AV Magazine Summer 2014/2015 by australianvolunteersinternational

Australian Volunteers International Magazine I Summer 2014/15

• Changing lives through women’s education

Au s t r a l i a n SI

na t i o na l

• Building economic capacity of women in the Pacific

l un t e e r s I n ter

Women in Development

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Contents 03 > Inclusive leadership 05 > Empowering women in the Solomon Islands 06 > Changing lives in Vietnam 08 > Food security in Lesotho 10 > Overcoming marginalisation 12 > Improving economic livelihoods 14 > Ending violence against women 16 > Exploring tourism in North Nias 18 > Volunteering in Timor-Leste 20 > A learning curve in India 21 > Young bloods unite 22 > A ‘deadly’ volunteer experience 25 > A global education 26 > Wheels in motion 28 > Challenging sanitation

CEO Message American business person and philanthropist, Melinda Gates once said “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” At Australian Volunteers International (AVI), we have always been strong advocates of improving gender equality, and increasing women’s access to participation and opportunity - educationally, economically, and socially. We are passionate about giving all women a voice, and encouraging their full participation in the decision making process. For gender equality to be advanced universally, we need deliberate action, not just from development agencies on the ground, but also from local and national government agencies, public and private sectors, civil society, religious organisations and education institutions, the world over. We all need to make a dedicated commitment to promote gender equality, identify and address structural and systemic barriers and give women a voice to participate in their own development process. In this edition of AV magazine, we highlight the important work Australian volunteers are doing to improve women’s empowerment across the globe. Over the years, a key focus of both my own work and that of the organisation, has been to strengthen women’s participation in civil society, and to promote leadership roles for women, ensuring they have an active voice in determining their own development objectives. In my time as CEO, I have had the great privilege of meeting, learning from, and walking alongside strong women around the world. Their stories are inspirational and each contribution is an important step on this journey. This message sadly, will be my last as CEO, as I have decided to depart after 12 and a half wonderful years at AVI. It has been a great privilege to have learnt so much about what really constitutes success in this sector, acknowledging the importance of sustainable development, and appreciating the commitment necessary to work with and learn from the communities we engage with.

Australian Volunteers International connects people and organisations internationally to learn from each other and achieve shared goals. AVI enables Australians to join in global efforts to reduce poverty; promote human rights, good governance and gender equality; enhance health and education services; and protect the environment.

Australian Volunteers for International Development is an Australian Government initiative.

AVI is a member of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

From our closest neighbours in the Pacific: particularly Serena Sumanop who introduced me to the young women and men dedicating their lives to reshaping Papua New Guinea in their vision. To the women community leaders throughout the Pacific who are leading development in their own futures and those of their families, communities and governments. I will always remember the women Parliamentarians in Timor-Leste, who are enabling their children to be educated in their first language; the women of Borneo who are ensuring that their oral history will be heard for a millennia; and the women across the African continent who are reducing the mortality rates of their babies. I will never forget the remarkable Palestinian woman I met when visiting a refugee settlement in Lebanon, who summed up the excellent work of our volunteers in education, mental health, disability services and aged care. With tearful and heartfelt appreciation she said, “Australians want to come and share with us, live amongst us and give of themselves, I cannot thank you enough.” I would like to thank everyone associated with AVI for their kind support over the years, and applaud the Board and staff for ensuring that our volunteers and our in-country partners are always at the heart of what we do. Some of you will know my long commitment to working with Indigenous people here in Australia. Recently, I read the latest Productivity Commission report on Indigenous disadvantage and in so many ways, things are getting worse - not better. Yes, gains have been made (and AVI is seen as a leader in our work to include more Indigenous people in our programs) but seeing all too clearly the heartbreaking facts, I knew I needed to contribute more broadly. So this year I will be focusing my efforts into re-energising this cause. Those of you who know me will be aware that I like wise and wonderful quotes. And it’s the advice of world renowned development expert Vandana Shiva (pictured) that I will leave you with, she said “I believe that if you just do your little bit without thinking of the bigness of what you stand against, if you turn to the enlargement of your own capacities, just that in itself creates new potential... I think we owe each other a celebration of life and to replace fear and hopelessness with fearlessness and joy.” Warmest regards always in love, hope and peace,

Dimity Fifer

Above > AVI CEO Dimity Fifer with Vandana Shiva. Photo > Courtesy Dimity Fifer

Comment Ella Kauhue

Inclusive Leadership: Embracing the Invisible By Ella Kauhue

For Ella Kauhue, President of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women, change across communities and cultures will occur through Photo > Courtesy IWDA embracing inclusive leadership. In many societies, she has found that this has become a controversial issue, as well as a development issue. Leaders recognise diversity of cultures but when it comes to achieving this through inclusive leadership, the road seems to be bumpy. In this article, Ella writes about how inclusive leadership involves the engagement of women and men in leadership, and the inclusion of minority and ethnic groups to be part of the decision-making process, at the national or at the community level. Inclusive leadership embraces diversity, and that means embracing the invisible as much as the visible. Unless there is understanding of the diverse elements that are happening, shaping a truly diverse and inclusive leadership in any society will be difficult. When different groups come together to discuss and consult each other on issues that matter to them, they are creating a culture that is leading to change. There is realisation from all parties that they are no longer alone. It is together that they will make a difference in their community, their family and their nation. In any society, there are women and men. In many of these societies, women in leadership are invisible and it is fundamental that women share that sense of responsibility in any kind of leadership that exists. This is a concern in Melanesian societies, although women are capable like their male counterparts, that leadership is an element that associates very much with culture and it is dominated by men only. This mentality is still very much alive in some of these countries especially in the Solomon Islands. The kind of leadership that is promoted in some Melanesian societies is status oriented. It is not so much about recognising what women can bring to the table in terms of the issues affecting them and their families, it is about the difference that they make to the situation of women and young girls. As a result, female leaders are missing from contributing to government policies that will be affecting the lives of women and young girls. It is crucial for women to be part of the decision making processes because they are the experts of their own issues and can best see a way to work through these issues. Women in leadership can divide nations and communities. One can be very supportive of placing women in leadership, while the other party says, this is all about women, therefore I do not want to be engaged. This type of behaviour is a hindrance for many women going beyond the home front to be engaged in areas such as politics, economic development and especially decisions that could have an impact on the lives of their daughters. By embracing inclusive leadership, you understand that these issues are not only a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue, but it is about changing mindsets, behaviour and attitudes to recognise the leadership abilities of other people. It is not about focusing on women, but building the right culture for women leaders to grow and for women to become role models for the younger generation.

As I see it, inclusive leadership is a two way process in which both the leader and his or her follower respects each other in a relationship that is responsive and responsible. The process is about recognising the potential of all parties and using this potential to move forward, and not leave others behind. Advancing women to be in leadership brings about an opportunity to address issues affecting women and girls more effectively. Currently these issues, such as gender based violence or leadership inequalities are rarely addressed at the highest level of decision making. Placing these issues affecting women and girls amongst the list of priorities of any government is the way forward. To do this we need to have confidence in women in leadership. Confidence in believing that wherever they are and whatever they do, they are capable and competent to undertake the responsibility that is placed on them. It is fundamental to take women more seriously when it comes to political or other forms of leadership. This concept of women lacking quality leadership is preconceived, but this is exactly whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in many of the Indigenous traditions. The mentality that only men can climb up the balcony of leadership is very much alive and accepted as a norm. If women are given the opportunity to lead, these women will do marvellous things for their country and for their people. We need women who can make a positive difference. The kind of women we are talking about here are women who have very strong principles and values, one that promotes respect for her male and female counterparts, in whatever circumstance she may encounter. We need women that will truly and honestly represent her people, and believe in them; one that stands for the truth; one that does not let bad influences get in her way, and one that has a high interest in the national issues of her country and the community. There is a need for greater realisation that if we are to take full advantage of the talent available in the community and if community perspectives are to be adequately represented, women need to participate along with men in leadership. Inclusive leadership must be accepted as an opportunity for both men and women to work together by supporting each other and recognising their potential. Women in leadership is not about women competing against men, nor is it an ego thing. It is about partnership and sharing of responsibility in discussion and decision making in any country, so that it can move forward to be a much fairer and economically sound nation. 03

Above > A young woman at the Honiara Botanical Gardens, Solomon Islands. Photo > Debra Plueckhahn

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Gender Focus Solomon Islands

