What did I do in South Africa?

By Neela Deshmukh, VSO Volunteer, India

I was enrolled as VSO volunteer and was waiting to get a suitable placement. I had turned down 2 placements suggested by the recruitment office as one wasnt suitable to my experience and the other was in some coldest part of the world and though I was ready to rough it out as a volunteer; I wasnt ready to freeze in sub zero conditions for two years. So when I received the job profile from KZN Network on Violence against Women an organisation in South Africa, I was very excited. I have been a gender activist and working for gender and HIV and AIDS in another country was a dream job. After a days orientation at the programme office (SA), I arrived at Durban and gradually got acquainted with the realities. Against all odds The organisation: The organisation was an affiliated provincial body of the national network. However, when the national network became defunct, most of the provincial networks met its natural end except the two networks. One of it was KZN Network on Violence against Women. It sustained on the strength of the commitment on the part of its Director. I soon learnt that there was a board but the members were hardly active. Over the years the annual general meetings of regional members could not be held due to paucity of funds. There were no systems in place. The organisation was working with meagre funds. The funding that came through was for running programmes and not towards meeting administrative costs. It could not afford to employ a permanent staff. The staff: At the Network, besides the Director and an administrative assistant there was no permanent staff. There was one lady from India working on voluntary basis and a group of trainees. And now I had arrived. The trainees were doing internship as a part of their national level certificate course. Some of them dropped out for several reasons and rest left after the programme was over.
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The trainees were doing internship as a part of their national level certificate course. Some of them dropped out for several reasons and rest left after the programme was over. At the end of one year of my placement, there was only the Director and I working for the Network. The admin assistants would sometimes be there depending on the finances of the Network. Infrastructure and resources: The organisation had an office in central Durban which had to be given up as there was no funding to take care of the rent. Around 1 and years of my placement, the Director explained to me that she was moving the office to her residence and I was asked to work from my home. One of the computers was shifted to my place. Initially for more than 10 months only one computer was available in the office. Everyone including trainees who were required to submit their assignments to their institute would have claim on the same computer. Ultimately VSO helped the Network to buy two more computers of which one was allotted to me. Telephone and fax was available till we had an office. But after moving out of the office, I did not have these means of communications. Internet access was not available to me. My work required me to keep myself updated. I overcame this obstacle by accessing net from Net Cafes at my own cost. The Director was using telephone connection for net. I suggested broadband connection could be faster and economical and more computers could be connected. However, the suggestion was unheeded for a long time. The volunteers concerns: In absence of proper organisation structure and constitution it was difficult to avail funding for its ongoing programmes. In turn it resulted into not having proper infrastructure and resources. Except the Director trying to hold the fort, no board members were visible who could restore the dwindling organisation. I discussed the need to have active board members who could give concrete contribution in building up the organisation and the need to develop constitution and policies for the organisation with the Director couple of times. But I doubted if I was making any progress. I was not sure how the programmes that I developed would be sustainable. At the same time my concern was to whom I could transfer the skills so that the programmes run on continued basis. The time I Left: The new board is in formative stage. I have assisted to simplify and modify draft constitution prepared by the short term VSO volunteer. It will be finalised by the newly formed board in near future.

iVolunteer Overseas
D-134, First Floor, East of Kailash New Delhi-110065

Tel.: +91 11-26217459 Email : vso@ivolunteer.in Website: www.ivoindia.org

The organisation has entered into partnership with Project Concern International for the programme on social mobilisation. This programme will give the Network much required stability in terms of funds and resources. The broadband connection was installed in the Network office which is faster and cost saving. How did things change? When I came to work in South Africa I did not have the slightest idea what type of organisation I would work for except that I knew what type of work it is involved in. And then I found that I was in a situation where there were simply no resources, no infrastructure, and no personnel whatsoever. I asked to myself now that I was here, what best I could do to make a difference. I concentrated on developing projects for the organisation. I had come on 2 years placement. In 1 and years I was almost ready to wind up and go back by the end of 2 nd year. The Director had suggested extending the placement. There were times I felt totally isolated and alienated from the mainstream; working without an office space, without resources and without communication. But I could as well see that the projects I worked on would crumble after I leave. There was no professional help in the organisation to take over the projects from me. I was in a dilemma. Once I was speaking to my daughter overseas and I mentioned the situation to her. She simply asked, can you think how you can help to make it right? This remark changed my thought process. I decided to stay and extended the placement. I gave the professional support to the Director so that she was able to concentrate on other matters; more importantly much needed fund raising. I have done a SWOT analysis of the organisation to help in introspecting its strengths and weaknesses. In conclusion I am glad that I have contributed in some way in development of the organisation that has a long reaching effect in terms of its goals, stability, structures and systems. It highlights the positive approach to address challenges and sheer perseverance make things happen. It perhaps could be a path finding example to VSO volunteers working in diverse conditions. What I did as a VSO Volunteer? 1.0 Capacity Building Activities: 1.1 Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS: The Volunteer developed and designed the trainers programme on Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS. She facilitated trainers workshops in KZN province: Total no. of workshops conducted: 9 No. of participants covered: 206

1.2 Follow up workshops on Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS: The Volunteer designed the follow up programme.
iVolunteer Overseas
D-134, First Floor, East of Kailash New Delhi-110065 Tel.: +91 11-26217459 Email : vso@ivolunteer.in Website: www.ivoindia.org

No. of follow up workshops conducted: 4 No. of participants: 92

1.3 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education in Community: This project was implemented in a black township (Umlazi) to a group of home based care volunteers in 4 phases and the content of the training included female and male sexual and reproductive systems, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV transmission, pregnancy, contraceptives, termination of pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, gender violence and human rights. No. of workshops conducted: 4 No. of participants: 25

1.4 Life Skills Education for Learners: The Volunteer designed and introduced interventions in secondary schools for Grade 8. She facilitated training workshops for service providers and educators in the relevant schools where the project was implemented. The programme was introduced in 8 high schools in KZN. (5 schools in Durban + 3 schools in New castle) No. of trainers workshops: 3 No. of participants covered: 72 educators and service providers No. of learners reached: Apprx. 1000

The program also included using pre and post intervention tests which learners had to complete to assess their knowledge prior to the implementation of the program on SRHR and Life Skills and after the program to assess the impact of the program. The data from the questionnaires was captured and the findings were compiled into the report. 2.0 Material Development: 2.1 Training manual on Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS: The Volunteer in partnership with the AIDS Legal Network co -developed and co-produced a training manual on the link between Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS. The volunteer then facilitated train the trainer workshops in the province for service providers using the manual as a tool. 2.2 A Guidebook on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: The Volunteer put together training manual on SRHR to educate women/girls in communities. 2.3 Manual on Life Skills for Teens: The Volunteer compiled a manual and also developed reading material in the form of hand outs for trainers. The manual contains 9 modules comprising female and male sexual and reproductive systems, gender equality, teen age pregnancy, contraceptives, termination of pregnancy, rape, STIs, HIV and AIDS and conflict resolution.
iVolunteer Overseas
D-134, First Floor, East of Kailash New Delhi-110065 Tel.: +91 11-26217459 Email : vso@ivolunteer.in Website: www.ivoindia.org

3.0 Monitoring and Evaluation Tool: The Volunteer introduced Pre and Post Intervention Test as a monitoring and evaluation tool which has been used for Life Skills programme, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education programme and PEP programme. She has documented comparative studies assessing the impacts of these programmes.

iVolunteer Overseas
D-134, First Floor, East of Kailash New Delhi-110065

Tel.: +91 11-26217459 Email : vso@ivolunteer.in Website: www.ivoindia.org