Masifundes Changemaker Network National
The Changemaker Network Project aims to capacitate learners with practical knowledge on relevant social topics, such as school safety, violence and bullying. This is achieved through activation workshops for all Grade 9 learners and intensive changemaker trainings for selected learners. The training equips learners with practical tools to act as agents of change in their schools. They learn campaigning, public speaking and in general about the role they and their peers can play in initiating change in their direct social environment, particularly regarding addressing interpersonal/gender-based violence.
The Changemaker Network model is a whole-of-school community intervention supporting the National Inclusive and Safer Schools Partnership (NISSP) of the National Department of Basic Education. The intervention activates, provides capacity and supports the role of local Department of Education and school communities at large: learners, educators, community, volunteers, stakeholders. This project has been implemented within the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo.
The programmes can help guide learners that may be exposed to or experiencing violence to find coping skills, positive behavioural support, or peer-to-peer education.
Within these 4 provinces, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) applies to become Implementation Partners and 5 will be selected from each province to become implementation partners of the MCN. Each CSO will work within 5 high-schools within their district. Thus, resulting in 20 districts and 25 schools per province and ultimately 100 schools nationwide. In 2024 we will work within 200 schools nationwide with 40 civil society organisations
Focus
The Changemaker Network focuses on the following topics:
- School Safety: Understanding violence
- Prevention of Gender based violence
- In 2024 we will cover Environment and Climate change
The ChangeMakers' Network aims to be replicated within 4 provinces in South Africa. Specifically: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo.
Within these 4 provinces, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) applies to become Implementation Partners and 5 will be selected from each province to become implementation partners of the MCN. Each CSO will work within 5 high-schools within their district. Thus, resulting in 20 districts and 25 schools per province and ultimately 100 schools nationwide.
Spark Magazine Editions
Capacity building
Selected Civil Society Organizations are trained in a one-week capacity building workshop. District officials join the training and work together with representatives to develop school safety interventions.
Activation Workshops
A 45-minute Activation Workshop is facilitated to Grade 9 learners in selected high schools in the across the country to encourage them to see themselves as potential changemakers who can promote equality and raise awareness about issues of public concern. In the workshop, the learners elect two of their peers to represent their school as changemaker and attend the one-week training.
Virtual Changemaker Training
With support from Masifunde CSO’s coordinate a hybrid training for the selected changemakers. This allows learners to learn more about being a changemaker and be trained on topics including school safety and bullying prevention, as well as meet other changemakers from other parts of south africa
Campaigning/Outreach
The changemakers then address their peers at the school’s assembly/ classrooms on the core topics they have been trained on. They share the knowledge they have learned through workshops, presentations, and art. They hand out the youth magazine SPARK to all learners in the school, as one of their primary acts as catalysts of positive change. The SPARK magazine is published for each of the topic, each with the content that the learners have been trained in and contributed towards.
Roleplayers in the Changemaker Network
Civil Society Organisations
Organisations are trained in a one-week training on the content of the changemaker network, facilitation skills, project management, relevant frameworks and policies so that they are equipped to implement the Changemaker Network program in their respective organisations and provinces
District Officials
Their role consists of supporting Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) through assisting in identifying schools and gaining access to these schools. They are trained alongside Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) so that together they can align their visions for the implementation of MCN. Additionally, they provide guidance and various linkages to DoE frameworks and policies that inform and mandate the implementation of violence/GBV prevention programmes in schools.
Changemakers
Changemakers are expected to advocate for social issues and bring a positive change in their schools and communities. This is achieved through having campaigns and events to create awareness, share knowledge and skills necessary to stand up against presenting social issues.
Partners
