A TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINIST LEADERSHIP, 2010

[Fbinaija Nigeria]

 

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Investing in Africa’s Future
AFRICA UNIVERSITY
(A United Methodist-Related Institution)
*
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
A TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINIST LEADERSHIP, 2010
A course for young feminist advocates in NGOs, the public and private
sectors
*
ORGANISED BY
THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE (IPLG) AT AFRICA
UNIVERSITY
And
THE OPEN SOCIETY INITIATIVE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (OSISA)
*
VENUE: MUTARE, ZIMBABWE, 16 - 28 AUGUST, 2010.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, 09 JULY 2010.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
*
This training course on feminism and public policy provides a broad
conceptual and practical understanding of feminism by locating it within in
a pan-African discourse. Engaging in discursive debates and interactive
analyses, it is envisioned that participants will be able to redefine the
idea of feminism to symbolise young women coming together to share
knowledge, skills and good practice, so that they may lead fulfilling lives
with self-assurance and passion. By understanding the dynamics of gender
inequality and crafting advocacy strategies aimed at promoting women’s
rights, interests and issues it is hoped that the targeted advocates will
embrace the vitality of being female and championing their cause through
robust network connections to future generations.
*
Why is this course necessary?
*
Quite often women as radicals or reformers or as objects of reform have
always differed over ideology and strategy. Feminists have also always
vigorously contested the effects and policies aimed at ameliorating women’s
oppression. This course therefore provides a forum to critically examine
some of these differences by looking at the historical tenets of feminism
and its evolutionary progression, feminist perspectives to politics, power
and power relations, patriarchy, gender-based violence, sexuality, women’s
rights and justice. The course further analyses the claim that public policy
is gendered, implying that public policies affect men and women differently
and that men and women participate differently in public policy making
processes. The course takes public policy as both an important component in
the construction of gender differences and as a site where gender is
critiqued, resisted and renegotiated. Thus, the training course explores
these claims through a feminist lens and engaging in the analyses of the
impact of public policy on women’s issues.
Participants will examine feminist activism, a grass-roots movement approach
that seeks to cross boundaries based on social class, race, culture and
religion. Locating these issues in historical contexts will also help in
de-mystifying the negative connotations attached to feminism and feminist
advocates with a view of helping women claim their identity as feminists.
Also by placing these issues in contexts of feminist theory and discourse,
the course offers an analysis of women and public policy as contested and
complex domain rather than offering simple recipes or formulas for the
feminist policy makers and advocates.
*
COURSE AIM AND OBJECTIVES
*
This innovative course is designed for young women who are motivated to play
a critical role in promoting women’s issues through advocacy and lobbying.
Using examples and experiences from their own lives, it is hoped that
participants will gain a deeper understanding of a feminist analysis of
issues affecting women in the SADC region. The aim of the course therefore,
is to provide participants with knowledge and practical skills to engage
with feminist discourses and feminist approaches for effective lobbying and
advocacy on gender and women’s rights. The objectives of the training course
are to:
1. Familiarise participants with key tenets of feminism and the most
influential works in the evolution of feminist theories and ideologies.
2. Give the participants a sound grasp of a fundamental and central body of
feminist philosophical thinking.
3. Engage with young women who are working with gender focused
organisations and are at the forefront of best practice in the field;
4. Situate and examine the gender question in relation to emerging
disciplines;
5. Help participants use feminist approaches to analyse, critique and
participate in contemporary public policy debates on women issues;
6. Facilitate the development of feminist research skills to carry our
policy oriented research on issues that impact on women’s lives.
*
COURSE CONTENT
*
The training course consists of 12 modules, to be delivered by different
facilitators over a 12-day period, and will use a variety of teaching
styles, tools and methods, especially participatory and experiential
