VIDEA in Zambia
VIDEA (Victoria International Development Education Association)
VIDEA is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1977 for the inspiration and actions on the social issues of the world. VIDEA is involved in the number of programs for youth, community, educators, international development, engagement of youth and community and the actions for global education. It was begun from Victoria mainly, however, over the last seven years, it has involved in international programming and development. It provides a range of programs and work to the youth in South Africa and Canada along with internships and many other opportunities.
Since 1977, the organization has been involved in promoting the international education in Southern Vancouver Island. VIDEA operates itself with the active participation and engagement of the students, teachers, general public and youth making them involved in the international issues and problems, mainly focusing on the sustainable development and social issues. With the help of special events, tours, conferences, seminars and workshop, it provides the learning opportunities to the students and to the general public. The research is also conducted by the organization that is being used in different countries overseas.
It is one of the oldest international education platforms in the Canada and also provides strategic support, communication and cooperation to the groups in Canada for social justice, sustainable development and peace. VIDEA makes efforts to develop opportunities for the people to work in different programs and projects to support the creativity of the indigenous people for sharing their knowledge and experiences, mainly in its fair and trade programs. Craft work is the main striving function of VIDEA that supports the Canadian markets along with some of the crafts in the online store.
The vision and mission of the company is to connect the community and bring change. Its mission is to develop international partnerships for the community development and create unions and support the international communities and engaging communities, mainly youth in the global development. The main areas for the programs of VIDEA include Schools programs, youth programs, public engagement programs, digital connections program, fair trade programs, international programs and indigenous knowledge sharing programs.
The international programming of VIDEA mainly focuses on South Africa including the countries like Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Its projects are aimed to support the local organizations working for the human rights, gender equality and reduction in poverty (VIDEA, 2015). VIDEA is a member of many international organizations such as Canadian Council for International Cooperation and BC Council for International Cooperation.
Pestle analysis is one of the most important tools to understand the opportunities and threats for the organization in the particular country or region. The following Pestle is going to analyze the condition in Zambia for VIDEA.
Political Factors
The political conditions of Zambia can be considered as stable because it is a democratic state and its government is reputed as one of the most accountable governments (BBC News, 2015). It is one of the most peaceful countries, mainly, in comparison with its neighboring countries that share the borders with it. It was the part of Non Aligned Movement.
Economical Factors
Although, the political conditions of Zambia are stable and attraction for the visitors, the economical conditions are not firm. Since its independence, Zambia has been suffering the critical conditions in terms of the economy. However, over the last past six years, some economic opportunities have begun for the country with the privatization of mining industry. It has resulted in the foreign investments, particularly; China is investing strongly in Zambia. It has developed the employment, infrastructure and business industry of the country. These opportunities have resulted in the growth of GDP and it is further expected that it will grow by 6% in 2016 (African Development Bank group, 2015).
The inflation rate in the country is very high that is expected to decline lower than 7% in 2017 (African Development Bank group, 2015). The high inflation rate is the direct result of the poverty in Zambia.
Socio-Cultural Factors
Social conditions in Zambia are hard due to the continuous poverty extension. Because of the high poverty rate, the death rate is the highest in the world and life expectancy is lowest. Aids/HIV is the major cause of death in the country (BBC News, 2015).
Technological Factors
The technology in the country is growing slowly; however, its media industry has grown over the last few years. Different organizations and outlets are running television, print media, digital media and online media. According to the report of 2012, the users of internet in the country are increasing with the growth rate of 13% (IT News Africa, 2014).
Legal Factors
Environmental factors
The wildlife trading in Zambia is illegal that is the biggest environmental challenge for the country (Benn, n.d.). River Basin is the main source of fresh water in Zambia, where, the challenge begins because of the high demand of water for different purposes such as agriculture and generation of energy.
International Service-Learning and Current Projects of VIDEA in Zambia
International Service Learning is one of the fastest growing fields that can be defined as the academic experience in international countries where, the students are promoted to participate in the activities of the organized services in the particular country to identify and address the needs of the community for the deep understanding of the course and global issues by direct communication and interactions and to enhance the sense of responsibility of the students as local, citizen and global member (Busher, 2014).
VIDEA is operating many programs and projects in Zambia. The current projects include the following:
The first major current project in Zambia is the Justice for Women and Orphans. The excellent and skilled internees from Canada are supporting the project to enhance its capacity. The organization is working on the project in collaboration with its partner organizations.
It is providing the direct support to the education of more than 50 girls, women, boys and men either who are poor or orphaned. It is also providing scholarships in the University of Zambia. For reducing the gender discrimination, it has offered employment to its graduate from the University of Zambia as the officer of Youth Programs Project.
Along with working on the women rights and gender equality, the organization is also involved in working on the range of public events and fund raising programs along with organizing learning events to support the programs in Zambia. It is helping the communities for the human rights in terms of supporting the schools, access of the public to the fresh water and support to the income development programs.
Other than these projects, it is also supporting the craft work in the country, mainly in Western Zambia. The project is mainly aimed to improve the living standard of women in the country.
It is also supporting the schools to organize extracurricular activities for the students such as the use of computer. Moreover, it is also involved in organizing the training programs of Counseling for the city women.
Projects Needed
Although, VIDEA is involved in the range of the programs and projects, however, it may enhance its services with the help of participation and working on many other projects. As it has mentioned above that technology needs support in Zambia for further fast development, therefore, digital connection projects can be introduced in Zambia for improving IT and technology area of the country. The people, especially youth of the country must be promoted to participate in the innovation and effective solutions for the country.
In this purpose, the organization can develop different technologies and media networks and channels to increase and extend its programming and activities. It can work on social media participation of youth and men and women. Moreover, with the help of its website and online platform, it can increase the pace of learning in the country.
Furthermore, it can develop media by organizing film and theatre festivals. It will also help to increase the awareness of social issues and youth related issues. The festival in Zambia will also help the students to learn its culture more easily.
References
African Development bank Group. (2015). Zambia Economic Outlook. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.afdb.org/en/countries/southern-africa/zambia/zambia-economic-outlook/
BBC News. (2015). Zambia country profile – Overview. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14112449
Benn, J. (n.d.). Environmental problems in Zambia. WWF. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/wwf_zambia_nature_conservation/environmental_problems_in_zambia/
Busher, L. (2014). International Service Learning- Managing Expectations. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://sites.miis.edu/lilybusher/files/2013/12/Directed-Study-Managing-Expectations-in-ISL-Programs.pdf
IT News Africa. (2014). Zambia ups its technology profile. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2014/02/zambia-ups-its-technology-profile/
Nguvu, A. Z. (2015). The impact of Government policy on business: The case of Zambia 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.manic.co.zm/government-policy-on-business-zambia/
VIDEA. (2015). Official Website. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://videa.ca/about-videa-2/
