Areas of Expertise

 

Child Labour and Education:

In 2002 – 2005 Seka implemented, in partnership with AIR (American Institutes for Research) and CRECCOM (Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation), the BEST CHOICE Campaign (funded by the U. S. Department of Labour), a project to combat child labour through education. Seka gained extensive expertise in child labour and quality education issues in Zambia. During this time Seka formed a comprehensive portfolio of child labour issues in rural Zambia; the social, economic and cultural factors contributing to child labour and school attendance; communities’ views on child labour, education, policy and their suggested interventions to these issues. By using radio drama, action research and participatory theatre methods, Seka has successfully increased awareness, in targeted areas of Chipata District, on the difference between Child Labour and Child Work; the negative effects of Child Labour on the child, their family and the community as a whole; age limits for children working; education and labour policies and the benefits of education.

 

 

 

 

Community Based
Natural Resource Management

Seka has worked on various Community Based Natural Resource Management projects in Mambwe District concerning land use planning and management, human wildlife conflict and anti-poaching. Seka has built a strong relationship with the Zambian Wildlife Authority, the traditional leaders as well as the community in general.

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration with Government Officials and Traditional Leaders

Seka has established a good relationship and has worked very closely with the Government of Zambia (Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Zambian Wildlife Authority). In order to ensure and maintain a close working relationship with these ministries, Seka collaborates closely with and includes government officials in all project activities. In rural areas Seka has found that community mobilisation is most effective when traditional leaders are brought into the process.  Therefore, Seka has formed a collaborative relationship with the chiefs and headmen in our areas of operation.

 

International Experience

The Seka Directors have broad experience working internationally.  We have created and performed plays to international conferences on various environmental issues such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the World Park’s Congress. The Directors worked on a Community Outreach Programme, spanning seven Southern African countries, which entailed working closely with both rural communities and international policy makers. The directors have also toured Africa, Europe and the United States with theatre productions that take the message of local communities to policy makers overseas.

 

Local expertise

The professionals of Seka have extensive experience in Chipata, Mambwe and Lundazi Districts, and have worked on various projects in these areas concerning child labour and education, land use management, human wildlife conflict, anti-corruption, gender, community based natural resource management, agriculture and health.

 

The professionals of Seka are fluent in both English and Chinyanja, the local language of the Eastern Province, Zambia; they have a deep understanding of the local culture as well as a good relationship with the traditional authorities in Mambwe and Chipata districts. Seka’s use of action research as well as their theatrical use of humour, visual imagery, puppets, and local song and dance forms has earned them a reputation as an effective channel for the vocalising of community concerns. Their participatory research methodologies ensure that their information is reliable, and as a result, they are well respected in their areas of operation.