YOUTHAFRICAAFRICA YOUTHNetworkNetwork

HUMAN RIGHTS

Issue 6/May 2011Facebook.com/theseareourrights Twitter.com/ourrightsafrica www.theseareourrights.org

E-Newsletter of the Africa Youth Human Rights Network

YouthAction

The opinions expressed in this e-newsletter are the responsibility of the authors and not those of the Africa Youth Human Rights Network, Action Youth, Global Changemakers or any of its associates, funder or sponsor.

YOUTHAFRICAAFRICA YOUTHNeworkNetwork

HUMAN RIGHTS

Africa Youth Human Rights Networke-Newsletter

Issue 6/May 2011

Send us your stories, photos, drawingsetc...

Feedback, comments... talk back!

www.theseareourrights.orginfo@theseareourrights.org

editor@theseareourrghts.org

talkback@theseareourrights.org

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011 3

This monthYOUTHAFRICAAFRICA YOUTH

NeworkNetworkHUMAN RIGHTS

Cover photo: Photo-journalism assignment by Wanelisa Albert.

Africa Youth Human Rights Network

____________________________

Editor

Munyaradzi Gova

Managing Editor

Jermain Ndhlovu

Project Managers

Mercy Changwesha (Zimbabwe/US)Esnath Gondwe (Malawi)Mahmud Johnson (Liberia/US)____________________________

Contributors

Felix Weth Bongani NcubeJoseph M.D. Johnson____________________________

© e-Newsletter: Action Youth and Africa Youth Human Rights Network.

© Articles - Individual contributors

Reproduction of any part of this publication is available on request.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter;

talkback@theseareourrights.org

Country Profile_______________________________________

_______________________________________

The United Republic of Tanzania, (Swahili - amhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a state composed of 26 regions, including those of the autonomous region of Zanzibar. The head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been

Dodoma, where Parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996, the main coastal city of Dar es Salaam served as the country's political capital. Today, Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de-facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.

The name Tanzania derives from the names of the two states Tanganyika and Zanzibar that united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.

Economy

The economy is mostly based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of the GDP, provides 85 percent (approximately) of exports, and employs approximately 80 percent of the workforce. Topography and climate, though, limit cultivated crops to only 4 percent of the land area.

The nation has many resources including gold and natural gas. Extraction of natural gas began in the 2000s. Gas is drawn into the commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam and exported to various markets overseas. Lack of overall development has hampered the extraction of these various resources, and even up to the present there has been effort to develop the natural

resource sector but no major quantifiable results.

Industry is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. Tanzania has vast amounts of natural resources including gold, diamonds, coal, iron, uranium, nickel, chrome, tin, platinum, coltan, niobium and other minerals. It is the third-largest producer of gold in Africa after South Africa and Ghana. Tanzania is also known for its Tanzanite, a type of gemstone.

Tanzania has dozens of beautiful national parks, like the world-famous Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which generate tourism income that plays a vital part in the economy. Growth from 1991 to 1999 featured growth in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Commercial production of natural gas from the Songo Songo island in the Indian Ocean off the Rufiji Delta commenced in 2004, with natural gas being pumped in a pipeline to Dar es Salaam, with the bulk of it being converted to electricity by public utility and private operators. A new gas field is being brought on stream in Mnazi Bay.

Education

The literacy rate Tanzania is estimated to be 72%. Education is compulsory for seven years, until children reach the age of 15 years, but most children do not attend school until this age, and some do

Official Name: United Republic of TanzaniaCapital: Largest city: Official Languages: English and SwahiliIndependence: From the UK; Tanganyika, 9 December 1961 & Zanzibar, 10 December 1963. The merger of the two occurred in 26 April 1964 Population: 42,746,620 Religion: 62% Christian, 35% Islam, and 3% list as other.

DodomaDar es Salaam

6 Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011

Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011 7

Tanzania country profile_______________________________________

not attend at all. In 2000, 57% of children age 5–14 years were attending school. As of 2006, 87.2% of children who started primary school were likely to reach grade 5.

