Jonny Harrison is sailing to Australia from the UK via the Panama Canal before he starts work in Sydney on a secondment at his firm PricewaterhouseCoopers »
Andrew Hebden is Assistant Editor (Business) of The Journal »
Katie Pringle has started her own business, Rock, Paper, Scissors »
Andrew Mernin is the Digital Journalist for nebusiness »
Matthew Rippon is an IP lawyer for BHP Law »
Formerly editor of a national business lifestyle magazine, Jez Davison is a business writer for the Evening Gazette in Teesside »
Ross Smith, Head of Policy and Research at the North-East Chamber of Commerce »
Julian Christopher from Footprint Public Relations, on media and marketing »
Norma Foster from the North East Regional Portal writes about e-business »
Ian Brown, Northumberland farmer and businessman writes about the agricultural industry »
Accessibilty Champion Steve Wilkinson on the importance of inclusion »
Jonathan Wheatley from Stokesley-based MC Ware writes about IT matters »
Mark Lisgo is a Northeasterner who works for law firm Eversheds in Abu Dhabi, UAE »
Adam Lopardo is director of the Sponsors Club for Arts & Business, bringing business and art together »
Curator Danielle Pender shares the peaks and pitfalls of working with 21 designers on a month-long exhibition »
Paul Williamson is from Deloitte »September 2008 Archives
The Power of Positive Thought....
Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on September 1, 2008 9:07 AM
...is not enough to restart my Internet connection. I write this between a series of power cuts that I've been blighted with most of the weekend. This is nothing too unusual for Swaziland as the break in electricity is as common here as it is in Rwanda, but still, slightly annoying when you want to make connections with the outside world. I'm typing this furiously before the next cut inevitably strikes before I get it live....Think I'll just about make it.... Will be in touch again soon when the blackouts become less regular!
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Exchanging your Life for a Day
Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on September 2, 2008 4:18 PM
As I drive for two hours high up into the mountains to visit a remote producer group called Tinsaba, I already know that it's going to be a great day.
Through the early morning mist, children sing and wave on their way to collect water and cows clearly rule the road! I am forced to stop on several occasions to avoid them.
I turn off onto a dirt track to find the group (praying that this is the right dirt track. There are many and no sign posts.) I drive for about 30 minutes deep into the bush only to discover that it clearly isn't. With thick bush-land at either side of me, I can't turn so all I can do is reverse!
Not a 4x4 by any means, my affectionately named 'Harris' the Yaris, revved up but got stuck down a pot hole.
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The Frog Chorus
Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on September 2, 2008 4:50 PM
After a long day, I was ready for a nice hot shower and an early night!
But I arrived at my B&B to discover that - yet again - there was no electricity.
Hunting for my torch (essential for anyone travelling to Swaziland) I also located the candles and jumped in the shower - at least there was water!
I then attempted to read for a bit by candlelight and was about to go to sleep when I heard the nightly choir outside my window.
Now I have to say that birds and bugs singing is one of the nicest sounds in the world when you step off a plane, but at night when all you want to do is sleep, the novelty soon wears off!
I have managed to get used to the grasshoppers, cockroaches and other vocal insects that seem to enjoy serenading me, but the frogs? Arhhhhh the frogs I cannot drown out.
They are the loudest of the group, the lead singers and they never seem to stop for breath! They are spurred on by their backup band (grasshoppers et al) and always seem to reach a crescendo just as I am about to nod off!
Just as this thought was crossing my mind I heard a thud coming from my bathroom.
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Party At The Palace
- Tags:
- dance-off
- festivals
- media
- Party
- photo
- polygamy
- Queen Mother
- reeds
- security
- singing
- stadium
- Swazi's
Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on September 3, 2008 10:06 AM
Do you know what the Swazi's definitely know how to do well?
Party!
They have a whole range of festivals throughout the year. One of the most sacred is the Incwala. This is the first fruits ceremony, where the king gives permission for his people to eat the new crops of that year.
But I was here for the almighty Reed Festival.
Earlier this week I saw hundreds of girls on their way to the Queens Mother's house for the beginning of the week-long dance off. And now I find myself at the centre of it all....
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Back to Basics
- Tags:
- AIDS
- facts. HIV
- Gone Rural
- husbands
- rural development company
- Shared Interest Foundation
- Swaziland
- women
Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on September 3, 2008 10:44 AM
Gone Rural is one of the key businesses that Shared Interest Foundation will work with on a three year project (dependent on funding.)
After speaking to the ladies who run this organisation and many who are supported by Gone Rural, I feel that I have a duty to lay the facts out for all to see the harsh reality of life in Swaziland.
Gone Rural was established in 1992 by Jenny Thorne with a workshop staff of six people working with 30 women.
Set up as a rural development company, it has grown rapidly and now they have 24 workshop staff, working with 772 rural women operating from home.
These are not women who stand by and wait for handouts. They are strong and brave and have been empowered by a truly amazing organisation.
This, however, is not enough to hide the facts:
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