minister of Education Dr. Zeferino Martins, have turned to social media to encourage wide spread investment in their county’s future as well as showcasing its success stories. Educate Mozambique is the blog platform where anybody can learn about and support education initiatives all over Mozambique. It is essentially a way of crowd sourcing new

Flag of Mozambique

 avenues of funding, empowering individuals with information about ways they can contribute. Now, instead of waiting for a massive check that may never come from a bank that no longer considers “charity” a priority, any number of concerned individuals from anywhere in the world can give a little bit of money or time to make a big difference in the lives of children in Mozambique.

Visit the site learn to more about how you can support Educate Mozambique!

Filed under: Africa,Asylum seekers,Awareness,basic human right,better life for all,blogging,Blogroll,Breaking New Ground,campaign,children,civil society,Communications,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,developmental state,dialogue,donors,economy,education,finance,fundraising,Hope,inspiration,inspire,internet,poverty,recession,Social media,social transformation,South Africa,sustainable,Uncategorized,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:33 pm

Support World Food Day with a virtual ‘Living Wall’

 

October 15, 2010

Not everyone can rely on three meals a day. Photo DFID via Flickr

Not everyone is privileged enough to receive three meals a day. Photo DFID via Flickr

Tomorrow is World Food Day. Think about going to bed hungry every night. Think about waking up in the morning and knowing that you’ll remain hungry.

Think about relying on your own small garden for your survival.

Think about what it would mean if you could no longer grow your food due to drought, or having to leave your home because of armed conflict. Think about not being able to feed your children. (more…)

Filed under: aid,basic human right,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,economy,education,Environment,food security,fundraising,Global warming,healthcare,Inequality,initiative,internet,poverty — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:31 pm

Refugee children promote love and unity with musical

 

July 21, 2010

A refugee girl in one of the tents used to house people displaced by xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2008. Photo: Development Works

A refugee girl in one of the tents used to house people displaced by xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2008. Photo: Development Works

Beautiful! Exquisite! Professional! Captivating! This is what everyone sang after a well-presented musical play by Lawrence House, a refugee children’s home, which forms part of the Scalabrini Centre’s welfare programmes.

The show, commemorating Lawrence House’s 5th anniversary, was entitled “Mad Word” and was advertised by word of mouth. The “mad word” spread and it generated more than a hundred audience members.

While some disturbing incidences of xenophobia have flared up in South Africa after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and a number of foreign nationals have left their homes in fear, this show displayed the theme of unity and love and emphasised the importance of “a happy family”.

Formed in 2005, Lawrence House is dedicated specifically to the care of abandoned and unaccompanied refugee minors. Its motto is the Bible verse “I was a stranger and you accepted me”. The House and its separate teenager cottage can accommodate up to 30 children. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are taken in. Currently the House shelters children from Angola, DRC, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

We at Creative Consulting & Development Works are firm believers in equal rights and observing the Constitution of South Africa, that is why we have also worked with the NGO for refugees, Adonis Musati Project.

If children from different walks of life can come together and use their talents to put on such a wonderful show, why can’t we as adults bury our differences and work together as well?

Filed under: 2010 World Cup,Africa,arts,Asylum seekers,children,civil society,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,cultural issues,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,Family,fundraising,NGOs,Refugees,South Africa,xenophobia,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:25 am

Mamelani Fundraising Breakfast for HIV/AIDS initiatives

 

December 14, 2009

Bret Jackelow (right) spoke at the breakfast and was thanked by Dani Janks (left)

Bret Jackelow (right) spoke at the breakfast and was thanked by Dani Janks (left)

“The question is how you can make a positive difference in the situation that you are in and not why you are in it.” Inspiring words by speaker Bret Jackelow, who recently completed the New York City Marathon and won a gold medal, despite being disabled after a severe car crash.

Jackelow spoke at the Mamelani Projects Women’s Fundraising Breakfast in honor of World Aids Day. He hoped to inspire those attending to make a difference in the lives of others, as he would not be where he is today, if it had not been for the support of ordinary people, helping where they can.

Mamelani Projects is a non-profit organisation that facilitates community development projects with the aim to improve the lives of people living in marginalised communities. They manage to reach 1000 women in a year, informing them about HIV/AIDS and access to services.

In a video shown at the breakfast, community members expressed their belief that Mamelani is a starting step to reducing the spread of the disease.

Valuing World Aids Day, the organisation saw it as an opportunity to promote universal access and human rights.

The Mamelani Projects Fundraising Breakfast was held at Coffee Time in Cape Town

The Mamelani Projects Fundraising Breakfast was held at Coffee Time in Cape Town

They believe that every human being has the right and responsibility to have a basic understanding of how their own body works and what steps can be taken to stay healthy.

Through their programmes they aim to empower women, so that they can better their lives. You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.

Developments Works attended the fundraising breakfast and recognises the need to support those who have taken initiative in helping build healthier communities.

For more information visit the Mamelani Projects website.

Filed under: access to health care,basic human right,better life for all,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,disabled,fundraising,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,inspiration,inspire,marginalised,NPOs,rights,women — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:52 am

building the arts in developing countries

 

February 6, 2008

In January 2008, the South African Arts Symposium was hosted by the John F. Kennedy Center Institute for Arts Management in Cape Town, South Africa. Sianne Alves from DEVELOPMENT WORKS attended and gained much knowledge on how to build the arts sector.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has developed and presented arts management programs in Mexico, China, Pakistan, and the 22 Arab Nations. Through its Institute for Arts Management, the Kennedy Center offers practical training in strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, and institutional branding. Successful programs around the world have demonstrated the value of strengthening these efforts, especially in countries where government support for the arts has been traditionally strong and is now declining.

The South African Arts Symposium focused on developing resourceful and forward-thinking solutions to the many challenges facing arts leaders in South Africa today. The seminar included strategic planning, fundraising, and marketing of the arts. This important initiative also presented and promoted the arts as crucial to the preservation of the culture and heritage in South African society.

Participants from organizations that create or present any artistic discipline: music, dance, theater, visual arts, film, cultural preservation attended the symposium, with some members traveling as far as Johannesburg to participate in this event.

Michael M. Kaiser, President of the John F. Kennedy Center, a key note speaker at the symposium provided direction on the many challenges being faced by artists in South Africa today. Kaiser’s advice and strategic direction is readily available online as the Kennedy Center has developed a free valuable online resource as part of their outreach programme.

The online resource provides solutions to management challenges faced by many of today’s not-for-profit organisations. These resources includes models in strategic planning; case studies by arts leaders currently working in the field; a resource center for management challenges and finally an Ask facility where you can submit questions and receive free practical advice. All these resources can be found at www.artsmanager.org

Other exciting opportunities for leaders or managers in the arts discipline are offered by the Kennedy Centre through their International Summer Fellowship Programs for developing countries.

The International Summer Fellowship Program provides practical experience and instruction for up to 20 managers currently working in international not-for-profit performing arts organizations. This full-time, four-week intensive program takes place in July 2008 and includes classes, seminars and practical work experience in the Kennedy Center’s fundraising and marketing departments. Individuals selected for this program will return to the Kennedy Center for ongoing professional development for a total of three consecutive summer sessions. Lodging, per diem, travel, and materials are provided at no cost to participants. Further information can be found at:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/

Filed under: arts,arts administration,cultural issues,development,fundraising,marketing — @ 2:29 pm
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