AFRICA CENTRE:COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT MODEL PREPARED BY

Mduduzi F. MahlinzaCommunity Liaison Manager

COMMUNITY• Community, refers to people with commonalities

like culture, religion, single authority, geographically staying together, socio-economic similarities, ethnicity and physical or health condition.

• Community engagement or public participation as it is often referred to, is any process that involves the public in problem-solving or decision making and uses the public input to make more informed decisions - International Association for Public Participation

COMMUNITY PROFILING• Rural • Traditional• Religious• Political• Unemployed• Health challenges

WHY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Africa Centre conducts community-based research and it is important to engage the community at all levels for; community entry and preparedness, comply with ethics codes and sensitize the community about participants rights.

Build trust, Suitable, Sustainable, Reputable & help to disseminate findings.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

Induna meetingWard CommitteesGov DepartmentsInterest Groups

Road showsFGDsComm meetingsEvents

RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MODEL

INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

PLANNED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

1. Award for best Isigodi: CAB’s direct  involvement in mobilising their izigodi for participation - with the idea of an award to the isigodi with the highest HIV consent rate.

2. CAB as “ghost” participants:How ACDIS (especially HIV Surveillance) want to strengthen fieldworker training by way of using CAB members as “ghost” participants.

3. Youth Engagement Project…

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

• A sports-based community youth mobilisation, outreach and education strategy to strengthen youth participation in research and research result dissemination.

• Targeting about 22, 800 youth (male and female) aged 15-35 living within the DSA.

PROJECT COMPONENTS: SPORTS LEAGUE & VCT

• Sports League:– Soccer league of 32 teams for males– Netball league of 32 teams for females – A team per Isigodi

• Offer HIV rapid testing at each game• HIV/AIDS discussions and research information

dissemination before and after each game

PROJECT COMPONENTS: WORKSHOPS & ADVISORY

CENTRE• Series of one day workshops to be held with

team representatives to train the trainers in household-based dissemination of research results

• Establish a Youth Advisory Centre to:– provide continuous contact with project– provide confidential one-on-one and group

HIV/AIDS educational sessions– to make referrals to AC based medical staff

PROJECT UPDATE & PROGRESS

• 2-year Grant awarded by Wellcome Trust• Staff recruitment in progress

– Youth Engagement Coordinator• Project Activities to commence 5th Jan, 2009• Establish sports league by March, 2009• Establish Youth Advisory Centre by April, 2009• 1st Youth Workshop by June, 2009

CHALLENGES• Striking balance between research and

development.• Working with the Traditional and Civil

leadership.• Resources to better reach-out to the intended

communities.• Realistic turn-around time for intervention.

SUCCESSES• The Africa Centre has worked 10 years with one

and the same community. • An even better understanding of how research

works and the zeal to use evidence based programs i.e. Qhubekani Primary School (Mondi)

• Constantly finding out better and more effective modes of engagement and adjust our approach where necessary.

SIYABONGA