i – SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Actual classes started early this month. I am happy that despite the delays in resuming classes two of the six subjects we are taking have been given to Mrs. Karangazi (my most favorite professor in Cavendish because of her consistency in attendance, her wide range of knowledge and experience and her good attitude towards students), while the other two subjects have been given to another woman and my third most favorite, Ms. Kapiteni, one subject has gone to Mr. Chola who is a person with experience and at least strives to make sure we cover what is prescribed in the program. The other thing is that we have been allowed to take the Research Methodology in advance so that we may graduate early than their calendar. That makes the total number of subjects we are taking to six.
Human Resource Management
The introduction in this subject consisted of an overall look at the environment of Human Resource management—the internal concerned with employees, managers and operations while the external environment looks at lay-offs, motivation, political and social, economic aspects.
Some key terms were defined like role which is a title or label to tell who does what, authority which the right to make decisions and apply organizational resources. We considered the importance of HR which is of getting the right result through people i.e. how to maintain an efficient and enthusiastic labor force.
Job Analysis was our first topic. It is the process of identifying and determining particular job’s duties and requirements and the relative importance of the job. The purpose and functions of job analysis is to establish and document the job relatedness of employment procedures (recruitment and selection, determining training needs, compensation…) Job analysis was the only topic dealt with in depth this month but more classes have been scheduled outside the school timetable just to make up. The interesting thing is that we have been selected in groups of three to present on different topics.
Gender Issues in NGOs
This subject aims at empowering both men and women so as to improve their relations in their day to day lives. Most of the topics covered in the subject so far are more of debate based ones. Among other gender challenges faced by African women and inequality in work place in turns of opportunities, high level of women involvement in agricultural activities, widespread conflicts, inadequate institutional capacity to implement programs. NGOs therefore are viewed as agents of development as they enable communities articulate their development needs and develop strategies to meet those needs. Therefore NGOs are required to focus on the gender participation rising from daily needs of women. Gender is a social construct—biological social differences are very few and unimportant in terms of determining gender inequality.
Gender Stratification has been the most important topic covered in this subject. It includes methods that are so far in place to fight against patriarchy in different aspects.
Women in Development (WID) Approach that claims that all as a homogeneous entity women are ignored and excluded in development programs without considering their differences, or questioning the root causes of women’s suffering and subordination. Women and Development (WAD) believes that women are already integrated in development activities but in an exploitative way. It asks therefore for the abolition of patriarchy and global inequality. In this subject as well as the previous one a presentation is to be done on a lastly covered topic.
Research Methodology
Defined as a systematic and scientific investigation taken in order to discover knew knowledge or facts about a given theory or problem. The model of research that we are going to use is the Lowton model or classical model. So far each student has been asked to suggest five topics from which two will be picked for our research proposals and eventually choose one to write the thesis on.
Development Support Communication
The first and only topic discussed in this subject this month was the communication for social mobilization. It started with the definition of key terms like social groups (groups that come together for a social need). Social communication as levels of communication in society, verbal or non verbal, that are used for social development and other forms of communication. The continuity of classes this month was intercepted by the two weeks mid-term break while our friends were writing their final exams.
Performance Management and Evaluation
We have not had a single session on this subject. The professor assigned to us for it has been on leave by the time we resumed classes.
Case Study
The only important thing that has happened in this subject is that we have been given an assignment to conduct a PESTEL analysis of any organization of our choice about any problem that we are going ton identify in that organization. I have decided to analyze FORGE. As for the problem I am going to analyze about is still my secret.
ii - PERSONAL ACTIVITIES
Nothing special has happened in this month in terms of personal activities. Only that I have been reading a book ‘The End of Poverty’ by Jeff Sachs and have found it more interesting that after reading the first 28 pages I keep on coming back to them every time I open the book. I do not know when I will be able to proceed with it. I also have been doing some exercises but very occasionally.
iii - MISCELLENEOUS
In very unusual circumstances, I was forced to go to Mwange for a week during my two weeks mid-term break to solve a pending issue with my wife. The important thing is that I got to go and solve the problem and see my daughters again but in the overall I had a bad experience that at times I wish I did not go there soon.
