Welcome to the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum

Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) is the national platform and the representative body for journalists who believe that community empowerment and positive social changes can be achieved through strategic use of media; both community based and mainstream. SDJF deeply concentrates on the gap between media and community.

At SDJF, we facilitate quality improvement of  media outputs to uplift the life standards of the disadvantaged. We encourage a media culture in which media could lead and facilitate the community towards development and empowerment. Community media, citizen journalism, training & research, monitoring & evaluation, and broadcasting for development are the core programme components, which SDJF has structured to attain its goals.

Face to Face with Netsai Mushonga

She works for the Fellowship of Reconciliation Zimbabwe (For/z).  Netsai Mushonga was born in 1969 in Bindura, Zimbabwe. She is a media coordinator of Women’s Coalition and a member of the International Committee of International Fellowship. In 1995, Netsai worked as a social worker for Danhiko, an NGO providing education and job training for young people with disabilities. In 1996, Netsai joined the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Zimbabwe, and in 1997 she started the women peacemakers program of For/z. She secured funding to raise awareness within churches on the need to confront gender violence. Netsai was born when Zimbabwe was struggling for independence. At the time hopes for a free and self-reliant country Zimbabwe were at the top of the agenda of the new democracy. The political situation has since deteriorated. There are many problems ranging from shortage of food, petrol and decline in the economic and value of the currency.

Netsai began her work for democracy and against gender violence after studying at the University of Zimbabwe. She has contributed to raising awareness of the problem of domestic violence and violence against women in general in Zimbabwe. She has published an advisory booklet for the church community on violence against women and is now rehabilitating survivors so that they can continue with their life.

With her good organization skills she ran a regional consultation conference of African women in conflict situations in 2000. She has organized and conducted many training workshops in Zimbabwe and in other places within and outside Africa, focusing on gender and violence.

Netsai is a role model for rural African women and has taught them to stand up for themselves, to confront abusive traditions while retaining respect for what deserves to be respected in their cultures. Her fearlessness in speaking out against violence against women and political violence is an example for everyone concerned about peace and justice.

Netsai was born 1969 in rural Zimbabwe, the fourth in a family of eight children. She graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with BA in sociology. After she had started the women peacemakers program of For/z in 1997, she secured funding to raise awareness within churches on the need to confront gender violence. Beginning in 2000, she volunteered as an election monitor and supervisor, despite the risk of physical violence and political intimidation. She joined the Women’s Coalition in 2003 and developed a program to respond to politically motivated sexual violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe. With her good organization skills she run a regional consultation conference of African women in conflict situations. She has organized and conducted many training workshops in Zimbabwe and within and outside Africa focusing on gender and violence.

Her fearless speaking out about the deteriorating political conditions and lack of security for women in Zimbabwe has inspired others. Victims of sexual violence have benefited from her work in concrete ways. The Danhiko project has an emergency shelter to accommodate women victims of violence. Its programs include counseling, economic and emotional support. Netsai says, “I have benefited more from the work I do than the women I have come across, because they have taught me survival skills in dignity.” This is a modest statement typical of her. (Read all on 1000peacewomen).

Lets hear her thoughts for the question raised by the head of SDJF.

SDJF Slide Show

Sharifa Hanam,an Indian Gender Activist and the President of STEPTS, a Women Organization Functions in Tamil Nadu, Recently Visited SDJF Head Office in Colombo and Host a Discussion on Major Issues Affecting Women.