Editorial Releases: 2005
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FATHERHOOD: June, 2005 Findings on household fluidity data collected by the Birth to Twenty study over 10 years (from 1995 -2005) shows a significant decline in the number of households headed by men (from 58.8% in 1995 to 37.2% in 2005 ) and an increase in the number of households headed by women (62.8% in 2003). This could be attributed to the reversal of roles in terms of economic activities, AIDS related deaths and the increasing rate of divorce. In a society where fathers are often absent, neglectful and sometimes brutal, positive images of fatherhood nevertheless remain alive in the minds and yearnings of people, young and old. The Fatherhood Project aims to stimulate discussion and action to support the involvement of men in caring for children. The Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, based in Soweto-Johannesburg, in partnership with the Child, Youth and Family Development (CYFD) research programme at the Human Sciences Research Council, started the Fatherhood Project. The Fatherhood Project aims to promote men?s care and protection by providing information about the importance of father-child relationships, and how they benefit children, men and families. The Fatherhood Project is now in its second year and has begun to shift its energies toward much needed research and programme support. In 2005, a book entitled, ?Baba: Men and fatherhood in South Africa?, edited by Prof Linda Richter and Dr Robert Morrell will be launched. Back to editorialRelease Back to Top
Vilane?s team is reported to have reached the summit via the North Ridge by 7:20 am local time (about 5 hours ahead of GMT). Led by David Hamilton of the UK, the team of four (plus 3 Sherpas) spent an exhilarating one and half hours on top of the mountain, before descending with the aim of getting all the way to Advanced Base Camp by the end of the day today. The mountaineer first made history by being the first black South African to reach the peak of Mt Everest in May 2003. Then, he was driven by the desire to put Africa on top of the world. Still driven, albeit by a different passion, Vilane made it up the mountain for the second time in two years. Sibusiso is passionate about children and believes in their dreams, and wants to raise awareness for three organisations dealing with children. The Birth to Twenty Research Programme is one of the organisations that stand to benefit from Sibusiso Vilane?s climb. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand, Birth to Twenty is a grant funded study that explores and documents socio-economic, socio-political, demographic and nutrition transition that is underway in South Africa and its impact on children and their families. The other two organisations of Sibusiso?s choice are SOS Children?s Village in Swaziland and Africa Foundation in South Africa. The staff and cohort of Birth to Twenty want to say CONGRATULATIONS to Sibusiso for reaching his Everest and wish him a safe descent. SIBUBISO VILANE: May 23, 2005 Hailed the first black South African to reach the world?s highest peak in May 2003, Sibusiso Vilane took to Mt Everest again this year to raise awareness and subsequently funds for three organisations. Vilane has a passion for children, and the only reason he decided to brave Mt Everest again was for the children of South Africa and Swaziland (where he holds dual citizenship). Father of three himself, he is intimately aware of how important dreams are to children, and thus how much more important support and motivation are to the realization of those dreams. The Birth to Twenty Research Programme is one of the organisations that stand to benefit from Sibusiso Vilane?s climb. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand, Birth to Twenty is a grant funded study that explores and documents socio-economic, socio-political, demographic and nutrition transition that is underway in South Africa and its impact on children and their families. The staff and children of Birth to Twenty are in full support of Sibusiso Vilane, and have him to thank for motivating them to reach their own Everest both personally and in the research. Before Vilane left for Everest in March 2005, Graham Beck, of Graham Beck Wines in the Western Cape has donated R100 000 to the organisations. Birth to Twenty is grateful for that, and is appealing to other companies/individuals to help realise Sibusiso Vilane?s dream of helping children in South Africa and Swaziland. SIBUSISO VILANE CLIMBING MT EVEREST FOR THE SECOND TIME: January 19, 2005
Asked why on earth he would be going back to Everest again, Sibusiso responded: "Last time I climbed Everest for all the people of Africa who had never been given the opportunity to do so, this time I will be climbing to raise awareness for three charities - The Birth to Twenty Research Programme, The Africa Foundation and SOS Children?s Village in Swaziland." Birth to Twenty, based at the University of the Witwatersrand, is a longitudinal study whose overarching vision is to understand the holistic determination of child and adolescent health and development within Johannesburg-Soweto. This complex study, colloquially named Mandela?s children, continually impacts on current thinking about youth, and is committed to scientific research that makes a difference. The study documents and explores the socio-economic, socio-political, demographic and nutrition transition that is underway within South Africa and its impact on children and their families. Birth to Twenty has a strong focus on research quality and output, and the dissemination of study findings to international and South African academics and researchers, media, parents and educators, and policy leaders. Through some of the findings, the study has impacted government policy on the way routine data about children?s births are collected at hospitals and clinics, the mandatory school enrolment age, tobacco control legislation, and the reduction of environmental lead exposure linked to fuel emissions. Africa Foundation?s primary focus is on Education, Health Care and Income-Generating Activities. Africa Foundation was founded by and works in partnership with Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) and its lodges throughout East and Southern Africa. Africa Foundation funds and manages projects based on the needs within specific communities surrounding CC Africa conservation areas. Together with CC Africa?s lodge teams and in consultation with these communities, Africa Foundation has implemented many successful community empowerment projects. They currently manage six major programmes in addition to over forty smaller projects in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The SOS Children?s Village looks after children who have lost their parents: through war, famine, disease or poverty. The charity cares for street children, AIDS orphans, child soldiers and other children with nothing and no-one. It has ten family houses and four youth houses which together are home to 140 children and young people. As well as a kindergarten, the Village has two schools, primary and secondary, all of which are open to local children. There is a clinic which provides medical care for around 40 patients a day and a social centre which operates an AIDS outreach programme supporting HIV/AIDS affected families with clothes, food, school fees, basic medicine, housing improvements and counselling. Vilane and Harris leave Johannesburg in late March for the Himalayas via London. They will once again be climbing with Jagged Globe, the commercial operators who led Sibusiso s successful bid in 2003. Asked what he plans to do after this expedition, Sibusiso says he d like to focus more on his professional speaking career - (he recently won the Inaugural GIBS Speakers Award which was given to him for being voted as "the speaker who has made the most significant contribution to and impact on visitors to the Gordon Institute of Business School") - sharing with fellow South Africans his personal story; and his eyes light up as he tells of how he would also dearly love to get involved with schools around the country, to motivate and inspire the youth to believe in their dreams and make them a reality. Father of three himself, he is intimately aware of how important dreams are to children and thus how much more important support and motivation are to the realisation of those dreams. This climb is funded by Anglo American, while all his climbing gear is sponsored by Cape Union Mart stores, long time sponsors and great supporters of his. Graham Beck, of Graham Beck Wines in the Western Cape has donated R100 000 to the three organisations mentioned above. Sibusiso Vilane will meet some of the Birth to Twenty cohort members for the first time at the Birth to Twenty Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital site on 22 January 2005. An event has been planned for him to meet the children, which he is very passionate about. He will recount his experiences of the first climb to the 100 plus children who belong to the study and will benefit immensely from the donation of the proceeds from the upcoming climb. The event is open to members of the press. Vilane will be available after he talks to the children to answer questions. For more information on the Birth to Twenty event, please contact Stella Fleetwood on 011 488 3246/ 083 724 6480. For more information on Sibusiso Vilane, please contact his agent, Bronwyn Gibson on 011 622 1228/ 083 278 3151 Contact person: Carmen Basson
Birth to Twenty- your national heritage |