Learning Network Workshop on Health Rights 8-13-08

Consciouly Rebuilding, Inc. is going to be a sister-satellite member of the Learning Network. The Learning Network is made up of academics, researchers, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations.

On August 13, 2008 I attended a workshop on health rights, violations, resolution techniques(i.e. collaborations, community engagement and empowerment) that member organizations and their clients can relate. The event was held at Women on Farms in Stellenbosch and many organizations were present-Women's Circle, Sikhula Sonke, Ikhaye Labanthu, Epilepsy South Africa, Department of Health, Aurora Cooperative, and UCT amongst others.

There were so many people eager to share their experiences and form meaningful partnerships. Three languages were spoken to respect everyone's ethnicity--Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and English. I was there representing Consciously Rebuilding as a potential member organization. The Learning Network is advocates for productivity across different stakeholders involved in the right to health. Consciously Rebuilding is a community based organization that uses health education to address indoor and outdoor environmental health and climate change. We hope to continue to build upon this relationship with the Western Cape in South Africa.

I think one quote from one of the presenters sums up my feelings toward networks and partnerships..."A bell is not a bell unless it rings" (You gotta love Africa :)

On that note, Consciously Rebuilding is prepared to ring all around the World!!!!!

Speaking Truth to Power

On August 11, 2008 I had the honor to be amongst leaders in human rights for a panel discussion.

Denis Goldberg, Koigi Wa Wamwere and Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko, Kerry Kenedy and Samuel Kofi Woods delivered inspiring presentations at the Speak Truth to Power forum.

Mr. Koigi Wa Wamwere spoke about issus of Ethnic Federalism which leads to Ethnic Cleansing and how interchangeable "Negative Ethnicity" and racism are. He believes that negative ethnicity is the biggest threat to human rights as it is used as a political tool and one of the fastest growing political ideologies. Examples include the Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia (clanism), Rwanda, and Kenya.

Kerry Kennedy (Bobby Kennedy's daughter) and Gloria Reuben of ER were also in attendence and lovely to meet.

The Honorable Archbishop Desmond Tutu delivered a motivational speech of youth being the power in which truth must be spoken.

More Women's Day

Women's Day

On August 9, 2008 I celebrated being a woman and the millions of women that support the world. Women's Day is a HUGE deal in South Africa, and the day was full of festivities and sisterhood. Consciously Rebuilding is a woman-operated organization, but gender was never emphasized or stratigized, despite us dealing with sexism in certain situations. My research for the past 2 months has been geared around women farm workers and health disparities. I must say that it has opened my eyes to gender in that work, health, and life is NOT gender-neutral; however policy, government, rights and even some NGOs treat these issues as such. This experience and these tools from my research at the University of Cape Town School of Public Health and Family Medicine will be applied to the strategic plans Consciously Rebuilding. We will take advantage of women-hood and gender-specific outreach plans will be made in terms of outreach. Specifically, our Health Expos and Action Plans can take advantage of women's household roles especially since our target population includes many single-parent mothers. These issues will be acknowledged, as they have a disproportionate impact on socioeconomic indicators of health, indoor health, health access, prevention, and treatment for women and their children. As on the farm, women in our target population have a grave responsibility to their job and their home. They also have duties that make them vulnerable to gender-based violence, (i.e. gathering water in un-lit areas in townships, travelling alone at night or dealing with domestic violence in the States) and these parallels alow Consciously Rebuilding to tailor our programs.

On Women's Day, we visited the Slave Lodge, Company's Garden, The Planetarium, The South African Museum of Art, and the District Six Museum.

Green Week August 4-8

Yes this is what every University should have, A Green WEEK!!!! Since Green Week was held at middle campus, it limited my access. Fortunately, I was able to attend the last panel discussion on August 7..."How can African Development be compatible with sustaining a habitable planet" - With Cormac Cullinan, Professor George Philander and Professor Philip Black. The panel began with talks on Global Warming and Climate Change and the Economics of Growth and Development and finished with a South African/Developing World Perspective. Consciously Rebuilding advocates for sustainable development and a community-based approach to addressing Climate Change. These discussions presented much theory in which our initiatives are developed.

---Yasmin

The Right to Health

On August 7, 2008 I attended the bi-weekly Health and Human Rights Course where guest speaker Zelda Holtman presented research on the Patients Rights Charter and the Right to Health campaign, its success, obstacles, and recommendations regarding the responsibilities of the health system when addressing health as a human right (as it is protected in the Constitution and Batho Pele-"People First" in Sesotho). The theme that I took away was the complexity of the health system, and the impact that capacity and resources have on health service delivery, thus affecting the patient's treatment and health. Identifying or developing protocols that identify WHO is responsible for respecting the patient's right to health and HOW that will be delivered is a current bureaucratic obstacle.

GIS Time

On August 4-6 I took a road trip up the west coast with another researcher and local community
members to start the GPS data collection of Legal and Illegal (Shebeens) Alcohol Vendors.
This data will add value to the ongoing research of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
of the Western Cape. Because colonial slavery and apartheid allowed farm owners
to pay workers in Alcohol (the "Dop" system), the spirit and culture of alcohol
dominates and is at the forefront of farm life. The towns visited include:
Porterville, Piketberg, Velddrif, and other smaller towns.

This data made me realize the following implications:
Revolutionizing the applicability of GIS in public health
Targeting outreach initiatives
Raising awareness that Alcoholism is a DISEASE and new strategies for intervention and treatment


Peeling back the layers of this gorgeous scenery, I find beautiful and strong people
who are marginalized and need help. This data will be applied to the scope and initiatives
of academia, Community-Based Organizations, NGOs, church, and local mobilization.



--Yasmin

Interviewing Skills

On July 31 and August 2, 2008 I had the pleasure to test out my Afrikaans and interviewing skills.
It rained the whole day--Cape Town winter rain, but our dedication would not deter.


Bev (an Afrikaans speaker) and I used the collaboration with the Women on Farms NGO
to find potential interviewees for the individual interviews. We initially
began in a farm township outside of Stellenbosch, but shifted to a farm close
by as all the women were off from work due to the rain and they all lived on the
farm too. Housing is a huge issue of farm life and is sought after for farm workers.

From one dwelling to the next, the setting was day and night and I soon understood
why housing is a prized possession.

Here are pictures of the vineyard in which we conducted the 6 of the 10
interviews. The other 4 were completed on August 2 at the NGOs headquarters.


The interviewing allowed me to search within myself and offer a comforting environment
that allow for women to open up about health and disparities. These skills and
strategies will be an asset to Consciously Rebuilding and our community outreach
and data collection.

--Yasmin

Just Health Care

On July 30, 2008 (Happy Birthday Bradley!!!), I attended a faculty induction of Dr. Di McIntyre into the UCT School of Public Health and Family Medicine--Health Economics Division. During the induction speech, Dr. McIntyre highlighted the direction of health care and health systems in South Africa and the need for rights, Private-sector responsibility, infrastructure capacity for the public-sector, prevention, education, and more support for the small minority who contributes funds for health insurance--a pool that benefits the entire system of users.








































--Yasmin