1.0 INTRODUCTION

We at HEED have embraced a Mission Statement that compels us to participate in activities that lead to prevention and/or alleviation of poverty and its’ offshoots in under-served communities such as those found in less developed countries. HEED is thus involved in forming viable partnerships with groupings from under-served communities in as far as commissioning and running development projects is concerned.

Surveys conducted by HEED have reconfirmed the need for developers of legislation to use the “Bottom Up” approach when developing legislation such as bills, acts, policies, regulations, by-laws etc. HEED interprets the said “Bottom Up” approach as a “Project concept development methodology” that is founded on principles of consulting stakeholders at grass-root level before conceiving any piece of legislation. As a related matter, it is worthwhile to state that individuals and organisations that are involved in planning of development projects (like HEED) must also employ Logical Frameworks that are designed to use views obtained from stakeholders at grass-root level as the foundation on which project concepts will be developed. This realization compelled HEED to establish the Advcacy Program. Under this program, HEED mobilizes resources that are critical in the process of creation of backward and forward information linkages via mediating between stakeholders at grass-root level and developers of legislation such as bills, acts, policies, regulations, by-laws etc. HEED specifically ensures that stakeholders at grass-root level are made aware of the existence of different organs of the state that are involved in development of legislation. Where or when requested by stakeholders at grass-root level, HEED engages in collating inputs and ideas ideas from individuals and organisations at grass-root level that are subsequently conveyed to appropriate developers of legislation with no distortions. With permission from original sources, HEED also disseminates (to stakeholders at grass-root level) information pertaining to legislation that is being developed which affects such stakeholders. Where requested by either parties, HEED continuously monitors and evaluates progress and/or success and/or effectiveness of information flow between stakeholders at grass-root level and developers of legislation. HEED is, in such cases, duty bound to engage in research, drawing inferences on findings and most importantly, elucidate such information especially to stakeholders at grass-root level.

It must be emphasized that although Advocacy in this respect is meant to function as a voice for the “Silent Majority” program managers will, to the furthest possible extent, be discouraged from disseminating political and/or religious rhetoric. Information that is indirectly related to development such as that which has to do with apathy reduction during elections is however entertained by HEED.

2.0 HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Organs of society that are involved in planning of development projects and stakeholders at grass-root level are invited to forward the following details to HEED:

(a) Name of the organization (or individual)

(b) Postal address and Names of contact person(s) of the organization (or individual)

(c) Telephone, Fax and e-mail address of organization (if any)

(d) Physical address of the organisation (where applicable)

(e) Registration status of organization (if registered)

(f) Mission Statement of organisation or objectives of organization (if available)

(g) Describe the nature of development planning that you are engaged in (for development planners only)

(h) Furnish HEED with a list of any information that is related to development projects that you think is not reaching target groups effectively. (This information can be transmitted, by development project planners, to HEED on an ad-lib basis)

(i) Indicate your willingness to permit HEED to act as an information conduit between yourself/your organisation and the source/potential recipient of development information (Both stakeholders at grass-root level and planners of development projects must attend to this section)

(j) Give suggestions of development projects that will suit your community (This information can be transmitted, by grass-root members, to HEED on an ad-lib basis)

(k) Furnish HEED with a list of any information that is related to development projects that you think is out of reach of your community (This information can be transmitted, by grass-root members, to HEED on an ad-lib basis)  

Applications must be sent to rewico@heed.org.za

3.0 OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE RUN BY HEED

To view Extra Mural and other activities that Heedmorine Municipal Institute has scheduled to be commemorated this academic year, you are encouraged to download the list of Events

Note that, where necessary, HEED will also disseminate information (to target groups) that is related to Empowerment and Development Programs that are run by HEED. Empowerment and development enthusiasts are encouraged to read about the following programs that are concurrently run by HEED and are found on the Home page:

• Academic Programs & Faculties
• Alumni Matters & Graduate Employment Opportunities
• Bursary Applications Selection And Forwarding
• Community Awareness
• Conference Co-Ordination
• e-Study
• Evaluation and Benchmarking of Foreign Qualifications and Foreign Academic Credits
• Extra Mural Activities
• Fellowship, Internship, Bursaries, Scholarship & Studentship (FBSS)
• Infrastructure Resource Mobilization
• Intellectual Property Support
• Internet for All
• Machinery And Equipment Mobilization
• Non Profit And Community Based Organisation Support 
• Research, Publications & Guest Lecturer Program
• Self-Help Volunteer Support
• Small, Medium & Micro Enterprise (SMME) Support
• Student Exchange
• Study Guides & Examination Results (Log-In)