Zimbabwe Community Family Day and Summer Barbeque 2012

Bring the whole family for a day of fun, laughter, games, raffle prizes and of course, lots of food and drink. Bring your own favorite food and drinks and enjoy great company. This is a great opportunity to meet new and old friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

Zimbabwe Community Personal Financial Planning and Bereavement Workshop

• Opening: Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group and Bereavement Fund 1 pm - 1:30 pm
• Planning your Funeral Arrangements in Advance: Neil Herie from Dignity Memorial       1:30 pm - 2:15 pm.
• Personal Life Insurance - Phenias Phiri (Primerica) and Richard Kuzviwanza (Sunlife) 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
• Wills and Estate Planning-Dumo Siziba LLB    2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
• Break 3:15 - 3:30 pm
• Buying your own home or condo: Mortgages and financing - Henry David - Royal LePage              3:30 pm  - 4:15 pm
• Personal Finance - Saving for Retirement and your Children's Education: RRSPs, RESPs, Disability Insurance and more. Phenias Phiri                     4:15 pm - 4:45 pm
• Closing remarks 4:50 - 5:00 pm
• Q & A sessions after each presentation, and one on one appointments can be set up with presenters after the workshops.
• Other Zimbabwean experts will be on hand to mingle and inform you of their services and products.

Community Support Group steadily achieving its 90-Day business plan

The community support group is steadily achieving its 90-day plan. With 30 days to go, the group has established the internal administrative structures, has applied for charitable status with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and initiated a mentorship program with the Kenyan Community in Ontario (KCO). It has developed a blog, conducted an online survey and has just completed holding a focus group session.

The members have validated the results of the online survey, which provides the executive committee with a clearer understanding of your needs and priorities so that we can concentrate on those specific issues, programs and services that matter to you. Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group Chair, Pastor Elliot Gaza reflected on the progress, “These are step by step processes that we are putting in place as we build our organization. Our progress is also helped by the tremendous amount of support that we are getting from the members”.

The next step after the focus groups will be a strategic planning session on the last weekend of March, which will entail defining a plan aimed at creating a desired future for our community support group. “We are close to finishing the business planning phase and are now moving into the implementation stage”, said Pastor Gwaza.

In the spring and summer, our support group will be inviting the Zimbabwe community to participate in many interesting and exciting workshops and events that will make a difference in our lives. Watch this space for more details.

URGENT: JUST RECEIVED

Summer Internship Program

The 2012 Summer Internship Program is currently seeking highly motivated, energetic and dedicated students, who wish to be involved in the political process and work in government.

Interested students who are looking to develop their skills in organization, communication, leadership and research, are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to summer.internship@liberal.ola.org.

Interns will be placed in the Premier's Office, Ministers' Offices and the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau. Assignments may expose interns to the areas of communications, policy, research, special projects and data base. Interns will also participate in a variety of activities that will strengthen their leadership and team building skills.

The internship program runs from May 7th to August 24th at Queen's Park. All participants should be available for the entire length of the program.

The salary is $12.50 - $15.00 per hour based on a 35 hour work week.

The deadline to apply is February 3rd, 2012.

“Trumpet Call – Agriculture” Public Meeting

The Zimbabwean Community, Friends and Well wishers in Canada are invited to “Trumpet Call – Agriculture” Public Meeting:

Purpose of meeting:
To hear feedback and updates since the last meeting with Scott Marques in June 2011 and exchange ideas on how the Zimbabwean Diaspora and friends can participating in this simply and yet exiting vision to promote rural development in Zimbabwe.

Date: Saturday February 18, 2012
Time: 2:00PM to 4:00PM
Location: St. Hilda's Anglican Church located at 1258 Rebecca Street, Oakville, Ontario, L6L 1Z2.

Present: Scott Marques (Zimbabwe Chair for “The Trumpet Call – Agriculture”), Rev. Lindani Dube (General Secretary of the (Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe – EFZ. Trumpet Call – Agriculture Leadership)

For More Information, visit trumpetcallzimbabwe.org/ or facebook.com/lovezim; twitter.com/lovezim

Contacts:
Eddie Mushayandebvu emushayandebvu@gmail.com
Charles Dengedza 416-500-6349

One of our members has provided this vital information about job opportunities. NOTE that the deadline for one of the opportunities is JANUARY, 25 at 12 NOON!

Youth Employment and Internship Opportunities

The Youth and New Professionals Secretariat within the Ministry of Government Services co-ordinates several provincewide employment programs to attract a diverse array of new talent to the Ontario Public Service (OPS).

The 2012 launch dates for two of the programs; the Ontario Internship Program (OIP) and the Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) for students have now been announced.
The OIP application period is now open. Until January 25th, at 12 noon, recent university and college graduates (within the past two years) can apply.
OIP introduces recent university and college graduates to the OPS, offering two-year, entry-level, paid internships in a variety of focus areas.
The government provides summer employment for students throughout the province. SEO positions will be posted February 17 and March 9, 2012. Updated information on summer student employment is now available on the website at www.ontario.ca/careers. Interested candidates may select Youth and New Professionals to learn more about the programs, how to apply for the OIP and SEO positions and to discover the broad range of career opportunities available in the OPS.
If you have questions about these or other youth employment initiatives, please visit the website or call Employment Ontario toll-free at 1-800-387-5656.

Important Survey to be sent to members soon!

