Development Talk

 

July 13, 2011

Masande Drama Group entetained at the celebration: Photo: Development Works

Catholic Welfare and Development (CDW) has re-launched its Bonne Esperance Refugee Shelter for Woman and Children. They recently celebrated this momentous occasion with a special post –Refugee Day gathering.

The celebration kicked off with CDW Director, Lungisa Huna giving a brief history of Bonne Esperance and linked the work they have done to the Cape Townbased development organization’s mission of unleashing the ability of individuals and supporting community independence.  Representatives Vanessa Coulson and Chae Li Diong from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) grabbed the audience’s attention as they spoke of the international lawful situation, relating to refugee and why the role of amenities like Bonne Esperance are vital to the local refugee response.

There was an especially memorable moment when a Home Affairs representative addressed the serious challenges asylum seekers face during the application process and how Bonne Esperance has assisted with addressing backlogs.  It was mentioned that Bonne Esperance made sure that “no stones are left unturned” when it comes to helping foreigners in need.  Survivors of conflict, trauma and dislocation from their home countries and former Bonne Esperance residents, also made appearances at the launch to testify to the Shelter staff’s commitment.

According to a press release for the event, through Bonne Esperance, vulnerable women are supported and the cycle of violence is breached and young people are guided towards heartwarming lives. The Shelter also encourages local integration that includes getting South Africans to understand reasons behind refugee migration intoSouth Africaby facilitating educational training in response to the racism, xenophobic attacks that surfaced in May 2008. To date Bonne Esperance has assisted approximately 20 000 people; opened its doors to the defenseless and helped them transition into a reconstruction and healing phase ; as well as assisted over 60 families with rehabilitation and reintegration  into communities around Cape Town.

 

To learn more about the Bonne Esperance Shelter please visit their website by clicking here.

 

 

 

Filed under: arts,children,civil society,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,Environment,History,Hope,identity,initiative,inspire,men,NGOs,power,Refugees,rights,Safety and Security,South Africa,spatial poverty,violence,women,xenophobia,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:19 pm

Community raises concerns at Khayelitsha Health Summit

 

December 6, 2010

Speakers take part in the Health Summit held in Khayelitsha. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu

Speakers take part in the Health Summit held in Khayelitsha. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu

Khayelitsha residents came in great numbers to the two-day Health Summit that was held at Isiphiwo Primary School in Harare on Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 November. This was their chance to voice their concerns regarding health care service delivery. 

SANGOCO Western Cape, People’s Health Movement South Africa, DKT International, City of Cape Town, and other role players in public health met with the members of the community discuss these issues.

Funders and sponsors like Capitec Bank gave messages of support at the Summit and the current status of health in Khayelitsha was discussed by Dr Virginia Azevedo of the City Health Department.

In her presentation, Dr Azevedo showed that there is a high mortality rate for children under the age of 5 with Gastro-Aids. The high number of people who are suffering from womb cancer shows the poor access to antenatal care in Khayelitsha, compared to other areas like Michell’s plain.

Professor Nomafrench Mbombo, a deputy director at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) School of Nursing said antenatal care during pregnancy is of great importance, so that problems with the health of the mother or the baby can be diagnosed at an early stage. “No woman should die unnecessary,” she said. (more…)

Filed under: access to health care,Awareness,CBOs,children,civil society,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,finance,Gender,Government,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,initiative,men,NGOs,NPOs,Research,South Africa,spatial poverty,women — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:28 pm

Red Card needs the help of all community activists

 

November 3, 2010

Two people from the Red Card Campaign discuss their strategy. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu

Mzamo Sidelo and Leo Mbobi from the Red Card Campaign discuss their strategy. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu

A while ago, Creative Consulting & Development Works blogged about the Red Card initiative, that was run during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, to create awareness about risky sexual behaviour, human trafficking, forced labour and sexual slavery. We are excited to see that this initiative has now extended beyond the World Cup, with organisations coming together to further this goal.

