June 2O1O
THE AFRICA EDITION
No, this woman is not celebrating the World Cup in South Africa. Whistle in mouth, a drum nearby, she is one of thousands of people at the annual Kuomboka event in Zambia, an event affected by climate change – see page 3. Photo: Oupa Nkosi / Oxfam
One Person in Africa – Navin Vasudev
Crops as Food or Commodity – Talking about Farming and Food
Living in Johannesburg, Navin faces HIV and AIDS every day in his work. For site vists, he might cross rivers full of crocodiles and walk hours to reach remote villages. Navin manages Oxfam Hong Kong’s programmes across southern Africa and writes about his adopted home.
Across Africa, one out of evrey three people lives in hunger. Even though agriculture is the base of Africa’s rural economy, crops are more often seen as a commodity than as food. Policies are being drafted to change this, writes Jean Baylock of ACORD, an alliance working in 17 countries in Africa.
Fair Play
Living HIV Positively in Malawi – Elizabeth Kalua
Oxfam is a member of the ‘Fair Play for Africa’ campaign for health care across the continent. Africa has the world's highest rates of HIV infection. Women have less access to health care and more risk of disease than men. Each year, 4.5 million children die before the age of five, and those who survive may be AIDS orphans.
Elizabeth Kalua is HIV-positive. She has told her seven children as a way of preventing them from becoming ill. She has also convinced about 50 people to get tested, writes Stanley Kudeko of Oxfam Great Britain.
NOT the World Cup
Welcome Sprit in KwaZulu-Natal
Leading up to the first FIFA World Cup ever on African soil, thousands of homeless people in Cape Town have been moved into a Temporary Resettlement Area.
Established in 2000, ‘Woza Moya’ is an NGO in an area of KwaZulu-Natal where about one out of three pregnant women is HIV-positive. Woza Moya means ‘welcome spirit’ – they are determined to change the harsh reality.
Climate Change, a Huge Elephant Ship and Ancient Customs
Oxfam wins Gold
The ‘Kuomboka’ ceremony happens once a year, when King Lubiso Imwiko II moves from his flooded palace in the lowlands to his palace in the uplands, traveling in a royal barge adorned with a massive elephant. In the past, it was always in March, but with climate change, floods are worse, emergency evacuations more frequent, and the major tourist attraction is harder to gauge, writes Nicole Johnston, Regional Media Coordinator with Oxfam Great Britain.
Oxfam Hong Kong’s creative education work
Reading the Weather – Adapting to Climate Change in Zambia Did you know you can read the weather through observing caterpillars, wild fruit, swallows and drops of water from the mukololo tree? As a way to prepare for drought or floods, which are increasing due to climate change, listen to people from Zambia, writes Ann Witteveen, Country Director of Oxfam Great Britain’s programme.
A Cloud on the Horizon Oxfam Hong Kong’s new workshop on Climate Change
Think about Climate Change and Poor People in Hong Kong Youth Campaign Partners
Note: The June edition marks the last monthly issue of O.N.E. From now on, the magazine will be published every two months. The next issue: August 2010.
ONE PERSON in Africa: Navin Vasudev Navin at home in Johannesburg
I m a n a g e O x f a m H o n g K o n g ’s programme in Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique and also undertake regional projects affecting the country of South Africa, too. I work from my home-office in Johannesburg, also called
Navin in Zambia: crossing a river full of crocodiles and walking to remote villages
Joburg or Jozi. I fell in love with this city as soon as I touched down almost a
the course of history, colonialism and
kilometers to reach the farming villages.
decade ago! I am from India, but South
apartheid have left definite marks on
It can be exhausting.