The survey that we mentioned in our past messages is almost complete and will be sent to you shortly. It is the single most important activity that we have ever asked you to do until now because it will help us to better understand your needs and priorities so that we can concentrate on those specific issues, programs and services that matter to you. For the organization to be relevant to the members we have to know what is that we need to focus on.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of the survey because it will determine the nature of the organization going forward. Members are encouraged to treat the survey with the urgency it deserves so that we don’t fall behind in our planning efforts to design and implement strategically important programs for the community support group.

The Immigrant Talk Show begins screening on Rogers TV 63 & 10

Starting Monday January 9^th 2012 on ROGERS TV Channels 63 and 10 one of our Zimbabwean sisters, Dr. Vivian Mthenjwa-Hanya begins hosting her program The Immigrant Talk Show at times shown below.

The talk show explores the realities of immigration, settlement and integration. Among many other topics, the show seeks to explore an open forum for the immigrants and their receiving communities to discuss professional experiences with special reference to “getting into the system”. More importantly, the program not only discusses the challenges faced by immigrants, but captures their success stories in order to inspire others.

VIEWING TIMES

Mondays at 1pm	Tuesdays at 9:30am
Wednesdays at 9:30pm	Fridays at 7:30am, 3pm & 6:30pm
Saturdays at 10:30pm	Sundays at 6:30pm

If you want to be a guest or to advertise your business/Organization during the show or through the show’s website please E-mail them at: info@theimmigranttalkshow.com or call 905 370 0093. You can also contact the show’s Rogers TV Sponsorship Consultant: Carla.RoblinPryce@rci.rogers.com or call 905 780 7257. For more details visit www.theimmigranttalkshow.com

Below is information from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for those of you who might be planning to travel to Zimbabwe soon. We thank one of our  commmunity support group members for bring this vital information to our attention!

PUBLIC NOTICE: CHANGES TO TRAVELLER’S REBATE: CLOTHING ITEMS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE TRAVELLER’S REBATE
Commissioner General Public Notice No. 22 of 2011

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) wishes to advise its valued clients that, following the announcement of the 2012 Budget Statement, changes have been made to the traveller’s rebate with regards to goods that qualify for duty free importation.
Following amendments made to the Customs and Excise (General) Regulations (Statutory Instrument 154 of 2001), the traveller’s rebate now provides for the duty free importation of travellers’ used personal effects, as well as other goods of a value for duty purposes not exceeding US$300,00.

2012 Happy New Year Message

Happy New Year everyone!  In 2011, we supported each other and celebrated together as a strong and vibrant Zimbabwe community here in Canada. As we start 2012, we remain united, with a great hope for Zimbabweans in Canada. The opportunities to thrive as a community are brighter than ever. The sky is the limit!

Kenyan Community in Ontario ready to work with ZCSG

The Kenyan Community in Ontario (KCO) hosted a glittering, high profile celebration in Mississauga of their Republic Day, the Jamhuri Day which coincides with the country’s Independence Day. (Click here to see photos of the event).
Meeting with KCO officers
One of our executive committee members, Treasurer and Communications and Marketing Lead, Kuthula Matshazi was privileged to attend the function, having been invited by a Zimbabwean colleague who is married to a Kenyan. They facilitated a meeting for Mr. Matshazi with a couple of leaders from within the ranks of KCO. These were the President of KCO, Muoi Nene; the Chair of the KCO Women’s Forum and Education Portfolio, Grace Mwawasi and a member of the KCO Bereavement Committee and facilitator of the KCO Bereavement Fund, Duke Ongechi. Mr. Matshazi also linked up with a member of the Constitution Review Committee.

ZCSG to be featured on new immigrant talk show on Rogers TV, March 2012

Our community group, the Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group will be featured on a new television program called The Immigrant Talk Show on Rogers Television Channels 63 (Richmond Hill) and 10 (Durham and Brampton) in March 2012. The show is hosted by one of our own Zimbabwean sister, Dr. Vivian Mthenjwa-Hanya.

Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group Launches Blog

As part of a package of initiatives agreed to by the Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group Executive Committee, we are happy to set up this Blog as an initial part of the several communication tools that the community group will establish to communicate with members. The Blog will also be vital for facilitating member-to-member communication.

Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group Elects Executive Committee

Executive Committee Members From L-R: Vusomuz Moyana (Bereavement ), Likwa Nkala (Resource Development/Fundraising), Xolisiwe Ndlovu (Secretary), Kuthula Matshazi (Treasurer, & Communications and Marketing), Dumoluhle Siziba (Legal/Education), Ian Ncube (Past Chair), Linda Ncube (Social Events), Rev. Elliot Gwaza, (Chair)

A new Executive Committee of eight members was elected on October 22, 2011 at the Zimbabwe Canadian Support Group Annual General Meeting held in Toronto. The new Executive Committee term runs until October, 2013.
Rev. Elliot Gwaza, the Chair is optimistic that the community has elected a competent team that will take the organization forward, "The members who have accepted the challenge to revitalize the community group are a dedicated and well qualified team to lead the community group into the future".

Executive Committee Members Biographies 2011

Pastor Elliot Gwaza is a founding member of this community group as well as a widely known ordained minister of religion who is deeply involved with the Zimbabwean community.

He holds a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from the Canada Christian College, and a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Whole Truth Bible College in Zimbabwe.
Pastor Gwaza is a registered counselor and marriage officer who has counseled and married several couples in and outside of the Zimbabwe community.