Health

The under-five mortality rate in 2006 was 118 out of 1,000. Life expectancy at birth in 2006 was 50 years. The 15–60 year old adult mortality rate in 2006 was 518 out of 1,000 males and 493 out of 1,000 females.

The leading cause of death in children who survive the neonatal period is malaria. For adults, it is HIV/AIDS. Anti-retroviral treatment coverage for people with advanced HIV infection in 2006 was 14 percent. Other leading causes of death in under 5’s is pneumococcal disease (pneumonia) and rotavirus (diarrhea).

2006 data show that 55 percent of the population had sustainable access to improved drinking water sources and 33 percent had sustainable access to improved sanitation.

Demographics

As of 2006, the estimated population is 38,329,000, with an estimated growth rate of 2 percent. Population distribution is extremely uneven, with density varying from 1 person per square kilometer (3/mi²) in arid regions to 51 per square kilometer (133/mi²) in the mainland's well-watered highlands, to 134 per square kilometer (347/mi²) on Zanzibar. More than 80 percent of the population is rural. Dar es Salaam is the largest city and is the commercial capital; Dodoma, located in the center of Tanzania is the new capital and houses the Union's Parliament.

The African population consists of more than 120 ethnic groups, of which the Sukuma, the Nyamwezi, the Chagga, the Nyakyusa, the Haya, the Hehe, the Bena, the Gogo and the Makonde all have more than 1 million members. The population also includes people of Arab, Indian, and Pakistani origin, and small European and Chinese communities. Many also identify as Shirazis. As of 1994, the Asian community numbered 50,000 on the mainland and 4,000 on Zanzibar. An estimated 70,000 Arabs and 10,000 Europeans resided in Tanzania. The Zanzibar Revolution of

12 January 1964 ended the local Arab dynasty. Thousands of Arabs and Indians in Zanzibar were massacred in riots, and thousands more were detained or fled the island.

Culture

The music of Tanzania stretches from traditional African music to the string-based taarab to a distinctive hip hop known as bongo flava. Famous taarab singers names are Abbasi Mzee, Culture Musical Club, Shakila of Black Star Musical Group.

Internationally known traditional artists are Bi Kidude, Hukwe Zawose and Tatu Nane.

Tanzania has its own distinct African

Dar!: Spectacular shot of Dar es Salaam before dusk. Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim (www.micro2macro.net)/Wikipedia Fair use.

rumba music, termed muziki wa dansi ("dance music") where names of artists/groups like Tabora Jazz, Western Jazz Band, Morogoro Jazz, Volcano Jazz, Simba Wanyika, Remmy Ongala, Marijani Shaabani, Ndala Kasheba, NUTA JAZZ, ATOMIC JAZZ, DDC Mlimani Park, Afro 70 & Patrick Balisidya, Sunburst, Tatu Nane and Orchestra Makassy must be mentioned in the history of Tanzanian music. Tanzania has many writers including well-known writers such as Godfrey Mwakikagile, Mohamed Said, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Prof. Julius Nyang'oro, Prof. Clement Ndulute, Prof. Frank Chiteji, Prof. Joseph Mbele, Juma Volter Mwapachu, Prof. Issa Shivji and Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. _______________________________________

Go bananas: The banana is an east African delicacy and staple diet which can be stewed, fried, boiled, brined, mashed... eat your heart out!. Photo: Fanny Schertzer/Wikipedia

_______________________________________

redemption on the tens of

televangelism channels freely

available on those cute little set top

boxes that have come from the east.

Otherwise, access to subscribed pay

TV actually means avoiding African or

local content is the main purpose.

