I tell my students, “When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.” – Toni Morrison

Her father was murdered by gunmen, her mother starved to death and Michaela DePrince was branded a “devil child” at her orphanage because of a rare skin condition. Then, as civil war raged around her in Sierra Leone, a vision came as if from another world. Outside the orphanage gates was a magazine with a picture of a ballet dancer. “I’d never seen anything like it before,” Michaela, now 17, tells the Guardian.

Source: Visualise Us

Work in and for Zimbabwe. Help grow our nation. Check out the vacancies below. If you’d like to receive this sort of information, as well as civic and human rights updates, by email each week drop us a note saying “subscribe” to info [at] kubatana [dot] net

Please note that the job vacancies we carry are related to the NGO and civil society sectors only.

WASH Project Manager: Zvitambo
Deadline: 20 July 2012 (5pm)

Exciting position for a highly motivated, self-driven, WASH professional with excellent analytical problem-solving skills, strong reporting and budget management skills, and is a great team player especially working closely with district-level WASH officials. Research experience and availability to begin 1st August are advantages.

Submitted CV must include:

Relevant information and credentials, years of relevant experience, current employment status, salary history, size of budgets previously managed; and a writing example (a report or article). All information submitted will be held in strict confidence and we will not contact employers without candidate’s permission.

Send CVs to: applynow [at] zvitambo [dot] co [dot] zw

Programme Officer: Local NGO
Deadline: 20 July 2012

The post will be based in Harare with extensive traveling and visiting project sites. The Programme Officer will report to the National Coordinator.

Responsibilities
-Spearheading the information management and research component of the organisation’s program
-Developing, coordinating and implementing innovative, high quality and policy relevant advocacy strategies
-Managing the organisation’s key communication channels (website, media contacts, data base, press wall and library)
-Designing and maintaining a functional M&E system to enable regular monitoring and evaluation of projects

Qualifications and experience
-A Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Media Studies, Social Sciences or qualification in a related field
-Proven experience in project management and implementation
-Experience in the media
-Experience working in local communities

Personal attributes
-Demonstrated strategic and analytical thinking
-Excellent oral and written communication skills
-Holder of a clean class four driver’s license
-Ability to effectively communicate technical material to both expert and lay audiences

Interested individuals are advised to submit their CV and motivational letter describing interest, qualifications and salary requirements to programmesofficer2012 [at] gmail [dot] com

Please be advised that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Supply Officer: MSF-Spain
Deadline: 22 July 2012

Based in Harare

-Diploma in Purchasing and Supply or similar qualification
-Minimum 3 years experience in a similar role in the NGO sector
-Excellent knowledge in Inventory Control ensuring high stock accuracy
-Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office
-Experience in maintenance and update of supply software
-Experience in customs clearing
-Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
-Able to work under pressure and in a changing environment
-Willingness to work in a ‘hands on’ position
-Fluent in English and local languages
-Ability to work in a multicultural environment
-Responsible and flexible

Send CV to: HR Admin, MSF-Spain, 3 Natal Road, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe or email: Msfe-harare-hr [at] Barcelona [dot] msf [dot] org

Finance Assistant: Catholic Relief Services
Deadline: 23 July 2012

Location: Bulawayo

Catholic Relief Services – Zimbabwe Program (PVO: 6/2002), an international humanitarian and development organization.

The Finance Assistant is responsible for assisting in ensuring that the sub office adheres to good financial accounting systems that enable the office to accurately report on the funds allocated to it. The main focus will be to assist in ensuring that the sub office is in compliance with CRS policies as well as any applicable external donor requirements. S/he ensures that the sub office submits reports to CRS Finance timely.

Qualifications & Experience
-Diploma in Accounting or studying towards a Bachelor of Accounting Degree, CIMA, ACCA, or CIS
-Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a similar position
-NGO exposure critical/essential
-High level of practical accounting knowledge
-Extremely detail oriented and with special attention to accuracy and timely reporting
-Very high level of computer literacy, especially MS Office applications including email
-Excellent oral and written communication skills
-Excellent interpersonal skills and an orientation to service
-Ability to meet deadlines under pressure
-Willingness to learn

Those who meet the above criteria are invited to submit their applications together with a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae that includes the names and contact details (plus email addresses) of three traceable references.