Africa is now home to my family. I love
development. Today, poverty, food
the vibrancy and the warmth that this
shortages, corruption, natural disasters
In Mozambique, we encounter similar
country has to offer. It is the hub of
and HIV-AIDS seriously impede people’s
hurdles. One of our main projects is
the region, and 2010 is a special year,
well-being. This definitely justifies
with young girls to ensure that they
with the World Cup soon to be hosted
the presence of Oxfam: we have been
receive a decent education. The terrain
here, in June. As I write this piece, the
working in southern Africa since
of the project areas is harsh and the
distinct and monotonous foghorn-like
1987, focusing on improving people’s
environment treacherous: cyclones
sounds of the vuvuzela can be heard
livelihoods and security in the context of
hit the area annually and our vehicles
from the streets below. As some of you
the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
often can not access these remote areas during the rainy season. Yet, the girls are
may know, this African horn has become synonymous with soccer matches across
I spend a lot of time on the road,
determined. They walk long distances
the country!
travelling to project sites in various
every day to attend school, rain or shine.
countries. Some of Oxfam’s project areas
Oxfam has been providing micro-credit
Southern Africa is distinct from the rest
are extremely remote. For example,
for rural Mozambican women for years,
of Africa in many ways. Rich in natural
in order to reach the women farmers
and educational support for girls. A new
resources, the region is a delight to
that we collaborate with in Zambia,
generation of women is in the making.
the tourist with crystal clear waters,
the project team and I have to cross
rolling hills and varied wildlife. Some
the Kafue River, one of the longest and
These experiences are challenging and
sectors of the country of South Africa
largest principal rivers in all of Africa, a
enriching. They make my work at Oxfam
are wealthy, with global economic
river often teeming with crocodiles and
very special and worthwhile.
links. At the same time, the region
hippos. We cross this mighty river on a
suffers from some of the worst social
pontoon bridge just a few feet above the
problems afflicting the continent. Over
water. From there, we walk about 4-5
Navin Vasudev manages Oxfam Hong Kong’s programmes in southern Africa. He is based in Johannesburg.
A 200-organisation strong campaign with one goal: quality health services for all African citizens. The priority focus is for women, children and people living with HIV and AIDS, and people in Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The campaign – initiated by Oxfam – coincides with the FIFA World Cup 2010, the first year it has ever been held on African soil. The year 2010 also marks target year for African governments to fulfil their promises of spending 15 per cent of national budgets on health care. For more: www.fairplayforafrica.org / info@fairplayforafrica.org
O.N.E June 2O1O
NOT THE WORLD CUP Youth play football in Blikkiesdorp, a ‘temporary relocation area’ in Cape Town built in 2008 to provide housing for homeless people in preparation for the World Cup. The official name for the site is Symphony Way Temporary Relocation Area. The living spaces of the corrugated metal units measure 3 by 6 metres each, typically for a family of six or seven. Tuberculosis is rife. / Photo: Courtesy of Gareth Kingdon
O.N.E June 2O1O
Ancient custom affected by changing climate By Nicole Johnston
Once a year, the Lozi, an ethnic group
to 10 times their usual price, and all
living in western Zambia, pack their
accommodation is booked up months in
belongings, livestock and farming
advance. Dignitaries arrive from Lusaka;
implements onto a boat and leave their
chiefs come from other provinces.
Kuomboka happens once a year in Zambia, when King Lubiso Imwiko II moves with all his belongings from his flooded palace in the lowlands to his palace in the highlands. Thousands of people from around Africa and around the world come to witness the event, complete with drum, song, and a colourful royal barge adorned with a massive elephant. In the past, Kuomboka was in March, but with climate change, it has been in April or even later. Weather is erratic. Flash floods have led to emergency evacuations, and people losing the few belongings they may have. Photos: Oupa Nkosi / Oxfam Great Britain
speedboat, and the extent of the flood
houses and fields to the encroaching waters of the Zambezi floodplain. The
Mikolo (canoes) filled with entire families
becomes apparent when our coxswain
migration usually takes place in March,
pole their way into Mongu harbour from
cuts the engine and pulls up the propeller
but the timing of the floodwaters has
distant villages, and women sell red and
so we can glide over a submerged bridge.
