I don’t know who PSI tests their advertisements with, but they really need to work on their market research. Is it just me? Or does “get a summer snip and feel the breeze” not quite do it for promoting male circumcision? Especially on the heels of past prevention campaigns, and the fact that male circumcision is not the one-stop-shop for HIV prevention that marketing might want to make it seem.

Conclusions from the Youth Agenda’s First Time Voters Training Camp.

1. The young people of Zimbabwe will tirelessly work towards resisting any machinations by the state machinery to subvert the will of the youths and the broader Zimbabwean society through the state sponsored technical and political frustration of young people to register as eligible voters. A declaration was made that with immediate effect youths will go back to their provinces and forthwith engage in a mass identification, recruitment and mobilisation of young voters in endeavors to chat a democratic dispensation for the country

2. Youths are fully aware of the political risks they will be exposed to as they execute their constitutional mandate of encouraging the broader societies to proclaim their right to vote and choose political leaders through popular participation and a democratic process. Youth Agenda Trust was mandated to set up networks with relevant institutions that offer social solidarity, legal aid, medical aid and psychosocial counseling to affected young people.

3. The state media remains partisan, unprofessional and irrelevant in disseminating crucial information to young people on the voting process. It was noted that the state media continues to be the epicentre of hate speech, indoctrination, intolerance and the instigation of political violence amongst young Zimbabweans. The youths resolved to set up a parallel political information programme that will flood the social media, mobile networks, print media, electronic media and community information centres that will act as the hub of informing and educating Zimbabweans on the electoral process and peaceful conduct during and after elections.

4. The camp resolved that young people will participate in the forthcoming elections  as candidates, election observers, to monitor the tabulation and transmission of election results and to mobilize Zimbabweans to a  peaceful action program that rejects any 2013 electoral outcome that is against the democratic will of Zimbabweans as expressed through the electoral process.

After facing years of persecution and harassment, members of the Church of the Province of Central Africa in Zimbabwe can now pray with both eyes closed after winning property ownership in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. The highest court of appeal in Zimbabwe has ruled that rightful ownership of Anglican Church assets belongs to the faction led by Bishop Chad Gandhiya and the CPCA.

Part of the Judgement delivered by Justice Omerjee at the Supreme Court reads:

“When one leaves a club one does not take its property with him or her. It has long been established as a salutary principle of law in this area of property ownership that when one or more people secede from an existing Church, they have no right to claim Church property even if those who remain members of the congregation are in the minority.”

Now what that looting and plundering has been put to a halt what remains to be seen is whether the ex-communicated Bishop and his followers will face the same fate of beatings and teargas by the police as they conduct services at the gates of the properties they once seized.

Programme Officer: Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS)
Deadline: 23 November 2012

Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is a regional NGO working in 10 countries in southern Africa and beyond. The organisation’s mission is to promote effective and ethical development responses to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and Gender through Advocacy, Communication and Social mobilization. SAfAIDS is looking a highly skilled Programme Officer to join its Regional Office team. This post requires an all rounder, able to provide programme support in a number of programme areas and able to work effectively, independently and as part of a team.

Requirements
-Master’s Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Health sciences, Health Education or other relevant field
-At least 5 years experience in Sexual Reproductive Health work
-Excellent project implementation skills
-An in-depth knowledge of SRH issues (PMTCT, MCH, and OVC) is essential
-Must have some research experience, basic M & E knowledge and excellent analytical skills
-Demonstrated experience in training and facilitation is essential, as is the ability to design training programmes
-Ability to develop content for SRH materials is essential
-Advocacy skills would be a distinct advantage
-Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to write project reports and/document projects is essential

Interested applicants should send an application and CV, information on current salary, benefits and contact details of three referees to: The Head of HR, Policy and Administration, SAfAIDS, 17 Beveridge Road, Avondale, Harare or email application to recruitments [at] safaids [dot] net

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

The Sunshine Zimbabwe Project is a division of Silver Linings Trust offering vocational training and employment for adults and adolescents with special needs aged 18 years and above. The youths are trained in gardening, cooking, craft work, and ICT’s among other projects. Products, which they make for resale, include jam, craft and bead work, sunshine bags and other accessories made from recycled materials. The pictures shared in this blog are from a recent Open Day held by the Sunshine Zimbabwe Project at their offices in Borrowdale.

My Voice on Sexual and Reproductive Health Poster Design Competition: SAYWHAT
Deadline: 2 November 2012

SAYWHAT is running a “My Voice on Sexual and Reproductive Health Poster Design Competition” in all tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe from Monday the 1st October to Friday the 2nd of November 2012. My Voice on Sexual and Reproductive Health Poster Design Competition seeks to tap in the expertise of tertiary students who can design a poster that addresses one of the following themes:

-Positive Living (including Hope for Students living with HIV and AIDS).
-Promotion of uptake of Sexual and Reproductive Health services and commodities as well as Behavioural change to reduce the vulnerability of students.
-Equal participation of young men and women (gender equality and equity) and its relationship to Sexual and Reproductive Health.

In selecting the wining poster, an independent panel will consider the following:
-Whether your message is clear and precise;
-Level of relevance and appeal to students in tertiary institution;
-Creativity;
-Potential to inspire behaviour change in students.

Please note that the winner will walk away with 300US dollars cash! And an opportunity for the poster to be reproduced and widely circulated in all tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe. Do the best, make money and be remembered for being a positive voice amongst your generation.

This competition is open to all students in tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe.

Please submit your poster in JPEG, Microsoft Word and PDF format to: jephiter [at] saywhat [dot] org [dot] zw or langa [at] saywhat [dot] org [dot] zw

Or call us for more information on 0733854681/04788067/0772146247-9

SAYWHAT is a civil society student based organization founded in December 2003 as a platform where students in tertiary institutions can discuss their sexual and reproductive health challenges. Its overarching aim is to foster, among the students, a sharp sense of personal responsibility for maintaining good sexual and reproductive health status. SAYWHAT’s vision is to ensure a gender-just nation with empowered, healthy & responsible students who enjoy their full reproductive health & rights in tertiary institutions.