Welcome!
Communication is something we engage in on a daily basis, whether through spoken or written words, images, signs or body language. But have you ever thought about the power of communication? You can use it to build relationships, express yourself, influence others, teach, sell and entertain, to name but a few.
As a research, evaluation and communications consultancy, servicing nonprofits, government and funders, Creative Consulting & Development Works realises all too well the importance of communication in the development sector of South Africa. That is why this 12th edition of our newsletter focuses on communication and development.
In the article Justice will be served, you will read about the importance of communication in raising awareness about the role community advice offices are playing to ensure access to justice for marginalised communities.
Read about the influence of HIV/AIDS communication programmes on testing and prevention among South African youth, in the article Getting the message across.
In Model support, we continue looking at the fight against HIV and AIDS by profiling the Networking AIDS Community of South Africa's three-tier model, used to support the community based organisations that are addressing this issue at grassroots level.
We give you tips on How to improve your organisation's online visibility and offer you a new approach to strategic planning with our Preferred Futuring Workshops in Making your preferred future a reality. Contact us if you would like to benefit from this workshop.
To end off, we look at what Steven Robins communicates in his book Revolution to Rights and we also review The Education of a British Protected Child by Chinua Achebe.
Don't forget to read What's Up at Development Works. We want to share the latest happenings with you. In fact, we have recently moved offices! We are now located at Unit 3, Green Square, Hares Crescent, Woodstock. Our telephone number, fax number, email and postal address stay the same.
Enjoy our newsletter and remember to use your words wisely today, being aware of the power they possess!
If you live in a poor, rural community and you get evicted from your home, get treated unfairly by your employer, or if you have trouble accessing a grant, who will you turn to for help?
Access to justice should be available to everyone, according to our Constitution. That is why community advice offices, that give free legal advice to vulnerable and marginalised member of society, are doing such an important job.
Read more...
Communication programmes have a significant influence on knowledge of HIV and AIDS prevention, on condom use among the youth of South Africa, as well as on getting tested and talking about your status.
These are some of the findings of the National Communications Survey on HIV/AIDS 2009. Creative Consulting & Development Works attended a workshop to discuss the preliminary findings of this research at the Le Vendôme hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town.
The study examined the effectiveness of 11 South African HIV/AIDS communication programmes, namely:
Read more...
The response to HIV and AIDS often happens at grassroots level, with community based organisations (CBOs) making a real difference. But these small organisations need to be strengthened to deliver effective HIV and AIDS programmes in their communities.
The Networking AIDS Community of South Africa (NACOSA) not only builds the capacity of CBOs, but also uses a comprehensive development model, which includes networking and promoting dialogue, to strengthen these organisations.
Read more...
We live in very visual age, in which we are constantly bombarded with images and messages – especially on the internet. If you want to stand out, whether you are government, a non-profit, a funding organisation or a business, you need an effective communications and visibility strategy.
Creative Consulting & Development Works has experience in developing communications and visibility strategies and revamping websites. We are also skilled in the use of social media such as Facebook, Flickr and Twitter.
Here are some of the tips and tricks that we have learnt:
Read more...
Too often, traditional strategic planning interventions offer a frustratingly short-lived insight into what is possible for your organisation. So many exciting plans fall by the wayside and worthy goals are abandoned as organisations keep doing the same things in the same ways.
Creative Consulting & Development Works has however, taken part in a two day strategic visioning session that really broadened our perspective of the company's future. We are now pleased to offer the Preferred Futuring Workshops to fellow organisations.
Read more...
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social movements have proliferated in post-apartheid South Africa. They have stepped up where the ANC, once a revolutionary movement and now a ruling party, has had difficulty providing better social and economic conditions to vulnerable communities.
This is what Steven Robins writes about NGOs in his book From Revolution to Rights in South Africa: Social movements, NGOs and Popular Politics after Apartheid.
According to Robins, these NGOs leverage the rights provided to South Africans in the post-apartheid laws, to better the lives of citizens. They also sometimes make use of cultural rights to gain the support and resources they require, especially from donors.
Read more...
The fiction of Chinua Achebe, a great African writer and thinker, has brought about new perspectives on Africa, its colonial past and the impact thereof on Africa’s future.
In his new book of non-fictional essays, The Education of a British-Protected Child, Achebe expands on his thoughts regarding these and other issues.
The book gives the reader access to Achebe’s great mind. However, it is not an academic publication. “I hope my readers are not expecting to encounter the work of a scholar,” he writes. Instead, the book is written in the same captivating style that keeps readers enthralled by his fiction. Words are used economically and precise.
The book also contains...
Read more...
What's Up at Development Works
- Creative Consulting & Development Works has moved premises! You can now visit us at Unit 3, Green Square, Hares Crescent, Woodstock. Our telephone number, fax number, email and postal address stay the same.
- Take a look at our our website's new home page! Click here.
- Development Works has an exciting new offering: Preferred Futuring Workshops. Read more...
- We are currently conducting a National Evaluation of the Impact of the Mindset Health Intervention’s HIV/AIDS Programming.
- After summarising and writing a booklet on the Constitution for the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, we are now managing the illustration, layout and overall production.
- We have compled an evaluation of Museums for the Western Cape Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
- Development Works has conducted research, using a case study approach of expanded public works programmes locally and internationally that represent best practice, for the Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works. Development Works has also facilitated a round table discussion with stakeholders to consider this research.
- Our communications support to the National Alliance for the Development of Community Advice Offices continues, as we are writing, editing, and managing the layout and design of the second edition of their newsletter.
Contributors and Contact
Contributors:
Lindy Briginshaw (CEO), Carolyn Meads (Writer, Editor and Content Manager), Susannah Clarke (Researcher), Priscilla Magadzire (Researcher), Ashley Kundishora
(Research Intern) and Jacques van Niekerk (Technologist).
Contact:
For more information about Development Works or the Development Works Newsletter, please visit our website or email lindy@developmentworks.co.za or call +27 21 448 2058.
Your email address exists in our database and with your permission we would like to continue sending you our future editions. To unsubscribe from our database, please click on the link at the end of the newsletter.
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the official views of Development Works. We endeavour to share information, best practices, successes and achievements and raise topical issues in a manner that is balanced and fair, truthful and accurate. Our blog provides a space for commenting and debating issues that matter, so click here to share your opinions.
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Copyright:
The copyright is Creative Commons based Attribution/Non-Commercial: Attribution (by): Licensees may copy, distribute, display and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only if they give the author or licensor the credits in the manner specified by these. Noncommercial or Non-Commercial (nc): Licensees may copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only for non-commercial purposes.
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