learning models. The following thematic areas will provide a starting point
for the discussions:
1. Feminist theory and history
2. Schools of thought and feminist ideologies
3. The politics of feminism and gender
4. Women, law and policy
5. Feminist public policy discourse and engagement
6. Feminist knowledge production and management
7. Feminist research and epistemology
8. Feminist youth empowerment models
9. Feminist leadership in practice
10. Civil society and feminist movement-building
11. Sexuality and sexual reproductive health rights
12. Governance and citizenship
In addition, there will be evening and side sessions, focused on coaching on
key competencies such as self awareness, confidence-building , public
speaking among many others.
*
COURSE DATES and DURATION
*
The course will be offered over a 12-day period in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The
training course will be hosted by OSISA and the Institute of Peace,
Leadership and Governance at Africa University in Mutare
*beginning 16 August *and *ending *on *28 August, 2010. *Travel dates will
be *15 and 29 August. *
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Participants who successfully complete the course and fulfil the
requirements which include attendance and active participation will receive
a certificate of completion from Africa University and OSISA.
*
COST AND SPONSORSHIP
**
OSISA
*
will be fully sponsoring this training course. Sponsorship will cover
tuition, course materials, airfare/transport, accommodation, teas and
lunches and dinners during the course. *Participants are however, advised to
take out personal and health insurance as the organisers cannot take
liabilities in this regard. *
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Prospective participants are expected to meet the following criteria:
1. Possess an undergraduate degree in a relevant field;
2. Must be a young woman of between 18 and 30 years of age;
3. At least 1 year work experience in civil society and /or gender and
women’s rights related area;
4. Currently employed, or working in an area where feminist or gender policy
advocacy and lobbying is important;
5.
*English proficiency *(as the course will be delivered in English);
6. Commitment to participate for the duration of the full course.
7. Be from any of the following SADC countries:
*Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland,
Zambia and Zimbabwe*. *
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
*
Young women who wish to apply for the training course are required to submit
the following:
1. Completed application form (attached at the end of this document);
2. No more than one page motivation letter stating:
a. How your participation will add value to the course; and
b. How you envision using the training in your work, community and/or
personal life.
3. Commitment form completed by employer (attached at the end of this
document).
Please submit the completed application form, motivation letter and
endorsement letter
*electronically *or *by fax, *to both OSISA and IPLG at the following
addresses: *
Ms Tsitsi Mukamba
*
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
Email: Tsitsim@osisa. org
Tel: +27 (0) 11 587 5000
Fax: +27 11 587 5099
*
AND
Mrs Susan Musiyiwa
*
Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG)
Africa University
Tel: +263 20 66788
Fax: +263 20 61785
Email: iplgsec@africau. ac.zw
Cc:
*susanvongayi22@ yahoo.com
NB: Those who participated in the 2009 course need not apply.
*
Deadline for receipt of applications is
*Friday, 09 JULY 2010.
TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINISM, 2010
APPLICATION FORM FOR 2010 INTAKE
*
Surname:
Title:
(e.g. Ms., Mrs.)
First name(s):
Nationality:
*
CONTACT DETAILS
*
Postal address:
City:
Province:
Country:
Phone Number:
Email address:
Alternate email address:
*
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
*
Highest qualification attained:
University:
Year of completion:
Field of study:
*
EMPLOYMENT
*
Current employer:
Position:
Start date:
Duties:
How is an understanding of feminism relevant to this position?
*
TRAINING COURSE ON FEMINISM, 2010
EMPLOYER COMMITMENT FORM
*
Name of candidate:
Your name:
Position:
Name of organization:
Type of organization:
Phone number:
*
(include country code)
*
Email address:
Alternate email address:
*
COMMITMENT
*
Our organization authorizes (
*name of candidate*) to attend the training course on FEMINISM at Africa
University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, 16 to 28 August 2010. This authorization is
granted on the understanding that the said candidate will be attending
the *entire
*course (including weekends).
Our organization commits to using the skills and strategies that the
candidate will gain through this course.
Application approved by:
Name: Date:


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Dr. Landry Ndriko Mayigane, DVM