Empowering Women and Girls in the Solomon Islands By Rachel McCarthy

According to UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, 70 percent of the global poor are women. They perform two thirds of the world’s work and earn less than 10 percent of the world’s wages. Women are also more likely than men to live in poverty because of social discrimination and lack of access to education, employment and financial services. For Australian volunteer and Capacity Development Officer, Rachel McCarthy, empowering women and girls to have better access to information and education, is all in a day’s work at Vois Blong Mere Solomon (VBMS) in the Solomon Islands. This is Rachel’s story. Vois Blong Mere means ‘the voice belonging to women’ and that is reflected in their mandate and the communities that they work with. VBMS takes a human-rights-based approach to its work, and maintains that increasing women’s access to information will afford women the realisation of their own rights as active citizens in the Solomon Islands. Some of VBMS’s key activities include: networking, cooperating and building relationships with other women’s and media organisations - both regionally and locally. The capacity and knowledge of women working in media at VBMS is already incredibly strong, resulting in local organisations often calling upon VBMS to conduct media training with their staff or communities. I have been involved in assisting staff to produce VBMS’s quarterly newsletter and organising events such as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and International Women’s Day. As a media organisation, I’m also assisting my colleagues to grow VBMS’s social media presence to help them develop their partnerships and link with other women’s networks across the Pacific region. The need for an organisation such as VBMS was initially recognised after a post-conflict refocussing workshop for women in 2001, at the end of the ‘Tensions’. While women played a crucial role in reconciliation processes during and after this five-year civil unrest, there was a need for an organisation that could link women to the media, enabling them to raise their voices and be a part of the future development of their country. I work with four full-time staff based in the country’s capital, Honiara, but VBMS’s work reaches out to women in the rural provinces. The remote nature of many of the outer islands means Above > Rachel McCarthy (centre) with local colleagues and volunteers during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Photo > Peza Wickham

that access to communication is a real challenge, but radio has proven a powerful tool in ensuring that even the most remotely located women can have their voices heard. Our weekly radio program covers the areas of agriculture, health, and human security. It allows VBMS to promote new programs or events such as International Women’s Day. Training programs are extended to provincial areas, and feature media workshops. As a result, women will climb to the top of a hill to find mobile reception to call the VBMS Director and share a news story, to disseminate through VBMS’ media networks. VBMS works in partnership with various organisations to mobilise Solomon Islands women who face many barriers in gaining positions of leadership at all levels of society. We’ve been holding workshops in partnership with UN Women, with potential female candidates for the national election. The work VBMS does highlights the real capacity women have to be successful in these positions. Since VBMS’s inception, the organisation has seen many positive changes in terms of women’s involvement in the media. One of my most significant achievements has been working with a local volunteer, who I’ve been mentoring in language and media training. Just last week the volunteer was promoted to the role of Solomon Islands Regional Correspondent for FemLINK Pacific (Pacific Women’s regional media organisation), a paid position which has her travelling to Fiji for training and producing stories for print. VBMS has the real potential to bring about sustainable change for Solomon Islands women by using the media as a tool for women to raise their voices. The organisation sees itself as a continual support for future Solomon Islands women to be empowered to make decisions and participate in their own development by making informed choices. 6 This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

Changing Lives Through Women’s Education in Vietnam By Tricia Sansom

Mekong Plus is a non-profit, community development organisation, providing health services, education, housing and sustainable employment opportunities for women in Southern Vietnam and Cambodia. Australian volunteer and Inclusive Education Adviser, Tricia Sansom, has been working with the organisation to promote education and improve literacy and numeracy rates of women and girls affected by poverty and isolation in Binh Thuan Province and the Mekong Delta region. Tricia shares her experiences. For many people living in the four rural districts of Duc Linh, Tanh Linh, Ham Thuan Nam in Binh Thuan Province and Long My District, in the Mekong Delta, it is often a life lived in poverty. Most residents have little access to permanent work and rely on casual day jobs labouring in the nearby fields, many are also illiterate, having not ever attended school or dropping out at an early age. For women living in these areas, a lack of reliable household income often means they are burdened with having to find work outside the home, as well as continuing to take care of the family. Access to education is limited, and as a result of boys being valued over girls, boys are the priority if an educational opportunity arises. Family violence is common place, and in many circumstances women are treated as second class citizens. Mekong Plus was established in 1994 and now supports over 3,000 households to improve access for women and girls to education, health services, employment and housing. Using an integrated approach, the organisation provides education scholarships for students who may not otherwise be able to afford an education, organises medical treatment for patients who can’t afford medical services, provides training and interest free loans to start up small businesses, and mobilises the community to assist them to build better and more sustainable housing structures. Mekong Plus recognises the importance of rural women’s empowerment through education and opportunity, and has focused on providing income generation programs such as the Mekong Quilt Projects, to assist poor and vulnerable women to achieve economic independence. Women’s health and sexual education programs for secondary school aged students also provide valuable information about gender equality and is helping communities to develop more positive attitudes towards women and girls. I began working with Mekong Plus as an Inclusive Education Adviser but my role later evolved into training and monitoring 06

staff in Ham Thuan Nam District who supported children in a program called Home Learning Boxes. The program supports children who are unable to attend school as a result of poverty, isolation or disability, or are in danger of dropping out of school altogether, by providing them with skills to assist their learning capabilities. Children are visited regularly by a home tutor who then provides them with either one-on-one or small group assistance, in academic or practical skills to help them become more independent at school and in their local community. Parents or carers are given suggestions for helping their children and are provided with some learning materials so they can practice the skills taught during the session with the tutor. As an Australian volunteer at Mekong Plus, I have been involved in training the local staff in assessing children’s needs, developing suitable programs and implementing appropriate literacy and numeracy learning activities. I take part in site visits with the staff and I’ve also have conducted three training workshops for all staff to assist in better meeting the needs of children living in these communities. I’m hoping that the women participating in these training workshops will have an opportunity to become trainers themselves, and eventually lead workshops in their own local communities.

Country Focus Vietnam

Mekong Plus Health Education Saving Lives

Above > Mrs Gia (right) talks with Ms Hang. Photo > Courtesy Tricia Sansom

Duc Linh District resident, Mrs Nguyen Thi Gia, owes her life to the health training she received from Mekong Plus in September 2012. A mother and full-time carer to her sick son, and family of five, Mrs Gia attended a health training course on the topic of breast cancer. 1

Being illiterate, Mrs Gia was unable to read books or newspapers to update herself on important health issues previously. The workshop focused on the importance of early detection in breast cancer and self-check methods, something she says she knew nothing about prior to attending the workshop. “During the training I recognised that I had some similar symptoms of breast cancer, but I didn’t think I would have it. After finishing the training, I came back to my house and immediately took a shower and checked myself according to what I learnt from the training. I couldn’t believe it when I discovered a lump in my breast.” “I lost weight and became worried and depressed I would be dead soon. However, with the encouragement from village workers and Thien Chi staff, I decided to go to the hospital in Duc Linh district to be checked by the doctor. After that, Duc Linh hospital suggested I go to a good hospital in Ho Chi Minh City that focuses on cancer.”

In the short time that I have been working with Mekong Plus, I have already seen the great impact their programs are having on the communities they are working with. One young student had spent six years in grade one because she could not pass the required exams to move forward. Eventually at age 12 she begged her mother to allow her to leave school. After her mother learnt about the Home Learning Box program, Trang was assessed and then started activities to help develop literacy and numeracy skills. After one year on the program Trang has demonstrated huge improvements in literacy and numeracy skills. However, the biggest gain has been in her self-confidence, and belief in her abilities. Her future looks much brighter.

After seeing a specialist, Mrs Gia was notified that she had caught the cancer in the first stage and that it could be well treated. “I felt very lucky and happy. After that I called my family and other people to inform them that I will come back soon. So I can continue to take care of my son,” she said. For people in rural villages, health training is an important way of learning about how they can protect themselves and their families’ health.

This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative. Opposite > Thanh in the inspection room at Mekong Plus with a quilted, batik yoga mat bag. Photo > Harjono Djoyobisono 1 > Trish (back right) at lunch with colleagues. 2 > Women quiltmaking. 3 > Trish and colleagues from Mekong Plus. Photos > Courtesy Tricia Sansom

Improving Food Security for a Sustainable Future in Lesotho By Liesl Keam

For the past 22 years the Rural Self Help Development Association (RSDA) has built a commendable track record in providing expert advice and support to the small-hold crop and livestock farmers in Maseru, Lesotho. Australian volunteer, Liesl Keam, joined the association as a Climate Change Adviser, and is working to improve RSDA’s capacity to engage with the Government on climate-smart agriculture and enhanced food security. Liesl shares her experiences. In Lesotho, agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population, most of which is engaged in subsistence farming. However, the ‘business as usual’ approach to agriculture in Lesotho is plagued by challenges of declining yields, land degradation, increasing fallow land and poor governance. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (2010), this has created a context of growing vulnerability, reflected in increased poverty and inequality, deteriorating health conditions (including low standards of food and nutrition security) and increasing exposure to external shocks and changing climatic conditions. The RSDA exists to eradicate food insecurity and to improve the lives of rural Basotho, by supporting sustainable agriculture, facilitating self-help initiatives and enabling rural communities to become more sustainable in their agricultural practices. RSDA works alongside over 50 small-scale farming groups and three umbrella farmer associates, to advocate and lobby for policy and governance actions that address their concerns and priorities. In addition to having access to a wide network of chiefs, local government officials and district service providers, RSDA also places Extension Officers in the field. They engage daily with farmers at a community level about the constraints and requirements needed to protect and enhance their natural resources and provide ongoing technical advice and mentoring. In my role as Climate Change Adviser, I work with RSDA staff to improve community participation and dialogue with government at conferences and high level working groups, on policies relating to sustainable development and the adoption of climate smart agriculture. 04 08

