Tag: foundation
World AIDS Day Grantee Spotlight: Canadian Museum for Human Rights Interview with Kidist Belete
World AIDS Day Grantee Spotlight: Canadian Museum for Human Rights Interview with Kidist Belete
Read the original interview published on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights blog
Kidist Belete is the founder of Developing Families Together (DFT), an Ethiopian grassroots organization that works in women’s empowerment, orphan protection, HIV & AIDS prevention and care, and community development . She has contributed a lot to empowering women economically and socially in Ethiopia and is dedicated to working to improve the lives of women and children in underprivileged communities. DFT is a grantee partner of the African Women’s Development Fund.
Kidist will be participating in The Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Ask Her Talks.
What can be done to turn the tide against HIV/AIDS? HIV is the world’s leading infectious killer; it is estimated by UNAIDS that in sub-Saharan Africa alone, some 24.7 million people were living with HIV in 2013. This disease not only affects the health of individuals – it damages families and communities, preventing social development and economic growth. HIV/AIDS threatens people’s most basic human rights.
If we are to understand how to combat this global epidemic, we need the knowledge of those who are on the frontlines in this crisis. This is why the Museum features an exhibit about the Canadian and African Grandmothers who are working to combat this disease. It is also why the Stephen Lewis Foundation has organized the Ask Her Talks. The talks are a unique opportunity to hear a group of African women experts speak about their work combatting HIV/AIDS. I recently had the chance to ask Kidist Belete about HIV/AIDS, human rights and why we need to listen to the voices of African women who are on the ground fighting this disease.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you are speaking in the Ask Her Talks?
My name is Kidist Belete. I live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. About 12 years ago, I worked as a gender officer in an organization that coordinates the charitable and development-related work of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia. It was there I developed increasing sensitivity to the distinctive nature of the adversities faced by women in the poorest and most marginalized social settings. That is the sensitivity that I took with me into the fight against HIV/AIDS. I came into that fight when the social dislocations caused by HIV/AIDS began to appear in my neighborhood. I was, in a way, drafted by the community into the fight. I have not left the battlefield since.
I am speaking at this forum because my experience and the experience of my small organization puts a face on the fight against HIV/AIDS. I believe the real-life experiences that I talk about give a human touch to our collective efforts against this monster of a problem. I think that human touch sends a message that can’t be conveyed in conventional ways such as proposals, reports, and statistical compilations of progress.
What makes the Ask Her Talks different from other talks focused on AIDS?
The difference is that it brings to the forefront women who are leading the fight against the pandemic. These can be women who are themselves HIV positive or who had to take responsibility for those who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. They can be women, like myself, who are working as founders and directors of grassroots organizations that mobilize and deploy resources that are needed for the fight. It can also be women who speak out on behalf of those who have been hit hard by HIV/AIDS but do not attract sufficient attention. These women also all live and work at the crucial juncture where HIV/AIDs and gender-based inequalities come together. We are not only women, but we also work with women. For these reasons I think our perspectives differ from others such as health or public policy professionals who predominate in other talks focused on HIV/AIDS.
What makes AIDS in Africa a human rights issue?
It is quintessentially a human rights issue due to the extensive morbidity and mortality that it causes. HIV/AIDS deprives people of their right to a healthy life and decimates their ability to provide resources that sustain life such as food, water and proper shelter. Health, food, water and shelter are basic human rights.
It is also a human rights issue because HIV/AIDS destroys families, leaves children and the elderly without caregivers, and unravels communities and social networks that sustain normal life in Africa. I believe the right to live as part of a social collectivity to which one belongs and contributes is a human right.
What can people do if they want to help with this important issue?
I think people can help by directly supporting those of us in the frontlines or by mobilizing support for us. They can do this individually or in groups, either directly by identifying which point of intervention accords with their sensibilities and the nature of the support that they can afford to give or, even better, by contributing to the resource pool of organizations such as the Stephen Lewis Foundation that have been in the fight against HIV/AIDS through some of the most innovative, carefully selected and well-informed avenues of intervention.
It is important to look beyond HIV/AIDS as a public health emergency, which it was a few years ago (and continues to be in many places even today). It is important also to remember that HIV/AIDS was and is a socioeconomic disaster of the highest magnitude. It has left children without parents and the elderly without any means of sustenance. We must keep in mind that we still have to protect vulnerable groups against infection and fight stigma attached to the infection. We must remember the fight is not over yet.
The Ask Her Talks take place in several cities, including Winnipeg on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 and Toronto on Tuesday December 1, 2015. More information is available at www.askhertalks.com.
3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly to be Held in Arusha, Tanzania July 1-3
3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly to be Held in Arusha, Tanzania July 1-3
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]30th June 2015
PRESS RELEASE
Arusha To Host 3rd African Grantmakers Network Assembly July 1-3, 2015
Activist and humanitarian Graça Machel, Nobel laureate, Leymah Gbowee and HRH Sylvia Nagginda of Buganda will be among keynote speakers and presenters at this year’s African Grantmakers Network (AGN) third General Assembly, which will take place in Arusha, Tanzania at the Arusha International Conference Centre, Arusha.
