Press statement. For immediate release.

Kaleidoscope Youth Network and University of Johannesburg host successful Gauteng Regional Lekgotla

Written by Thuli Mathabela, Auxiliary National Vice Convenor                                                         11 July 2012

Kaleidoscope Youth Network held its second Regional Lekgotla at University Of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus from the 5th to the 8th of July. The member societies that were present included UJ Liberati (University of Johannesburg), Activate (Wits), Pillars of Consciousness (Central Johannesburg College), Flamboyant (Tshwane University of Technology), UP and OUT (University of Pretoria), POUT ( North West University) and OUT n Proud (NWU,Mafikeng Campus).The societies came together under the topic "History of LGBT and the Media".
 
The aim of the Regional Lekgotla is to get organisations within the regions acquainted with each other so that collaboration and solidarity may grow in the region. It was also implemented with the hope of transferring and sharing skillsets in campaign building and documenting hate crimes.
 
A UJ representative, Mr Godfrey Helani welcomed the Network and its youth leaders on the first day of the process. He emphasised the fact that South Africa has a challenge where people are discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation. In his speech, he stated that "we are happy to have a national organisation that is willing and able to tackle these challenges. UJ pledges support because we understand the need for human rights; we promote the understanding of harmony and the fact that the LGBTIA community does not owe anybody an explanation as to why their sexual orientation is different"
 
Campaign Development was one of the focus of the Lekgotla and was facilitated by Anzio Jacobs, the National Convenor of the Network. Tish White, National Vice Convenor focused on Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, whereas Gabriel Khan from Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action facilitated outside exercises and educated the delegates on the history of LGBTIA and important individuals that surfaced the path for activism. Delegates were also taught how to report hate crimes to the Hate Crimes Working Group.
 
In addition to the campaigns developed by each society, the "It Gets Better Campaign" was recorded and the Network managed to compose an anthem that could possibly be sung at all Pride Marches.

The outcomes of the Regional Lekgotla will be seen through the extensive planning that went into campaign building, the implementation of a hate crimes documentation system and the bonds forged through team-building. It is the hope of the Network that in the immense challenges faced in the rise in hate crimes, and structures and services reinforced by heterosexism and patriarchy, that delegates will use their skills and regional networking bonds to overcome common challenges and strengthen the capacity of the sector.

PRESS STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26 June 2012

The Kaleidoscope Youth Network hosts first Regional Lekgotla in Durban, in partnership with Durban University of Technology

Written by Tish White – National Vice Convenor

The Kaleidoscope Youth Network is a body of student solidarity organisations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTIA) students in places of tertiary education across South Africa. The 17 member organisations include regions ranging from Fort Hare, Stellenbosch, Mafikeng and Bloemfontein to Pietermaritzburg.

The mission of the Kaleidoscope Youth Network is to promote health and wellness amongst youth, empower future leaders and eradicate hate crimes. The Network is run by two core teams – an auxiliary and executive team – which oversee operations across South Africa. The entire Network meets annually for a national AGM (known as a lekgotla), where policy, strategy and documentation is discussed, and training done. The Network has seen a growing need for capacity-building, networking and training at a regional level across South Africa, and has addressed this through the launch of the regional lekgotla project. In partnership with hosting universities, the executive and auxiliary team will travel across South Africa giving training and guidance specific to the organisations they visit.

There are two student organisations in KZN that cater for LGBTIA students – Shadows in the Rainbow (based at Durban University of Technology) and MOVE (UKZN, Pietermaritzburg), though the LGBTI NGOs in the KZN region, such as the Gay and Lesbian Network in PMB cater for youth issues too. Both MOVE and Shadows in the Rainbow are fairly new organisations that have very promising futures. Shadows in the Rainbow took up the call to host a regional lekgotla in 2012, in partnership with the institute at which they are based - Durban University of Technology. DUT will be hosting delegates from UKZN and DUT, as well as some members of the Kaleidoscope Youth Network management team. The group will follow an intensive programme which includes training in campaign building, networking strategies, partnership project work with regional LGBTIA initiatives and problem-solving strategising for any issues the two societies might face. The group will also be partaking in the Durban Pride 2012 march, and will be at a stall to answer any questions Pride-goers might have regarding the Network operations. It is the hope of the Network leadership that the KZN student societies will take the skills taught at this regional lekgotla and implement them in their work.