become more and more unpredictable:
black patterned chitenge (cotton wraps)
for the past few years, it has been April,
emblazoned with ‘Kuomboka 2010’ while
The royal barge Nalikwanda is moored
or even later.
vuvuzelas (horns) blare all over town.
in Lealui, resplendent with an elephant figurine on the roof, the ears of which
The annual migration is an ancient
It is the male of the species that is the
can be made to flap when the barge is in
tradition, heralded by the ceremonial
star of this particular show: young
motion. In days of old, this would have
relocation of the King (Litunga) from
men promenade along the waterfront,
been made with the stuffed hide of a
his summer palace in the floodplain
showing off their traditional dress (siziba)
real elephant and with ivory tusks. Today,
to his winter palace in the uplands.
which resembles a Scottish kilt and
it is black plastic sheeting and wood.
The ceremony called Kuomboka – ‘to
waistcoat made out of brightly printed
come out of the water’ – is the cultural
fabric and the red beret (lishushu) of the
The men pass an audition to paddle the
highlight of the year, creating feverish
Barotse Royal Establishment.
barge, and they proudly bustle around,
levels of preparation and festivities, rather like Christmas and New Year rolled into one.
MUSIC: 24 HOURS A DAY
carrying paddling poles and armfuls of hides which will be worn during the journey. They also take photographs
The morning of the Kuomboka ceremony
of each other on their mobile phones.
For days preceding Kuomboka, the town
sees Mongu harbour thronged with
Apparently, in days gone by, a paddler
of Mongu at the heart of the Western
visitors desperate to cadge a boat ride to
who missed a stroke would be thrown
Province floodplain buzzes with intense
Lealui Palace, which is only accessible by
overboard, but I am assured this no
activity. Hotel rooms are let for five
water. The trip takes about an hour by
longer happens.
O.N.E June 2O1O
The high water levels in recent years
uplands, so that his people will have fire
flood waters come late, and then very
means that guests who usually stroll
when they arrive,” explains Nasilele.
quickly. Their fields get flooded before they can harvest, and people have to be
from the mooring to the palace have to wade knee-deep through water, or hire a
At last the King emerges to great
evacuated. Boreholes and latrines also
mukolo paddled by enterprising children
ululation and whistling; he is escorted
get flooded, and disease can spread.”
(in which it is necessary to squat to avoid
to the royal barge, and as the paddlers
getting wet). At the palace, the water
lean on their poles, the barge glides out
When people are evacuated, they often
has risen to within metres of the royal
of the village and into the waterways of
have to leave behind their harvests and
pavilion and has flooded the traditional
the floodplain. Hundreds of boats and
seeds for replanting. They also might
courthouse.
canoes follow. “Sometimes it takes eight
lose their belongings, such as clothes
hours to paddle to the winter palace,”
and cooking utensils, which can be
Everywhere there is the sound of
Nasilele says. “But this year the water is
devastating for subsistence farmers
booming drums and singing voices,
very high, so it only took five hours.”
already living in poverty. As the seasons
underscored by the rich tones of the
grow ever more changeable, the Lozi
mounted on top of gourds of varying
FLOODS, SAND, MOON
sizes. Fine Nasilele, a Lozi man who
The Lozi rely on indigenous knowledge
and continue to live their migratory lives
w o r k s w i t h P e o p l e ’s P a r t i c i p a t i o n
handed down over generation to predict
on a rich but increasingly unpredictable
Services, an Oxfam partner organisation,
when the floods will come and when
floodplain.
is my chaperone for the day. He explains
they should begin preparing to move.
that this music is played in the palace 24
The increasing unpredictability of the
For centuries, the Lozi have practiced
hours a day, every day of the year, to tell
seasons means that many of the signals
wetland farming on the Zambezi
people that the king is alive and well.
traditionally used cannot necessarily be
floodplains: when the floodwaters
relied on any more.
recede, the soil is rich with nutrients.
silimba, an instrument like a xylophone
face difficult choices – move permanently to the arid high ground, or try to adapt
The soil in the uplands, however, is
As the crowd grows, an elderly praise singer stands waist deep in water outside
“This changing of the climate is really
mostly Kalahari sand, not rich enough to
the palace gate, reciting a litany of the
impacting us,” says Nasilele. “It is
cultivate crops or to graze cattle on.
