2014 june newsletteronevoice.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2014_june-newsletter-… · early in...
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..in honour of Youth Day.. APRIL—JUNE 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2
Newsletter Voice Connection
Voice Connection Newsletter
A Word from the Managing Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
We are on the move again! Page 1
Schools Programme Update Page 2
Longitudinal Intervention Study Page 2
Communications Chatter Page 3
Funder Focus Page 3
Staff Update Page 4
More Photos! Page 4
SANIBONANI friends of OneVoice South Africa (OVSA)!
Welcome to the June edition of our Voice Connection
Newsletter honouring national YOUTH DAY!
Following the Soweto uprising in 1976, which tragically
also led to the death of student Hector Pieterson, June
16th became National Youth Day in South Africa and in
1991 the African Union christened it the Day of the
African Child. Every year, this day is set aside to not
only commemorate the Soweto uprising, but also to
demand better education for all African children.
Increasing the availability and visibility of HIV and TB
education, information and prevention services could
dramatically reduce the number of new infections
among adolescents in South Africa. And this is why
OVSA is so passionate about partnering with young
people in school on critical health and lifestyle issues.
For far too many years, young people were ignored or
sidelined when it came to developing interventions or
policies regarding their health and futures. Thankfully
those days are long gone. Today young people are able
and willing to lead on health policy reforms,
peer-to-peer education programmes and the
promotion of the early detection of HIV and TB through
knowledge sharing.
OVSA provides young people with a safe platform to
openly discuss and debate the critical issues they face
on a daily basis. Guided by our OVSA Facilitators,
learners identify critical issues prevalent in their school
or school community and translate knowledge to
action. ...It truly is a case of taking ownership of the
problem and implementing a solution. From all those
at OVSA, young people, we salute you!! You are truly
inspiring!
Marlijn van Berne, Managing Director
WE ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN!!
Dear Friend of OVSA, unfortunately we are moving
again!
Please note and adjust your records accordingly, that
we are sadly moving out of our lovely premises at 29
Esther Roberts Road, Glenwood, Durban, on the 1st of
May, and will be moving to our new premises at
60 Helen Joseph Road, Glenwood, Durban (just
around the corner!)
Our telephone number, fax number and email
addresses remain the same. However, should you not
be able to reach us during this time, please contact
the following:
Marlijn van Berne (Managing Director) - 082 898 0771
Karen Fuhri (Senior Administrator) - 082 4650 328 Pienaar Motabene (Programme & Research Manager) -
083 4016 241.
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APRIL-JUNE 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2
Voice Connection Newsletter
Schools Programme Update
Longitudinal Intervention Study
During this quarter, OVSA has begun its evaluation
process to assess over time how the the Schools
Programme influences the lives and decisions that
learners make in comparison to that of their peers
who do not participate in OVSA projects. More over,
it is through this evaluation process that OVSA is
able to see how students understand and
conceptualise the lessons taught to them by the
OVSA Facilitators.
“What I like most about coming to class is learning
about things such as HIV an TB, and getting to
discuss them with my friends” - Learner (Grade 8).
To complete this evaluation the Schools Programme
team traveled to six school within the eThekwini
and ILembe school districts (Zwelibanzi High School,
KwaMgaga High School, J.G. Zuma High School, and
Nkosibomvu High School) and administered online
surveys via mobile phone technology (Mobenzi). The
online survey asked students a series of one
hundred questions about topics ranging from
prescribed notions of gender roles, and where
students primarily learn about topics ranging from
sex and sexuality, to questions about HIV and STI
transmission. In addition to participating in the
survey, students were also asked to speak about the
longitudinal study and how it has influenced the
decisions they make in their daily lives.
“Through the students who participated in the
Longitudinal Intervention Study we have managed to
trace approximately 85% percent of of the learners
currently involved in this endeavour, and will be able
to compare the study data for analysis.”
- Pienaar Motabene, Programme and Research
Manager.
Learners using the Mobenzi cell phone technology as
part of the LIS.
LIFE SKILLS PROJECT (GRADE 8)
The Grade 8 Life Skills Project has progressed well during
the first half of 2014. To date all the schools have
completed workshop 5 on ’Puberty’ (out of 12 annual
workshops). This year Advocacy Project planning has
started early compared to last year, in a bid to “deepen”
the projects and enhance impact. This year, learner-led
Advocacy Projects include: School Environmental Day, TB
Screening and HIV Information, Let it Grow!!, Let’s Ask
(WASH), and Circumcision Information.
