Africa University Current News

Gender Commemorative Week 2006 9-13 October 2006

Objectives: The Gender Commemorative Week at Africa University has now become one of the permanent features on the Africa University Calendar. This year’s gender week celebration is the third in running and is in line with the ongoing gender mainstreaming process at Africa University.

The event is organized by the Gender Working Group (GWG) in collaboration with the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG).
In the first year of our commemorating Gender, the guiding theme was Raising Gender Awareness of the Africa University Community Members. Last year, the theme of the Gender Week centred on Gender Mainstreaming at AU: Prospects and Challenges.
This year’s theme is Gender, Peace, Leadership and Development.

As women and men increasingly become conscientised about their capabilities and opportunities that they have access to, they also increasingly become visible and actively participate in debates on development, peace and leadership.

In the developing world there, has been a prevailing culture of women as subordinate taking second place to men. Women are asking for a balanced perspective on women in terms of what they are capable of doing and what they can achieve if the right environment is provided for them. Women realize that there was a lot that was claimed as not within their skills base, which in-fact they can do. This necessarily implies that men are also part of the discourse on gender. The GWG in commemorating this week, is part of an attempt to bring men and women together and share experiences and reflect on the complementary role that the two occupy in daily interactions Activities

A number of Zimbabwe based participants are lined up for the week :

Women’s Trust;
Media Women in Zimbabwe
Women’s Resource Centre Network
Ministry of Gender Affairs and Community Development
Musasa Project
Girl Child Network
Video and poster shows
Sports
Drama.

Organizing Committee Contact regarding enquiries and support: Mrs. C. Masiyazi Chairperson,Technical Team Gender Working Group Africa University
P.O. Box 1320
Mutare Zimbabwe
Tel/Fax: (263 20) 60650
E-mail: academic@africau.ac.zw Publicity team: Jennifer Muzamhindo E-mail : muzamhindoj@africau.ac.zw Brian Kutiwa E-mail : kutiwab@africau.ac.zwJoseph Chinzvende E-mail : chinzvendej@africau.ac.zw