The meeting will be held from July 1-3, 2015 under the theme: “Philanthropy in Africa 2015 People, Policy and Practice.” It will be hosted by the African Women’s Development Fund and the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS).
The AGN conference will bring together philanthropists, grantmaking bodies and other sectors for a three day meeting during which they will share experiences and good practise in contributions to philanthropy in Africa. Attendees will discuss the contribution made by the wide range of critical constituencies such as women, youth and other marginalised groups, and tackle crucial issues such as the impact of governance on philanthropy.
Theo Sowa, current Chair of AGN said ‘this is one of the platforms AGN has created for renewed and vibrant conversations about philanthropy in Africa, and the AGN board is delighted that at this Assembly at least three new publications on African philanthropy will be launched.’
A major highlight of the Assembly will be the African Philanthropy awards, a recognition given by AGN to individuals and organisations that have contributed to development and philanthropy on the continent.
Founded in 2009, the African Grantmakers Network (AGN) is a continentwide network of African grantmaking organisations that facilitates networking, learning and good practise amongst established and emerging African philanthropic institutions. The AGN promotes the voices of African philanthropy on the continent and globally.
AGN’s first steering committee members were the African Womens’ Development Fund (AWDF), Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) ,TrustAfrica (TA),the Southern Africa Trust (SAT), the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), and Akiba Uhaki Foundation (AUF). The current board members include the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Community Development Foundation Western Cape in South Africa.
For more information and to see the full programme, visit: www.africangrantmakersnetwork.org
For media enquiries or request for interviews contact:
Joyce Ambale
joyce@fricagrantmakersnetwork.org
+254 705 216 215
or
Amba MpokeBigg
amba@africlub.net/awdf
+255 682 327 082[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Arusha pour Accueillir la 3ème Assemblée du Réseau des subventionneurs africains du 1er au 3 Juillet, 2015
L’activiste et humanitaire Graça Machel, lauréate du prix Nobel, Leymah Gbowee et SAR Sylvia Nagginda du Buganda seront parmi les principaux conférenciers et présentateurs lors de la 3ème Assemblée du Réseau des subventionnaires africains de cette année (AGN), qui aura lieu à Arusha, en Tanzanie au Centre de Conférence International d’Arusha.
La réunion se tiendra à du 1er au 3 Juillet 2015 et portera sur le thème: «La philanthropie en Afrique en 2015: les acteurs, la politique et la pratique.” Il sera accueilli par le Fonds Africain de développement de la femme et la Fondation pour la société civile (FCS).
La conférence réunira des AGN philanthropes, des organismes subventionnaires et d’autres secteurs pour une réunion de trois jours au cours de laquelle ils vont partager expériences et bonnes pratiques des contributions à la philanthropie en Afrique. Les participants discuteront de la contribution apportée par le large éventail de parties prenantes essentielles telles que les femmes, les jeunes et d’autres groupes marginalisés, et d’aborder des questions cruciales telles que l’impact de la gouvernance sur la philanthropie.
Theo Sowa, présidente actuelle de l’AGN déclare:”Ceci est l’une des plates-formes qu’AGN a créé pour renouveler et dynamiser les discutions sur la philanthropie en Afrique, et le conseil d’AGN est ravi qu’au moins trois nouvelles publications sur la philanthropie africaine soient lancées lors de cette Assemblée . ‘
Un des faits marquants de l’Assemblée seront les Prix de Philanthropie Africaine, une reconnaissance accordée par AGN aux individus et aux organisations qui ont contribué au développement et à la philanthropie sur le continent.
Fondé en 2009, le Réseau des subventionaires africains (AGN) est un réseau à l’échelle du continent des organisations subventionnaires africaines, qui facilite le réseautage, l’apprentissage et les bonnes pratiques entre les institutions philanthropiques africaines établies et émergentes. L’AGN favorise les voix de la philanthropie africaine sur le continent et dans le monde.
Les membres du premier comité de direction de l’AGN étaient le Fonds de développement de la Femme Africaine (AWDF), Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), TrustAfrica (TA), Southern Africa Trust (SAT), la Fondation pour la société civile (FCS), et la Fondation Akiba Uhaki (AUF). Les membres actuels du conseil comprennent le Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Community Development Foundation Western Cape en Afrique du Sud.