Also of importance is for Africans to

be objective in telling African stories

when given the space and opportunity

internationally. I could hardly believe

my ears a few days ago when I heard

Angelique Kidjo say on American

television that the slave trade was

NOT taught in 'African' schools! Just

exactly what is Africa? Last I checked

it was 54 countries if you include

North Africa but still with 47 countries

in Sub Saharan Africa, one couldn't

possibly know each of the countries'

history syllabuses!

Fortunately for the TV programme the

second guest was a 'true African

American' (think Akon), Ghanaian

born actor, Peter Mensah. Kidjo was

left with egg on face when he set the

record straight and did say that at

least in his native Ghana that the

slave trade was taught. She had to

quickly agree and again mumble

something about 'telling our own

stories'.

I was stunned when her star power

in being a first guest on a late night

couch talk show nearly misled a

country that as if it isn't bad enough

already it, doesn't know much about

Africa. For a West African where

much of the slave trade occured,

surely her vehement denial of the

slave trade being taught could not

have been accurate even if I didn't

know about her country's history

topics.

She went on to perform a cover of

an American song, Curtis Mayfield's

Move On Up to be precise, which I

found weird and a let down for all

her award winning songs in her Fon

language from Benin, she is best

known for. Yes, American audiences

will spectacularly shun foreign

content but the role of her being on

the show was to promote her part of

Africa as the TV show was intended

and had been aired for America's

If I hear one more African say that 'we

need to tell our own stories' I will flip a

couch! The best of our voices always

end at that. Yes the British have BBC,

Americans have CNN, the French

have France24, the Middle East has

Al Jazeera and so forth… In the 21st

century we live in today surely there

are many spaces where Africans can

tell their stories like the internet where

blogs are free.

Getting the African voice on main

stream media is hard and will be for a

while. Whereas South Africa has the

SABC News international, their

biggest blunder was taking it off the

'free to air' satellite spectrum where

the France 24s and Iran's Press TV

are easily available round the clock.

Just the other day, I heard some one

say that Press TV has balanced

views! Could this be a shift in which

the developing world tells world

stories in an alternative manner?

But where is Africa? The best of

stories we are telling on the widest

viewership today are those of seeking

endless divine intervention and

Paper trail: Africa is trying to position itself on the world map even though international media is biased to breaking news only. Photo: Jermain Ndhlovu

Africa Youth Human Rights Network April, 2011 9

_______________________________________

Views & Opinion

Go ahead and tell the African story, but don't lie writes Jermain Ndhlovu.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Views & Opinion

_______________________________________

YOUTHAFRICAAFRICA YOUTHNeworkNetwork

HUMAN RIGHTS

www.theseareourrights.org

Follow Us

Facebook

Twitter

theseareourrights

@ourrightsafrica

Talk about youth rights

Black History month. But then again, she was there to promote her album first of all and the record company surely had other ideas. Thankfully, Spartacus star Peter Mensah's 'lower' star power and second seat billing for the couch talk show saved the day. We have the best of ambassadors doing amazing things across the world and the least they could do is make room for an influential Africa, because I will attest to that we know our history very well and attest to that we know our history very well and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the slave trade is a known subject in many countries across the

world and not just Africa.

Another issue of note is that Africa is a huge place and is certainly not the Cape to Cairo, goodness especially not Cairo, which colonial Rhodes tried to paint brush. Maybe Cape to Juba, now that Khartoum will be out of the

picture soon, some will even think Johannesburg to Juba – I'm just saying! Thus African ambassadors should guard against giving impressions of a big, singular Africa, because each of the countries is different from each other even though many similarities are evident.

TALK BACK!

Comment on these and other stories in this newsletter;

talkback@theseareourrights.org

.com

10 Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011

_______________________________________Picture book

Felix Weth has a visionof a world with easy accessto education for all. Here is a visual take of what he is doing in Africa beginning inCape Town, South Africa.

______________________________________________________________________________

Psyched up: A young learner poses for the camera.

Loud and clear: South Africa maybe a land of plenty but the gap between the rich and poor is evident. The quality of education in predominantly black and poor areas remains lower.

