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Children of the Rainbow Serpent: Australian Roadshow > Fran Noonan 18 Children of the Rainbow Serpent: Australian Roadshow 400 people attended the screenings of AVI’s documentary fi lm, Children of the Rainbow Serpent, in Tamworth, Adelaide, Narrandera and Echuca in June 2011. The purpose of the 28 minute documentary was to grow awareness of a community-based, youth-led program in a ‘story-telling’ format that would resonate with Aboriginal communities. The documentary follows the journey of four young Australian Aboriginals as they participate in an AVI/Restless Development 10-week volunteer project in the Tamil Nadu region of India. » Screening the fi lm in each of the volunteer’s communities saw family, friends and members of local Aboriginal communities share in the professional and personal experiences of Kelli Bartlett, Lorelle Kennedy, Trent Turner and Michael Galluzzo. In Adelaide, the documentary was given high praise by the South Australian Minister for Volunteers and Aboriginal Affairs, The Hon Grace Portolesi MP, with the volunteers recognised for their positive contributions in advancing community-based, youth leadership programs. The documentary has since been used as a tool to garner support for the pilot of a similar program in an Aboriginal community here in Australia, drawing on the values and principles of the development program in India. With funding from the Australian Community Foundation’s Social Justice Fund, planning is now underway to begin a pilot program in the community of Oodnadatta. The success of the initiatives to date is a result of the collaborative efforts of AVI’s work with Volunteering SA & NT and their Aboriginal Reference Group. This is an exciting opportunity, one which will provide young Aboriginal people with the chance to make a real difference in Aboriginal communities, and in their own lives as well. < “I’d always done reception and in class tutor jobs, but after India I went to work in Sydney at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The confi dence and self esteem boost that happened really made me realise what skills I have. I don’t think I would be doing the job I’m doing in Sydney, I don’t think I would’ve had the confi dence if I hadn’t gone to India”. - Lorelle Kennedy Above > The cover of the Children of the Rainbow Serpent DVD. Left > The stars of the Children of the Rainbow Serpent, (l-r) Michael Galluzzo, Lorelle Kennedy, Kelli Bartlett and Trent Turner. Photo > Christina Jenkins
Engaging with Africa For the Afar people, a nomadic pastoralist community in Ethiopia, addressing issues of accessibility to child and maternal healthcare services is vital in reducing the high child mortality rates and improving maternal health outcomes. AVI’s Fran Noonan writes about how the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) is working with the Afar to achieve their maternal health vision. » Living in a mobile community brings with it many challenges, especially for women and children who are at greatest risk in childbirth. Living in remote areas and great distances from essential healthcare services means that almost all pregnant women are left without antenatal care, so if things go wrong, there are no clear pathways for referral. To support the plight of the Afar and other marginalised communities within Africa, AusAID has established AACES; consisting of 10 accredited Australian NGO’s working in a range of partnerships to progress the areas of child and maternal health, water provision and sanitation, and food security. For the next five years AVI, Anglicord, and the Nossal Institute will use a strengthbased approach to work in partnership with the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) in Ethiopia, and the Mother’s Union of the Anglican Church (MUACK) in Kenya, to deliver Millennium Development Goal gains in child and maternal healthcare. The consortium will also engage with other agencies including national and local government, NGO and academic institutions. The initial focus of the partnership will concentrate on supporting the APDA with a needs analysis, research, capacity building, technical assistance and service delivery, and aims to increase community access to health services, improve conditions of daily living, and promote policy dialogue between stakeholders in a sustainable and positive manner. Introducing AVI’s AACES partners The Afar Pastoralist Development Association The Afar Pastoralist Development Association was founded by the inspirational Australian nurse, Val Browning and her Afar husband Ismel Ali Gardo in 1994, and has worked tirelessly to improve literacy for the Afar, promote maternal and child health and tackle the growing problem of HIV and AIDS. APDA is the local partner organisation for the AACES project and is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Above > Women of the Afar, Ethiopia. Photo > Jay Mahasweran/Anglicord Anglicord Anglicord is an overseas relief and development agency of the Anglican Church of Australia. Building on their long standing relationship with the AFPDA, Anglicord will work together with the AACES partners to train local health workers in basic maternal and child health services, to improve pre and post-natal care for women and children, increase access to water and sanitation, and provide better access to adequate nutrition. Australian Volunteers International As part of this exciting project AVI will provide future technical assistance through skilled volunteer deployment in Ethiopia and Kenya, and locally take on a leading role in creating public awareness about the Afar people and the AACES project within Australia. Nossal Institute for Global Health The Nossal Institute for Global Health utilises the multi-disciplinary research and educational capabilities provided by the University of Melbourne to improve global health, through research, education, inclusive development practice, and training of future leaders. During the fi ve year AACES project the Nossal Institute will provide comprehensive research and documentation on the challenges and issues facing the nomadic pastoralist community. < Engaging with Africa > Fran Noonan 19
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