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Page 1
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4
Newsletter
Voice Connection
Voice Connection Newsletter
A Word from the Managing Director
A Spotlight on Woza Moya
THIS ISSUE:
A Word from the Managing Director Page 1
A spotlight on Woza Moya Page 1
Schools Programme Update Page 2
Communications Chatter Page 3
Funder Focus Page 3
Special Features Page 4
Staff Update Page 4
Welcome to the last edition of the OVSA Voice Connection
Newsletter celebrating World AIDS Day!! One of the most
recognised health events worldwide, WORLD AIDS DAY was
first established in 1987, by two World Health Organisation
(WHO) employees. Then, in 1996, UNAIDS officially took over
World AIDS Day, followed by the World AIDS Day Campaign
(WAD), which now focuses on raising global awareness,
commemorating loved ones who have passed on, and
celebrating gains in HIV prevention and AIDS treatment
coverage. Between 2011-2015, World AIDS Day has the
theme: "Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero
discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths". This year, OVSA
supports the WHO’s theme: improving access to prevention,
treatment and care services for adolescents (10-19 years),
which is particularly close to our heart as it builds on
campaigns that continue to address the vulnerability of
adolescents and young people to HIV infection.
The progress we have made so far within our Schools
Programme and associated projects, serves as encouragement
that we can realise our World AIDS Day vision. And although
our Longitudinal Intervention Study is not yet finalised, the
general feedback from role players at the annual Stakeholder
Meetings and the indefinite Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) we have been given by the KwaZulu-Natal Department
of Education (District level) attests to the need for this type
of in-depth intervention that engages young people as active
role players on critical health and lifestyle issues.
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level
Meeting on AIDS adopted bold Global targets for 2015: reduce
the sexual transmission of HIV by half, eliminate new
infections in children, provide treatment for 15 million
people living with HIV, end stigma and discrimination, and
close the AIDS funding gap. Almost three years on, South
Africa’s infection rate has fallen by about half over the last
decade, Unfortunately, it continues to be the highest rate of
infection in the world. However, with “strong political will,
reasonable financial resources and a firm human rights-based
approach” we can achieve all of these targets. And
adolescents and young people are key to achieving this as
their enthusiasm is already part of the solution in helping
shape the global and national HIV/AIDS response.
Marlijn van Berne, Managing Director
OVSA is proud to announce our recent partnership with
WOZA MOYA, in support of realising their dream and vision,
to see Dingizwe School in Ixopo become a model WASH
school, for not only all of Ofafa Valley and KwaZulu-Natal,
but for all of South Africa, and by winning the Schools
Greening Award!
For the first time, OVSA is putting on the consultant
mantle, and assist WOZA MOYA on engaging the Dingizwe
school community on WASH issues. We are extremely
excited about this new opportunity, which has come about
with the encouragement of our joint funder, OXFAM.
Page 2
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4
Voice Connection Newsletter
Schools Programme Update
Career INDABAS
OVSA concluded this years’ Absa-funded Enterprise Project,
with three successful Career and Entrepreneurship INDABAS
in uMlazi, Kwamashu and Indwedwe districts. The INDABAS
concluded a year-long series of workshops that focus on
supporting young people (Grade 9 and 11 learners) with the
skills and drive to navigate a smooth transition from school
to employment, institution of further learning, or
self-employment, when the time comes. 1200 learners
attended the INDABAS, and 12 VIPs shared their expertise on
various aspects of career guidance and self-development at
each event. The OVSA Facilitators were instrument in
planning the events, which were hailed a huge success by all
who attended. VIP guests included our wonderful MC, Andile
Mqwebu from FAB Communication & Consulting, Zama
Mbambo (DreamAid), Zakhele Dlamini and Bronwyn van Zijl
from Absa, Londeka Buthelezi from Damlin, C.E.O Simanga
Sithebe from Sinani, Zolisa Jela from MANCOSA and Nozipho
Ndlovu, author and CEO of Azmon Nimrod. Thank you to the
speakers, who were very inspiring and the learners
thoroughly enjoyed engaging with them. Andile Mqwebu
(M.C.) shared her personal challenges and triumphs’ which
was very touching. We all learned that life needs people
with a vision of their future as inspiration!!
SIT Students Research on OVSA
OVSA periodically hosts American research students taking
part in the Community Health and Social Policy Programme
at the School for International Training (SIT). Many of these
students, chose to spend some of their time learning more
about the work of OVSA and completing their research
projects with us. Two outstanding research projects,
presented to OVSA by Irene Bucken and Ashley Greenfield
focussed on exploring the most effective means of
implementing various HIV prevention, sexual awareness, and
life skills programs into schools according to the expert
advice of the Facilitators at OVSA. The findings of this
project indicate the need for an open and understanding
classroom setting, the importance of participatory activities
and games, and real life examples to address these topics to
young learners.
WASH Advocacy Enthusiasts!
Learners at Isifisusethu High School celebrate
their bathroom facelift!
Life Skills Project boosts early detection of TB
The OVSA Grade 8 and Grade 10 Life Skills Projects reached
over 5000 learners in 2013. As a direct result of the TB
component of these projects, some 1500 learners were
screened for TB during the second half of the year, with
100 learners referred to local clinics for testing.
