Sakhisizwe -Building the Nation - Bou Die Nasie

Today we spoke to Selaan Naidoo – Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Council. We were talking about his role as the CEO and also the fact that South Africa has won the bid to host the World Summit on Arts and Culture in 2009. If you more information about the National Arts Council you can contact their offices at (011) 838 1383 or visit their website at www.nac.org.za And we spoke to Charlene le Roux – Project Manager of Theatre for Life. The theatre for life is helping young people talk about issues such as sex, drugs and poverty. Learners from grade 1 to grade 12 participate in the programmes that consist of puppet shows, plays and discussions. The languages used are English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. For more information about the Theatre for Life you can contact them at (021) 447 855. We also spoke to Jill Joubert – Principal at the Frank Joubert Art Centre. The centre runs Ibhabhathane project which was established in 1998 and provides for learners from th...

Today we spoke to Benjamin Inno – Training Manager at the Zenzele. Zenzele is a non-profit organisation based in Khayelitsha. They provide residents from disadvantaged communities with skills training and business development training and economic empowerment programme. If you want more information about Zenzele you can contact their offices at (021) 361 1840 or visit www.zenzele-training.co.za And we will also be talking to Mymoena Scholtz from the New World Foundation The New World Foundation wants to make a difference by making the unemployed employed or self-employed. They do this by giving people information, knowledge and skills. Mymoena is a facilitator for adult education; she works with adults and the youth to prepare them for work. The course also offers life skills, communication and interviewing skills. If you want more information about the New World Foundation you can call their offices (021) 701 1150 or visit their website at www.newworldfoundation.org.za And our last in...

Today we spoke to Jane Notten – Businesswomen's Association Marketing portfolio Committee member. The Business Women’s Association is a non-profit, voluntary organisation that offers women business owners the opportunity to grow their businesses as well as creating business opportunities. This year the association in the Western Cape is calling for nominations for the regional business achiever awards. You must be nominated by a third party and can be put forward in any of the four categories. This includes start-ups, entrepreneurs, corporate and professional. For more information about the Business Women’s Association you can contact their offices at (021) 422 4054 or email them at ct@bwasa.co.za alternatively you can check their website at www.bwasa.co.za And we also had an interview with Rita Edwards – From the New Women’s Movement. The New Women's Movement is a membership-based organisation consisting of poor, unemployed women who have joined together to lobby government ...

Today we spoke to Stafford Isaac - acting social development manager at Cape Flats Development Association. CAFDA is a non-profit organisation that provides various services such as educational and social opportunities to disadvantaged communities. If you want more information about the organisation you can contact their offices at (021) 706 2050 or visit www.cafda.org.za And we also spoke to Professor Rose September from the Child and Youth Research and Training Programme. The programme is based at the University of the Western Cape and they focus on doing research on children between the ages of 0 to 18 years. They also run various programmes on issues relating to children. If you want more information about the Child and Youth Research and Training Programme you can contact (021) 959 2602.

Today we spoke to Mrs Linda Bartholmew – a therapist from the Alta du Toit School. We were talking about Down syndrome. The Alta du Toit School provides specialized and professional education to learners with severe intellectual disability. For more information about the Down syndrome you can contact the school at (021) 903 4178 or contact Down syndrome South Africa at (011) 615 9401 alternatively visit their website at www.downsyndrome.org.za And we also spoke to Sister Anthea Eksteen – from the Heidevald Day Hospital. We will be talking about Cervical Cancer. Cervical Cancer is a very common malignant disease in South African women. In South Africa, cervical cancer made up an average of 20% of all cancer cases reported in females from 1998 to 1999. It is reported that every year, of an estimated 490, 000 females diagnosed with cervical cancer around the world, 273, 500 die of cervical cancer. The Heideveld day hospital is offering free pap smears for women this week and they urge pe...

