Development Talk

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

Young Writer Reaches for the Stars

 

August 19, 2010

A trip to a library changed the life Fezile Cokile.

A trip to a library changed the life Fezile Cokile. Photo: CCAC North Library via Flickr

Many people believe that their background has an impact on who they will become in life. Young people (especially those born and bred in the rural areas) sometimes feel that their current situation will keep them from reaching their goals. But one 19 year old has shown that you can rise above your circumstances, with a little help from a good book.

Fezikile Cokile grew up in Mdantsane township in the Eastern Cape. A lack of resources is the main challenge that faces youth living in areas such as these. Computers are pictures that are only seen in magazines. Children are taught that a “library is a place where books are kept,” but the chances of setting foot in one are very slim.

But some people, like Cokile, work even harder in these circumstances and do not blame their backrounds for not acheiving their goal in life.

The day Cokile entered the library doors, was the day in his life that he will never forget.

What happened at the library ?

Books open up a new world to young readers. Photo: Horia Varlan

Books open up a new world to young readers. Photo: Horia Varlan via Flickr

There were never any books at Cokile’s home and according to The Times, his first visit to a library happened at the age of 13.  This visit gave him the inspiration to have his first book published at the age of 19.

A copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which he found in the children’s section of the library, made him fall in love with writing, with English and with the author, JK Rowling.  He is quoted saying:  “I love that woman. I read her book and loved it, and I think that is what sparked my interest in writing.”

Cokile carried his dream quietly in his heart until he reached grade 9 at Mdantsane’s Nyameko High school.

The Times states that, two years after he found the publisher’s address on the tittle page of a library book, he wrote his first novel, Stolen Moments. This was followed by another manuscript, Dusty Life, last year.  Both were unfortunately rejected.

But, as the expression in isiXhosa goes : “Umntu uvuna obekulimile” (Meaning “A person harvests what he/she has planted”), Cokile’s hard work eventually paid off.

How did he rise above rejection?

Now Fezile Cokile's book can also be found on the shelves of libraries. Photo: Cybrgrl via Flickr

Now Fezile Cokile's book can also be found on the shelves of libraries. Photo: Cybrgrl via Flickr

The fact that his first two novels were not published, didn’t kill him, but made him stronger. He knew he was good at telling stories and he never felt that his dreams of becoming a writer were shattered. That is why he took up his pen again and did what he is passionate about.

His dream became a reality when his book, Wish Upon A Star, eventually made its appearance on the shelves of bookshops.  He is very excited about this and we will probably hear a lot more about this talented young man in the future.

The importance of literacy and reading among youth was the reason for the launch of the Western Cape Education Department Family Literacy Project. Extensive and in-depth research shows that the literacy and numeracy levels of grade three learners are far below what is required of them to learn and develop effectively.

The Family Literacy pilot programme was initiated in 11 Adult Education and Training (AET) centers in the 28 priority areas within the Western Cape. Each center produced a report highlighting the structure of the center and programme, outcomes achieved, challenges and lessons learnt. Creative Consulting & Development Works conducted research to consolidate the information from each AET center. The outcome of this research was a comprehensive consolidated provincial report.

Have you ever read a book that really touched your life? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Filed under: Book,children,Communications,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,Family,inspiration,Research,South Africa,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:15 am

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

What next for South Africa?

 

July 12, 2010

Now that South Africa has proven that it can present a world class Cup and Closing Ceremony, what will it tackle next? Photo: AFP - Monirul Bhuiyan

Now that South Africa has proven that it can present a world class Cup and Closing Ceremony, what will it tackle next? Photo: AFP - Monirul Bhuiyan

The final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was played last night and Spain walked away with the cup. Now that the World Cup has come to an end, newspapers are already starting to ask “What next for South Africa?” How can we harness the positive energy generated during the past month to achieve much needed development objectives for the country?

IOL.co.za reports that “rarely can a global event have generated so much advance pessimism as the World Cup”, but South Africa has silenced all its critics by hosting a successful tournament. The closing ceremony held at Soccer City in Johannesburg last night was especially spectacular and of a world class standard. Images were projected onto the field, Shakira sang Waka Waka and hundreds of dancers demonstrated various South African dances.

Keep on Feeling it

Will the closing ceremony mean the end of the positive vibe in South Africa? Photo: www.shine2010.co.za via Flickr

Will the closing ceremony mean the end of the positive vibe in South Africa? Photo: www.shine2010.co.za via Flickr

“Feel it!” was the catch phrase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ray Hartley writes “We felt ‘it’. Now let’s define and bottle ‘it’” in the Sunday Times. According to him everyone felt a certain emotion when Bafana Bafana sang the national anthem before the kick-off of this cup. And we kept feeling that emotion as South Africa showed that they could host a mega sports event.

Hartley says this “it” can probably be defined as patriotism. “True patriotism is very different to nationalism. It is closer to the notion of civic duty, the desire to do something to make your country a better place and to celebrate others who make the same effort.”

He says we should now find new outlets for this patriotism. “In this scenario, we would treat our major civic challenges – such as the delivery of houses, health, safety and education – in the same way we treated the World Cup.”

But our patriotism should not turn us into a “nation of spin doctors” that do not want to give criticism where it is due. After all, criticism can help you to recognise your weaknesses and improve on them.

Patriotism should also not turn into an ugly nationalism involving xenophobia, David Smith writes in the Mail & Guardian.

Olympic Games?