Africa Youth Human Rights Network March, 2011 11

12 African Youth Human Rights Network March, 2011

_______________________________________Picture book

______________________________________________________________________________

Attentive: Toddlers line up to have their spellings checked.

Trust is key: A young girl has faith in a brighter future.

12 Africa Youth Human Rights Network March, 2011

12 African Youth Human Rights Network March, 2011

_______________________________________Picture book

______________________________________________________________________________

Rocking the system: Teenage learners protest for better education in orderly fashion.

Writings on the wall... erm protest banner:

Relentless: Service delivery protests are common in South Africa.

Felix Weth is capacity building and development coordinator with Etudes Sans Frontières and is based in Germany. He is trip to Africa is seeing him doing development work in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Africa Youth Human Rights Network March, 2011 13

_______________________________________

Views & Opinion

It was a hot day. That much I can remember.

One of those days that make you want to be in your room, curled up with a good book or listening to music. Instead here I was waiting by the bus stop for a bus, waiting in this new country that was my home, Algeria, waiting for a bus to take me back to my home away from home. It came. And it came all with noise and urgent pleas from the conductor to hurry it along. He was late for his lunch, late for a date with his girl, late for something. Whatever it was I didn't know. I could speak neither French nor Arabic. Remember those first days? I handed him his five dinar coin and made my way to sit. I chose a seat next to an old woman with an age worn face, wisdom had written its name on the wrinkles of her skin, stamped its sign on her forehead. Or so I thought. So I thought. So I believed. So I assumed. But what is the world if not full of surprises? What is this life if not full of the unexpected? And she was my unexpected. My Pandora's box, a box that would be opened by that simple act of sitting next to her. She exploded. Exploded into a thousand words, curses most of them, insults all of them. She leapt up in a rage, anger written all over her face, the wrinkles smoothening to show the hate she felt for me. In her eyes I saw something I had never seen before in my life. Arabic is a language I could not and still for the most part cannot, understand. But intent is a language that is universal. Away she leapt into the aisle of the bus, screaming out obscenities to all who could hear, telling them I know not what till this day. All I remember hearing was “barbaya”. A word I would soon grow to know all too well.

And we have all lived through it. We have all seen it, in some dark alley, or in the plain sight of day. We have felt the stare. Seen the look. Heard the whisper. And what is worse, we have been part of it. Foreigner against the native, the native against the foreigner. Generalisations that sweep away any sense of proportion, that strip away any sense of dignity. That leave the heart bare to the rough winds of life.

But do we not breathe the same air? Do we not live beneath the same sun? Do the stars shine in the heavens for one and not for the other? Does the whisper of fate in our ear, whisper not the same message of hope for all? Did she not know I was the same as her son? Made with the same spirit as her grandson? Did she not understand that I sang as she does in the morning to the hope of a day not yet begun? That I saw beauty in the eyes of a new-born, that I dreamed in the same colours as she did. Perhaps she did not know. Perhaps she will never know. But there are others who will know, who I will tell. Who will hear the song my heart sings, and whose whispers of brotherhood in this human family I will not ignore. I will learn from the world as much as the world learns from me. I will always remember her but she taught me something, showed me something.

We are all youth. We are all human. We all dream of a better tomorrow. We share the passion for the same music. We see the same sky when we look up to the heavens. I cannot understand what runs through the mind of a person who refuses to see that. Of an 'African' who does not have even one Algerian friend, of an Algerian who has not even learnt one single thing about the 'African' in his class. Join us. Learn with us. Teach us. Hold our hands. See the future with us.

Bongani Ncube recounts a first hand experience of arriving in foreign city.

#CultureShock (Part 1)

Comment on these and other stories in this newsletter;

talkback@theseareourrights.org

Many shades: Interlocking fingers maybe easy, but true racial integration is more elusive.

_______________________________________

Bongani Ncube is a Zimbabwean student studying in Algeria. He directs an arts project called Les Oracles.

