Category: News

As part of it’s workplace giving scheme, the staff of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has provided women prisoners at Nsawam Female Prison with a range of items including an industrial sewing machine, knitting machine, fabrics, threads and a range of sewing accessories valued at approximately US$1400. These items were donated by staff of AWDF in order to support women prisoners learn skills which will help them gain employment/a means of making a living once they re enter the outside world.

AWDF staff participate in an internal Workplace Giving Programme which is funded by optional monthly deductions from staff salaries. In previous years AWDF staff have supported the Mothers Hostel at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital through the provision of a water tank for the unit.

Organisations which wish to set up an Employee Workplace Giving Scheme to support women and girls may contact the Special Programmes Department at AWDF via specialprograms@africlub.net/awdf

In this video Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom, AWDF’s Grants Manager speaks to Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Executive Director of the Network of Women in Growth (NEWIG), Ghana, about business management skills and enterprise development for community based women.Mawusi also shares how AWDF’s capacity building support has enabled NEWIG to reach potential new donor partners.

 

 

With the kind support of Institut Français du Ghana, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) invites Ghanaian film makers to register for a one to one 45-minute appointment with François d’Artemare as part of the 2nd African Women in Film Forum (AWIFF), 23rd-25th September 2013. The aim of this activity is to provide expert advice and mentoring on preparing your artistic project for the international market. Filmmakers should register for this unique opportunity by emailing specialprograms@africlub.net/awdf with a short bio by Wednesday 18th September.

On Wednesday, 23rd September, 3.30pm-4.30pm, François d’Artemare will also lead a discussion as part of the AWIFF on:
Identifying Producers, Co-Producers and Film Project Development
This session will focus on how to find producers and co-producers for your film project. This will include the artistic development of a project, and practical insights on how to meet key people in the film industry, whilst gaining recognition in the international film world.

François D’Artemare is the founder of Les Films de l’Après-Midi, a company that has actively produced features films for 12 years. D’Artemare’s productions include: Bosnia (DJECA – Special Mention of the Jury, Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2012 and SNOW by Aida Begic – International Critics’ Week Grand Prix Award, Cannes 2008), Portugal (THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA by Manoel de Oliveira – Cannes 2010: opening of Un Certain Regard), Brazil (FOUR FOR NONE by Alice de Andrade – Rotterdam 2005), Angola (THE HERO by Zeze Gamboa – World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2005). He and his associate are credited with discovering many talents especially from Portugal. Les Films de l’Après-Midi are committed to supporting young filmmakers (Aida Begic, Hiwot Admasu, Balint Kenyeres, João Salaviza), and also develop projects by established directors such as Manoel de Oliveira and Flora Gomes.

In 2010, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) convened the first African Women in Film Forum (AWIFF) in partnership with the Lufudo Academy of Performing Arts in Nigeria led by Joke Silva, acclaimed Nollywood actress. This initial AWIFF focused on the theme ‘Nollywood: Women and the Dynamics of Representation’.

Three years later the AWIFF is being convened in Accra, Ghana, with a broad range of partners including Alliance Française (Accra), Brand Woman Africa, Institut Français du Ghana, National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), and the Lufudo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA). The theme for this year is ‘Creating compelling social justice content for film and television’ with an exciting line up of speakers including:

• Ade Solanke, who wrote the screenplay for Nigerian director Tunde Kelani’s forthcoming film, Dazzling Mirage

• Akosua Adoma Owusu, Director of KWAKU ANANSE

• Amaka Igwe who has to her credit production of over 400 hours of TV programming and movies

• Anita Afonu, Director of Perished Diamonds

• Anita Erskine, Host of Making of a Mogul

• Dr Beti Ellerson, Director for the Centre for the Study and Research of African Women in Cinema

• Dr Sionne Neely, Knowledge Management Specialist at AWDF

• Dr Yaba Blay, Assistant Teaching Professor of Africana Studies at Drexel University and Consulting Producer for CNN’s Black in America 5 – Who is Black in America?

• François d’Artemare, Founder of Les Films de l’Après-Midi

• Korkor Amarteifio, Associate Director of the Institute for Music and Development

• Kwaw Ansah, Director of Love Brewed in the African Pot

• Lodi Matsetela, script writer and producer of Society, originally flighted on South African Broadcasting Corporation

• Prof. Linus Abraham, Rector of NAFTI

• Sarah Bouyain, Director of Notre Etrangere/The Place in Between

• Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes, AWDF;

• Sefi Atta, playwright and author of Everything Good Will Come

• Stéphanie Soleansky, Cultural Affairs Attaché at Institut Français du Ghana

• Tsitsi Dangarembga, author of Nervous Conditions

• Vicentia Akwetey, Dean of Studies, NAFTI

• Veronica Q-Nai, writer and director behind A Call at Midnight

• Yaba Badoe, Director and Co-Producer of The Witches of Gambaga

 

The general public in Ghana is invited to interact with speakers and participants of the AWIFF through a 2 day film festival made possible by sponsorship from Brand Woman Africa.

 

Date: Monday 23^rd September 2013

Film screenings: The Witches of Gambaga by Yaba Badoe and On the Border by Tsitsi Dangarembga

Venue: Alliance Francaise (Accra),

Time: 6pm

 

Date: Tuesday 24^th September 2013

Film screenings: Perished Diamonds by Anita Afonu and Notre Etrangere/The Place in Between with Sarah Bouyain

Venue: NAFTI

Time: 6pm

 

Filmmakers based in Ghana who wish to participate in the AWIFF can email specialprograms@africlub.net/awdf for more information

To learn even more about the AWIFF read an interview on the African Women in Cinema Blog with Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Communications Specialist, AWDF.

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]‘We all have power, different types of power. When we don’t acknowledge that power, it’s easier for others to step all over us.’

As both grantmaker and fundraiser, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has been on both sides of the fence. As a result, Theo Sowa, AWDF CEO and chair of the African Grantmakers Network, has very clear views about the use and abuse of power. Caroline Hartnell asked her what power AWDF has and how it seeks to use it responsibly, and about the importance of African women setting their own agenda.

Read more of Theo’s interview in Alliance Magazine [/tp]

[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]‘Nous avons tous un pouvoir, différents types de pouvoirs. Lorsque nous ne reconnaissons pas ce pouvoir, il est plus facile pour les autres de nous marcher dessus. ‘

À la fois comme bailleur de fonds et collecteur de fonds, le Fonds africain de développement de la femme (AWDF) a été des deux côtés de la clôture. En conséquence, Theo Sowa, Directrice Générale d’AWDF et présidente du Réseau des subventionneurs en Afrique, a des vues très claires sur l’utilisation et l’abus de pouvoir. Caroline Hartnell lui a demandé quel est le pouvoir d’AWDF et comment il cherche à utiliser de façon responsable, et à propos de l’importance de fixer leur propre agenda femmes africaines.

Lire la suite de l’interview de Theo dans Alliance Magazine[/tp]

Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) in Lagos, Nigeria has run a successful mentorship programme since 2009, targeted at young women looking to achieve senior leadership position in the workplace or in business life.

To apply visit WISCAR’s website and complete the online application form. For further inquiries, please call +234 806 645 2894.Registration closes August 31st.

 

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