O.N.E - June 2010

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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