Development Works attended the partner organisations workshop on the Red Card Campaign Against Child Sexual Exploitation, facilitated by Sonke Gender Justice Network on 22 October at the Gugulethu library. Sonke made it clear that they want all organisations dealing with issues related to the Red Card campaign to take an active part in it. The campaign does not belong only to Sonke. It is only through a combined effort that they will really make a difference. (more…)

Filed under: 2010 World Cup,Awareness,campaign,children,civil society,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,Gender,HIV/AIDS,Human trafficking,men,poverty,women,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:40 pm

Male Contraceptive Pill Being Researched

 

August 20, 2010

Scientists at UWC are researching a male contraceptive. Photo: NIOSH via Flickr

Scientists at UWC are researching a male contraceptive. Photo: NIOSH via Flickr

Teenage pregnancy is one of the major problems faced by today’s youth. Girls fall pregnant at a very young age and are often left to deal with the consequences themselves, abandoned by the father and their family.

Some cannot see themselves as single mothers and give their children up for adoption or have abortions. In the worst and saddest of these cases, as was reported on the front page of The Times newspaper on 20 July 2010, mothers simply dump their babies.

Taking responsibility

Women often get the blame for these unwanted babies. People ask why they did not use contraceptive pills.  But men must also take responsibility. Not only are condoms freely available in clinics across South Africa, but the  University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) scientists, together with colleagues at the University of Missouri in America are now also conducting research on a male contraceptive pill, made from a plant extract.

According to the Cape Times, a molecule found in two varieties of olive trees and cloves, has been tested on males of three animal species including mice, rabbits and rats and was found to have a contraceptive effect.

 
It is indicated that the results were immediate and reversible. It took a couple of months for fertility to return after the molecule was taken away.

This molecule also has some anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-ulcer and anti-microbial effects.

However, Cape Times states that the scientists will not be able to test the molecule on humans until they find out how its contraceptive quality actually works.   

Filed under: access to health care,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,Family,Fatherhood,Gender,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,men,Research,South Africa,women,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:34 pm

Elano’s shin guards and fatherhood

 

June 21, 2010

Elano Blumer scored a goal for his children.

Elano Blumer scored a goal for his children. Photo: http://pesindeyizgs.blogspot.com

After Brazilian football player Elano Blumer scored a goal last night in the 2010 FIFA World Cup match against Côte d’Ivoire, he took out his shin guards and showed them to the camera. The names of his children were written on them.

What a wonderful gesture on Father’s Day! Creative Consulting & Development Works acknowledges the potential that fathers have to protect and ensure the healthy, positive development of children. This is emphasised by the African Fathers Initiative which “aims to be a continent-wide institutional base for the generation, collection, and dissemination of knowledge and skills about responsible and involved fatherhood across all races and faiths in Africa”. Their website provides research on fatherhood in Africa, refers to policy involving fathers and gives tips to fathers on how to perform their role well. This includes how to tell your children you love them, how to raise a daughter and how to support your pregnant partner.

Teenage Tata - HSRC Press

Teenage Tata - HSRC Press

In South Africa the Human Sciences Research Council runs The Fatherhood Project. This Project aims to, among other things, “rally peer professional support to enable men to be more involved in children’s lives”. They recognise that fathers are often absent in South Africa and that cases of neglect and abuse are rife. However, the project celebrates those father figures, including brothers, grandfathers, uncles and cousins, friends, teachers and preachers that truly have a positive impact on the children for whom they are rolemodels.

The HSRC has published the books Teenage Tata: Voices of young fathers in South Africa and Baba?: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa.

But let’s not forget about Brazil’s  opponents in the game last night: We also have a story to tell about fatherhood in Côte d’Ivoire. Watch this video about a father’s love for his HIV positive son, posted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Living Proof Project on You Tube.

Filed under: 2010 World Cup,access to health care,Africa,aid,Book,children,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,Family,Fatherhood,Gender,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,initiative,men,Policy,Research,sport,Videos,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:06 pm
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