Date: 06/02/2003

Dear Like-minded Activists, Friends, Colleagues & other Partners:

RE: 2003 GENDER FESTIVAL (GF)
03rd – 06th September 2003
at TGNPs Gender Resource Centre, Mabibo - Dar Es Salaam

On behalf of the Feminist Activist Coalition (FemAct), TGNP is pleased to announce the 2003 Gender Festival (GF), formerly popularly known as the Annual Gender Studies Conference (AGSC). The four-day event will take place on the 03rd to the 06th of September, 2003.

This event, which now takes place once every two years, is an open space for bringing together gender and civil society members of organizations, institutions and all development actors at various levels. It provides a major opportunity for gender and civil society activists to convene, share, take stock of achievements and constraints and foster joint action plans to further the civil society development agenda. At the conference, individuals and groups share outputs of their work, sharpen their skills and capacities, network and establish further linkages with other different actors.

Gender Festival Objectives:

1. GF is a forum for people from different areas of activism to share knowledge, to reflect, to build capacities, and to start new discussions;

2. GF is a celebration of what TGNP and FemAct have done and what we have gained, which creates an awareness of our presence;

3. GF helps to identify new likeminded individuals and organizations who we can pick up, hence expanding our network at the local, national, and international levels;

4. GF is an opportunity for TGNP and FemAct to enhance our skills and our own conceptual knowledge base.

The theme of this year’s Gender Festival will be focused on:

“Gender, Democracy and Development:

An Alternative World is Possible”

Proposed Sub-themes:

§ The Growth and Challenges of Feminist Activism in Tanzania (10 Years of TGNP Activism, 1993 - 2003);
§ Alternative Politics and Participatory Development;
§ Alternative Sustainable Development;

§ Environmentally Friendly Development Process;

§ The Challenges of Organising Alternative Thinking and Action;

§ Challenges of Activism within growing Fundamentalism (ideology, globalisation, culture, religion etc.);

§ People–Centred World is Possible;

§ Child and Youth–friendly Development Process;
§ The Role of Exhibition in Gender Activism;
§ Alternative World Views;
§ Women’s Leadership and Activism;
§ HIV/AIDS, Gender and Resources: A Challenge for Feminism.

We encourage the active participation of all civil society organizations, gender groups and all other organizations and individuals working in policy, programme, technical, service delivery, and other areas at local, national, and international levels. This conference is an open space for sharing skills, ideas, strategies and celebrating achievements on various development initiatives.

Your participation can include:
Þ Preparing papers for presentation related to the various sub-themes outlined above;
Þ Coordinating a workshop or skills building session;
Þ Mobilising a large group from your area or constituency to attend and contribute at the conference;
Þ Creating an interactive exhibition that may include publications, photographs, appropriate technology materials, handicrafts and others;
Þ Preparing Artistic Performances related to conference themes;
Þ Active attendance and contributions during the conference;
Þ Financial contributions and fundraising to support specific events; and
Þ Other forms of contribution to enhance the conference and festival.

The Gender Festival is a collective capacity building, skills building, and networking fora for civil society and development actors in and outside the country. Therefore, individuals and organisations are expected to sponsor their participation and contribution in order to create a quality festival. We encourage organisations to begin fundraising early to support their envisaged role in the event. Costs could include registration costs, travel, and up-keep of up-country participants, as well as planning and preparation, acquisition of relevant materials and other associated costs.

Please communicate to us early your organisation’s expected contribution to the festival, so that we can include you in the plan and the programme. To present a paper, prepare a case study, or facilitate a workshop, please refer to the Guidelines for Papers, Case Studies and Workshops. We also welcome suggestions and innovative ideas for ways to organise, coordinate, and conduct this year’s festival and have fun.

Please also note that the official languages of the conference will be English and Kiswahili. We look forward to your communication with the Gender Festival organising team, based in the Activism, Lobbying, and Advocacy (ALA) Programme at TGNP Secretariat.

You can also register online at www.tgnp.co.tz [2]

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Fenella Mukangara,
TGNP Chairperson.
GENDER STUDIES CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL
03rd to 06th September, 2003

Registration Form
(please return by e-mail, fax, mail, or hand delivery)

Name ______________________________________ Sex ________

Age __ 13 – 18 __ 19 – 25 __ 26 – 35 __ 36 – 45 __ 45 and older

Organisation/Institution/Party _________________________________

Position __________________________________________________

Contact Address __________________________________________________________

Telephone(s) _______________________________ Fax _________________________

Email _______________________________

Indicate your mode of Participation by CHECKING the relevant box below

Þ ____ Preparing papers for presentation related to the various sub-themes outlined. (we need Paper Abstracts 15th March, and a Paper by 30th June, 2003).
Sub-theme __________________________________
Þ ____ Coordinating a workshop or skills building session.
Þ ____ Mobilising a large group from your area or constituency to attend and contribute at the conference.
Þ ____ Creating an interactive exhibition that may include publications, photographs, appropriate technology materials, handicrafts and others. (Please let us know the type of goods to be exhibited by July 31st, 2003)
Þ ____ Preparing Artistic Performances related to conference themes. (ngoma, drama, songs, talents shows etc. inform us by July 31st, 2003)
Þ ____ Active attendance and contributions during the conference.
Þ ____ Financial contributions and fundraising to support specific events. (We encourage organisations to sponsor the participants directly or through TGNP)
Þ ____ Other forms of contribution to enhance the conference and festival:
What type: ___________________________________________________________
Do you require more information about accomodation and transport?: ___Yes ___ No
Registration Fees:
Local: Conference Participants: 20,000/= International: US $100
(includes conference bag and relevant materials)
Tanzanian Students: 5,000/=
Exhibitors: 20,000/=

Note: Participants are responsible for all of their accommodation and transport costs.
We would appreciate pre-registration and cash payment when possible. You can bring this registration form and your fees to the TGNP offices. This will ease the registration process for both TGNP and yourself.