Litunga’s virtues. People are desperate to
becoming difficult to predict the time
be the first to glimpse the king: children
when we should move. In the olden
Oxfam is implementing disaster risk
are raised onto parents’ shoulders
days, the Kuomboka ceremony would be
reduction projects to enable people
and men in leopard skin peer through
held in March, but for the past few years
across Zambia to adapt to the changing
binoculars.
it has been in April. We would look at
climate. In Western Province, this means
signs like the colour of the sand on the
assisting the Lozi to cope with flooding.
The paddlers begin to apply a powder
beaches – when it would turn brown,
In Southern Province, the problem is
to ward off evil, and a smoking brazier
we would know the flood is coming. We
drought.
is carried to the barge. “The Litunga’s
would look at the position of the moon
barge carries the sacred fire to the
and at the water levels to predict when
Ann Witteveen, Country Director for the
to move.”
Oxfam Zambia programme, explains that it is important to be able to “identify
Floods and flash floods have been a
ways to diversify livelihoods so that a
problem for the Lozi. Nasilele explains,
drought or flood has less impact; it is
“we are downstream from many other
important for people to take control of
rivers, and water flows through here
prevention, preparedness and response
from as far away as Angola; so when they
actions."
have floods, it affects us too. Sometimes
Chief Lubiso Imwiko II (left) with Zambian President Rupiah Banda.
we have flash floods. It is becoming
To view the annual Kuomboka ceremony, click here:
difficult for people to plan to move,
http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2010-05-06-a-changing-worldfor-zambias-lozi-people
especially with their livestock, because
Nicole Johnston is Regional Media Coordinator with Oxfam Great Britain. She is based in Pretoria, South Africa.
O.N.E June 2O1O
READING THE WEATHER, TOGETHER By Ann Witteveen For centuries, people in southern Africa
Talking about farming and food By Jean Blaylock
Upland tomatoes
have known how to read the weather. Debate was animated in a meeting hall
A drought is on the way if there is a
in Tanzania recently:
smoke-like atmosphere, if the nchenje
• “We
fruit ripens early, if caterpillars are many and if the migratory swallows
• “If
do not arrive. Floods are coming if the
I am growing sweet potatoes for my
family, where is the support for me?”
imbula, musamba and chibumbu are more abundant, if water drops from the mukololo tree, and if swallows are
need to ensure that our agri-
culture feeds us first”
• “Can Lowland maize
we strengthen Africa’s agriculture
enough to be able to engage in the global market from a strong position?”
plenty. This knowledge is important, as with climate change, floods and
• “Remember
droughts are becoming more frequent.
that crop farmers and
livestock farmers have different needs”
Oxfam is coordinating the gathering
• “How
do we get from a master plan
of this ancient information, along with
down to actually having an impact on
meteorological data, to develop relevant
the ground?’
warning systems in the region.
• “How
With Oxfam’s efforts in flood-prone
“…because of interventions
western Zambia, farmers now use both
by Oxfam and its partners in
wetland/lowland and upland fields
our area, we are food secure,
in order to spread the risk of climate
we have safe water to drink,
change, and to benefit from more crops.
and our school-going children will soon have safe toilets at
do we ensure farmers have
access to water?” • “We
should focus more on food pro-
cessing and not just food production” • The
question most often asked was,
“How can we take part in this process and get decision makers to listen to what we have to say?”
