Loga Virahsawmy

The over 60s at the University of Gender Links

Oh! My God! Where do I start? It has been such an enriching journey that I did not realise that I started with black hair. It is now all shining silver (not to say grey). Yes, I am not joking when I started my hair was black but when it started to turn grey I thought my learning journey would stop as I was too old. But little did I realise that il n'y a pas d'age pour apprendre quand on est avec Gender Links - there is no age to learn when one is with Gender Links.

Yes, trust me! It is not only babies that grow but the over sixties as well. If you want to grow at any age then join the University of Gender Links. Success is guaranteed although with lots of challenges going through very tough times, including some crying.

I am bad with dates but I will nevertheless turn the time machine back for a few years and try my best to be faithful by putting ink to paper.

It all started when I received an invitation from Gender Links in early 1999 to attend a workshop in Lesotho. Gender Links wanted to train journalists of the region. The outcome was a special supplement that was distributed to participants at a regional workshop on gender-based violence. Apparently, Gender Links was looking for a participant from Mauritius who could write articles in English. They were desperate and even sent a letter to the Ministry of Women's Rights but the latter did not respond.

Doing a search in the region they came across a few of my articles and the rest spoke for itself. But the organiser, Zora Khan, did not take any risks and asked me for a letter from L'Express where I was a freelance journalist. This was the first time I travelled to Johannesburg and I spent a night at a hotel near the airport. Very early the next morning, Ferial Haffajee came to get me so that we could travel to Lesotho by car. I did not know anything about her except that we were going to the same place. It was when the training started that I realised the greatness and the humility of this lady. She was the one who coached us in writing good articles on gender-based violence.

I also had a warm welcome by a lady called Colleen Lowe Morna. During the workshop she got a telephone call and she was shouting with joy on the telephone. I did not know why until Zohra Khan started to cry and said "I am so happy for you Colleen. You have made it. You have won." Then it was explained to me that Colleen won her case against the Gender Equality Commission.

I thought that was the end of my story since Colleen finished hers with the court case. But little did I know that this would be the start of a very long journey. In February 2000 I was invited to a workshop at the Cottages in Johannesburg to develop a "Gender and Media Handbook". This was my first encounter with somebody who, without knowing me, asked me to take her picture and gave me her address so that I could forward her the picture. Yes I met the one and only Sarry Xoagus for the first time there. I also had the privilege of meeting Nicole Johnston who was then at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. Nicole and I talked a bit and she showed interest in my articles and invited me to follow courses at the IAJ a few times.

Soon after this workshop, Colleen asked me to organise a launch in Mauritius for the handbook Whose News Whose Views. I took up the challenge and contacted Jean Claude de L'Estrac, former Chair of Media Trust. When I told Jean Claude that Thenji Mtinto, former Deputy Secretary General of the ANC would be present, he immediately agreed. Media Trust did all the expenses for the launch and the great cocktail party that followed. I will never forget how my legs turned to jelly when I had to introduce Thenji, Colleen and the other panellists. The butterflies in my stomach were multiplying and playing tricks on me; I could hardly stand up. This was the first time that I talked in front of an audience. The launch was a great success followed by dinner in the presence of the South African Ambassador as well as another great man, Kofi Morna, at my place.

In March 2002 Colleen asked me to organise a national workshop in Mauritius on "How to report on gender-based violence". The challenge was too tempting to refuse. I negotiated with Finlay Salesse who had taken over from Jean Claude as Chair of Media Trust and soon a whole machinery started for panellists, participants, field visits, printing of a special supplement and all the logistics. We made history as I got the former President of the Republic, Karl Offman, to open the workshop and to make the keynote address. We also had very high profile people on the different panels including Sheila Bappoo, now Minister of Gender Equality and Shirin Aumeeruddy Cziffra, now Ombudsperson for children. I counted my blessings for the sixth time when I met this other extraordinary lady Ruth Ansa Ayisi who helped Colleen in the facilitation of the workshop. They both stayed at my place and we found time for some fun around a glass of wine in the evening. I have not stopped counting my blessings since!

Soon after the workshop, Colleen suggested that I should start an NGO in Mauritius with a focus on gender in and through the media. This saw the birth of Media Watch Organisation and I have remained the Chair of this organisation since which is unfortunate as nobody wants to take over as Chair.

Colleen did not let go of me and asked me to organise the same workshop in the Seychelles. What a challenge - I did not know anybody in the Seychelles. Each time somebody from the Seychelles came to Mauritius, I invited that person home. They all promised to help but not a single one kept their promise until my husband became desperate and asked me to write to the President of Seychelles giving his name as a reference. It worked! We can be gender activists but we still need to rely a lot on our partners.

