Youth Labour & Community Development Jay Naidoo

Youth Labour & Community Development

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11 Apr 2012

My Tribute to Chris Hani

I remember the 10th April 1993 as clearly as it happened today. The day is etched in the minds of all South Africans. The assassination of Chris Hani. I recall the many conversations we had on our hopes for the new democratic South Africa. “Should you not go into Government” I said as we sat his office just below the Cosatu head office. We need leaders like you who will remain faithful to our pledge of a better life to all. “No he replied there are comrades who must remain outside and keep civil society strong and robust.”

What I remember of Chris Hani was his passion and dedication to eradicating poverty and social inequality. “We need to create the pathways to give hope to our youth that they can have the opportunity through education and hard work to escape the trap of poverty.”
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- - Tags:
  - Apartheid
  - Chris Hani
  - inequality
  - poverty
  - South Africa
  - South African Politics
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9 Mar 2012

Corporate Social Investment: Invest in Justice not Charity! | Mark Heywood

It its diagnostic report the National Planning Commission recognises the “important role” played by civil society and says that “More deliberate efforts are needed to ensure that the voices of those who claim to represent the poor and marginalised can also be heard.”

Their injunction is in keeping with our Constitution which both anticipates and depends upon an engaged and informed citizenry. Indeed accountability only really exists when there people demand it from every level of government. In addition the Constitution’s entrenchment of political rights expressly includes the right to campaign for a “cause”. Put another way, standing up for rights and causes – social justice advocacy – is not something that should be viewed as subversive.
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- - Tags:
  - Civil Society
  - Constitution
  - Democracy
  - education
  - Treatment Action Campaign
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9 Mar 2012

Getting out of the Plenty Trap | Mark Heywood

According to observers from Mars South Africa is a society in paroxysms of chatter. One class chatters about the multiple crises it faces. Crime, corruption, Julius Malema, interest rates. Another class harps on unemployment, poor education, hunger, bad health services and HIV. Although the concerns of these two groups overlap at times, one stems more from projected fears, the other from immediate experience. But one thing is certain, so the Martians say, few South Africans do not see or feel what is happening in their country.

But in contrast to the vocal clamour, the lack of action and imagination about how to solve the problems is even more deafening. There appears to be a paralysis, a mass ‘rabbits in the headlights’ syndrome. South Africans see the lorry bearing down upon them and chatter about it on Facebook.
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- - Tags:
  - Cosatu
  - Mark Heywood
  - poverty
  - South Africa
  - unemployment
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post
15 Feb 2012

Empowerment lies in women in Indian villages talking to those in African villages

I sit cross-legged on the floor of the village hall awed by the women I am with. It is in the Rangapur Manchala Mandal, a few hours’ drive from Hyderabad. There are scores of women all in brightly coloured saris, older women whose faces are etched with the hardships of poverty, younger women beginning motherhood. All are intent and focussed.

A decade ago none would have ventured out of the kitchen or the fields where they toiled. Women then were subordinate and submissive. The men ruled home and community. They had no money or assets. Today they are confident and assertive.

What is the most important thing that has changed in your life, I ask?
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- - Tags:
  - empowering women
  - empowerment
  - India
  - mobilisation
  - self-help
  - women's empowerment
  - Womens rights
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post
14 Feb 2012

SA ranks 123 of world’s happiest countries

Can we ask ourselves the hard question why we come number 123 out of 187 countries in the world? What are our citizens unhappy about? Why do worse than Libya, Serbia, Mongolia, Namibia, Botswana etc? We were among the most optimistic countries in 1994. We were euphoric and excited about reconstruction and development of our democracy. Where is the hope we had?

World’s happiest countries: 1 to 187
www.cnngo.com

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Norway has been declared the world’s happiest country. Just as unsurprising, the Democratic Republic of Congo came last. The United Nations Human Development Index 2011 measures happiness in different countries based on factors such as income, education, health, life expectancy, economy, gender equality and sustainability.”
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  - citizenship
  - Democracy
  - South Africa
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26 Jan 2012

Youth Activism: South Africa’s Legacy and Future

I spoke at the UCT Summer School on the history and future of social activism in South Africa and the world. My strong belief is that only an active citizenry aware of its rights and organised to confront the arbitrary use of political or corporate power is capable of ensuring democracy we promised our people and the contract we have to deliver a better life to our people in 1994 is implemented. The ongoing attacks on our Constitution, the ramming of the Secrecy law through Parliament and the growing scandal of public corruption seeks to reverse the hard struggle we fought for freedom and our human rights as well as our demand for accountable, transparent and efficient governance.

Visit the UCT Summer School website where you can download the podcast on my lecture here.
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- - Tags:
  - Activism
  - Constitution
  - South Africa
  - UCT
  - UCT Summer School
  - Youth Activism
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20 Jan 2012

DRUM: Meet the Philanthropic Activist – By Pauline Mundi

Read this interview recently posted in DRUM Magazine in Kenya on my life as an activist during the Apartheid era.

“All life is equal” is the philosophy Jay Naidoo, the acclaimed political and social activist from South Africa lives by. Involved in activism from an early age, Jay Naidoo, born Jayaseelan Naidoo in 1954 in the port city of Durban, South Africa, has achievements that can leave you open-mouthed.
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- - Tags:
  - Apartheid
  - Cosatu
  - Fighting for Justice
  - GAIN
  - Jay Naidoo
  - Nelson Mandela
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Next

Youth Labour & Community Development

11 Apr 2012

My Tribute to Chris Hani

9 Mar 2012

Corporate Social Investment: Invest in Justice not Charity! | Mark Heywood

9 Mar 2012

Getting out of the Plenty Trap | Mark Heywood

15 Feb 2012

Empowerment lies in women in Indian villages talking to those in African villages

14 Feb 2012

SA ranks 123 of world’s happiest countries

26 Jan 2012

Youth Activism: South Africa’s Legacy and Future

20 Jan 2012

DRUM: Meet the Philanthropic Activist – By Pauline Mundi

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