In April 2014, RSDA held a field day themed ‘Climate Smart Agriculture: Inspiration for Future Programming and Investment’, to provide information and practical examples of climate smart agriculture. The event assisted small-hold farmers and interested stakeholders to better understand how climate smart agriculture can be used to enhance economic livelihoods and future food security. The field day was attended by over 400 participants from all over Lesotho including key donor and government figures and the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. By engaging with farmers at this community level, RSDA have been able to successfully implement a number of pilot climate change adaptation and resilience building initiatives, which can be used as test cases for future policy making and improving the participants livelihoods. Particularly successful projects have included: assisting the Akofang Makaota Dairy Farmers Association to promote and produce sustainable fodder to be used as low cost dairy feeding alternatives, which in turn increases productivity. Supporting the Majantja Temong Farmers Umbrella Association to implement a community seed multiplication pilot of open pollinated varieties (OPV) has also seen positive results. OPVs are less susceptible to crop failure and unpredictable seasonal fluctuations, allowing farmers to harvest OPV seeds for income generation as well as preserving seed for future seasons.

This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

Country Focus

Lesotho

A Success Story from the Field - Improving Resilience and Access to Food in Lesotho In February 2013 Lesotho was in the midst of a food crisis caused by poor crops and pest outbreaks. Vulnerable populations were not able to access sufficient food for their families. Lesotho Food Security Relief and Resilience Program (LFSRP) was implemented by a consortium of NGOs including RSDA, to provide poor households with increased access to food and a greater resilience to future food crises. RSDA field workers trained households in homestead gardening and provided technical support to implement keyhole and trench gardens. In nine months 1,403 gardens were built by 1,210 participants, with 93 percent of those planted germinating. Anecdotal reports from field workers indicate that participants were particularly impressed with how the gardens allowed them to produce throughout the drought months with minimal water. Local Lenyakoane villagers, received seeds and training on how to establish keyhole gardens, and are now consuming their own vegetables and selling them to generate income. Community members can now produce a yield during severe drought.

Opposite > Community with their corn yield. 1 > A Lenyakoane woman standing in front of her keyhole garden. 2 > An RSDA participant reaps the benefits of climate smart agriculture. 3 > RSDA Farmers Association members displaying produce. 4 > Liesl (back) and field day participants, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (blue jumper) listen to a farmer explain his experiences with conservation agriculture. Photos > Courtesy Liesl Keam

Overcoming Marginalisation through Education and Youth Activism By Belinda Cheng

Having previously volunteered in Bangladesh, the Maldives and Botswana, Australian volunteer Belinda Cheng, had always been fascinated to learn about different cultures. When a position became available in Jordan at RUWWAD – Arab Foundation for Sustainable Development, a non-profit community empowerment organisation helping disadvantaged communities overcome marginalisation, Belinda jumped at the chance. She is now working as an Inquiry Based Learning Specialist in the community of Jabal Al-Natheef, in a sprawling unofficial refugee camp in East Amman, Jordan. This is Belinda’s story. 10

Jabal Al-Natheef is a community in East Amman containing an unofficial refugee camp. The entire area suffers from poor construction, under development, high population density, crowded living conditions, a 50 percent higher unemployment rate than the national average, and lack of certain public services. My host organisation, RUWWAD – Arab Foundation for Sustainable Development, assists disadvantaged communities to overcome marginalisation through youth activism, civic engagement and education. The organisation brings together volunteers by providing university and college scholarships to students from the community, and in return the students volunteer by working within RUWWAD’s Child Development Program. The program consists of components such as literature, creative arts, science and sports where children can express themselves throughout these mediums and develop a range of skills and values.

Country Focus The main objective of my assignment at RUWWAD is to mentor and assist the Child Development Program team to empower the scholarship volunteers as well as the children and parents within the community. My aim is to embed inquiry based learning into the program’s work plans, tools and assessment. My day-to-day role can be varied and unpredictable. Some days, I am in planning sessions with all the team members brainstorming concepts for the summer club and semester units, and other days I am working on various components of the child development program. Once we have designed the work plan, I participate in the training the scholarship holders so that they can be the facilitators in delivering the different components working with the children. During the delivery of the activities, my role is to observe and then provide feedback. At the end, we all contribute in the reflection and review sessions.

Jordan

throughout the organisation is motivating and encouraging. I hope the organisation continues with the fantastic work they have been doing since it was established in 2005, as I truly believe that knowledge is empowerment. If RUWWAD maintains its priorities in providing an environment of life-long learning through inquiry based learning and critical thinking, I am confident that change will continue to take place. This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative. Opposite > Excursion to the Roman Amphitheatre. 1 > In a workshop making ‘thinking hats’ with youth scholars. 2 > Belinda with Program Director and youth scholars. Photos > Courtesy Belinda Cheng

My favourite experiences so far have included: being involved with the celebration ceremonies of RUWWAD Day and the Summer Club, as well as the training sessions with the scholarship volunteers. When I witness the enthusiasm and connection between the staff, youth scholarship volunteers and the children, I feel honoured to be able to share these special moments with these seemingly ordinary people who have extraordinary passion towards being involved with RUWWAD. The biggest challenge for me personally is not being proficient in the Arabic language. I am trying my best to learn more Arabic, but my progress is very slow. Of course, everyone at RUWWAD is tremendously accommodating and tries to translate most things for me. Even the children are trying really hard to either teach me Arabic or speak to me in English. I think working collaboratively with my colleagues to develop the Inquiry Learning Framework has been my most significant contribution so far. When one of my colleagues said “She is not just a volunteer, she is part of our team,” I felt accepted by my colleagues. I have been able to build trust and a rapport with the people I am working with, and encourage a collaborative working environment where we can all share and exchange our ideas freely. The commitment, optimism and positive energy that flows

Country Focus

Solomon Islands

Improving Women’s Economic Livelihoods in the Pacific By Tahereh Novruzi Parker

Australian volunteer and Agriculture and Horticulture Teacher, Tahereh Novruzi Parker is currently working as Women in Business Development Officer in Gizo, a small town of around 7000 people, located in the Solomon Islands. She has been working with the Natural Resources Development Foundation (NRDF) to build the capacity of women to run livelihood activities including: honey farming, financial management and small business participation. This is Tahereh’s story. Although the NRDF’s head office is based in Gizo, we work with many different communities from the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Women are often the sole carers and despite working hard to have a livelihood for their families and an education for their children, there are many challenges they face along the way. There are not many opportunities for women at the village level. It is not easy for women to create a small business or for young girls to continue on to further education, as they have to go Honiara or Fiji to further their studies. The majority of girls finish school at primary level as families are unable to afford the hefty school and boarding fees. For most women, the main source of sustainable income comes from selling products from their garden - sweet potato, tapioca, cabbages - or selling hand-woven baskets, knitting, cultivating plants, coconut oil, honey, nuts, chilli, or ferns from the forest. Women often leave home for many days to sell their products in markets in Gizo or on other islands, a long distance from home, leaving their young daughters in-charge of the household in their absence. NRDF is a non-government organisation working to increase people’s awareness and involvement in sustainable natural resources management, environmental sustainability in logging regions, and management of small livelihood projects that contribute to community development. One of these projects is the production of honey.

To assist honey production I prepared fortnightly check lists with colourful pictures highlighting various factors that may cause reductions in honey production. I also suggested that local communities compare honey production levels between male and female bee keepers. The result was that female bee keepers have better production levels. I’ve found women from the villages to be enthusiastic and eager to learn, and apply new business ideas to the best of their ability. As a result NRDF are looking to offer educational training on bee keeping as a part of livelihood training for the women’s saving clubs. We’ve started coaching and training women in small business management workshops, in particular focusing on the marketing of honey products. Collectively we have explored marketing opportunities and looked at possible fair trade, bulk wholesalers and organic outlets to sell the honey. We’ve also looked at the product quality and customer demands to see if the honey is viable for the international market. We are hoping to trial community members making and selling new bee hive boxes which could be pre-cut, packaged and delivered to the people at training centres ready for selling. Interested people could buy the new boxes at reasonable prices to start their own bee keeping farms, and the sales from the product would hopefully generate a sustainable income for the family.

NRDF partners had previously established small community-based honey bee farms, but when I first began my volunteer assignment, honey production had decreased in some project areas, and was non-existent in others. This was due to a lack of enthusiasm, knowledge and training, on how the honeybee boxes should be cared for.

