EI Africa kickstarts capacity building for union leaders

Education International (EI) Africa kickstarted capacity building for its affiliates with a workshop  for Southern Africa  held virtually from 16th to 17th June 2021. The workshop gathered over 40 participants, mainly union representatives from Malawi (PSEUM and TUM), Zambia (ZNUT, SESTUZ and BETUZ), Namibia (NANTU), Eswatini (SNAT), Lesotho (LAT and LTTU). 
 
In his opening remarks, Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, EI Africa Regional Director, stated that the workshop is part of a 3-year training programme designed to build the capacity of EI member organisations in Africa. “The training model starts with the first workshop, followed by the development of an action plan and its implementation. In Year 3, we will come back together, hopefully, in a face-to-face meeting, to share the progress made and the lessons learnt”, he said. 
 
The 3-year programme will introspect, reflect, and develop measures to renew, strengthen and reenergize our unions and the teacher trade union movement in Africa. 
 
The participants reflected on the strengths of their unions, the areas that need improvement, the threats that they face and the opportunities they should seize in order for them to renew and develop their trade union organisations. They shared knowledge, information and experiences on international labour standards, social and policy dialogue, advocacy, and campaigning, as well as good union management and leadership skills.
 
A number of issues affecting unions in Southern Africa emerged that require the attention of the unions: matters concerning denial of trade union rights, multiplicity of unions, limited capacity to mobilise members and service them, political interference, and a lot more. 
 
The workshop, according to the Regional Director was the beginning of the great work ahead. 
 
“Let us continue to introspect, reflect and develop measures to renew, strengthen and reenergize our unions and the teacher trade union movement in Africa. Let us continue working together in unity, for we are stronger together’, he concluded.

[Fri, 18 Jun 2021 14:01:00 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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