Should you have any queries about the lekgotla, please contact the Network

Press statement. For immediate release.

Kaleidoscope Youth Network’s 6th Annual LGBTIA Youth Leaders’ Lekgotla taken to new heights

Jan Shawn Malatjie, Kokeletso Legoete (Public Relations)

The South African Universities’ LGBTIA leaders were gathered at Kwena Lodge in Potchefstroom for the Sixth Annual Kaleidoscope Youth Network National Youth Leaders Lekgotla, which took place from March 30th to April 4th 2012. LGBTIA youth in universities across South Africa were represented through campus solidarity societies. The Lekgotla took place to facilitate discussion around the progresses made by the Network, guiding documents and policy, and future projects for the next period.

National Convener and activist Anzio Cameron Jacobs said, “The delegates were indeed a true representation of the future of the LGBTIA sector. Older activists can finally relax, knowing that all their hard work has not been in vain, and that this generation will take activism in this sector to new heights.”

The six-day Lekogtla focused on policy change and implementation within the network; with the drafting of the Constitution being in the forefront. Presentations on Queer history, Art in Advocacy, team building, coping in the sector, transgender and intersex issues, international and internal engagement of the network were, to name a few, activities that took place. The process was facilitated by young activists in the sector, namely, Anzio Jacobs, Ella Kotze a psychologist, Gabriel Khan from Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action, Revelation Xakoshe from TIA(Transgender Intersex Africa), Jacques Rothmann from the North West University and Jay Matlou.

“Member organizations have worked extremely hard to ensure that they are taken more seriously within the context of their respective universities. Although some progress has been made in this regard, there’s still a long road ahead for these young activists.” According to the network’s National Convener, the youth seem prepared for the tasks ahead.

The network is part of The Joint Working Group (JWG) and it is set to become a member of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) which is a positive sign that the network is well on its way to achieving its mandate to amplify the voice of South Africa’s LGBTIA youth.

One important conception that came out of Lekgotla 2012 was the initiation of mini-lekgotlas to be held on regional level. As the National Convener stated,” the mini-lekgotlas are intended to bridge the gap between KYN members and the executive, and also act to assist KYN in knowing what's happening on ground level so that we are able to voice the opinions of a wider variety of LGBTIA identified youth.

Anzio Jacobs (National Convenor), Tish White (Vice-National Convenor), Stefan van Tonder (Secretary) and Celia Engelbrecht (Logistics Manager) have been elected for a second term in office as the Executive Committee of the network; with a new member Kokeletso Legoete as the Public Relations Officer. As part of the policy change that took place during the Lekgotla, a new Auxiliary Executive Committee was elected to ensure that the transfer of skills, support and knowledge is passed on to new activists as part of a shadow committee. Mallory Perrett was elected as the Auxco-National Convenor , Thuli Mathabela as Auxco- National-Vice convenor, Brendan Roche-Kelly as Auxco- Secretary, Matthew Moto as the Auxco- Logistics Manager and Jan Shawn Malatjie as the Auxco-Public Relations Officer.

Organisations present at Lekgotla 2012 – Out and Proud (UNW Mafikeng), POUT (UNW Potchefstroom), Flamboyant (TUT), UP&OUT (UP), ACTIVATE (Wits), Liberati APK (UJ) and Liberati DFC (UJ), Out@Kovsies (UFS), MOVE (UKZN), Shadows in the Rainbow (DUT), OUTRhodes (Rhodes), UFH LGBT (UFH), Eloquor Knights (NMMU), GAYLA (UWC), LOUDEnuf (UWC) and GLOScput (CPUT).

Associate organisations present – Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action, 1in9 and Transgender Intersex Africa.
There remains a lot that still needs to be done in South Africa and the rest of the world in realizing that Gay Rights are Human Rights and that they should be respected and protected. The network, which is still in its infancy, has achieved immense progress with regard to the integration of LGBTIA youth within universities and promises to do more with the help of its member organizations.

End.