voice connectiononevoice.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2013_december_newsl… · volume 5,...

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.



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!



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:



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

voice connectiononevoice.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2013_december_newsl… · volume 5,...

Documents