To further support small business development, the NRDF have established women’s saving club groups to provide business tools for women who do not have access to formal banking services. Women are taught how to save, budget, spend and use small loans to grow their small businesses. As well as learning how to save money, the women said the saving clubs are a good opportunity to network and socialise. A space to work together and help each other to progress.

One of my assignment objectives is to strengthen honeybee farming projects, with an emphasis on increasing women’s participation, improving financial management and strengthening market diversification.

This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

A Success Story from the Field – Sweetening the Deal in the Solomon Islands Mary Zautu is a single woman with three children living in the Inland village of Rarakisi, in Choiseul Province. In 2013 Mary became a honey farmer under the NRDF honey program, managing just one hive with her family. In just 12 months she has harvested 26 bottles of honey which she has sold for $30 a bottle. Any leftovers are appreciated by her kids who love the sweet honey. Mary has also become the Chairperson of the local Women’s Saving Club which was set up in June 2014 with help of NRDF. The club now has 11 members with a combined savings of more than $2,000 SBD in savings. Mary appreciates the small programs NRDF initiates, as it helps in the daily economic needs of her family.

Opposite > Tahereh with colleagues in Solomon Islands. 1 & 4 > Honey production. 2 > Women’s saving club members. 3 & 5 > Coconut oil production. 6 > Improving economic livelihoods with honey products. Photos > Courtesy Tahereh Novruzi Parker and Natural Resources Development Foundation

Taking the Stage to End Violence Against Women By Stephanie Raison

Australian volunteer Stephanie Raison has been working as a Communications and Advocacy Officer for UN Women Tanzania, to raise awareness and understanding of women’s empowerment and gender equality. Here she explains how the community are uniting to end violence against women. This is Stephanie’s story. On the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, screams ring out from a small hotel. It sounds like violence. This is highly possible given that in Tanzania approximately 48 percent of women have reported cases of physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime. However, in this case it is thankfully just a reenactment. Elizabeth Youth Group is rehearsing its next performance, based on the real life experience of its members. The Group consisting of vulnerable young people has been supported for the past year by UN Women Tanzania, to use theatre as an awareness raising tool for gender based violence prevention in local communities across Dar es Salaam. A week later rope is being strung up around four posts, a makeshift stage has been set resembling a boxing ring. The rope is to keep the small, barefoot children that have already gathered off the stage. A small truck pulls up and a group of tough looking young men jump down. Bongo flava music is soon blasting from the speakers. A crowd has already gathered before the MC, Yusuph Kawanga, Elizabeth Youth Group Vice-Chairperson, starts announcing that the show, supported by UN Women, is about to begin. Women in bright khangas (local sarongs) stand in the shade discussing what is happening, football players stop their street match, children sit in the sand as close as possible to the stage. Even the boiled egg sellers stop and put down their crate of salt encrusted eggs to lean against a tree and watch. A man and woman come bouncing onto the stage and start dancing. The neighbourhood erupts into laughter at the sight of a young man with fake breasts and make up dressed as a woman, and a young girl with a fake beard in a suit playing a guitar. Swapping gender roles on stage is nothing new in theatre but it is in Tanzania. By highlighting the stereotypes The Group is warming the audience up to see a man step into the shoes of a woman, to see how she is treated. As the show goes on, the skits become more and more serious, and messages around violence against women and children start to be acted out. By this time the streets around the makeshift stage have swelled and more than 300 people have stopped 14

to watch. The egg seller is even doing a good business from his front row seat under the tree. Supported by UN Women, Elizabeth Youth Group has reached out to more than 3,000 people this year with messages on preventing violence against women and girls said UN Women Programme Analyst Clarissa Berg, who manages the organisation’s partnerships on ending violence against women and girls. “It has been amazing to work with the Elizabeth Youth Group as they are young people with lots of energy and new ideas. It was Stephanie, an Australian volunteer working with us, who first noticed how talented they were and she linked them up to UN Women and arranged for meetings with them to discuss how we could implement activities to fight violence against women and girls. Stephanie has also engaged with them to develop their theatre skills to a more professional level with proper scripts,” said Ms Berg. Raising awareness on the impact of violence against women and girls is part of UN Women’s comprehensive and multi-sectoral programmatic approach, said UN Women Country Representative Anna Collins-Falk. “A key element of UN Women Tanzania’s programmatic framework for eliminating violence against women and girls is to support an enabling environment comprehensive approach to prevention and response, linked to the international instruments to which Tanzania is a signatory. “For example, we support organisations to provide legal aid to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and we work with the judiciary and on law reform. We partner with the police through the Tanzania Police Female Network to ensure that survivors of violence against women and girls have access to good quality services at police stations. “Hosting Stephanie as an Australian Volunteers for International Development through AVI has enabled us to document this work. Stephanie has assisted us in running the United Nations Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls campaign. She has been involved in the launches of the

Country Focus

Tanzania

‘Zero Tolerance to sexual and gender-based violence campaigns’ by the Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children (mainland Tanzania) and the Ministry of Empowerment Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children (Zanzibar),” said Ms Collins-Falk. Back in Dar es Salaam, after the dust settles on the stage in Kigogo, a young woman approaches the Elizabeth Youth Group and asks to talk. When sexual violence is put on stage it sometimes encourages survivors to open up about their own experiences. During the first three months of the project with UN Women, the Elizabeth Youth Group, had many young women approach them to report cases of violence and to seek advice. While the Group members themselves are survivors of violence, they were not equipped with the professional skills to deal with the cases. Therefore, in the second phase of the project the Group were paired with a more established NGO, Warembo Forum. They received para-legal training and were introduced to UN Women’s partner organisations where they could refer people to counselling and legal aid.

“When a woman comes to me after a drama show performance, I listen to her story, take down notes and her contact information and then I discuss with the group. We then agree on what the best strategy will be for that woman and we then inform her. Often this happens on site after a show or in our offices in Mabibo. The community members in our area are now aware of the fact that we can now assist them in cases – of course we are not para-legals as we only had limited training – but we can help and have helped victims of violence – and we now have good partnerships with Warembo Forum, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme, House of Peace, Women’s Legal Aid Centre and the local authorities, including the police gender and children’s desks,” said Elizabeth Joseph, Elizabeth Youth Group Chairperson. “Stephanie has been advising us on many issues and she has supported me as a leader to reach where I want to reach. She participated in our events, she took photos and she encouraged us in our work. She has contributed to the growth of the Group and we still need her and UN Women’s assistance and advice,” said Ms Joseph.

The Group’s most recent performance was during the launch of the Sextortion (sexual corruption) Coalition supported by UN Women. Everyone was surprised when a member of the Group debuted with a song about sextortion. The song was so catchy that he had to sing it again and all of the school students present were on their feet dancing. As we draw towards the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence it is hoped that many other young people, both men and women, will start to funguka! (the slogan on Tanzania’s UNiTE orange t-shirts) or open up and speak out on violence against women and girls with same courage that Elizabeth has, to ensure their communities develop. Website: www.unwomen.org Facebook: UN Women Africa www.facebook.com/unwomenafrica United Nations Tanzania: www.facebook.com/UNTanzania

This is a position of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

3 1 > Stephanie (left) interviewing. 2 > The Elizabeth Youth Group re-enact a drama scene. 3 > Walking against violence. Photos > Courtesy Rachel McCarthy

Exploring North Niasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tourism Potential By Bjorn Svensson and Shanti Fowler

Before Melbourne couple Bjorn Svensson and Shanti Fowler travelled to Northern Nias, Indonesia, on Australian volunteer assignments, the only foreigners to visit the island were adventurous surfers looking for the perfect wave without the crowds. Tourism was almost non-existent, despite there being plenty of things to see and do other than surfing. Both Bjorn and Shanti have been working with the North Nias Regency Tourism Department to assist the local government in promoting and developing sustainable tourism initiatives, with the aim of alleviating poverty and promoting employment opportunities for the local community. Bjorn and Shanti share their story.

In 2004, the Boxing Day Tsunami hit the undeveloped island of Nias, located in the western corner of Sumatra, Indonesia, causing wide-spread destruction. Only three months later a massive 8.7 earthquake struck just north of the island. A large number of buildings collapsed resulting in more than 800 deaths and thousands were injured. Infrastructure across the island was severely damaged and many communities were completely cut off from services and supplies. When the impact of the earthquake in Nias became known, disaster relief organisations were quick to help with a humanitarian response. Between 2006 and 2010, many aid organisations put in an enormous effort to re-build the island, develop roads, provide running water, install electricity and increase phone coverage. We were amongst the first foreigners to arrive in North Nias after the post-earthquake reconstruction phase ended a few years ago. Initially everyone thought we were there to build bridges and schools like the other foreigners who had been there previously; capacity building was a new concept for the residents of Northern Nias and it took a while to explain what it meant.