LIFE SKILLS PROJECT (GRADE 10)
At J.L Dube High School — which leads on our Grade 10
Project - some classes have completed all the workshops,
while a few classes are left with only four workshops
remaining. In this school, the learners have identified
‘Teenage Pregnancy’ as a critical health and lifestyle
issue facing the school community—and are addressing
this through a targeted Advocacy Project. Other projects
include Menstruation Management and WASH.
ENTERPRISE PROJECT (GRADES 9 & 11)
Early in June, one of the OVSA schools in Umlazi
completed the Enterprise Project, and the remaining
participating seven schools are at Workshop 4 (out of a
series of seven workshops). This year learners will benefit
from two new workshops on ‘CV Writing’ and ‘Interview
Preparation.’
EARLY DETECTION OF TB PROJECT
Towards the end of June, the Early Detection of TB
Project in Umkhanyakude was concluded with a
Stakeholder Meeting (while its partner project in
eThekwini is ongoing until the end of 2014). Most notable,
were the Advocacy Projects at Umkhanyakude led by
OVSA Coordinator, Khanye Thembe and school learners
and staff, which included a TB Information and Screening
Day at three of the seven participating schools. The
campaign days were met with great success — and
supported by the Department of Health’s TB Unit At
Hlabisa.
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APRIL-JUNE 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2
Voice Connection Newsletter
Communications Chatter
Funding Focus
MySchool/My Village
Thank you again for your valuable support over
the past two months. We are very proud to
announce that we have received the fo l lowing
substantia l f inancia l contributions:
February: R158.51
March: R319.17
April: R247.18
Continue to help us strengthen our Schools Programme
and support young people in KZN by using your card at
one of the following partners: Woolworths, Engene,
Waltons, Reggies, Supaquick, Altech Netstar, and
Kalahari.com. And please remember to fill out a
membership form and apply for your card at your
nearest Woolworths store or by visiting
www.myschool.co.za
Social media as a platform to bring about
awareness and change…
Over the course of this quarter, OVSA has continued to
work on mobilising our presence on both twitter and
Facebook.
It is through our Facebook profile that OVSA continues
to inform and educate not only the communities we
serve but also the global community about topics such
as WASH, and HIV. This is accomplished through the
positing of articles about what is occurring in the
world around these topics, and the projects that OVSA
and our partners are currently implementing on the
ground. It is also through Facebook that we are able
to post updates and photos about all of our programs
and where those who would like to volunteer and
donate to OVSA can do so by liking the OVSA Facebook
page.
Via twitter, OVSA provides both local and global
communities with short and informative messages
about ongoing projects and exciting news around the
topics of WASH and HIV education. It is also through
twitter that readers can learn about how to get
involved, or donate to OVSA and tell them how to find
OVSA on Facebook and the OVSA website.
This quarter we would like to focus on our partner,
OXFAM. OVSA is partnering with AusAid through OXFAM
on their ANCP (AusAID-NGO Cooperation Program)
and Aaces programmes. Founded in 1942, OXFAM is a
UK based organization who through their programs
raise awareness and address structural causes of
poverty around the globe. OXFAM is headquartered in
Oxford England, UK, and is a confederation of 17
organisations that work within 94 nations around the
globe. As an organisation, OXFAM in every programme
strives to uphold and maintain five core social values:
the right to a sustainable livelihood, the right to basic
social services, the right to life and security, the right
to be heard, and the right to an identity. It is through
the upholding and the creating of these values in the
communities that they serve that OXFAM continues to
create greater forms of social and socio-economic
equity across the globe.
Their partnership with OVSA focuses specifically on
WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and introducing
minimum WASH standards in school through the
mobilisation of the school community.
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APRIL-JUNE 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2
Voice Connection Newsletter
More Longitudinal Intervention Study Photos!
Staff Update
.
All the way from America and new to the OVSA team, at the
communications desk is Arielle N’Diaye! In addition to
volunteering at OVSA, Arielle is currently in Durban
conducting a Richter Fellowship Research Project which is
looking at how public health organisations use music to
provide HIV education to young black adults between the
ages of 18-29 years.
Born in the US, Arielle has worked in many areas of youth
development, most notably the Gear Up 4 LA program.
Gear Up 4 LA is a longitudinal grant and intervention
programme which through mentorship and classroom
assistance, seeks to show low-income and underprivileged
students the many ways in which they can obtain degrees
within the higher education realm.
Arielle currently attends Occidental College in Los Angeles,
California, where she is finishing a BA Sociology. Upon
completing her degree in May 2015, Arielle plans to attend
medical school where she will study to become a
neurosurgeon.
WELCOME ARIELLE!!!