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Youth Empowerment Conference

Theme: Adopting Zero Tolerance Approach to Sexual Violence & Harassment at South African Universities


Date : 24 – 25 April 2020


Day 1 : 08:00 – 22:00 &
Day 2 : 08:00 – 14:00


 

Centre for Health Education and Development (CHED), formerly known as Institutional HIV/AIDS Unit (IHAU) within the Vaal University of Technology saw it profound to host Youth Empowerment Conference that seeks to inform and address social and behavioural change of young individuals.

Whilst immersed in the fourth industrial revolution (4.0), driven under the auspices of academic capitalism, education is commodified under the context of already rising rates of unemployment thus a rise in poverty as an end in itself. This becomes a real threat to the economic evolution that  will push communities further towards the margins of the economy. The question worth posing, as universities, is how we can bridge the gap of potentially escalating economic inequalities? It is a fact that poverty and unemployment are causal effects of the prevalence social issues such as Gender-Based Violence, Girl Child Abuse, LGBTIAQ+ community, Substance Abuse, Human Trafficking, Mental Health, Disability and HIV/AIDS related social illnesses etc.

All the above-mentioned issues are affecting the lives of many people across South Africa, cutting across males and females, race, nationality etc. Higher Education Institutions are affected, thus leading to high rates of failure and dropouts. Beyond the boundaries of universities’ localities, and external communities. Such social problems are a mirrors image of internal community of HEI’s contextual reality.

VUT seeks to inform and address critical issues that are imperative to Community Engaged Scholarship as far as social matters are concerned. and ensure social impact and sustainable fundamental pillars with an emphasis that can be realized.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: To reduce the incidence of health conditions – such as HIV, STIs, TB, unplanned youth pregnancies, logo.

Objective 2: To provide accessible, quality and youth friendly healthcare for the above health conditions, by, referring students to health, wellness and Psychosocial Service Delivery Programmes.

Objective 3: To cultivate a health awareness culture among students and encourage healthy lifestyles that will reduce the risk of developing a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Objective 4: To address the psychological, social and cultural factors in the campus environments that undermine the health of students in general including: discrimination against women, stigmatisation of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTQI) students, Gender-based violence and sexual harassment, Abuse of alcohol and other substances, and Marginalisation of students with disabilities.

Objective 5: Develop an institutional structure that stimulates the effective and efficient rollout of Centre for Health Education and Development: Peer to Peer Led Education, Training Programmes and activities.


Adopting Zero Tolerance Approach to Sexual Violence & Harassment at South African Universities


 

·         TRACK ONE            :

Experience-Based Approach to Gender-Based Violence  and Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s).

·         TRACK TWO:  

Strategies on Reduction of  Alcohol and Drug Abuse Amongst Youth.

·         TRACK THREE:  

Enabling a Disability – Inclusive Environment in HEI’s.

·         TRACK FOUR:

Awareness and Prevention of Depression Among the Youth in HEI’s.


Costs:

HEI’s

VUT

Community Members

Student

R2 400.00
(Accommodation Included)

Free Limited to 200

R2 000.00
(Limited to 50)

Staff

R1 800.00
(Accommodation Excluded)

Free Limited to 100


Registration Form


[contact-form-7 id="19b86aa" title="Youth Empowerment Conference"]

 

CLICK HERE: Payment Process

yec.registration@vut.ac.za


INTRODUCTION          

Centre for Health Education and Development (CHED), formerly known as Institutional HIV/AIDS Unit (IHAU) within  The Vaal University of Technology will be hosting the above-mentioned Conference from Friday, 24th to Saturday, 25th of April 2020 at Quest Conference Centre, Vanderbijlpark.

Whilst immersed in the fourth industrial revolution, driven under the auspices of academic capitalism, education is commodified under the context of already rising rates of unemployment thus a rise in poverty as an end. This becomes a real threat to the economic evolution that  will push communities further towards the margins of the economy.

The question worth posing, as universities, is how we can bridge the gap of potentially escalating economic inequalities? It is a fact that poverty and unemployment are causal effects of the prevalence of social issues such as Gender-Based Violence, Girl Child Abuse, LGBTIAQ+ stigmatisation, Substance Abuse, Human Trafficking, Mental Health, Disability and HIV/AIDS related social illnesses etc.   All the above-mentioned issues are affecting the lives of many people across South Africa, cutting across males and females, race, nationality etc. Higher Education Institutions are affected.

VUT seeks to inform and address critical issues that are imperative to our  Youth  and ensure social impact and sustainable fundamental pillars with an emphasis that can be realized.

 

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE:

1.         To address the psychological, social environments and cultural factors in the campus that undermine the health of students in general including discrimination against women, stigmatisation of the Lesbian, Gay,   Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTQI) students, Gender-based violence and sexual harassment, Abuse of alcohol and other substances, and Marginalisation of students with disabilities.

2.         To reduce the incidence of health conditions – such as HIV, STIs, TB, unplanned youth pregnancies, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and  Mental Illnesses.

3.         To cultivate a health awareness culture among students and encourage healthy lifestyles that will reduce the risk of developing a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

4.         Develop an institutional  structure that stimulates the effective and efficient rollout of Centre for Health Education and Development:  Peer to Peer Led Education, Training Programmes and activities.

CONFERENCE TRACKS:

TRACK 1 (ONE)            :

·         Experience-Based Approach to Gender-Based Violence  and Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s).

Students often become victims of gender-based violence due to exposure to alcohol and substance abuse, thus leading to broader social and health implications for the student and the community as a whole.

Transactional Sex:

Vulnerability of students to transactional sex been recorded many times. It is important to address the underlying factors but also provide the students with a platform to come up with solutions that work for them.