The local government has since been pushing for increased tourism as a way to create jobs and improve the local economy. I am working as an Australian volunteer Tourism and Media

Development Adviser and Shanti is working as Tourism Promotion Capacity Builder and Community Relations Officer. As far as the economy goes, most people make their living from subsistence farming and fishing. The largest employer by far is the local government, but economically the whole Island is really struggling. A lot of young people have to leave because there are no opportunities for them here. At the moment there is no tourism to speak of, except some surfing in the south. Our work is assisting the local government in promoting and developing sustainable tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation. For us, successfully promoting North Nias as a tourist destination has been achieved with a combination of field trips, up-skilling local colleagues in media and communications and professional development training. The first year we spent a lot of time in the field, typically visiting potential tourism sites as part of the survey. A lot of these sites were along the coast, beaches, small Islands and potential surf or dive spots, but we also surveyed the interior looking for caves, waterfalls or old cultural relics. This was the highlight of the assignment, real Indiana Jones stuff. From these trips we compiled a report of coastal, natural and cultural potential tourism sites for the local government to utilise.

Country Focus We continue to make field trips to talk to people in the community. For example if someone wants to build beach bungalows, they may ask us to come and have a look. It’s great to be out and about because you meet a lot of interesting people, who would never usually get the chance to speak with anyone from the Tourism Office. It’s also important to see what is actually happening out in the districts. The field trips are opportunities to discuss sustainable tourism options with local communities and answer any questions they may have.

Indonesia

INDONESIA

Shanti said her most significant contribution has been increasing the capacity and use of technology within the organisation. When we first arrived, there was very little knowledge on the use of computers besides using word processing software and next to no knowledge of internet. Some of the older staff didn’t know what internet was when we arrived. But with the internet now finally being made available at the office, there is a greater interest in understanding technology and the use of the Department’s website and social media pages. We’ve also spent a lot of time developing websites, social media, presentation, maps, brochures and other promotional material. During the rainy season when it’s hard to get around we spent a lot of time in the office training the Tourism and Culture Department staff. It is our hope that the organisation should be able to do these things by themselves by the time we leave, so we have spent time conducting formal training in English, media training, computer literacy, social media, photography and Photoshop, IT skills and tourism.

As far as actual visitors there hasn’t been a dramatic influx as yet, but through the North Nias Regency Tourism Department’s social media campaign, we’ve definitively helped to open up the door for sustainable tourism. Some of the local guest house owners have indicated increased business as a result of bookings coming in via the Department’s website and social media pages. Local drivers and boat owners said they have also benefited from increased visitation. There has been an increase in independent travellers contacting us for advice on things to see and do in North Nias and as the buzz increases, more locals are approaching us with various ideas about how to get involved in tourism. Sustainable tourism doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a slow process and one has to go step-by-step and tread lightly, but as far as we can see the process has definitely started. Hopefully with the knowledge the local staff have gained and learned through our discussions and training workshops, they will continue to have a positive impact on sustainable tourism opportunities for their community well into the future.

Website: www.facebook.com/northniastourism Facebook: www.northniastourism.com These are positions of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

Opposite > A beautiful beach at Pulau Makora. 1 > Bjorn (lower centre) with colleagues gathering data in the field. 2 > Shanti surveying caves. 3 > Bjorn accessing island topography with colleagues from North Nias Regency Tourism Department Photos > Bjorn Svensson and Shanti Fowler

Country Focus

Timor-Leste

Volunteering in Timor-Leste By Fran Noonan

Australian Volunteers International has been proud to partner with Host Organisations in Timor-Leste since 1995. During this time over 500 Australian volunteers have lived, worked and learned, alongside communities, to build capacity and improve livelihoods in health, education, economic development, disability and human rights. Photographer Harjono Djoyobisono visited Timor Leste in 2014, and captured some of the incredible work our Australian volunteers are doing in the field. Koperativa LO’UD’s mission is to improve the lives of women and their families; maintain cultural practices and strengthen the socioeconomic base of communities. Koperativa LO’UD member Regina Lopes (Left) and Australian volunteer Business and Produce Development Mentor – Natural Textiles, Gabrielle Creed with tais, the traditional cloth from Lospalos, Timor-Leste. 1>

“It’s important to strengthen opportunities for women to have spaces to make decisions. A centre strength of The Cooperation is that women from quite isolated areas of Timor-Leste can come together in unity and work together and that’s a fantastic thing,” said Gabrielle.

Background >

Cristo Rei of Dili

2 > Australian 2

volunteer Jocelyn Condon is working at East Timor Development Agency (ETDA), Dili, Timor-Leste as a Vocational Education Mentor - Hospitality Training Centre. Here she is with some of ETDA’s trainees in the training kitchen during practical work making banana cakes. “The six week training package that we run here at the moment, I wrote that with our trainers, so that is probably the biggest thing I’ve done so far. It took the first six months of my assignment to write. Hopefully when the students finish their six weeks training with us, we can say to employers that they have a basic understanding of what’s expected of them, and what their work should look like. Then we try to place the students into work experience or proper jobs,” said Jocelyn. 3 > Australian

volunteer Timothy Lawther is working at Ra’es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO), in Dili, Timor-Leste with Frederico Hornax (field officer). Here, Timothy is shown in front of a RHTO member’s house. One of RHTO’s programs involves modifying bathroom facilities for its disabled members to help them become more accessible. 3

“I’m most proud of the training we have done with our field staff. When they came in they were people with disabilities with very low levels of education. We successfully trained them on advocacy, and with that training the impact has been massive I think. Now, our field staff are working all over the country and effecting change in the 65 sub-districts around Timor-Leste,” said Tim. 4 > Australian

volunteer Clinical Nurse Mentor and Trainer, Maria de Jesus (left), with colleague Maria Margaretha Anina at the Kilbur Domin clinic, Tibar, Timor-Leste.

“The staff here are not used to doing a lot of clinical documentation, but we’ve been working together to improve the health standards and introduced clinical documentation where we monitor what we do for our patients and keep a record of it. We have also introduced daily ward rounds, which are very important in a hospital setting. A lot of our staff don’t even have a nursing background, so it really makes me happy that they are actually taking these suggestions on board and hopefully they will continue that when I leave. Our patients are doing better and the staff are growing professionally as well,” said Maria.

Macquarie University PACE International India

A Learning Curve in India By Tessa Stockburger

For Macquarie University student Tessa Stockburger, the chance to take part in the University’s PACE International program, as part of her Bachelor Degree in Public Health, was a life-changing experience. Travelling to India on a four-week volunteer placement, Tessa worked with an Indian youth-led organisation Restless Development. This is Tessa’s story. Looking back on my arrival in the colourful, spicy nation of India as a university student from Sydney, I could never have imagined what the next few weeks would bring. I had arrived in India to work with the youth-led organisation Restless Development (RD) as a practical component required for my Bachelor Degree in Public Health. My role was to conduct a needs assessment on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), focusing on parents and their involvement in their children’s SRH education. This project included: developing tools to collect data, data collection, analysing the data and finally providing a comprehensive report based on the key findings. Initially I felt overwhelmed as the limited time frame, communication obstacles and the demanding expectations I placed on myself, all muddled together. However after spending more time interacting with people in different communities, these challenges began to subside. Embraced by the warmth of the people I was working with, I became inspired and determined to achieve. This placement gave me the opportunity to connect and learn from extremely diverse people. Working in rural communities, interacting with mothers, fathers, and children through interviews and focus groups I learnt about their lifestyles, beliefs and traditions. My perceptions began to alter, and I gained a clearer and more detailed impression of India’s culture and a better understanding of the significance culture plays in determining people’s behaviour. In relation to the Needs Assessment, the parents’ behaviour and interaction with their children was primarily determined by their culture and beliefs. That being said, progress in India is inevitable as people do seek change. Where people acknowledged persisting problems, efforts were being made to find a resolution. As a result of the enormous support received by the RD team and the flexibility of all stakeholders, I was able to successfully complete the needs assessment in the fixed time-frame. This study has highlighted in greater detail the level of involvement a parent has in their child’s SRH education, and has the potential to assist in the future development of a comprehensive module for parents to deliver SRH education.

