Development Talk

What will you do on Mandela Day?

 

July 16, 2010

Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island. Photo: Samantha Marx

Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island. Photo: Samantha Marx

On International Nelson Mandela Day, people all over the world are meant to spend 67 minutes doing something to benefit their community. Creative Consulting & Development Works has some ideas of how you can get involved in your community as well.

The man behind this day

Anti-apartheid activist and first democratic president of South Africa, Nelson Rholihlala Mandela,  is the inspiration behind this day, because even though he was jailed by the apartheid government for 27 years, he never saw his release from prison as time for revenge. After his release on 11 February 1990 he advocated peace, reconciliation and the rebuilding of the South African nation.

According to www.mandeladay.com Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. “All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.”

What can you do?

Creative Consulting & Development Works, as a research, evaluation and communications consultancy working in a development context, often deals with non-profit organisations and we would like to suggest that you volunteer to help some of them on Mandela Day or any other day of the year!

Mamelani Projects

Development Works conceptualised and facilitated a strategic planning workshop for Mamelani Projects in 2007. This Voluntary Association runs health education and youth development projects locally in various communities. Contact them on info@mamelani.org.zaor phone 021 448 2725.

Networking AIDS Community of South Africa

One of the Community Based Organisations in the NACOSA network.

One of the Community Based Organisations in the NACOSA network.

NACOSA is a national civil society network of HIV and AIDS and TB role players, which includes NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and other developmental organisations, who seek to contribute to reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS.

Development Works did an evaluation for NACOSA of one of four components to the Global Fund Project, the Community Based Response to HIV/AIDS, as well as an evaluation of NACOSA’s 3-Tier Model, which comprises capacity building, networking and promoting dialogue.

You can contact NACOSA at info@nacosa.org.za or on 021 461 7348 and perhaps get involved in a Community Based Organisation close to you.

Adonis Musati Project

Recently, Development Works presented a Preferred Futuring workshop to the NGO for refugees, Adonis Musati Project. AMP provides clothing, blankets, food packs, medicine and toiletries to refugees and help them to compile and send out their CVs. They help refugees to access transport, accommodation and training. The Adonis Musati Project also has a halfway house for refugee children and single mothers.

You can help Adonis Musati by providing food or toiletries, volenteering to transport goods, assisting on week mornings in the refugee office, or making a cash donation. Contact AMP on 021 448 3348 or email Gayle at gayle@adonismusatiproject.org.

View the video below on the Preferred Futuring workshop that we conducted for the Adonis Musati Project as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.

Filed under: access to health care,Awareness,CBOs,civil society,Communications,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,democracy,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,forgiveness,healthcare,History,HIV/AIDS,Hope,initiative,inspiration,inspire,NGOs,peace,politics,reconciliation,Refugees,Research,rights,South Africa,ubuntu,Videos,xenophobia,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:42 am

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

the banyan tree

 

September 8, 2007

in India the Banyan tree is seen as sacred and is adorned and dressed with ribbons and flags as offerings of thanks for abundance…

In Hindu religion, the banyan tree is considered sacred and is called “Ashwath Vriksha” (“I am Banyan tree among trees” – Bhagavad Gita). It represents eternal life because of its seemingly ever-expanding branches.

 

 

  • In Hindu mythology, the banyan tree is also called kalpavriksha meaning ‘wish fulfilling divine tree’. In modern parlance in the Hindi language, it is known as Bargad, Vatavriksh, and Barh.
  • In many stories of Philippine Mythology, the banyan, (locally known as balite) is said to be home to a variety of spirits and demon-like creatures (among the Visayans, specifically, dili ingon nato,meaning “things not like us”). Maligno (Mystical creatures) associated with it include the kapre (a giant), dwende (dwarves), and especially the tikbalang (a creature whose top half is a horse and whose bottom half is a human).
    Source : Wikipedia

This very special tree is revered by Hindu’s throughout India. This tree seems to hold the ancient histories and secrets whispered of hindu mythology… in the roots rest the spirits of ancient gods and goddesses. It was a gift to sit under the shade of this ancient, gnarled tree and reflect on life…

banyantree.jpg

Filed under: banyan,cultural issues,hindu,peace,spirit — @ 11:23 am

The Afterlife of survival: memory, recovery and voice

 

July 26, 2007

 

Narratives of Memory and Forgiveness Conference…

Yazir Henri from Action Centre for Peace and Memory

A thought provoking session that left the audience in silence as Henri spoke of how survivors of apartheid in South Africa have to find common ground to mediate in order to publicly articulate them-selves 10 years after TRC hearings.

Yazir presented ideas from the paper he wrote which was looking at the current cultural issues and socio-political challenges that are present to date and are somewhat hindering the individual to heal and recover fully. He reflected on survivors’ experiences and suggested the importance of having a voice, in a public space, that allows one to narrate ones experiences in manner that will allow South Africa to recover from the extremities of violence during the apartheid era.

When asked what the Centre for Peace and Memory is doing to promote and ensure that stories are told in manner that does not undermine the narrators or the users of information, Henri responded that a lot more collective action needs to take place with their organisation.

If anything the paper presented by Henri highlighted that the Centre for Peace and Memory could help bring together the survivors of South Africa to reconcile in order to collectively articulate their experiences 10 years after the TRC.

www.dacpm.org.za

Filed under: cultural issues,forgiveness,healing,peace,TRC — @ 4:30 pm

Disappearances in South Africa

Narratives of Memory and Forgiveness Conference

(November 2006)

Speaker: Dr Ollie Mahongo – Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation

Can they be asked to forget about their loved ones? Where are they buried?

Yvonne Wabagatore, a researcher from DEVELOPMENT WORKS, attended this Conference and shares below the key points of Dr Mahongo’s presentation.

For the affected families who have lost loved ones, those who never returned home during or after the apartheid era, issues surrounding healing, not having closure and not coming close to some form of reconciliation continue to haunt them in their daily lives.

Ollie painted the image in our minds of how hard it is for those who lost their loved ones to move on. One wants to seek the full truth of the fate of those un-countered for.

Records are not available or were destroyed by apartheid authorities or perpetrators of violence are unwilling to come forward. Some promises made from the TRC were not fulfilled or materialise are some of the issues that Dr Ollie Mahongo spoke about.

Relatives are subjected to ongoing or perpetual suffering…” If we could just have the bones of our loved one are sentiments expressed so often.

Healing and reconciliation is an ongoing process. Issues of disappearances must be made public and perpetrators bought to book.

Filed under: DEVELOPMENT WORKS,forgiveness,healing,memory,peace,reconciliation,TRC — @ 4:25 pm
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