[EN] [FR]

http://en.oracles-afrique.com/http://oracles-afrique.com/

14 Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011

_______________________________________

Danger gently looked in the eyes of a dark shadow

The old man's palm wine fumed with a delighted smile

Gravity caught the attention of the palm branches

Smocked lamps could be spotted at the village's widow

But the furious dust spoke in silence for a while

Night breeze verge the feathers of the lad's chickens

They were homed in a net basket, with excellent lice—

It wasn't a tradition — a culture of distressful happiness

Happiness, captured by the brilliant sound of a virgin's dance.

Why couldn't the eye lid receive siesta instructions from his nature?

May be, the fireflies held the attention of an illumine creation

It was very fresh; the sweetness was inspiration to his gray hair

The calabash mirrored his memory with dusting stories

—About how he taped, hunted and weeded with rounded achievement

The salt in his sweat applauded his efforts with a narrow arrow.

Bird lyrics were music to babies attempting busy sleep

The fire wood magic spattered in primary colours

Wonderful colours, smugly sending out pleasurable odour—

That was when I watched my first bamboo car move with careless passion

—As my mom proudly stood at a distant hut smiling without action

A Young man's virgin was waiting in the banana shrub

Shrub in which love could reconcile with plucky fear

It was a world where wisdom honored the aged—

Wealth, to the energy of hard work

And love, to the deepest care of honest desire.

The darkest part of the night was in amity with the cloud

The due escorted stripped footed dances with drowsy laughter

Grimly smock forbid liquid with revengeful annoy

—As standing a breast, so tempting, bid hairy chest good bye

This was the youngest beginning of my future's past—

A brilliant culture to which all African dreams are born

Dedicated to the forefathers of Liberia

_______________________________________Poetry corner_______________________________________

Words and stuff like that

Joseph M.D. Johnson is youth

activist based in Monrovia, Liberia.

Joseph M.D. Johnsonhas deep respect for tradition and his ancestors.

Africa Youth Human Rights Network April, 2011 15

_______________________________________Opportunities_______________________________________

News youth can use

______________________________________________________________________________

Shuttleworth Fellowships

Rolling deadline

Who can apply?

·Anyone who has a plan for social change through innovation (fresh thinking that adds value) in the areas of education and technology.

·Anyone who has a clear vision of a changed (improved) world and their contribution to bringing about this change.

·The fellowship is not limited to any specific geographic location. However, applicants must be fluent in English.

·Fellowship applicants must have attained the age of majority by the date of application.

The Foundation does not have strictly defined areas of funding as we have found this restrictive as people do not always fit into boxes. Previous successful applications have come from individuals working in the following areas:

·Communication and Analytical Skills in Education

·Intellectual Property Rights

·Open and Collaborative Educational Resources

·Telecommunications

·Open Philanthropy

·Open Science

The fellowship is not an academic fellowship aimed at research, although research is not excluded. Preference will

be given to action based research or practical implementations of innovative ideas. Find out more

2012 Rotary Peace Fellowship

Deadline: 1 July 2011

Greetings from the Rotary Peace Centers Department! As members of the peace field you know, these are uncertain

times in our world. There is increasing dissent in North Africa, continued unrest in the Middle East and the ever-

present threat of nuclear violence around the world. Now, more than ever, there is growing demand for well trained

international leaders to promote peace. The Rotary Peace Fellowship program was developed to meet this very

need.

How to Apply

1. Download the application at: and carefully read over the fellowship's requirements

2. If your experience and future career goals align with the values of the Rotary Peace Fellowship, contact your local

Rotary Club or District to start the process. You can find your local club here

3. If you have trouble contacting a local club, please email Niki Fritz at

4. Applicants need to complete the application, participate in interviews at the club and district level, and sign all

forms.