Pour plus d’informations et pour voir le programme complet, visitez: www.africangrantmakersnetwork.org
Pour tout renseignement ou demande d’entrevues avec les médias:
Joyce Ambale
joyce@fricagrantmakersnetwork.org
+254 705 216 215
or
Amba MpokeBigg
amba@africlub.net/awdf
+255 682 327 082[/tp]
EBOLA FOCUS WEEK: Spotlight on Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa’s (GPFA) Ebola Awareness Outreach
EBOLA FOCUS WEEK: Spotlight on Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa’s (GPFA) Ebola Awareness Outreach
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The Gbowee Peace Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, continues with its support of female-led civil society associations and youth groups undertaking Ebola prevention education.
Its activity has been focused in settlements in Montserrado and six other counties in Liberia. The communities include Bomi, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa Counties.
The group’s goal is to mount media campaigns in the sixteen local languages, provide hygiene materials to hotspot communities and households under quarantine. GPFA also trains community women to undertake contact tracing of Ebola patients as well as wellness validation surveys in targeted outbreak hotspots.
This latest project started in December 2014 and is expected to run until the end of May 2015.
Total amount approved by AWDF : $30,000
Amount Received to date : $20,000[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]La Fondation Gbowee pour la paix, fondée par Leymah Gbowee, Nobel de la paix, poursuit son soutien à des associations de la société civile dirigées par des femmes et des groupes de jeunes qui entreprennent une éducation et la prévention à Ebola.
Son activité a été concentrée dans les colonies de Montserrado et six autres comtés du Libéria. Les communautés comprennent Bomi, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Bong, et de Lofa.
L’objectif du groupe est de monter des campagnes de médias dans les seizes langues locales, fournir du matériel d’hygiène pour les communautés dans les zones sensibles et les ménages en quarantaine. GPFA forme également des femmes de la communauté pour entreprendre le dépistages des victimes d’Ebola ainsi que des enquêtes de validation sur le bien-être dans les coins sensibles à l’éclosion de l’épidémie.
Ce dernier projet a commencé en Décembre 2014 et devrait se poursuivre jusqu’à la fin du mois de mai à 2015.
Montant total approuvé par AWDF: $ 30,000
Montant reçu à ce jour: $ 20 000[/tp]
AWDF Ranked 13th of Top 20 Human Rights Grantmakers – Foundation Center Report
AWDF Ranked 13th of Top 20 Human Rights Grantmakers – Foundation Center Report
[tp lang=”en” not_in=”fr”]The AWDF continues to be a continental leader in human rights giving globally, according to the Foundation Center’s latest Key Findings report.
AWDF came 13th out of the top 20 foundations in global giving by number of grants and was the only African institution, outranking other American and European foundations. (AWDF made 206 human rights grants in 2011)
Written by Foundation Center and the International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG), in collaboration with the International Network of Women’s Funds (INWF) and Ariadne – European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights, the latest edition of Advancing Human Rights identified $1.7 billion in human rights funding from foundations in 34 countries awarded to more than 10,000 organizations around the world. Human rights work supported by foundations ranges from ensuring the right to peaceful assembly and association to supporting freedom from violence to promoting the right to education.
“For me this is amazing because we are still struggling to find resources,” Abigail Burgesson, AWDF’s Special Programmes Manager, said. “I am very pleased that with these resources we are ranked so high,” she said.
“The fact is that very little overall is being given to human rights compared to other sectors, …but for AWDF it is an encouragement, we are doing what we need to do,” Burgesson said.
Click here to view the report below: humanrights2014[/tp]
[tp lang=”fr” not_in=”en”]AWDF continue d’être un chef de file en matière de droits continental donnant globalement, selon le dernier rapport ‘Key Findings’ de Foundation Center’s .
AWDF est arrivé 13e sur les 20 premières fondations mondiales à donner en nombre de subventions et était la seule institution africaine, surclassant d’autres fondations américaines et européennes. (AWDF a fait 206 dons pour les droits de l’homme en 2011)
Écrit par Foundation Center et le International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG), en collaboration avec International Network of Women’s Funds (INWF) et Ariadne – Les bailleurs de fonds européens pour le changement social et les droits de l’homme, la dernière édition de Advancing Human Rights a identifié que 1,7 milliard $ des financements pour les droits de l’homme sont levés dans des fondations dans 34 pays et ont été redistribués à plus de 10.000 organisations à travers le monde. Le travail des droits de l’homme soutenu par des fondations varie pour garantir le droit de réunion pacifique et d’association pour soutenir la liberté contre la violence ou la promotion du droit à l’éducation.
«Pour moi, cela est étonnant parce que nous luttons toujours pour trouver des ressources,” Abigail Burgesson, Gestionnaire des programmes spéciaux à AWDF, a déclaré. «Je suis très heureuse qu’avec ces ressources que nous soyons classé si élevé», dit-elle.
“Le fait est que très peu globalement est accordée aux droits de l’homme par rapport à d’autres secteurs, … mais pour AWDF c’est un encouragement, nous faisons ce que nous devons faire», a déclaré Burgesson.
Cliquez ici pour voir le rapport ci-dessous: humanrights2014[/tp]