Should South Africa bid to host the Olympics? Image: Patrick Hoesley via Flickr

Should South Africa bid to host the Olympics? Image: Patrick Hoesley via Flickr

Some have suggested that South Africa bidding to host the Olympic Games next would be a way to keep the “high” produced by the World Cup going. But Danny Jordaan, chief organiser of the Soccer World Cup is quoted in the Mail & Guardian as saying:  “There is a sense of pride and achievement. We’ll have to see how we will ensure that pride is not the pride of 90 minutes in a World Cup but a permanent feature. Some people say find it in the hosting of the Olympics, find it another big event. I think we must find it in addressing some of the issues — housing, health, education, economic growth. We have to come together to deal with some of these issues.”

A renewed focus on development issues within the country, with renewed vigour and passion would be wonderful. It is something that Creative Consulting & Development Works, as a research, evaluation and communications consultancy working in the development sector definitely supports.

Also read our previous blog piece on the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and leave your comment.

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What will the legacy of the 2010 World Cup be for South Africa?

 

July 8, 2010

Other than the stadiums such as this one in Cape Town, what legacy will the World Cup leave in South Africa?

Other than the stadiums such as this one in Cape Town, what legacy will the World Cup leave in South Africa?

This article originally appeared in our latest newsletter. We would love to hear from you regarding what you think the legacy of the 2010 World Cup will be. Read the article and please leave your comment below.  If you are interested in receiving our newsletter, please email lindy@developmentworks.co.za.

As the 2010 FIFA World Cup draws to a close, it is time to start asking ourselves what the real legacy of the event will be in South Africa.

This is what was discussed at a recent public dialogue seminar held by the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Cape Town. Taking part in the discussion was Dr Orli Bass, one of the editors of  Development and Dreams: The urban legacy of the 2010 Football World Cup and Prof Peter Alegi, author of African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World’s Game.

“If there are any benefits from the 2010 World Cup, they will be intangible rather than tangible,” Bass predicted. Initially many South Africans expected to benefit personally on an economical level. “Informal traders thought the event would improve their situation,” Bass said.

Tangible economic impact

Development and Dreams

Development and Dreams

In Development and Dreams mention is made of a survey conducted in 2007 by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on people’s perceptions of the World Cup. As many as 50% of respondents believed that economic growth and job creation would be the two main benefits of the event and a third of respondents thought they would personally benefit from job opportunities.

According to Bass, World Cups are extremely profitable for FIFA and the 2010 World Cup will be even more profitable than the previous tournament held in Germany, but the same benefits are not usually felt by host countries. Bass said that according to their research the contribution of the 2010 World Cup to economic development, improvement in tourism and reduction in unemployment and poverty has been overstated.

In an essay entitled “Anticipating 2011” in Development and Dreams, Richard Tomlinson is critical of the economic impacts of the World Cup. According to him investments have been directed away from productive uses such as the upgrading of the Cape Town harbour to construction of unnecessary stadiums. Tomlinson even thinks that the event can create greater inequality.

Orli Bass discusses the views expressed in Development and Dreams regarding the 2010 legacy.

Orli Bass discusses the views expressed in Development and Dreams regarding the 2010 legacy.

Orli Bass discusses the views expressed in Development and Dreams regarding the 2010 legacy. Kamilla Swart and Urmilla Bob agree with this statement in their essay “Venue selection and the 2010 World Cup: A case study of Cape Town”. The fact that FIFA did not approve of Cape Town building a stadium in Athlone, which would have stimulated development in this low-income area, but pushed the city into rebuilding the Green Point stadium, is to them an indication of how inequality was increased.

In the essay “Sport, mega-events and urban tourism” in Development and Dreams, Scarlett Cornelissen cautions that tourism projections for South Africa after the 2010 World Cup might have been overestimated. She points out that the sports tourism that is generated after a World Cup, often replaces especially business-related tourism. However, the greatest benefit to tourism might be the improvement of the country’s image internationally.

Intangible impact

Peter Alegi, author of African Soccerscapes talks about the impact of soccer on nationhood.

Peter Alegi, author of African Soccerscapes talks about the impact of soccer on nationhood.

Peter Alegi, author of African Soccerscapes talks about the impact of soccer on nationhood. Despite their criticisms, the authors of Development and Dreams do think that the World Cup  will leave South Africa with an intangible legacy of increased national cohesion, an improved image globally, as well as a reduction in Afro-pessimism when it becomes clear to the world that we can indeed successfully host an event of this magnitude. The editors write that it is important to “keep sight of the notion that the 2010 World Cup presents an opportunity to rethink the manner in which African culture, gender and identity are experienced and represented.”

Alegi said that while researching his book African Soccerscapes he realised that historically soccer had played a big role in establishing national pride in Africa. The game was brought to the continent by colonialists, but Africans soon made it their own. “They refused to play the way the colonialists had taught them and brought their own style to the game.”

National unity might be one of the intangible benefits of the 2010 World Cup.

National unity might be one of the intangible benefits of the 2010 World Cup.

When Algeria, for instance, wanted to gain their independence from France, their soccer team traveled the world with their new Algerian flag, encouraging Algerian pride. As African countries gained independence, soccer teams, playing in new national colours, helped to increase a sense of nationhood, although it might have been fragile.

According to Bass it is clear that this expected benefit is becoming a reality when one looks at South Africans proudly displaying their nation’s flag on their cars, organising community gatherings to watch the soccer and taking pride in what their country has achieved in hosting this event.

Creative Consulting & Development Works would love to know what you think about the legacy of the 2010 World Cup. Please post your comment below.

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