I am extremely proud of these materials, which have contributed towards RD’s fundamental objectives and am indefinitely grateful for having the opportunity to work with such an influential organisation. My experience with RD has been unlike any other. I was not only able to meet key objectives of the organisation, but I ultimately experienced self-growth and a greater understanding of the world we live in. Being a key facilitator of this particular project has given me the experience and confidence needed to tackle future challenges. I am extremely appreciative to have been selected to undertake this unique placement, it has ultimately shaped me into a more self-assured and conscience person. More details at: www.australianvolunteers.com/paceinternational

Above > Tessa Stockburger (left) with fellow Macquarie University students. Photo > Courtesy Tessa Stockburger

AVI Youth VOICE Australia

Young Bloods Unite By Jane Macdonald

Engaging young people in international development is crucial. The world today has the largest generation of people in history aged 15-24 years old, making up a quarter of the globe’s population. Dubbed the ‘millennials’, the cohort will soon be our leaders, and thanks to the development of several new and existing partnerships, AVI will once again stand at the hull of the youth volunteering ship. Jane Macdonald, AVI Marketing and Communications Manager, explains the importance of youth in the development world. AVI owes its origins to the young man who sailed across a vast sea to live like a local in Indonesia in 1951. It’s hard to fathom Herb Feith was just a 21 year-old Melbourne University student at the time when he piloted a concept that would become the blueprint to some of the world’s largest volunteer sending agencies. Fast forward six decades, young people are radically different to the pioneering volunteers of Herb’s era in the 50’s and 60’s under AVI’s first incarnation, the Volunteer Graduate Scheme. Habitual globe-trotting, internet-based exploration and a predisposition to give-back via the growing number of voluntourism providers, has opened millennial eyes and hearts to global issues. While developing communities’ progress toward globalisation, the influx of young bloods born into the digital age are connecting at break-neck speed with people and causes worldwide. The old tyranny of distance - not even a memory to millennials - has seen increased demand and pressure on private sector and academic institutions to engage in international development. The usual ‘third sector’ players like AVI, are mandated with the responsibility to broker meaningful partnerships across the cultures. As you could understand, well-meaning intentions aren’t all it takes to foster flourishing international partnerships. The stakeholders involved have diverse backgrounds, motives and interests. AVI matches appropriate partners with aligned values, works towards shared goals, assists with program planning and

volunteer management. Managing risk and expectations makes up a large portion of ensuring positive outcomes for all. When done right, the impact of cross-sector youth projects can be transformative. AVI has no shortage of longitudinal case studies to attest to the impacts of youth in development. A third of AVI’s Board of Directors were volunteers in their formative years. They’ll be the first to tell you how instrumental the experiences were in shaping their world view and embedding a strong-held belief of global citizenship. To bolster the amount of volunteer opportunities for young people in Australia aged 18 – 30 years old, AVI’s collaborations within Australia’s university sector and more recently VOICE Australia (formerly Youth Challenge Australia), will see hundreds of millennials participate in short-term projects overseas each year. This will expand how AVI works with it’s partners and include youth in development. The AVI/VOICE Australia partnership is also founded on a shared commitment to increasing participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in volunteering. This includes the delivery of the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, a project funded by Prime Minister and Cabinet. For AVI, this initiative complements the two additional inclusion-focused Indigenous youth projects AVI is involved with delivering, the Aboriginal Volunteer Program in Oodnadatta and the Classic Wallabies’ Exchange in South Africa. These two initiatives are based on team work and partnership, an ethos that embodies the delivery of the programs, as AVI works with organisations including Eidos Institute, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Volunteering SA/NT, the Aboriginal Reference Group and local communities. Rob McLean, a returned volunteer, and former AVI Board member is now Chair of the VOICE Australia Board. Rob summed it up nicely when he said, “if you start doing pro-bono work early in your career, it stays with you for life, and so do the networks. Development is all about shared humanity, a virtue our future leaders hold.” Find out more at www.voiceaustralia.org.au Above > VOICE volunteer Elliot Hartridge (second from left) Elliot Hartridge having a laugh with community counterparts (l-r) George, Daniel, Tama, Charlie and Sill, Fatumine village, Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Photo > Harjono Djoyobisono

Classic Wallabies’ Exchange South Africa

A ‘Deadly’ Volunteer Experience By Classic Wallabies’ Exchange volunteers

In June 2014 six young Indigenous Australians travelled to South Africa to participate in the inaugural Classic Wallabies’ Exchange. This five-week environmental education project saw them work alongside local organisation Children’s Eco Training. Here the volunteers share their experiences. Week Two – The Excitement of Stepping into the Unknown By Tallisha Harden The week began with an introduction to Children’s Eco Training (CET). Our introduction to the organisation we were going to work with. We also drove through the nearby Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park. CET CEO Corné Havenga delivered a session about the history and day-to-day programs which CET facilitate and most importantly we were able to meet the Principals of Senganyane and Matikenya schools. These schools are currently running eco-villages. It is the eco-village project, which we will implement at a new school over the coming weeks. Above > Classic Wallabies’ Exchange / Indigenous Australian volunteers welcomed by the former Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Graeme Wilson, Pretoria, 17 June 2014. Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Graeme Wilson (centre) with (back l-r); Edward Jackson (DFAT), Musa Naroro (AVI), Michael Galluzzo (CWE), Alice Krakouer (CWE), Ana Kabalu (DFAT), Frank Thompson (DFAT), Tallisha Harden (CWE), Claudia Phiri (AVI), and (front l-r); Amanda Rowen (AVID volunteer), Corné Havenga (CEO, Children’s Eco Training), Odwa Dotwana (AVI), Faith-Tara Belich (CWE), Dale Weegberg (CWE). Photo > Travis Cottrell

Week One – Getting to Know South Africa By Faith-Tara Belich Words cannot adequately describe the sights, sounds and feelings of being in a new country, experiencing all it has to offer - but I will do my best!

The eco-village is centred on creating an eco-friendly and selfsustaining garden which can provide both fresh vegies and fruit; while also promoting environmental education to the children. We are also aiming to refurbish a classroom. This will serve as the CET eco-classroom where students will learn about the environment and how to take care of their eco-friendly garden. While seeing Klaserie reserve and meeting the CET staff was great for me, my highlight was the second part of our local project orientation. For this we headed out to Seganyane School and got hands on. Here we were taught how to build and maintain a keyhole garden. This was a tiring but enriching day.

The first week of our journey into South Africa was structured in such a way that allowed each of us to develop an in-depth foundation of the history of South Africa, an understanding of the privileged role we have been given as volunteers to represent Australia. We were also treated to visits to Constitutional Hill, the South African History Archives, lunch at the Australian High Commission, as well as visits to the Mandela Foundation and the Ann Harding Cheshire Home. I personally found the visit to Soweto amazing. A combination of sadness, excitement, happiness and optimism engulfed my mind and heart. I witnessed how some people live, how they separate their differences, and how families from different provinces learn to work in collaboration to educate and protect their children. Their ability to remain happy and optimistic despite their material conditions inspired me to be more like them in their mindset. The experiences of the past week have not only fascinated but also shocked me, and I am sure I will only learn more in the weeks to come. 22

Above (l-r) > The Classic Wallabies’ Exchange / Indigenous Australian volunteers team learn how to make keyhole gardens at Children’s Eco-Training (CET). Photo > Travis Cottrell

Week Three – With a Handshake, the Hard Work Begins

Week Four – Challenges and Working with the Community

By Michael Galluzzo

By Alice Krakouer

This week we were met at the gate of a new CET Eco-School, by more than 300 smiling students. The Principal greeted each volunteer with a firm but warm handshake, signalling the beginning of a great relationship with the school community. On the first day we were presented with a piece of land. There were no markings to indicate where we should begin but after discussing the needs of the school with CET, we got to work digging 28 keyhole gardens.

After being welcomed to the school, we started to look at what was in store for us over the next four weeks. We started to set-up the tool shed, do a tool stocktake, measure out where the gardens would be set and of course, meet the wonderful staff of Children’s Eco Training (CET) and the school children whom we would be working alongside.

These gardens are specially designed for places with soil which contain low amounts of nutrients and water retention. From the air the shape of each garden looks similar to a keyhole (hence the name), with rounded walls of brick to be laid on the outside, soil to then be layered with compost and built up to a pyramid shape, and lastly a basket made out of wooden posts and grass is left as a ‘keyhole’ in the centre. Over time the keyhole is filled with compost to feed the soil and help plants to grow. The students we work with each day come from the greater Acornhoek area and are some of the most modest and hardworking young people I have had the chance to meet.

Despite our initial fears including whether we could communicate despite the language barriers, we achieved our first goal, we started digging the 28 keyhole gardens. The school children who knew English reasonably well would translate for us to our groups as required, and we learnt to speak every day words of the XiTsonga language of the Shungaan people to enable us to have a basic conversation. With the success of the keyhole gardens, the fencing as well as the CET classroom we were working on, we were ahead of schedule. We started to realise the physical effects the work load was having on our bodies in addition to the long hours outside, combined with the hot and cold weather, we were becoming more fatigued and our appetites were increasing as our meal times were quite spread out. We needed to find the right balance of work, rest and play so that we could maintain our state of wellbeing as well as ensure we were having sufficient rest to begin each day afresh. In between weeks two and four, the homesickness and missing our family and friends became more apparent, but through open communication amongst ourselves, being supportive of each other, and ensuing we had plenty of laughs, it all helped.