Oxfam also supports Disaster Manage-
their school. Our community
ment Committees from the village to
preparedness plans give us a
district to national level, trying to ensure
good vision of our future. We
that people and organisations are
promise Oxfam and its partners
clear about their individual and
that we will implement and put
groups, other civil society organisations
organisational responsibilities on disaster
in practice climate change and
and parliamentarians from the East
preparedness. Oxfam and the Lusaka-
early warning issues that affect
African Legislative Assembly. Seeking
based Climate Change Network also
our communities. By doing so,
to answer everyone’s questions were
advocate the government to support
we are reducing and managing
representatives of COMESA, one of
climate adaptation.
disasters that are prone in our
Africa’s regional economic communities
areas…”
(RECs).
Ann Witteveen is Country Director of Oxfam Great Britain’s programme in Zambia. She is based in Lusaka.
- Mr. Simbuwa (pictured bottom right), Tapo Village, Zambia
The hall was full of people from across Africa: members of regional farmers groups, womens’ groups, land rights
The meeting was held to discuss the roll-out of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, or CAADP, a continental policy framework intended to help countries identify
O.N.E June 2O1O
Despite being agricultural, Africa is the
emphasises that the source and supply of
region of the world with the highest
food should be made secure for farmers;
level of hunger. About 271 million people
it stresses that effective food systems
– one third of the population – are living
should be locally based; and it seeks to
with constant hunger. This situation
overturn the prejudice that knowledge
is getting worse (FAO, SOFI 2009) and
and guidance needed to formulate policy
there is a strong need for transformative
can only come from ‘scientific experts’
policies and actions to reverse this trend.
and not from farmers themselves. Considering that women form the
A farmer from PROPAC, the regional farmers network in Central Africa, at the meeting in Arusha, Tanzania / Photo: ACORD/Jean Blaylock
key opportunities where investment and support could lead to agricultural growth. Given the diversity of Africa, CAADP provides the set of principles and broadly defined strategies, while it is the RECs which bring the policy framework to life by integrating CAADP into national and regional policies. CAADP was adopted in 2003 with the Maputo Declaration, when African governments committed to increase their investment in agriculture to 10 per cent of national budgets. CAADP seeks to implement that commitment. For several years, progress has been very slow, but
CAADP’s continental scope and the level
majority of the agricultural workforce
of support that is now behind it give it
and have the primary responsibility for
immense potential. However, this will
growing food for the households, they
only become reality if CAADP policies
should be consulted for drafting and
can break from the past 30 years of
implementing policy.
structural adjustment. To do this, debates that are happening to develop CAADP
The meeting in Tanzania was part of
compacts need to involve small-scale
the process to engage civil society in
food producers, especially women. For
the CAADP debate. It was coordinated
too long, food policies have excluded
through ACORD, an international alliance
their voices.
for social justice and development in Africa. In the coming months, ACORD
Food security and sovereignty
will continue to work with groups across Africa for better food sovereignty.
One alternative for CAADP is ‘food sovereignty’, an approach that puts food security as the central purpose of agriculture, rather than treating agricultural
ACORD is an international alliance working for social justice and development in 17 countries in Africa. Oxfam Hong Kong has been supporting various programmes managed by ACORD for more than 15 years, including this food sovereignty effort. Jean Blaylock is a Policy and Advocacy Advisor with ACORD.
products as mere commodities. It
the global food price shock that hit the world in 2007 and 2008 brought agriculture and food security back to the top of the international agenda. Donor countries are now trying to align their aid through the CAADP framework, and African countries are speeding up the process by developing national strategies, known as ‘CAADP compacts’.
271 million people in hunger African economies are fundamentally based in agriculture. Agriculture accounts for more than 80 per cent of rural employment, with about 60 per cent of the agricultural workforce being women. Agriculture contributes about 33 per cent of the GDP in Africa, on average, with about 80 per cent of farms measuring less than two hectares.