5. Applications endorsed by your local club and district, are due to Rotary by 1 July 2011

www.rotary.org/rotarycenters

niki.fritz@rotary.org

16 Africa Youth Human Rights Network May, 2011

Ford Motor Company's International Fellowship

The Ford Motor Company's International Fellowship of 92nd Street Y selects a group of 20-24 emerging leaders from select . The Fellowship offers a three-week residency in New York City (May 30-June 20, 2012) and ongoing communication before and after the residency via telephone and email. The program aims to enhance the efforts of leaders around the world.

Applicants who are 21 years old or above can apply. In fact, the program encourages those candidates who have several years of experience in to apply for the . Applicants can be from a variety of backgrounds with the aim of creating a group of Fellows who will work well together and offer a diversity of views and experiences. Candidates should be emerging leaders addressing issues whose resolution can have a significant positive impact on their communities, on their countries, and—collectively—on the world.

The Fellowship is currently accepting applications from select countries such as Albania, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Haiti, , Israel, Mongolia, Peru, Tunisia and Zambia.

The residency takes place Thursday, May 31 to Wednesday, Jun 20, 2011 in New York City. Airfare, accommodation, food, transportation, instruction and other program-related expenses are included in the fellowship and participants receive a small stipend upon arrival.

Applications to be submitted by 30 June 2011. For more information, visit this .

developing countries

community

leadership fellowship

India

link

Opportunities_______________________________________

International and Refugee Student's ScholarshipsOpportunity closing date:

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Opportunity type:

Fellowships and Scholarships

The University of Cape (UCT) invites applications from fulltime Honours, Masters and Doctoral students

for the International and Refugee Students' Scholarships.

A limited number of scholarships are available to graduates who are not South African. These are

awarded on a competitive basis and preference is given to senior candidates.

All UCT International and Refugee Students' Scholarships are supplementary. Students who apply must

have the means to fund their studies.

The scholarships are renewable for the duration of the course of study, if satisfactory progress is

maintained, for one year at honours level, two at master's level and three at doctoral level.

To apply, refer to .

Two complete copies must be submitted (one complete original and one complete photocopy), including

all supporting documentation to:

Ms Chantel Reed or Ms Erica Van Wyk,

Postgraduate Funding Office

University of Cape Town

Private Bag

Rondebosch

7701

www.uct.ac.za/apply/funding/postgraduate/awards/international

_______________________________________Africa Youth Human Rights Network April, 2011 17

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography

Deadline: 31 May 2011

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography is currently seeking to award one social

documentary photographic project produced in the journalistic tradition of Manuel Rivera-Ortiz. One project based on

pressing social issues in the developing world will receive a grant of 5,000 USD to be utilized for the production or

completion of a pre-approved project.

Who Is Eligible

Photographers of all nationalities who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to apply. We encourage you to submit

your one-page proposal, a portfolio sample of your current work black & white or color. Only new and continuing

projects are eligible. The Executive Director and Board of Trustees of the Foundation will jury entries for this award.

Find out

and

Now accepting applications for 2011 and !

PeaceMaker deadline: June 1, 2011

Peace Writer deadline: June 15, 2011

Download a PeaceMaker application

Download the Peace Writer application

The Women PeaceMakers Program documents the stories and best practices of international women leaders who are involved in human rights and peacemaking efforts in their home countries. Women on the frontlines of efforts to end violence and secure a just peace seldom record their experiences, activities and insights as generally there is no time, or, perhaps, no formal education that would help women record their work.

The Women PeaceMakers Program offers an opportunity for women leaders who want to document, share and build upon their unique peacemaking stories.

more

Women PeaceMakers Peace Writers

here

here

Women PeaceMakers Peace Writers

_______________________________________Africa Youth Human Rights Network April, 2011 19

YOUTHAFRICAAFRICA YOUTHNetworkNetwork

HUMAN RIGHTS

Africa Youth Human Rights Network

www.facebook.com/theseareourrightswww.twitter.com/ourrightsafrica

www.theseareourrights.orginfo@theseareourrights.org

YouthAction