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
Auckland Carlos Abdelrahman carlos.abdelrahman@ nzaf.org.nz 09 303 6956
Wellington Rodney Tendekayi Mugadza rodney.mugadza@ nzaf.org.nz 04 381 6649
Programme Manager Auckland Kudakwashe Tuwe k.tuwe@nzaf.org.nz 09 300 6968
issue 11 June 2012
A Special Jambo
Conferences
Staff Corner
Internship programme
Jambo! Jambo! Greetings to you all, our beloved friends. The word Jambo means ‘hello’ in Swahili. Jambo is also the official newsletter of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) African Communities team that enables us to keep in touch with all of you, our valuable global readership.
The NZAF African team is still going strong with Carlos and Rodney, two new staff, joining us in 2011. Tuwe was elected President of the Waitakere Ethnic Board (WEB) for a two year term. WEB is an advocacy group for ethnic people in Waitakere, which includes members of our African communities.
NZAF African Communities staff attended and actively participated in a number of conferences on HIV and community engagement during the past six months. Tuwe was one of the speakers at the recent National Refugee Resettlement Forum where he spoke on ‘Employment Challenges faced by the NZbased African communities’.
Endalk Bezie, an AUT student in his final year of a Bachelor of Business degree, spent two months as an intern at the NZAF. This provided him with practical work experience in a diverse work environment
Global Connections
Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, and Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator and former NZ Prime Minister spoke at a public meeting at the NZAF National Office in Auckland in March. Both Sidibé and Clark emphasised that a continued focus on HIV prevention initiatives based on human rights is critical and must not be compromised. They also made the point that while treatment for HIV has advanced to the point where HIV is no longer a death sentence, an emphasis on preventing infection through condom use must be maintained. Sidibé spoke about the importance of community activism in combating complacency towards the HIV epidemic. “We must fight complacency”, he said. “We must not drop our guard.”
L to R: Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, Joey Mataele, PSDN Chair, and Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, at the NZAF
Endalk Bezie, BBus student and NZAF intern
Little Drummer Boy
Luca Ninzigamiye, 3.5 years, originally from Burundi, has developed impressive drumming skills and entertains crowds of people at community events in Auckland. The NZAF is proud to be associated with the distinctive and rich cultural expertise he displays.
Africa Day Celebration
Africa celebrates emancipation from colonialism every 25 May. In NZ, this historic event was celebrated in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Check out the photos below.
Community members at the Awards
Christchurch’s African Heroes Members of Christchurch’s African communities that participated in rescuing and saving lives during the earthquakes were honoured for their outstanding contribution in April 2012. Certificates were handed out by local MP Nicky Wagner and Tuwe from the NZAF.
Rising Star: TK Paradza
Takudzwa Paradza, performing as TK, is a talented musician based in Wellington whose video has more than 10,000 views. The NZAF is proud that TK is one of our trained and dedicated Community Educators. AUT African Students Club Workshop
AUT African Students Club TK Paradza performing in Wellington
The NZAF is proud to have participated in an AUT student workshop that aimed to empower students regarding employment, health and wellbeing. Since the beginning of 2012 the AUT African Students Club has grown dramatically. Click here to see their activities.
Strategic HIV Prevention
African dance parties and events have a new feature; condoms, HIV testing info and chocolate bars are packaged together and distributed, primarily in pubs and bars, to partygoers.
Community Education and Youth Workshops
Religious Leaders’ Workshops
Many Community Education workshops were held throughout the country over the last six months. Community Education workships educate community members on HIV prevention skills and raise awareness in culturally appropriate ways. Youth Workshops were also held in of New Zealand’s main cities to equip and educate young people about HIV.
These workshops provide an opportunity for community leaders to discuss HIV prevention strategies and to influence policy. They are held in different locations around New Zealand several times each year. Please contact Tuwe for more information. From the team at New Zealand AIDS Foundation Community Engagement African Communities www.nzaf.org.nz
God bless Africa!