Women farmers in Burundi / Photo: ACORD/KaiProd
O.N.E June 2O1O
Living Positively - Elizabeth in Malawi By Stanley Kudeko
10,000 Kwacha. She is doing all of this because she has a goal to achieve. “Last time you came, my house had no plaster,” she tells me. “Now it has been done. When you come next year, you will find the earthen floor cemented.” With proceeds from the sewing machine, she also bought a mobile phone. She needs this to be able to keep in touch
An active member of the community, Elizabeth serves as Vice Chairperson, Treasures, Chairperson and a Village Committee Member. She also takes care of 7 children at home.
with her elder children who are away
Elizabeth Kalua, 43, tested HIV positive
Kumbukani and Wisdom are both in the
from home. She also uses it to talk with
in 2001. At that time, she was expecting
second year of high school and are doing
people who need her support, and those
her youngest twins: Blessings and Joyce,
well.
she needs support from Elizabeth is a lady of responsibility and dignity. At
aged 8 now. She has been relatively healthy since that testing, with no
Elizabeth turned her back on poverty
home, she has taken in the eight-year-
major illness and is as productive as any
when she received a sewing machine
old son of her late brother, a boy whom
of her neighbours in Walala, a village
from Oxfam. The machine has seen her
you would not imagine is HIV-positive.
in southern Malawi, in the district of
livelihood transform. She attended a
In his second year of primary school, he
Chiradzulu.
vocational training course in tailoring
excels: in position 1 or 2 at the end of
organised by the National Association of
each term.
Elizabeth’s seven children have all
People Living with HIV and AIDS, an NGO
undergone HIV testing and counselling
supported by Oxfam in 2008.
“At church, I am a Vice Chairperson for a women’s group. At the support group
and are negative and healthy. Moreover, “With fabric purchased at 1,000 Kwacha
I am Treasurer. At a village development
I can sell sewn clothes at 1,500, thereby
committee, I am a Committee Member.
“I told them about my status because
realising a profit of 500. The good thing
I am also a chairperson of the primary
they are the ones who will take me to
is that I have lots of customers,” says
school committee in my area.”
the hospital if I become ill. They will be
Elizabeth, proudly.
they know the status of their mother.
In her role at the support group, she has
more careful not to catch the virus if they know, and it is a way of overcoming
With the proceeds from the sewing
helped more than 50 people, including
stigma,” says the ever-smiling Elizabeth.
machine, Elizabeth can buy fertiliser
the village head of Walala, to go for HIV
and pay rent for the extra land she now
testing and counselling.
When asked about the welfare of her
farms. This year, she has harvested seven
children, Elizabeth believes that school
50kg bags of maize from her land and 18
O x f a m w o r k s i n Wa l a l a a n d o t h e r
is very important. “My first-born Brenda
bags from the rented land. She will sell
communities in Chiradzulu District to
works as an assistant at the Ndirande
part of the maize to buy new fabric to
improve their livelihoods in the face of
Health Centre assistant. She stays with
start sewing again, because she stopped
an AIDS pandemic. Chiradzulu has a high
her brother Steven, my fifth child, who
to concentrate on farming during the
HIV prevalence rate, at 22 per cent. The
is in Year 8. Tapiwa, my second child,
rainy season.
national rate stands at 12 per cent.
is doing a three-year plumbing course with support from an uncle who lives
Elizabeth has cultivated a winter crop
in South Africa. Third- and fourth-born
of nsawawa (peas) and expects to earn
Stanley Kudeko is the Oxfam Programme Officer within the Malawi Programme. Oxfam works with several partner organisations in the southern part of the country, where he is based.
