Who can apply
Anyone who has a plan for social change through innovation (fresh thinking that adds value) in the areas of education and technology. Anyone who has a clear vision of a changed (improved) world and their contribution to bringing about this change. The fellowship is not limited to any specific geographic location. However, applicants must be fluent in English. Fellowship applicants must have attained the age of majority by the date of application.

Which topics/disciplines
The Foundation does not have strictly defined areas of funding as we have found this restrictive as people do not always fit into boxes. Previous successful application have come from individuals working in the following areas:

Communication and Analytical Skills in Education
Intellectual Property Rights
Open and Collaborative Educational Resources
Telecommunications
Open Philanthropy
Open Science

The fellowship is not an academic fellowship aimed at research, although research is not excluded. Preference will be given to action based research or practical implementations of innovative ideas.

More here

A friend of mine dropped off a bunch of magazines that she had finished reading. We recycle magazines – eventually they will end up at YOUR GP – but only when all the fashion advice is really redundant, the gardening tips are for the wrong season, the hairstyles are disgusting and the sexperts are old news. The usual suspects were present: “Cleo”, “Cosmopolitan”, “Elle” et al.  Every time I had a break this weekend (to be assured of 5 minutes uninterrupted reading time is quite a feat) I dived, nose first, into the nearest copy to read about how everyone else is doing it better.

People out there are having unbelievable sex (several times a week, if not several times a day – my bum is a biscuit!), they are great parents, successful entrepreneurs, accomplished sports people, over-achievers and ball-breakers.  You put down one of those magazines thinking you have to start that diet, and get that exercise and teach the kids from home and run a successful business and still find the time to make your husband feel like a god.  AND prepare home-made chilli jam and plant an organic vegetable garden and make homeopathic remedies from scratch from the garden.  If I had a super power, that would be it; all things to all people.

Needless to say yesterday morning I did the 5 recommended stretches for want of something better to do. Stretches mind you, nothing as ambitious as the Comrades to start off with, it’s not like I was pushing my luck. I could hardly brush my teeth today. I feel like a dressed chicken, about to go into the roasting tray – you know how you sometimes hold them up by their wings (or is that just me?) and the skin looks all stretched and tight and white (brownish if they are Argentinean) – that’s what I feel like.

Anyway, needless to say, when the alarm clock went off at 5 this morning to remind me to do my stretches – I gave it the finger, from the warmth and comfort of my winter feather duvet.

The HIFA fever has already gripped most art lovers and for the “Rituals” team, arrested and acquitted for criminal nuisance during the 100 performances outreach tour, Zambia has provided a perfect opportunity to retreat and rejuvenate hence the HIFA performances promise fireworks.

Pictured above is Joyce Mpofu (playing the mother of a rape victim), Chipo Bizure (playing the rape victim) and Rutendo Chigudu (playing the sister of the victim) arguing about the legal route the sister is about to take in addressing the rape case of her young sister during the run-up to the 2008 election run-off.

Make a point of supporting Rooftop Promotions by going to see Rituals at HIFA. They’ve had a hard time and deserve a big round of applause for standing up to the bully boys.

26 May (3.30pm) and 27 May (9.15pm) at the Standard Theatre with tickets going for $6.00.

Get yourself down to the current exhibition at The Delta Gallery and feast on some great Zimbabwean art.

3 Thoughts – Drawings Graphics and paintings, opened by His Excellency, Mr. Christos Salamanis Ambassador of Greece.

Pictured, top: Portia Zvavahera (Crossing the red sea) and Virginia Chihota (Vane mvumo yese manje)

JCI Zimbabwe is inviting nominations for the 2011 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Zimbabwe (JCI TOYP) program. The program formally recognizes young people between the ages of 18 and 40 who excel in their chosen fields and create positive change, raising the status of socially responsible leaders in this world. Nominations are being invited from individuals, professional bodies, associations, religious groups, Non Governmental Organisations, interest groups, the academia and quasi government institutions, in ten areas.

Each nominee must be entered in one – only one – of the ten categories below:

1.    Business, economic and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment
2.    Political, legal and/or governmental affairs
3.    Academic leadership and/or accomplishment
4.    Cultural achievement
5.    Moral and/or environmental leadership
6.    Contribution to children, world peace and/or human rights
7.    Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership
8.    Scientific and/or technological development
9.    Personal improvement and/or accomplishment and
10.  Medical innovation

Young men and women may be nominated in one of ten categories. The honourees will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges. Up to ten honourees will be selected from all nominations received, regardless of category entered, and will be announced and honoured with JCI TOYP trophies at a National Ceremony set for July 30, 2011.

Nomination forms must be submitted physically to any Innov8 Bookshop around Zimbabwe, by email to jcitoyz [at] gmail [dot] com on by filling out the online form by May 6, 2011. Once chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Zimbabwe, the honourees will be entered into the JCI International Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World competition where they will compete at international level against entrants from over 100 countries where JCI is represented. The top ten international winners will receive an all round trip, accommodation plus registration to attend the 66th JCI World Congress in Brussels, Belgium, 1 – 5 November, 2011.

For more information, questions or concerns, contact: Tinashe Nyaruwanga (Program Director) Phone: +263 772 750 133 Email: tinasheny [at] gmail [dot] com or jcitoyz [at] gmail [dot] com

Lloyd Ngwenya (JCI Zimbabwe National Public Relations Director) Phone: +263 774 302 442 Email: lngwenya [at] zol [dot] co [dot] zw