Jambo Newsletter Issue No13

N E W Z E A L A N D A I D S FO U N DAT I O N A FR I CA N C O M M U N I T I E S N E W S L E T T E R

NZAF Contacts

Christchurch Marian Aden Hussen marian.hussen@ nzaf.org.nz 03 353 6814

Jambo

A special Jambo (hello) to our friends and supporters, the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) African Team is delighted to connect with you again. For our new friends and supporters, the NZAF African Communities team, Love Cover Protect (LCP), is dedicated to delivering HIV prevention and health promotion initiatives to the African communities in New Zealand. In this edition we bring you profiles of some of our active supporters and volunteers, we sincerely thank them for their great work!!

ISSUE 13- JULY 2013

sessions, especially with the youth where he helps them to understand about HIV and how to protect themselves. David said he has learnt a lot from Love Cover Protect which teaches people to protect themselves from HIV and other sexual transmitted Infections (STIs).

Davis also said that his involvement with Love Cover Protect has helped him improve his presentation skills and gave him the opportunity to have more connections in the community.

Love Cover Protect Ambassadors

Auckland Carlos Abdelrahman carlos@nzaf.org.nz 09 303 6956

Esnart Chipili

Wellington Rodney Tendekayi Mugadza rodney.mugadza@ nzaf.org.nz 04 381 6649 David Dany

Programme Manager Auckland Kudakwashe Tuwe k.tuwe@nzaf.org.nz 09 300 6968

David Dany Mundele is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He is currently an Information Technology (IT) student at Unitec in Auckland, New Zealand.

David plays rugby league for Mt Albert Lions under 20’s team and also makes music with his group called F.M.E. David was trained by Love Cover Protect to become a Community Educator in September 2012. Since then he has conducted a number of community training 1

Esnart was born in Zambia and came to New Zealand in 2010, as an international student. She is currently a 3rd year student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) where she is studying a Bachelor of Health Science in Health Promotion. She joined our LCP team as an internship student in February 2013. Esnart says about her internship at NZAF; “As a student I have learnt so much about the many health problems that people face in New Zealand and how as a health promoter I can contribute through working alongside the community, through providing the resources necessary, empowering them and having their input in the projects undertaken.” Esnart was the organiser of the African Youth Talent Showcase which took place in February 2013.

See below for more about the African Youth Talent Showcase.

resumed his studies in Kenya, where he finished his primary education and part secondary level.

When he arrived in New Zealand, he went to St Patrick’s College (Tranthem Upper Hutt in Wellington), for a couple of years, then to Massey University where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He further went on to do a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Counseling), and a Master of Education in Counseling (with Honours) at he University of Auckland. In December 2012, Santino was awarded a PhD Scholarship for three years by Victoria University, Melbourne-Australia and commenced his fulltime study in late February 2013. His PhD study is investigating the challenges and experiences of South Sudanese families associated with acculturation and changes in dynamics kinship and parenting in different contexts, in Australia. Santino has been a strong supporter of Love Cover Protect since inception. We at Love Cover Protect wish Santino all the best in his new journey.

Santino Atem Deng

Santino Atem Deng (above) was born in what is now South Sudan. As a teenager, he fled to Ethiopia in the late 1980 because of the civil war in South Sudan. He first returned to South Sudan, then to Kenya and eventually came to New Zealand as a refugee in early 2000.

After so many interruptions to his educational life, Santino Makanaka Tuwe (Maka) Maka came to New Zealand, as a migrant with her parents in 2003 . Maka is a third year final student at AUT studying a Bachelor of International Communications (majoring in Public Relations). Maka is a Director for Miss Africa New Zealand, and founder of “Africa on my Sleeve”. Maka has this to say about Love Cover Protect, “LCP has been the main reason why so many events in the African communities have been successful. Their unwavering support for the community is a reflection of the passion

in October 2013 called ‘Africa on my Sleeve’.

Recently I featured in the NZAF HIV Update Booklet and it upsets me that we are the second largest group affected

by HIV in New Zealand, this means that as a community we really need to pay attention to the LCP messages. It is about protecting ourselves and the ones we love”.

Mahad Yusuf

Makanaka Tuwe

and love they have to empower individuals and communities. I call this true Ubuntu spirit; where they stand in the gap and provide the community with resources other agencies would not provide. The support I have personally received from LCP, among others, are for Miss Africa Auckland 2012 and a fashion show happening 2

Mahad Yusuf Mahad was born in Somalia but later went to a refugee camp in Kenya because of the1990 civil war. He came to New Zealand in 2000 and settled in Wellington. When he heard about Love Cover Protect he became a trained community educator and a volunteer. Yusuf says “I believe that the youth is our future and I am proud to be part of the Wellington African Community”.

African Youth Talent Showcase This event was held in February 2013 and about 150 young people from different African communities in New Zealand attended.The event provided a positive and safe environment and an opportunity for networking and a platform to enable young Africans to showcase their talents. Love Cover Protect sponsored the event.

The Winner Fathe Nassir

Africa Day Celebrations May 25 is a very significant day on the African calendar as it marks Africa Day. This is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which became to be known as the African Union (AU). Africa Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the people and governments of Africa. This year the celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the AU. LCP joined the African communities, in celebrating this important day; our team connected and engaged with the community to raise awareness on HIV and to promote our programme.

DJ Muse

Africa Day Celebrations

Ethiopian Community Group performing at Africa Day (2013) in Christchurch Members of the African communities with the South African High Commission to New Zealand Her Excellency Zodwa Lallie (in long black coat)at NZ Parliament Building in Wellington

God bless Africa!

ACOFI president Kizito Essuman (Right) and ACOFI vice president Noah Ghebremichael at New Zealand Parliament Building in Wellington.

Times x Two performing at Africa Day in Auckland

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Community Events

Community events provide us with a platform to interact with members of the community on individual and collective basis and help us to raise awareness about HIV. LCP continues to run key community programmes like Religious leaders workshops and Community Education sessions, with both the youth and adults.

Great Lakes Soccer Tournament

The first ever Great Lakes Soccer Tournament was held in January 2013 in Auckland.

This was a free, fun filled social event for families and communities. Competing teams were Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

DRC was the winning team and they took the trophy home. LCP participated by way of sponsoring this event.

Congratulations to DRC team.

Special thank you to our volunteers for their help to set up and distribute information.

The Champions - DRC team

Charles Ampomah-Dwamena (Left) & Kweku Kizito (Right) with honourable Melissa Lee at AFREYFEST Ghana Youth Annual Event in (March 2013)

Community Events

Binyam Semere - Love Cover Protect Ambassador speaking at the African Women Day Celebration (March 2013)

Tuwe speaking at the AFREYFEST organised by the Ghanaian Association New Zealand (March 2013)

Youngsters from Zimbabwe Community performing at Africa Day (2013) in Christchurch (ChCh)

Find us on Facebook LOVE COVER PROTECT

From the team at New Zealand AIDS Foundation Community Engagement African Communities www.lovecoverprotect.co.nz 4