Applications should be clearly marked “Finance Assistant Bulawayo”. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please submit to: The Country Representative, 95 Park Lane, Harare or 33A Duncan Road Suburbs Bulawayo or P.O. Box CY 1111, Causeway, Harare, or to taurai.musakaruka [at] crs [dot] org

On World Population Day this year, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his speech said, “Women and young people who are in good health, and who have the power and means to make their own decisions about how many children to have and when to have them are better able to contribute to the development of their societies.” This is very encouraging to young people in Zimbabwe. To say young women and girls have no access to family planning is true largely because of society stereotypes and ignorance. Being raised in societies where premarital sex is rejected makes it difficult for one to make use of contraceptives before they are married. Our societies would take a big blow in the face and would find it difficult to call for abstinence if they were to accept that young people engage in sexual activities before they are married. Abstinence is the best and safest method, but on the ground we have young people engaging themselves in risky sexual behaviours. Which places them at risk of unwanted pregnancies, as well as contracting STIs and HIV.

In a survey of 14-24 year old men and women from conducted in Harare it found that 43% of women had premarital sexual intercourse yet 80% of pregnant students did not want to be pregnant. This survey also found that even though 79.5% of the young adults knew at least one method of contraceptive and did not want to fall pregnant, 87% of the sexually active women and 83% of the sexually active men did not use them at first intercourse. Further, 64% of never married women and 71% of never married men who had intercourse in the month before the survey did not use contraceptives. The survey established that the leading reason for not using a method was ignorance.

With increased access to family planning methods made available to young girls and women in the country, we can go a long way in reducing unwanted pregnancies in this era where the number of those abstaining is on the decrease. Yes we can argue for the young girls to abstain, but when they go back to the streets, to their friends and colleges only a few will manage to abstain. So its better that they be educated. I have seen and heard stories of women in colleges and universities who defer their studies after they have fallen pregnant. Some of these never return to complete their studies. PSI believes that, ‘Women have greater access to education and employment opportunities when they control their fertility, which can enhance their own and their families’ economic status.’

Interview with Leofold Ndemera (Stone Sculptor) at the Chitungwiza Art Centre.

How did you get started as a stone sculptor?
I started stone sculpting some years ago when I dropped out of school after I faced challenges in paying school fees. So I moved to Chitungwiza where I lived with my uncle who was into stone sculpting at that time. I started by helping him in the workshop to do finishing touches on his pieces and later he taught me how to carve. It didn’t take me a long time to learn stone carving skills because I was passionate and I’m a fast learner.

Who has inspired you?
After both my parents died my grandfather raised me. So through the hardships I faced growing up I can say I inspired myself to be what I am today. I wanted to make a difference in my life so that my family will not live the same manner I was raised.

How would you describe your work environment?
Chitungwiza Art Center is a place, which was donated to artists by The National Arts Council in conjunction with United Nations Development Program. Artists here operate independently in terms of their sculpting techniques and their equipment, but pay a percentage of their turnover to the cooperative, which covers rent and other incidentals. Buyers of various types of art frequent the place making it a viable marketing place for art

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your business?
In my line of trade I think the biggest challenge I faced so far is marketing my artwork. Customers are not coming in the manner they used to and when they do come they are not paying prices which make my business sustainable.

How do you market you work?
I use the Internet … Facebook to be precise, and I also use volunteering activities to publicize my work.

Do you have other means of earning a living?
I only survive on stone art.

What philanthropic activities are you involved in as a way to give back to the less fortunate?
I train young children, especially orphans, in the basic skills of stone sculpting. I also donate my artwork to institutions. In 2009 I worked on a project with Maunganidze Children’s’ Home based in Chitungwiza. Under the project I trained children in stone sculpting so that by the time they leave the orphanage they will be able to sustain themselves through stone art. I am also hoping that if everything goes according to plan I will be teaching stone sculpting at Mother of Peace Children’s Center in Mutoko.

Your biggest wish?
My biggest wish is to be able to assist as many children as I can in stone art.

What are your main concerns as a stone sculptor?
I am more concerned by the fact that art is mostly appreciated by people who come from abroad than the local people. So my wish is to have more local people having a better understanding of art and appreciating it as well.

What is your biggest fear?
I fear that one day I will wake up not feeling fine and not being able to fend for my family.