Suicide and Road Safety:

There has been an increasing number of student suicide and deaths on the road across the country. Alcohol and substance abuse including mental wellness play a significant role in this aspect.

Sex Parties:

Student life comes with a lot of experimentations. It is a known fact in the student communities that sex parties exist and often with alcohol and drugs involved. By providing appropriate information to the students regarding the dangers and risks of participating in activities like that will go a long way in providing safe zones for students

TRACK 2 (TWO):

Strategies on Reduction of  Alcohol and Drug Abuse Amongst Youth.

Alcohol and substance abuse has negative impact on student health. Disease prevention and management should be prioritized. The conference will look at prevention and management of illnesses like Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV, malnutrition, dehydration and others is important health issues in relation to alcohol and substance abuse.

TRACK 3 (THREE): 

Enabling a Disability – Inclusive Environment in HEI’s.

 

TRACK 4 (FOUR):

Awareness and Prevention of Depression Among the Youth in HEI’s.

It is important that mental wellness is recognized as necessary intervention for students. By shinning the light and addressing mental health issues that affects students the conference will be contributing in reducing student’s depression and  dependency on alcohol and other drugs to cope with daily challenges students face.

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

The Youth Empowerment Conference provides sponsors with a marketing opportunity to create a high-profile association with one of South Africa’s most important events. It is a way to develop a relationship from which both parties can benefit and to ensure that we have maximized all possible opportunities and returns to our sponsors.

Sponsorship benefit packages are customised to ensure that they are aimed at achieving the specific objectives of each sponsor. The collection of recommended sponsorship benefits is designed to increase the exposure and positioning of your business and corporate image.

In addition to offering category exclusivity, several unique sponsorship opportunities are offered on a priority basis to the highest-level sponsors.

DISTINCT LEVELS OF SPONSORSHIP ARE PRESENTED IN THIS PROPOSAL:

1. Principal Sponsor

2. Major Sponsor

3. Conference Supporter

4. Local Scholarship Programme

5. Selected Sponsorship Opportunities

 

Option A: Principal Sponsor

R 200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Rand Excl. VAT)

This is the premier sponsorship opportunity offered exclusively to top-level contributors.

Benefits:

•          Highlighted announcement of the sponsor’s status in pre-conference and on-site documentation.

•          Credit in all correspondence as regarding the Conference. This includes the invitations, press releases, media coverage as well as all conference related correspondence.

•          Recognition of sponsorship status on the conference website.

•          First  priority choice of exhibition space throughout the conference.

•          Use of conference name, logo and slogan as approved (i.e. promotion and association rights).

•          40 Complimentary conference registrations for students.

•          Full page full colour advertisement in the final conference programme.

•          Bag inserts – Company may supply items that may be added to the delegate bags, these items must be relevant to the conference and approved by the conference organizers.

 

Option B: Major Sponsor (Non-Exclusive)

R 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Rand Excl. VAT)

Benefits:

•          Credit in all correspondence regarding the conference. This includes the invitations, press releases, media coverage as well as all conference related correspondence.

•          Recognition of sponsorship status on the conference website, with hot link to sponsor’s website if desired.

•          15 complimentary conference registrations.

•          Second priority choice of exhibition space throughout the conference.

•          ½ page full colour advert in the final conference programme.

 

Option C: Conference Supporter (Non-Exclusive)

R 70,000 (Seventy Thousand Rand Excl. VAT)

Benefits:

•          Use of conference name, logo and slogan as approved.

•          8 complimentary conference registrations

•          Third priority choice of exhibition space throughout the conference.

•          Listing of sponsor status on the conference website, with hot link to sponsor’s website if desired.

 

CONTACT DETAILS FOR SPONSORSHIPS

Interested parties are requested to complete the registration form and email it to the conference organisers. Certain sponsorship opportunities are limited and will be strictly allocated in order of email receipts.

Notification of intent will be followed by an invoice which will be mailed to your organisation with a confirmation of your booking.

For Further Information: Note

Contact Person

To guarantee your participation in this important event and to reserve your space please contact:

1.      Mrs MM Motsukunyane

Email: maureenm@vut.ac.za

2.      Mr Thappelo Kgakatsi

Email: thapelok@vut.ac.za

Sponsorship/Events

 

SPONSORSHIP RESERVATION FORM

Company/Organisation Name:

Postal Address:

Postal Code:

VAT No:

Telephone:

Email: Mobile:

Contact Name:

Approved

Signature

By signing below, I confirm that:

I have read and understood the Terms and Conditions as they appear below;

I am duly authorised to sign and thereby to bind the company/organisation thereto; and

The selections I  have made on the accompanying “Sponsorship List” are as intended and are correctly selected.

Name:

Date:

Signature:

Completion of the Sponsorship Reservation Form by the Sponsor shall be considered as  a commitment to purchase the items. Once a Sponsorship Reservation Form is received an invoice and contract will be sent to the Sponsor.

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment is due on receipt of invoice. All payments must be received before 06 April 2020 If not received before 06 April 2020, the Sponsor will still be liable for payment.

CANCELLATION/MODIFICATION POLICY

Cancellation or modification of sponsorship items must be made in writing to the Organisers.

·         10% of the invoiced amount if the cancellation/modification is made before  (inclusive) 06th April 2020

·         50% of the invoiced amount if the cancellation/modification is made after 06th April 2020

 

·         100% of the invoiced amount if the cancellation/modification is after 15th April 2020.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE CONFERENCE ORGANISERS.


 

Mrs MM Motsukunyane

Director: CHED

maureenm@vut.ac.za

016 950 6612

N006/6

Mr Thapelo Kgakatsi

Projects Officer

thapelok@vut.ac.za]

016 950 9546

N006/4