Celebrating 60th anniversary and 47 years in Africa
17 November 2011
Australian Volunteers International (AVI) Southern Africa program staff, volunteers and partner organisations recently gathered to celebrate 60 years of international volunteering in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday 26 October.
AVI’s legacy in Africa spans almost five decades, with approximately 1000 Australians having volunteered across 15 African countries since 1964.
Southern Africa Program Country Manager Henry Wanyama and the night’s Master of Ceremonies recognised the dedicated work of AVI, its volunteers and many partner organisations.
Jamie Isbister, Minister Counsellor for Development in Africa, AusAID, delivered the key note address and thanked the volunteers and AVI for a successful 47 year partnership and the contribution they have made to Australian Aid and the African people.
Prof Bob Meyenn, guest speaker, returned volunteer and former AVI Chair of the Board (2000-2010) attended the event with his wife Val and in his address, he spoke with pride and humour of their days of volunteering in the Solomon Islands in the 1960’s, and how it has impacted on their life together as well as how AVI has grown and changed over the decades.
Returned Volunteers, Andrew Lim (RV Swaziland, Solomon Islands, Cambodia and Timor-Leste) and Pamela Whitman (RV Mozambique) were honoured for their service to volunteering and AVI.
Karla Wesley, AVI Regional Manager Africa and Middle East, spoke of some of AVI’s African milestones, which included the first Child Protection Law in Swaziland, supporting victims of Apartheid, championing people with disabilities in Lesotho through education reform, and improving maternal child care through improved health services to women and children in Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland.
Along with AVI volunteers, guests included AusAID representatives and the following partner organisations from Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa: Cheshire Home Lesotho, National University of Lesotho, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Phelisanong with Disabled Persons, Thuso e Tla Tsoa Kae Handicapped Centre, Lesotho Save the Children, Malealea Development Trust, Morija Museum and Archives, GOLD Peer Education South Africa, Cheshire Home Swaziland and the Swaziland Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SWABCHA).
Photo: L-R - Bob Meyenn, Pamela Whitman, Karla Wesley and Andrew Lim