O.N.E June 2O1O
WELCOME SPIRIT in KwaZulu-Natal In isiZulu, ‘Woza Moya’ means ‘welcome
Woza Moya established contact with
Wo z a M o y a ’s s u p p o r t g r o u p s f o r
spirit’, a fitting name for a community
Dudu after the death of one of her
orphaned children.
organisation working for positive change.
daughters as a direct result of AIDS, and the illness and subsequent death of
As soon as the official birth documents
Woza Moya is situated outside of a
another daughter, also related to AIDS.
were in place, Woza Moya then worked
rural village in the province of KwaZulu-
Dudu had been left with four young
with Dudu to complete and submit
Natal, where the prevalence of HIV
orphaned grandchildren in her care,
applications for foster care grants. The
and AIDS is increasing the levels and
ranging in age from two to 11 years, and
process can take a year or more. Ongoing
impact of poverty, especially for women
one with special needs.
support was provided during this time,
and children. Within the last five years,
such as enabling the family to develop a
almost 32 per cent of pregnant patients
None of the grandchildren had birth
vegetable garden and to begin poultry
of the nearest antenatal clinic have
certificates. This is a major issue, as it
production; training was provided
tested HIV-positive. The unemployment
prevents access to government social
through a peer organisation. Dudu
rate in the area stands at 83 per cent,
support systems. Acquiring these
received 18 egg-laying chickens and
with those employed tending to work
documents after the death of a parent
was soon able to sell eggs. She has since
in agriculture and forestry. The majority
is complicated and requires a detailed
developed her farming skills, continues
of families, about 76 per cent, live on
understanding of the government
with her chickens, and has raised 23
less than US$80 a month. Woza Moya
systems – something Dudu did not have.
goats: she no longer needs nutrition
was established in April 2000 in direct
Woza Moya worked with her on this task,
support from Woza Moya.
response to the substantial impact of
and during the wait for the certificates,
AIDS in the area. Their primary focus is
supported the family with emergency
The family seems to have worked
on home-based care, providing residents
nutrition and clothing. School uniforms
through a difficult time and have settled
with skills and knowledge to respond to
were particularly useful to prevent
into their lives together. Woza Moya
the challenges in their rural communities.
stigma: children without uniforms can be
continues to monitor the family from
evicted and stigmatised at school.
time to time – but things are looking
Dudu Gumede, not her real name, is
good.
a 73-year-old widow who had three
Dudu received parenting support skills
sons, all of whom have died and three
through Woza Moya, and the children
daughters, two of whom have died.
received psycho-social support through
Vegetable gardens provide better nutrition. / Photo: ©M Willman / Oxfam
Established in 2000 in direct response to the substantial impact of HIV and AIDS, Woza Moya is supported by Oxfam Hong Kong through the Joint Oxfam HIV and AIDS Program in southern Africa.
At 12:30pm every weekday, the crèche at the Woza Moya Centre closes for the day and the mothers, grannies and sisters to the young children come to take them home. / Photo: © M. Willman / Oxfam
O.N.E June 2O1O
7
N e w PartnerOrganisations
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works alongside hundreds of groups around the world, from small NGOs to international bodies, from government departments of developing countries to community groups based in Hong Kong. Here are 7 ‘partner organisations’ that we are supporting for the first time. CHINA
Qinghai
• The Jinpa Project
• Friends of Rural Community Development
Shaanxi
• Poverty Alleviation Office on Mian County
Yunnan
• Green Education Center
• People’s Government of Mengzi County
• Poverty Alleviation Office of Mengzi County
VIETNAM
• Vietnam Women’s Union in Vietnam
In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight the Vietnam Women’s Union
gender into the national programmes on climate change adaptation
in Vietnam.
and disaster risk reduction is a key priority of the Vietnam Women's
Based in Hanoi, the Union is partnering with Oxfam Hong Kong on
Union in the years ahead.
ways to reduce the risks of climate change. Studies have shown that
The programme, and the Union, is nationwide, but efforts will focus
if the sea level rises just one metre, about ten per cent of Vietnam’s
on Dak Nong, Nghe An and Quang Tri, three of the most impoverished
population along the coastal plains and the river deltas will be
provinces in the country, and three of the provinces at most risk of
affected. The programme will work to build up the resiliency of people
poverty through climate change.
at risk, through various training sessions with farmers, community
The programme will last three years, until November 2012.