Above > The Classic Wallabies’ Exchange / Indigenous Australian volunteers team working on a keyhole garden project at Mahlathi Primary School, Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Photo > Matthew Willman

what this experience meant for all of us ‘to the honourable Australian volunteers.’ To have gained the respect of such hard working, kind hearted and beautiful students has meant the word to all of us. So on behalf of myself, Tallisha, Dale, Faith, Alice and Michael we thank those students and community for the opportunity to grow and learn with each you. Above (l-r) > The Classic Wallabies’ Exchange / Indigenous Australian volunteers Vayda and Tallisha in front of the classroom art mural at Mahlathi Primary School. Photo > Matthew Willman

Week Five – A ‘Deadly’ Experience By Vayda Menmuir Looking back to when Dale, Alice, Faith, Tallisha and I first met in Melbourne, we couldn’t have imagined that we would be spending such an amazing opportunity, with such a ‘deadly’ group of people. The amount of work the Children’s Eco Training centre, the school kids as a group, and us as volunteers together were able to accomplish in such a short period, shocks us every time. Especially when we look back to four weeks ago and see the bare field that we once stepped onto. I personally was in charge of the classroom refurbishment. After a couple of weeks the classroom begins to take shape with giraffes, elephants and even a bit of Australian Indigenous culture thrown in, to leave our own mark on the lives of the school and community. As the last week fast approached, we were doing the last minute dash to finish painting keyhole gardens, fill them with manure and compost, and plant everything from beetroot to brinjal. As we drive into the school grounds for the last day we don’t know if we will get to finish all that we set out to achieve. Over those last few hours though I see the boards being hung and I can finally see everything coming together, I take a step back after the mad rush and take it all in, that’s it, we are finished. As much as completing the physical structures, and finishing the refurbishment gives a sense of accomplishment, the opening words of a thank-you card from one of the students encapsulates

Coming Home By Dale Weegberg Our amazing five-week journey has come to an end. At the beginning of our trip I asked myself what you can really achieve in five weeks? A lot actually. The team brought all different skills to the project and the involvement from the students and the community was unimaginable. I could of never of imagined that we would finish the whole eco-village in less than four weeks. Coming home means saying goodbye to South Africa. As you get older you say your final goodbyes more often but it never gets any easier. When I left South Africa, I said good-bye to some of the most welcoming kind hearted people I have ever had the privilege to meet and work with. Coming home also means saying good-bye to five remarkable people that are on five unique journeys in life. I feel privileged to say that these great people were a part of my journey for five weeks –they made it the unforgettable experience that it was. Coming home also means that we get to share our experience and stories with our friends, family and communities. I hope our stories and experiences inspire other people to step out of their comfort zone and see what the world has to offer or even apply for future opportunities just like this. The Classic Wallabies’ Exchange is an Eidos Institute initiative, delivered in partnership with Classic Wallabies, Children’s Eco Training and Australian Volunteers International, through Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative. Find out more about the program and opportunities at www.cwexchange.org.au

Be a part of the International Indigenous Volunteer Network IIVN is sharing the global stories of Indigenous Australians and working to: • Connect more Indigenous people with international volunteering, learning and work opportunities • Increase Indigenous participation in international volunteering • Promote the contribution made by Australian Indigenous people to international communities Ed Story - IIVN Coordinator and proud Aboriginal Wangai man.

Find out how you can support and participate in IIVN at www.iivn.org.au tollfree 1800 331 292 email iivn@australianvolunteers.com Proudly supported by the Australian Government and Australian Volunteers International.

Melbourne University Faculty of Arts Indonesia

Getting A Global Education By Fran Noonan

This year eight students from University of Melbourne - Faculty of Arts, experienced first hand some of development challenges facing rural communities living in Kulon Progro District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Working in partnership with Australian Volunteers International, the University offered Community Volunteering for Change – Global students, a unique opportunity to travel overseas on a six-week long project working on a range of development activities. Collaborating with Indonesian partner SATUNAMA, a local NGO promoting people’s empowerment through facilitation, advocacy and training, students travelled to rural communities to live and work alongside community members on locally identified projects. Third year Bachelor of Arts Melbourne University student Victor Fisher said “the course has enabled me to move beyond a simple theory-based understanding of a developing society and take part in an initiative which deals directly with the livelihoods, aspirations and concerns of local communities.” Upon completion of the project, students prepared detailed reports of their findings which were then formally presented to SATUNAMA. Drawing on this positive experience and strong outcomes for both partner organisation and students this project will be implemented for a second time in 2015, this time with 18 students in Indonesia and piloting a new project in India with nine students. Find out more about the program: www.australianvolunteers.com/cvcglobal

Melbourne University Faculty of Arts students Kate Foley (left) and Ni Putu Ika Pradnya Larasyati (third left) with their homestay hosts Satimah (second left) and Sarimin in the kitchen after preparing breakfast in Gunung Kelir village, Kulon Progo district, Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Photo > Harjono Djoyobisono

Country Focus

Malawi

Putting the Wheels in Motion in Malawi By Danielle Morante

The Kachere Rehabilitation Centre is the only one of its kind in Malawi, and with only 40 inpatient beds to service the country’s 16 million people the waiting lists are long and unavoidable. For Australian volunteer and Occupational Therapist, Danielle Morante, the lack of human resources is an ongoing challenge, but one she working hard to develop. This is Danielle’s story. Many of the patients that attend the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre have experienced stroke or spinal cord injury, and are often accompanied by other complications resulting from HIV/ AIDS. Most patients have travelled many hours from rural villages to attend the Centre and are faced with many issues relating to poverty. The Occupational Therapy Department had been without a leader for almost a year when I arrived, and sadly the previous written resources, structures and procedures had been let go. In Malawi finding suitable human resources is an ongoing challenge. Currently the Occupational Therapy Department has one full-time staff member and myself. We have 40 patients requiring daily therapy which is just not possible. Finding suitable funding to support the further education of my colleagues and extend the profession of Occupational Therapy (OT) in Malawi is also challenging. I am a member of the newly accredited Occupational Therapy Association of Malawi which is in the process of implementing the first Bachelor of OT at the University of Malawi, and is an important step forward for the profession.

spending time with the OT Cooking Group. I enjoy getting to spend time with the warm and welcoming women eating Malawian nsima (maize flour) with my hands and brushing up on my Chichewa (local language). Teaching the rehabilitation technician students at the University of Malawi about occupational therapy and seeing their genuine interest also makes me very happy! Language is a challenge as most patients and guardians at Kachere don’t speak English, but I’m having regular Chichewa lessons and my colleagues often act as interpreters. I have created education presentations and posters for staff, patients and guardians, in both English and the native language of Chichewa, as well as compile a journal library for evidence-based practice.

No day is ever the same. I run occupational therapy groups in wheelchair skills, personal care retraining and cooking, as well as oneon-one therapy. I teach in the Rehabilitation Technician School, and consult with local staff to update clinical skills, fabricate splints or pressure cushions, repair wheelchairs and bathroom equipment. My favourite experience has been

The Blantyre contingent representing OT were a small group, however they made up for lack of numbers with their enthusiasm! We took our colourful banner between Kachere and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, handing out brochures in English and Chichewa and discussing OT with community members all along the way. Back at Kachere there were therapy equipment displays, treatment sessions and a presentation describing our work. This was followed by an exciting wheelchair basketball game which attracted many interested onlookers. 3

I’ve learnt that we can make do and improvise with what little we have, and that you don’t have to work fast to be effective. I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering, particularly occupational therapists as we are in short supply, to just go for it.

Early in the year the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre was successful in securing funding for a Wheelchair Basketball Program via the AVI/Planet Wheeler Foundation Community Grants Scheme.

These are positions of Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID), an Australian Government initiative.

The benefits of this program are wide reaching from the involvement of local community, to raising profile of the Rehabilitation Centre, motivating staff and of course improving rehabilitation outcomes for the patients. 7 October was World Occupational Therapy Day and saw 80 national occupational therapy organisations including the Occupational Therapy Association of Malawi, promote and celebrate the profession globally. The theme for 2014 was “United in Diversity” which relates to the profession’s work in development on a local, national and international level.