Today we spoke to Bradley van Sitters - from the Cape Town Festival. The Cape Town International Performing Arts Festival will be showcasing a variety of dance and drama performances. Choreographed by the talented Christopher Kindo, the performance showcases the talents of an impressive list of performers. The performance will be at the Joseph Stone Auditorium tomorrow at 8PM. Members of the public can view the show at the Festival reduced ticket price of R30. Bradley is giving away complimentary tickets, if you are interested call him or Joy at (021) 465 9042. Tickets can also be purchased online through Computicket at www.computicket.com or call Computicket on 083 915 8000, or buy your tickets directly at the venue. Full details of the Festival Programme are available on the Festival website www.capetownfestival.co.za And we also spoke to Troy Truter – Project Manager of Community Health and Arts Trust. The Community Health and Arts trust launched a new pilot project yesterday calle...

Today we spoke to Dawie Bosch – Chief Technical Advisor for the Programme towards the elimination of the worst kinds of child labour. The programme deals with issues in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. This programme works with various other organisations and their programme is about taking action against child labour. If you want more information about the programme you can contact Dawie at (012) 431 88 29 or email tecl@tecl.org.za And we also spoke to Toni Wilcox. Toni is a center manager from Build Adult Learning Co-Operative or Balco. It is a non-profit organisation that strives to empower and transform deprived communities. Their focus is on unemployment and illiteracy. They have community learning centre in different areas like Lavender Hill, Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha to Steenberg. If you want more information about the Balco you can call their offices (021) 706 2261 or email them at balco-abet@mweb.co.za And we closed off the show with an interview with Ca...

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY Today we spoke to Edwina Mataisen – Gender Training Facilitator. Many times people violate other’s rights. Rape incidents, murders and women abuse stories are around us everyday. Edwina does gender training with factory workers and is one of the few people trying to make a difference. It is important for everyone to know their rights. But remember a right comes with responsibilities. For more information or if you are interested in one of the workshops you can contact her at (021) 951 5823 or 073 120 7599. And we also spoke to Betina Wyngaard – From the Women’s Legal Center. The women’s legal centre focuses on all kinds of issues facing women today. Some of these range from customary law, unfair discrimination, violence against women and domestic violence. For more information you can contact their offices at (021) 461 087 or visit their website at www.wlce.co.za Our last interview was with John Makhubele from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Devel...

Today we spoke to Rosalia Mashale – director of the Baphumelele Children’s Home. The home was created as a place of safety for abandoned, abused, neglected or orph aned children, most of whom are either infected with or affected by HIV/Aids. Through the hard work and help of different individuals, Baphumelele has developed into a thriving community project over the years. If you want more information about Baphumelele you can contact their office at (021) 361-8631 or visit their website at www.baphumelele.org.za PIC:www.baphumelele.org.za And we also spoke to Dan Brown – coordinator of the Learn to Live project. Learn to live is one of the first schools specializing in the education of street children. The school caters for about 100 children depending on shelters and street children organisations. The school and teachers strive to make a positive influence on the children’s lives. If you want more information about the project you can contact their offices at (021) 425 1450 Our last i...

Today we spoke to Dr Dagmar Whitaker. We were talking about Psoriasis. Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic skin disorder that is seen as peeling plaques on the skin. It affects one to two percent of the population. For more information you can contact the South African Psoriasis Association at (021) 556 1141 or email them at psoriasis@blaauwberg.net alternatively you can visit your nearest clinic or hospital. And we also spoke to Hans Brauer counseling and educational psychologist. We were talking about Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. ADHD is a disorder characterized by three primary symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. ADHD is a neurological condition and runs in families. If left untreated ADHD can have negative effects on one’s adult life. For more information about ADHD you can contact the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Support Group of South Africa at (011) 888 7655 or email them at adhasa@telkomsa.net

Today we spoke to Thembi Ngubane and Joe Richman – Executive Producer of Radio Diaries. Thembi is a young woman who is HIV positive and over the course of a year she recorded audio of her daily struggle of living with the virus it’s called Thembi’s AIDS Diary. It is a unique story that tells her struggle of living with HIV. The 50 hours that she initially recorded was cut down to half an hour. The documentary was broadcasted for the first time in the United States in April 2006. Since then over fifty million listeners around the world has had the privilege to hear Thembi’s story and now it is broadcasted in the country. She has been all over the country and today they will be at Labia Theater in Cape Town at 17h30. Tomorrow March the 17th they will be at Andile Msizi Hall in Khayelitsha Site B at 17h00 PM on Sunday March the 18th the event will be in Masiphumelele at 14h30 PM. For more information you can contact Joe at (021) 686 6636 or their website at www.radiodiaries.org PIC:www.u...

