Tekano, founded in November 2016, is an organization based at the Isivivana Centre, Khayelitsha and works towards social justice and health equity. Its name derives from the Sesotho word for “equality” and speaks to our goal of social justice.
Tekano’s mission is to foster dynamic, visionary, values-based leaders working both individually and in catalytic communities of learning and action who articulate, convey, and act to promote health equity by addressing the social and structural determinants of health. Tekano’s programme is built around annual fellowships for mid-career people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who have already shown leadership in addressing the determinants of health inequity.
Through the global, interconnected set of Atlantic Fellows programmes, Fellows collaborate across disciplines and borders to understand and address the root causes of pressing global problems.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME;
Our programme is composed of:
- 6 modules face-to-face modules, held every two months from January to December 2019.
We have identified three broad competency areas we seek to develop. A cornerstone of our approach is to run the development of these inter-linked competencies as three cross-cutting themes through all six of our contact modules and the inter-modular phase. The 3 cross-cutting themes are;
Relational leadership (HEART) – strengthening confidence, self-awareness, ability to engage, inspire and mobilise others, collective leadership skills in relation to self, self to others and self to system
Conceptual capacity (HEAD) – understanding the social context and political-economy of health, knowledge of core health equity determinants, analytical skills
Advocacy and communication skills (HANDS) – understanding how government works, strengthening innovative strategic planning and advocacy inside and outside of government and practising key advocacy and communications skills within and between government and civil society
- Inter-modular facilitated learning, making use of an eLearning platform, which will include guided reading, personal reflection, discussion group and webinar engagements (this will require 3 hours per week, ongoing during the fellowship)
- Applied tasks in the form of an advocacy project
- Individual coaching sessions (8 sessions) which will be introduced in Module 2. These sessions may be conducted face-to-face or via Skype (depending on geographic location and which medium is most feasible). The objectives for the coaching will be individualized, and will be set by each fellow, based on your own leadership development goals and on your assessment of your needs for building self-awareness and confidence.
REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE;
- If you are formally employed, a commitment from your employer that you can attend 6 modules face-to-face modules; if you are self-employed, or working in a community structure, a self-commitment that you will attend each module.
- Ability to spend 4 hours per week on inter-modular activities which will include eLearning tasks on the internet, personal reflection, project work and coaching. You may negotiate this time with your employers, but most of our first cohort of fellows found that this time had to be done after hours. You need to review your work, social and family commitments to ensure that you are able to commit to this time on a weekly basis.
- Access to internet services. If your employer agrees, you may be able to use internet services at your place of work. However, if you are not able to use work time, you need to be able to access internet services after hours. You will be using the internet, not just to access and download information, but also to engage in discussion groups and webinars, which is why you need access afterhours. Note, if required, you may apply for financial support to access data and a device.
- Willingness to learn to use internet eLearning platform (you will be inducted into the platform which is fairly user-friendly)
- Willingness to participate in reading groups and engage actively with peer learning during and between modules
- Openness to frank conversations about race, class and gender as structural determinants of health inequity
- Willingness to commit to a code of conduct which details our commitment to creating a brave learning environment which is free from harassment and which is aligned with values of respect, dignity and inclusivity.
There are no costs to be paid by successful applicants to attend the fellowship programme. All travel, accommodation and incidental expenses will be covered by Tekano.
WHO CAN APPLY:
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen or valid permit holders.
- Must be between 25- 45 of Age.
- Have evidence of showing leadership and commitment to social justice in South Africa, linked to health equity
- Commit to all program activities of the Fellows Programme in 6 modules in 2019.
- Either be employed or volunteer with a sending organisation/s
Identify and work towards addressing a problem or challenge related to equity or social justice encountered in your field of work, voluntary activities or community (through your sending organisation.
HOW TO APPLY
All candidates that meet the criteria above are encouraged to visit our website to access the application Online at: https://www.tekano.org.za/apply/
Once your application form has been submitted, you will be required to submit;
Letter of in-principle support from employer or leader in organisation in which you volunteer (immediate supervisor or whoever has authority to decide that you can take time out for the fellowship and that you can apply lessons learnt to your own workplace)
Electronic colour photo (portrait) in high resolution or in Jpeg
Stage 1 of the application process ends 31 August 2018 . Successful candidates will go through to Stage 2 where they will be requested to submit further documents and go through a series of assessments and interviews. All applicants will be informed about the status of their application via email.
If you have any further questions about the application process – please contact us at [email protected]
