In response to interest expressed by you, the network, Soul Beat Africa recently launched two new sections - Awards and Resource Mobilisation. These can be found under "Opportunities" on the left navigation bar of the website. These new sections share information about awards, contests, fellowships, scholarships, grants and funding opportunities that may be of interest to communicators in Africa. This issue of the Soul Beat highlights some of the information available on the website. If you have opportunities to add, please e-mail Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com
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AWARDS
1. Agenda Feminist Media Project: Photographic Competition
A competition to find outstanding photographic submissions which would be published in Agenda's final issue for 2004 entitled: "African Feminisms: Sexualities in Africa". Agenda Feminist Media Project invites submissions of photographs that explore the issue of sexuality in Africa. All those who will have their submissions published in the issue will be awarded R100, while the image chosen for the cover will be awarded R500. Deadline: October 18 2004
2. Red Ribbon Awards 2004
The awards honour outstanding media and community responses to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. They are aimed at encouraging media activism in the prevention, care and control of HIV/AIDS. The awards will recognise individual journalists as well as media organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), HIV/AIDS activists and community groups that have contributed to improving the quality of discourse and action on the epidemic. Deadline: November 1 2004
3. OneWorld/Staying Alive World AIDS Day 2004 Competition
In honour of World AIDS Day (December 1 2004), OneWorld and MTV are organising a World AIDS Day competition for the best audio or video spot on the topic of HIV/AIDS. This competition is for young people 15-34 years old, to submit audio or video public service announcements (PSAs) that convey the messages of MTV's HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, Staying Alive. The 2004 theme is "Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS". Deadline: November 11 2004
4. Broadcast Media Awards for Television
The Broadcast Media Awards for Television of the International Reading Association (IRA) recognise outstanding reporting and programming on television and cable television that deal with reading and literacy. The award also recognises the value of reading in todays society and promotes reading as a lifetime habit. Deadline: January 7 2005
5. Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life
Awarded by the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) - an international NGO for the empowerment of women and children - the prize (US$500 each) honours creative and courageous women and women's groups around the world for their contributions to improving the quality of life in rural communities. The prize aims to draw international attention to the laureates' contributions to sustainable development, household food security and peace, thus generating more recognition and support for their projects. Deadline: March 1 2005
FELLOWSHIPS/ SCHOLARSHIPS
6. Common Ground Media Fellowships
The fellowships seek to highlight techniques that reinforce journalistic independence and simultaneously promote public discussion on the search for common ground. Fellows will receive a stipend of US$300-1,000 to research stories that bring new perspectives on "polarising issues or on the concept of common ground" for broadcast or publication anywhere in the world. Rolling Deadline
7. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Scholarships
This is a scholarship exchange programme that aims to assist individual media practitioners from southern Africa in all areas of the media (managerial, editorial, advertising, and technical) to work on attachment in another media institution to learn new skills and develop existing ones. Both full-time employees and freelancers are eligible to apply. Rolling Deadline
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The University of Guelph is conducting a research project to collect information to develop a database of community radio stations in Africa. To be included in the database, please send the following information: Name of radio station; contact person; physical and mailing address; telephone number (with area code): fax; email address; website; radio frequency (ex: 95.2 FM); date established; funding sources; range (number of kilometers); power source; languages broadcast in (please include all); Does your station have rural development programming including but not limited to agriculture, health and the environment? If yes, how many minutes per week is this type of programming broadcast? Number of hours per week you broadcast any NON MUSIC programming? Number of hours per week you broadcast total (including music and non music programming)? Is there anything else you want to tell about your station?
The information may be sent to Nikki Whaites at ruralafricaradio@yahoo.ca or you may contact her for the survey form.
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RESOURCE MOBILISATION
8. Amandla AIDS Fund Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA)
Amandla AIDS Fund (AAF) provides grants to South African organisations working to combat AIDS. AAF targets organisations and programmes where funds are most needed and that will have a significant impact. Deadline: Rolling Deadline
9. Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
OSISA oversees US$5 million in grants annually in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Support is offered to projects that are national or regional. The programmes broadly focus on education, media, information technology, human rights and democracy. Rolling Deadlines
10. Global Fund for Women Grants
The Global Fund for Women (GWF) Grants aims to support women's groups that advance the human rights of women and girls. GFW works to strengthen womens groups based outside the United States by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from $500 to $20,000 for operating and project expenses. GFW values local expertise and believes that women themselves know best how to determine their needs and propose solutions for lasting change. Rolling Deadlines
11. Small Grants Programme: International Deaf Children's Society
The Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the International Deaf Children's Society (IDCS) provides grants of up to £10,000 to organisations with projects that offer measurable and sustainable improvements to the individual lives of deaf children and their families. Deadline: Nov 30 2004
12. Teacher as Researcher Grant
Intended to support teachers in their research on literacy and instruction. Grants will be awarded up to US$5,000, although priority will be given to smaller grants (e.g. US$1,000-2,000) in order to provide support for as many teacher researchers as possible. These studies may be carried out using any research method or approach so long as the focus is on reading/writing or literacy. Deadline: January 15 2005
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The Soul Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
Please send material for The Soul Beat to the Editor - Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com