The year ended on a high note, with the implementation of
16 exciting Advocacy Projects that raised awareness of a
number of critical health and lifestyle issues in the
eThekwini District. The Advocacy Project topics ranged
from teenage pregnancy, TB/HIV, and drug abuse, to
dealing with water access, sanitation and hygiene issues
(WASH).
The Enterprise Project
The Absa-funded Enterprise Project which supports young
people on making a smooth transition from school to
institution of further learning, employment or self-
employment, concluded early in October, with the
implementation of three career and entrepreneurship
INDABAs in uMlazi, KwaMashu and ILembe districts. More
than 1200 learners and 30 educators attended, as well as
number of OVSA partners, funders and speakers. Read more
on the other side of this page!!
The Early Detection of TB Project
The Early Detection of TB Project, funded by the URC
through USAID’s Tuberculosis Program in South Africa, took
off to a flying start in the middle of this year. Seven new
schools from Umkhanyakude district, joined this new
venture, which focuses on the active engagement of young
people in support of the early detection of TB in the area.
World AIDS Day Celebration!
The Schools Programme team creating awareness
around World AIDS Day, in and around Glenwood!
Page 3
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4
Voice Connection Newsletter
Communications Chatter
Funder Focus
New Funder— the ANONYMOUS factor A very BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU to our new anonymous
funder!! We are very excited about this partnership and look
forward to supporting young people on addressing HIV and
AIDS, and setting goals healthy and meaningful futures.
MySchool/MyVillage
Thank you again for your valuable support over the past
three months. We are very proud to announce that we have
received the fol lowing substantia l f inancial
contributions:
September: R432.79
October: R366.67
November: R314.44
Our communications and fundraising intern, Frauke, had her
hands full these past few months. She worked on a range of
different projects, designed our newsletters and press
releases, visited schools, set up a fundraising campaign in
The Netherlands and most importantly she helped us out
with building the new OVSA website.
Marketing online is getting more important by the minute
and with that it is important to maintain a strong online
presence. For OVSA, as an NGO, it may even be more
important how to present ourselves online, so we can easily
be found by potential fundraisers and keep fundraisers
up-to-date and interested by a monthly changing website.
OVSA’s current website is a bit outdated and for that reason
we decided to start designing a new website. A big change,
that’s for sure. Gijs Van Berne, our Managing Director’s
brother, and owner of the Dutch company called “The
Folderfabriek”, gladly donated his experience in creating and
designing websites to set us up with an entirely new online
look. A big THANK YOU to Gijs for supporting OVSA this way!
Frauke is responsible for updating the new website with all
the existing information on OneVoice and she felt that with
an entirely new website, new pictures of OVSA in action
were needed! Together with Delisle, one of our facilitators,
she visited KwaMgaga High Shool in Umlazi to shoot some
new footage!
We like to keep the exact look of the new website a surprise
for launch, but we can say that we are very pleased with
how everything is looking so far!
“ I came here like many other volunteers, to change Africa.
But there is only one thing that has changed during my four
months here, and that is me!”
Although she wasn’t able to change Africa, we are very
happy to say that together with OVSA, our communications
and fundraising intern, Frauke, did support the changing
lives and futures of many young learners here in
Kwazulu-Natal. And in the end, that is what it’s all about!
Despite returning to The Netherlands on the 13th of
December, Frauke still wanted to give us a Christmas boost,
even after leaving South Africa, and has used her artistic
flair and skills to raise money for OVSA by designing an OVSA
Birthday Calendar. Initially the calendar will only be sold in
the Netherlands, and all profits will be transferred directly
to OVSA. If the calendar appears to be a success, OVSA will
then look at the possibility of selling the birthday calendar in
South Africa. Here is a sneak peek of what the birthday
calendar will look like:
Page 4
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4
Voice Connection Newsletter
Staff Update
Special Features
Storytelling Training funded by OXFAM
We recently received an achievement for our new
promotional video. Curious? We will release the video soon!
On the 4th of November, we
warmly welcomed a new
addition to our OVSA family!!
Calvin Madivavarira joins our
team in the position of Junior
Administrator. Welcome Calvin!!
Calvin is born and bred in
Zimbabwe, and moved to South
Africa in search of a tertiary
education. He attended the
University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus),
where he studied and completed a Bachelor of Business Ad-
ministration, specialising in Business Management. He later
enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Finance & Banking
Management which he completed in 2009.
Calvin’s academic curriculum provided him with a solid
knowledge of the different theoretical subjects implied in
finance, administration, management, research and the
capacity to integrate different disciplines; which paved the
way for him to work in the private sector, hospitality
industry and the development sector, before joining OVSA
this November. Having joined OVSA as a ‘Jack of all Trades’,
Calvin is bursting with enthusiasm and keen to use the
financial expertise he gained through study and assignments
in his previous employments.
“As OVSA works with young people, I hope I can
be an inspiration and motivate them in
everything I do. There is no greater achievement
than this.”
We are very happy to welcome Calvin to our team, and we
wish him the best of luck here at OVSA!
"I thoroughly enjoyed joining OVSA and Be More volunteer
Frauke to a school visit at KwaMgaga High School. It’s
great to see how much passion, drive and knowledge the
facilitators have, and how interested and motivated the
students are to learn more about the subjects that are
covered in the workshops"
Wilma Van Wijngaarden, BeMore
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