August 18, 2004
By Chandrea Gerber
"KEEPING the home fires burning: Celebrating domestic workers" is the theme of the City of Johannesburg's salute to the contribution domestic workers and women in the city make to the economy of South Africa.
The start of a multi-pronged programme addressing the developmental needs of domestic workers, each of the 11 regions in Joburg will be organising an event to form part of the City's celebration of National Woman's Month and 10 years of freedom in South Africa.
Highlights of the events celebrating domestic workers include:
Region 8 will host an informative day that includes a tour of Constitution Hill on Thursday 19 August, lunch at the Braamfontein Recreation Centre, and talks on issues such as labour laws, health and STDs, and financial management.
The day begins outside the Old Fort Coffee Shop at Constitution Hill at 11am, and will continue until 3pm. To attend, contact Roopa Singh on 011 376 8562 or 082 225 3076, or by e-mail at roopas@joburg.org.za
Region 3 will host a glamorous gala dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre on 31 August from 6pm to 9pm. The dinner costs R300 for the employer and domestic worker, and R150 per person thereafter.
Confirmation of attendance for the gala dinner should be given by 25 August. Click here for a form [In Adobe Abrobat format] to be emailed to wandilez@joburg.org.za, or by fax on 011 881 6633. Once registered, the delegate will be liable for the fee irrespective of attendance. Payment must be made by 30 August at midday, and cheques are payable to The City of Johannesburg, Region 3.
For children who are in the care of domestic workers, whether employees or their own mothers, a creative competition has been organised to enable children to express their thanks to the domestic workers who have touched their lives.
Children are invited to submit an account of their positive experiences, from which a selection will be published in a booklet which will be available at various libraries in the city.
All submissions will be considered for inclusion, and those chosen will be acknowledged. An award will be given to the best story, as voted by readers. Submissions can be in the form of drawings, stories or poems of no longer than 600 words, and must be entered by 27 August. Entries can be faxed to 011 881 6633, or emailed to Anneb@joburg.org.za.
For more information on both the dinner and the creative competition, contact Anne Bosch at the Social Services Department on 011 881 6453.
Other events in various regions of the city include:
Region 4
Event to be held on Thursday 26 August at the Donovan McDonald Centre, from 10am to 2pm. Activities include workshops on capacity building for domestic workers, their rights and women and health. For more information contact Aletta Mzimela on 082 559 3832 or 011 718 9675.
Region 5
Event to be held on Saturday 18 September at the Witpoortjie Recreation Centre from 9am to 2pm. Activities include workshops on the rights of domestic workers, fire and safety and HIV/AIDS. For more information contact Mildred Ngobeni on 082 464 0174.
Region 7
Event to be held on Saturday 21 August at the Jabula Centre in Sandringham from 9am to 3pm. Activities include workshops on the rights of domestic workers, financial management, women and health and crime prevention. For more information contact Rosemary Mvulane on 011 531 5599.
Region 9
Event to be held on Saturday 21 August at the Glenanda Clinic from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. Activities include workshops on the rights of domestic workers, their contributions to the economy and society, and fire and safety. For more information contact Angie Phetshana on 082 467 9419.
Region 11
Event to be held on Saturday 28 August at the Orange Farm Multi-purpose Centre from 10am to 3pm. Activities include poetry workshops and a drama on domestic workers, and workshops on the rights of domestic workers. For more information contact Matlhaku Kotsi on 082 467 9256.
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