Today we spoke to Deborah Menzi – Training Manager at Etafeni Day Care Cen tre. Etafeni day care centre is a non-profit organisation situated in Nyanga. It is a crèche, preschool and after school care. They also run various programmes in the community. They are currently recruiting young people with matric certificate to train in their programme aimed at empowering them for employment. The training will start on the 2nd of April. If you want more information about the training you can contact Deborah at (021) 386 1516 or visit their website at www.etafenitrust.org PIC:www.etafenitrust.org And we also spoke to Althea Mac Quene – Western Cape Coordinator of the Dev elopment Institute for training, support and Education for Labour or Ditsela. Ditsela was established in 1996 by SA’s major trade union federations to help build the Labour Movement’s education. Their motto is ‘Pathways to Strong Labour Movement’. They want to help build labour capacity to strengthen worker participation, stre...

Today we spoke to Judith Smith – Director of the Southern African Media & Gender Institute or SAMGI. The institute promotes human rights by increasing the range of voices heard in Southern Africa through participatory education, advocacy, lobbying and media production to improve the status of women. For more information about SAMGI you can contact their offices at (021) 424 0659 or visit their website at www.samgi.org.za And we also spoke to Tarryn Adams – Marketing and communications officer for the Women's Hope Education and Training Trust also known as WHEAT Trust. The organisation was established in June 1998 to strengthen women’s commitment to community development and to create a culture of giving because this shows that people care about each other. Wheat trust has over the year’s established a bursary, the wheat trust community award, organised various training programmes and created employment. For more information you can contact their offices at (021) 447 3366 or fax...

Today we spoke to Neville Sabor – from the Elsies River community advice office. The advice office provides the previously disadvantaged communities and organisations with advice, advocacy help and help with issues such as human rights, family and labour law, accessing government social grants, environmental problems and youth issues. The aim of the office is to create more awareness in the community on their rights and wants people to develop skills to improve their quality of life. So if you want more information about the community advice office you can contact their office at (021) 933 4494. And we also spoke to Fatima Hassan – An attorney from Aids Law Project. The Aids law project wants to promote equality and justice for all. Their main focus is on people living with HIV and AIDS. They experience a lot of discrimination in the workplace, proper medical treatment and their rights are usually violated. The aids law project helps people with aids to deals with these issues. If you...

Today we spoke to Asma Achmat – Manager for special center at the Cape Mental Health Society. We were talking about intellectual disability as we know that March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month. Approximately two percent of the population is intellectually disabled. Intellectual disability may occur at birth or later in life through illness or injury. It is estimated that up to forty percent of cases of intellectual disability are preventable. Unfortunately intellectual disability cannot be cured, as brain damage is permanent. For more information you can contact the Cape Mental Health Society at (021) 447 9040 or email them at info@cmhs.co.za alternatively you can visit their website at www.capementalhealth.co.za And we were also joined by Jennifer Woodhall – Mindfulness Meditation Workshop facilitator. We were talking about meditation. Jennifer will be conducting meditation workshops on the 15th -17th of March. The opening talk will be free and open to all on Friday the 1...

Today we spoke to Asanda Lugalo – High Schools Programme Coordinator from the South African Education and Environmental Project. The project is dedicated to helping children and young adults in South Africa’s historically disadvantaged township communities develop their academic and life skills, obtain productive employment, and contribute as leaders to the economic and social development of their communities and their country. This is part of a SAEP's historic mission to help South Africa achieve environmentally sustainable development through improvement of living conditions, development of skills, and use of South Africa's natural environment to create economic opportunities for those who remain marginalized as the country's economy continues to grow. For more information you can call Asanda at (021) 689 2020 or their website at www.saep.org PIC: www.saep.org And we also spoke to Graham Falken – Director of the Arts and Media Access Centre or AMAC. AMAC provides access ...

