THE SEVEN women researchers from around Africa who make up the most recent intake of the African Gender Institute's (AGI) Associates Programme received a warm and collegial welcome to UCT recently from the Institute's Director, Dr Jane Bennett, and University executives and staff.

The scholars will spend the next three months at UCT working on various research projects related to African gender and political studies. The group is comprised of Gabeba Baderoon (South Africa), Mosunmola Imasogie (Nigeria), Zubeida Jaffer (South Africa), Elizabeth Khaxas (Namibia), Dr Mildred Ndeda (Kenya), Ingrid Palmary (South Africa) and Elaine Tweneboah (Ghana).

The septet will cover projects that tackle issues such as the media representation of Islam in South Africa, sexual harassment of female students in Nigerian universities and the role of women in the management of coastal pollution, among others.

The AGI started the Associate Programme in 1996 to fund women writers/researchers based in Africa for three-month stays at UCT's All Africa House. During this time, the associates complete writing projects that deal with issues around gender equity and social transformation.

"A groundbreaking programme," is how Professor Amina Mama, AGI Chair of Gender Studies, described the project, which is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

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