organisations, students and particularly women. Mainstreaming
Oxfam Hong Kong Wins Gold Arts Education Award, by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council “Oxfam Interactive Education Centre is a project of diverse
Once a year, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council awards individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution
themes which relate closely to social realities. It is both
to the development of art in Hong Kong. Oxfam Hong Kong received
unique and meaningful. The project, presented in a lively and
the gold award for arts education (non-school division), through our
interactive drama format, broadens participants’ vision
innovative Oxfam Interactive Education Centre.
and raises their awareness as world citizens. Young people
Oxfam Interactive Education Centre is designed as a small theatre,
are made aware of social issues and learn to develop their
and staff members lead educational dramas on poverty, climate change,
own values, creativity and individuality.”
hunger, unfair trade, war and more. The Centre might be a mock dormitory for migrant workers one day, or a refugee camp surrounded
- Panelist,
by barbed wire on another. By physically entering the created space,
Hong Kong Arts Development Council Awards
children (and adults) can put themselves in the position of a poor person. They can sense the daily reality of poverty. They can reflect on their own lives and their role in creating a better, fairer society. The Centre has been operating since 2005. In 2009, we ran 283 workshops, including workshops for Oxfam supporters. For more information: education@oxfam.org.hk / http://www.cyberschool.oxfam.org.hk/iec.php?cat=1
Prize Presentation ceremony, Hong Kong City Hall: (Left to right): Paris Law, Education Coordinator, Oxfam Hong Kong; Lo Chi Kin, Council Chair of Oxfam Hong Kong; and Darwin Chen, Chairman, Committee on Performing Arts, HKADC; at the prize presentation ceremony
The Oxfam Hong Kong education team with the award back at the Oxfam Interactive Education Centre.
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A CLOUD ON THE HORIZON A Drama Workshop on Climate Change for Upper Primary and Secondary School Students This newly created workshop enables students to experience the risks of life on a low-lying island. How people are suffering from climate change. How they must face a rising sea level, more floods and typhoons, and more poverty. In the workshop, students must decide how to respond to the crisis: change their way of life, stay or leave, campaign for community action? All will be found on the island, on the horizon. Climate Change is not new to Hong Kong. By now, residents know we must reduce electricity, use public transport as much as possible, and vote for people and policies that will turn the crisis around. Duration
: Primary School version 150 minutes; Secondary School version: 180 minutes
Fee
: HK$15/ student (for school-based registration)
Language
: Cantonese
Location
: Oxfam Interactive Education Centre, North Point, Hong Kong
A CLOUD ON THE HORIZON is part of Oxfam’s campaign against climate change and the poverty it brings.
For more information: education@oxfam.org.hk
Think about Climate Change and Poor People in Hong Kong. About people working outdoors this summer… About elderly people in homes without air-conditioning… Then take a video to document the impact of climate change! Oxfam Hong Kong is running workshops with youth on climate change, poverty and video-making. Applicants must be Cantonese-speaking and aged 18-25. For more information on OXFAM YOUTH CAMPAIGN PARTNERS: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/84906
MOKUNG
ONE
The focus of the June edition is on ‘poorism’ – voyeuristic
Oxfam News E-magazine is published every two months, at www.oxfam.org.hk/ONE.
tourism in poor areas and countries – and how to prevent
To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is FREE.
being exploitative and disrespectful while traveling.
www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
In Chinese, MOKUNG means both 'infinity' and 'no poverty' – there are so many things to be done to stop poverty and its injustice. Published by Oxfam in Traditional Chinese, MOKUNG is
O.N.E (Oxfam News E-magazine) is published every two months by Oxfam Hong Kong,
available for free at various locations across Hong Kong, by subscription for delivery to
17th Floor, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong. The publisher
any Hong Kong address for HK$20/year, and on-line at Oxfam Hong Kong website.
does not necessarily endorse views expressed by contributors. For permission to reprint articles, please contact us; normally, we grant permission provided the source is clearly
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5
acknowledged. O.N.E is available free to all, in both an HTML and PDF version, and in Chinese and English.
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