The response was overwhelming. I soon got the whole Ministry of Social Affairs under Michel Rosalie to help. I went on a pre-workshop mission and met with my partners as well as the Nation Daily, which was going to run the supplement. When Colleen and I went to facilitate the workshop everything was so well-planned that we even had some free time in the evening. Colleen went on her walking spree up the mountains while I was swimming in the most magnificent blue sea.

I do not know about Colleen but for the first time in my life I became a star as everywhere we went people would stop us to say that they saw us on television and thanked us for the work we were doing.

In 2003 there were even more workshops and research came pouring in. One way or the other I was involved in nearly all workshops and research, be it in Mauritius or in Johannesburg. I was also invited to join the Gender Links Board, which I immediately accepted. No one refuses such an honour to belong to such a well-respected organisation under the leadership of Colleen.

When Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo joined SADC, Colleen did not waste time and wanted GL to have programmes in these two countries as well. There was no problem with Madagascar as L'Express has a daily there and Jerome Boulle, the then Editor-in-Chief, is a good friend of Marie Annick and myself. During one of our many workshops in Mauritius, Colleen and I had the chance to meet Ialfine Tracoulat. The very same evening, Ialfine was my dinner guest and she showed great interest in the work of Gender Links. This laid the foundation stone for GL's work in Madagascar.

But DRC was a real challenge. Colleen did give me a couple of e-mail addresses. I was advised to contact Aziza Bengwene, Country Director of PANOS. The University of Mauritius gave me the address of Tiefolo Banza, Director of High Authority of Media. But nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from which I wanted an official letter advised me not to go to DRC. It was also difficult for them to give me a letter as I was not working for the Government. On my insistence and because I told them they would be responsible if they see my dead body flown back to Mauritius, they gave me copy of a letter that they sent to the authorities in DRC. We also got letters from PANOS and HAM to facilitate visa procedures.

Marie Annick and I thought that with all our documents all should be fine. But when we touched the soil of DRC we were asked to give $100 to be shared with two Customs officers. We really did not know what to do but I finally told them that I was ready to give the money but needed a receipt. The story then changed to "Can't you give us a cup of coffee". This atmosphere at the airport was indeed terrifying. But I am glad to say that this is one of the countries that I like best. People are so humble, modest and grateful for everything that they get, be it the workshop or the food at the workshop. I once again counted my blessings having known people who know how to say "Thank you". Dorothee Swedi and Anna N'gemba Mayimona have since been among my best friends.

I was and I am still in charge of many projects for Gender Links in Mauritius, DRC, Madagascar and Seychelles. Some of them include the Gender and Media Baseline Study, gender and media HIV and AIDS study, national policies to combat domestic violence, policies on gender and HIV and AIDS, policies on gender in media houses, research on gender and governance, gender and advertisements, gender and audience, gender and tabloids. I also had the chance of getting my articles published in Mauritius and in the region through the Opinion and Commentary Service of Gender Links. Marie Annick and I have been running workshops producing special supplements on gender and the economy and gender-based violence in DRC, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. I even got the Mauritian Minister of Finance on the eve of the presentation of the budget to open my Business Unusual Workshop. The result was immediate as this was the first time in the history of Mauritius that a whole chapter on the budget was focused on gender.

I have been writing "I" Stories nearly every year and in 2008 Mauritius did its own publication of "I" Stories with funding from Gender Links. The book was launched by no less than the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The book became a best-seller as the Prime Minister recommended it to all ministries.

The Cyber Dialogue, with all its challenges, has been quite an experience connecting with the region on topical issues concerning gender-based violence. With Gender Links I had the chance to go to New York for the first time in my life in 2009 where GL ran a special supplement.

In September 2008, a satellite office was opened in Mauritius. It has been a parcours de combattante (a fighter's journey) with its own joys and pains. Very uphill at times, but we have been able to climb the mountain. Painful when, for example, we were told that the whole database of the MBC Television GMPS was missing or when in the middle of writing the report I saw that Radio One was missing.

Travelling and facilitating workshops in August and September in DRC, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles also came with its rapture and pains: waiting for five hours at Nairobi airport because I could not get the direct flight from DRC to Johannesburg and arriving at Gender Links Office at 2 am, getting the plane after midnight in Seychelles and reaching home after 2 am. Or waiting for five hours in Tananarive Airport as the plane had a technical problem with no water or food as the cafeteria at the airport was closed and the airline was not prepared to give us anything to eat.

A more recent challenge was spending three days re-adapting the GIME report for Mauritius and DRC based on that of Namibia and then being told that it should be based on the Botswana template.

My experience at Gender Links has been so rich, meeting so many great people and great minds, learning so much that I will never stop counting my blessings. It is true that I am the oldest one at Gender Links but I am still growing and still learning. It has been a long and fruitful journey.

Thank you Colleen and thank you all the colleagues and Board members of Gender Links.

Loga Virahsawmy is the chair of Media Watch Organisation, a board member of Gender Links and the Gender Links Francophone Director.

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