1 > Danielle Morante assists patients at the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre, Blantyre, Malawi. 2, 3 & 4 > Participants from the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre take part in the wheelchair basketball program. Photos > Courtesy Danielle Morante

PACTAM

Solomon Islands

Challenging Sanitation in the Solomon Islands By Piter Visser

Water and Sanitation Specialist Piter Visser, is working in Honiara, Solomon Islands, for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Piter is providing technical assistance to improve rural water supplies, provide better sanitation and further develop the hygiene sector, under the Australian Government’s Pacific Assistance Technical Mechanism (PACTAM). This is Piter’s story. The rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector (RWASH) in the Solomon Islands until recent times, has been characterised by a lack of development, infrastructure and regulation. Though a lot of work has been done over the past few decades, much remains. An estimated 30-40 percent of rural communities have functioning water supplies, despite the official coverage of 70 percent. Many of the systems break down due to lack of maintenance. As the Government is not able to maintain all the water supply systems in the country, responsibility for operation and maintenance (in part) rests with the community. A solution only viable, if the recipient community feels they own the system and have the skills/ knowledge to do so. Only 10-12 percent of rural households use a toilet, with the remaining population defecating in the open. Rural sanitation has largely been neglected until now. Addressing this issue in the past involved a fully subsidized pour-flush toilet. This was a water-based toilet which required a 24/7 supply of water for flushing. With many of these water systems breaking down, the toilets become unusable. Most of the installed toilets have broken down and only the concrete slab remains. So many of these slabs can be found in the Solomon Islands, there is even a local phrase for it - ‘the toilet slab graveyard’! As a result, a rethink of the sector’s approach to sanitation was required. A partial-subsidy option was considered where the recipient pays its share and the rest is subsidised through the program. However behaviour change is the key issue in the Solomon Islands, and any form of subsidy could threaten that. Partial handouts are still handouts, they are unnecessary, and those households not able to contribute financially, may get excluded. It is crucial that everyone in a community uses a toilet or people will continue getting sick. If rural villagers can build their houses from locally available bush materials, they can construct a simple toilet as well. The idea of adopting a no-subsidy approach was strengthened when Dr Kamal Kar, one of the founders of the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), visited the Solomon Islands. The field trials of CLTS clearly showed the potential for this approach, with households constructing their toilets without any subsidy at all. Sanitation is a difficult topic to discuss, but it is necessary. An estimated eight percent of all deaths in the Solomon Islands are WASH related, so a solid sanitation approach is essential. Health alone is not the only reason to need better sanitation, it is important for personal security and dignity as well. It is widely reported in local media that women and girls walking long distances to defecation areas, are at significant risk from 28

Above > Water and Sanitation Specialist Piter Visser Photo > Michael Bainbridge

violence and voyeurism, as opposed to those who only travel short distances from their home. In February 2014, Cabinet approved the first ever National RWASH Policy, which provides clear guidance to the sector. Included in the policy are overarching themes such as climate change, gender and disability. The gender aspect of WASH is well known: women are often not part of the decision-making process in a male-dominated society, while they are the primary users of WASH facilities. Community Engagement guidelines are being developed, to achieve systems, which are owned and sustainably managed by the recipient community. Gender is a crucial aspect in these guidelines and new ways to include women in the process and management of the systems are being introduced. Early field trials show promising results. Under the new policy, persons with special needs, People Living With Disability (PLWD) must be provided with appropriate WASH facilities. PLWD will be identified during the community engagement process and those registered will receive WASH facilities inside the household compound. This process is included in another key document for the sector: the RWASH Engineering Standards. The Engineering Standards include a chapter on health facilities. Previously, clinics would be provided with a tap stand and some toilet facilities, but not according to any Standards. This is now rectified and requirements are specified in considerable detail. For example, even the smallest maternity facility in the country can now assist in deliveries. A category named ‘maternity’ specifies the water quantity that must be provided to every clinic for that purpose. This prevents risk to the lives of the mother and newborn due to lack of water. Women’s health is specifically dealt with in the school WASH Engineering Standards, written in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. A recent survey on menstrual hygiene practices in local schools allowed the incorporation of design standards for menstrual hygiene management for school girls. Increased space for personal hygiene, water availability and waste disposal facilities (including incinerators) has been considered. With the new policy, Engineering Standards, community engagement guidelines, a RWASH strategy under development, and additional support from developing partners, the outlook for the rural WASH sector in the Solomon Islands is positive indeed. More details visit: www.australianvolunteers.com/pactam The Pacific Technical Assistance Mechanism (PACTAM) is an Australian Government initiative, managed by Australian Volunteers International.

Friends of AVI Panel Discussion

Friends of AVI Panel Discussion – Let’s Talk: Australia’s Role in International Relations By Liz Grady

On 12 November 2014, a dynamic panel discussion involving The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, Paralympian Kurt Fearnley and Social Innovation Strategist Rosemary Addis, took place at the Victorian State Library, where panel members examined Australia’s role in international relations. The event hosted by Friends of AVI’s (FAVI), began with an opening address from The Hon Teresa Gambaro MP. The evening’s moderator, Sam Mostyn, President of the Australian Council for International Development, elicited interesting perspectives from each of the panellists drawing from their diverse professional backgrounds and international experience. The Hon Michael Kirby captivated the audience with tales from his time as Justice of the High Court of Australia, and his recent contributions as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He encouraged the audience to get involved with their communities and work together to create positive social change. Kurt Fearnley spoke of life-changing moments visiting Syria as an AVI Board Member and promoting human rights to people living with disability in Papua New Guinea, and Rosemary Addis spoke of the great opportunity for social impact through investing in social enterprise. Evident throughout the discussion, was the undeniable power of people-to-people connections and the important place this has in Australia’s international relations.

Above > (l-r) Kurt Fearnley, Rosemary Addis, The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, The Hon Teresa Gambaro MP, Sam Mostyn. Photo > Bree Manley

For all those who were unable to attend the event, a short video containing highlights of the evening will soon be available on our website. To be the first to hear about exciting future FAVI events, sign up and become a FAVI member today at: www.australianvolunteers.com/friendsofavi

Friends of Australian Volunteers International aims to connect friends, expand networks and promote dialogue on global issues and international volunteering. Learn from development professionals, engage with like-minded community networks and join in our collective voice to make positive changes to the world we live in. Sign up as a Friend of AVI to: > Hear about the life-changing work of our volunteers and partners. > Be a part of the conversation about the impact volunteering can have on sustainable development outcomes. > Join efforts to create awareness about global issues through public dialogue and debate. > Participate in member-only events and receive a great range of discounts through our benefit partners.

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Live Connect Learn 29

Please consider making a donation to Australian Volunteers International (AVI) this new year. January 2015 As a former AVI volunteer, and having just completed my nine-year tenure with AVI’s Board of Directors, I know that you and I share something in common. We share a common vision to address issues of poverty, improve global access to quality health care and education, and achieve universal human rights. I volunteered in Malaysia in 1974-75 as an Agricultural Science Lecturer and again in 1981, when I worked in a refugee camp for displaced Cambodians relocated to Malaysia from camps in Thailand. From this first-hand experience, and from my time on the Board, I know our work makes a difference. One thing I learnt from volunteering, and admire about AVI and its supporters, is that we live out the same values as the developing communities we work with, demonstrating resilience and adapting to challenges that come our way. Also reflecting on my now 40-year relationship with AVI, I can attest to the quite significant changes in the landscape which we, as a not-forprofit organisation operate. It takes the whole of community to create change; this includes the government, private sector corporations, education institutions and harnessing the power of people! To expand AVI’s reach, particularly to provide more opportunities for young people and Indigenous Australians to participate in AVI’s people-to-people programs, we must all contribute. The Hon Michael Kirby, a Patron of AVI, emphasised this when he spoke at a recent Friends of AVI event in Melbourne. He said,

“… Australia is a free society. Every person can contribute and get involved. Just turn up. That’s the message. When we share ideas and humanity, we all gain. Australians have the power and resources to co-create a more peaceful and just planet.”

That’s why it’s truly wonderful to be connected to people like you, as you recognise your role as a global citizen. I’d like to ask you to please continue to support AVI as a facilitator of change, whether it be as a donor, volunteer, advocate or loyal supporter. If you can, please donate generously to ensure the future growth of the work of Australian Volunteers International. Yours sincerely,

Rob McLean Proud Australian volunteer and former AVI Board Member 30

Above > Former Australian volunteer and AVI Board member Rob McLean (fourth from left) on an excursion with students from the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, 1974. Photo > Courtesy Rob McLean

AV Magazine

AVI WOULD LIKE TO GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTERS:

Australian Volunteer is AVI’s free magazine, published twice a year. Contributions and good quality photographs are encouraged. Send enquiries and submissions to: The Editor, Australian Volunteer, PO Box 350, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia. Email > mystory@australianvolunteers.com

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Subscriptions > If this copy was not mailed personally to you, sign up as a member at our website: www.australianvolunteers.com and choose to receive new issues online or print. Unsubscribe > info@australianvolunteers.com Advertising enquiries > mystory@ australianvolunteers.com Editors > Fran Noonan, Christine Crosby Sub-editor > Dan Sybaczynkyj, Jane Macdonald Graphic Designer > Bree Manley Printer > David Alexander (printed on recycled paper) Distributor > Complete Mailing (posted in biodegradable plastic wrap) Cover > Ni Vanuatu Atrine Daniel (left) and VOICE volunteer Chloe Smith in Fatumine village, Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Inside cover > Fresh produce in Vanuatu. Photos > Harjono Djoyobisono

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Photo > Harjono Djoyobisono

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