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Today we spoke to Willy Mathys – Project Director of We Shall Overcome Prejudice better known as WE-SHOP. Their mission is to work towards the elimination of economic and social prejudices against physically challenged people by building skills and employment opportunities. If you want more information about the project you can contact their offices at (021) 903 4211 or visit their website at www.we-shop.co.za And we also spoke to Raymond Sizani – Business Development Officer from the NICRO’s Economic Opportunities Project. The Project assists those who want to start or improve their own small businesses by providing the necessary skills training and support services to ensure that their business ventures are sustainable. This non-financial support programme creates awareness of viable business opportunities that exist in the informal sector, and includes entrepreneurial skills training workshops, the establishment of business support groups and access to lear...

Today we spoke to Dr Helen Scanlon – Author of a book titled “Representation and Reality: Portraits of Women’s Lives in the Western Cape: 1948 – 1976”. The book dr aws on the personal narratives of women from across the political spectrum in the Western Cape and presents an insightful and sensitive regional perspective on the political history of South African women and it will be launched tomorrow in celebration of the International Women's Day. For more information about the book you can contact the Centre for Conflict Resolution at (021) 422 2512 or check ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za IMAGES: www.ccr.uct.ac.za We also spoke to Nolitha Mazwai – Advocacy coordinator from Rape Crisis. Rape Crisis believes that men and women need to take collective responsibility to curb violence against women and it is through this partnership that real change will take place in our society. For more information about Rape Crisis you can contact their offices at (021) 447 1467 or visit their website at www...

Today we spoke to Maria Msebenzi and Willem van der Velden - from the Centre for Creative Education. The centre is an adult education centre and teacher training orga nisation. The aim of the centre is to develop creative approaches to teaching children by developing schools and train teachers in Waldorf teaching. Their services range from part-time and full-time training programmes as well in service training. Some of the events held by the centre are open days, short courses and public lectures. Xhosa speaking people are invited to apply to be trained as teachers. If you want more information about the center you can contact their offices at (021) 797 6802 or email info@cfce.org.za or visit their website at www.cfce.org.za PIC:www.cfce.org.za We also spoke to Moefeeda Kagee - Trainer and Child Witness coordinator from the Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect better known as RAPCAN. Child abuse is on the increase because we always hear those horrible stories of...

Today we spoke to Jacques Lambiotte – chairman of the National Kidney Foundation of South Africa. One of the aims of the foundation is to provide education and information to the public on kidney diseases and how to prevent from getting any kind of kidney disease. It is said that Chronic Kidney Diseases will claim 36 million lives by the year 2015 and 10 thousand South African men, women and children will die of kidney failure every year. For more information you can contact the National Kidney Foundation at (011) 447 2531 or email them at nkfsa@mweb.co.za alternatively you can visit their website at www.nkf.co.za We also spoke to Fawzia Desai – Deputy Director for the Western Cape health department about diarrhea as we know that February and March are designated as Diarrhoeal Disease Focus Months. For more information about Diarrhoeal Disease you can visit your nearest clinic or day hospital or contact at the department of health at (021) 483 3235. Our last interview was with Profess...

Today we spoke to Advocate Brenda Madumise - National Arts Council Deputy Chairperson. The council consists of 22 members, which includes the Executive Committee me mbers and the provincial representatives. The council members are sourced from the art industry and are industry specialists as well as from other disciplines that help in adding a range of expertise including law, accounting and management. Every year, it invests a significant amount of public funds in the arts in South Africa. The Council believes that the arts have the power to transform lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country. For more information about the council or if you want to apply for funding you can contact their offices at (011) 838 1383 or fax them at (011) 838 6363 alternatively you can e-mail to info@nac.org.za or visit their Website at www.nac.org.za PIC:www.nac.org.za We also spoke to Nicolas Spagnoletti – an actor from Improvision. Improvision is the company...

Today we spoke to Geoffrey Burton – Chairman of the Management committee from the Craft Centre. The Craft centre trains impoverished people especially women in craft making and they sell their products at the civic centre. They are also offering free driving lessons to the people who are unable to pay. Geoffrey explained about the history of the center and also their future plans as a job creation project. So if you want more information about the Centre you can call (021) 461 8766 or (021) 461 5508.