NGO Event

Thank you Stenden SA, you guys rock!!

First Sunshine NGO Networking Event - 10 December 2022

Stenden South Africa - 10am to 16pm

On Saturday 10 December representatives from various NGOs across Ndlambe gathered at the Stenden campus in Port Alfred for the first Sunshine NGO Forum, an initiative of some development aid enthusiasts which was organised by Stenden Events Management students. The excitement was palpable as people from different organizations exchanged greetings and caught up with one another.

As the event began, Hyman van Zyl took the stage to welcome everyone and give a short overview of the development aid sector followed by Nadine Haynes addressing collaboration between NGOs and the Government. Alroy Taai, a Stenden lecturer, spoke about the importance of collaboration and cooperation among NGOs in addressing the various challenges facing the community. He thanked the volunteers for their hard work and dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of those in need.

Following this thought-provoking talk, the delegates enjoyed meeting with friends and colleagues at the info mart where NGOs showcased their work. New connections were made as we had the opportunity to share and learn about the work of various NGOs and NPOs in the area.

The delicious lunch, subsidised by Stenden, provided further opportunities to network.

The team-building exercise after lunch was a novel way for us to get our energy up before the second talk, presented by Mr Van Zyl, on the importance of technology for NGOs, and the many free options available to us to make our work more effective.

Finally, a real-time evaluation was done to measure the success of and need for an NGO Forum and the resounding response was yes and yes. This exciting online interactive game was used to assess the needs of NGOs and to help with the planning of future Sunshine NGO Forum events. The need for sharing information and training and learning from one another was also underscored and is scheduled for early in the new year.

As the event came to a close, there was a sense of optimism and excitement among the attendees. We left with new ideas, connections, and a renewed sense of purpose. We are already looking forward to the next Sunshine NGO Forum event.

On behalf of all NGOs, we would also like to acknowledge and thank the many businesses, service groups, churches and individuals for their ongoing support which allows us to make our area a better place for all to live.

If you are not yet registered on the Sunshine Forum database but wish to be involved, you can visit the website www.sunshine.ngo and click on Join or contact us at info@sunshine.ngo / 073 8979179.