Ethnography In Action - Professor Eleanor Preston-Whyte,
Director: Social and Behavioural Science - HIVAN
Front
(crouching left to right): Thulani Hadebe, Lucky
Magwaza, Anam Nyembezi, Vagner de Almeida. Middle:
Hema Ramduth, Sizwe Phakathi, Sibongile Mkhize,
Zanele Mchunu, Xoliswa Keke, Sayinile Zungu, Professor
Eleanor Preston-Whyte, Ida Susser, Richard Parker.
Back: Winnie Ogana, Miguel Munoz-Laboy, Thembeka
Mngomezulu, Phumzile Ndlovu, Phakama Mhlongo,
Laura Washington, Khumubulani Hlongwana, Robert
Sember.
The first of four annual Ethnography courses to be
run by HIVAN, in partnership with the Mailman School
of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, draws
to a close at the end of June. The courses train researchers
and NGO workers to address the HIV/AIDS crisis.
A cocktail party marked the end of the first set of
training sessions, which trainees agreed were inspiring
and empowering. It was held at the historical Campbell
Africana Collections Museum, presided over by the Director,
Professor Seleti. Professor Eleanor Preston-Whyte welcomed
the guests as a community of people who "…are
all passionate about research, ethnography and doing
something about the AIDS epidemic".
The Ethnography courses are sponsored by the NIH (National
Institutes for Health). The trainees have summed up
their experiences anonymously:
"Interviewing people will never be the same
again."
"The workshop was participative and interactive.
It drew a lot from the participant's experiences and
was able to provide illustrations where participants
needed clarity. It has been enriching and empowering"
"Ethnography surely is one discipline which
can really get meaning from people's interactions."
"I wrote notes in several workshops before
which did not give any meaning when I reflect. To this
course, I'm saturated by my notes, I love them and I
enjoy reflecting on them"
"In the process we are able to learn through
experience sharing"
"I find it exciting, practical, participative
and integrative. I am able to draw from the research
participants and their experiences and find it empowering
in terms of where knowledge generation and community
development is concerned."
Professor
Preston Whyte (HIVAN) and Professor Richard Parker (Columbia
University) designed the Ethnography course. They were
also among the key trainers. Other members of the University
of Columbia training team include Doctor Robert Sember;
Doctor Miguel Munoz-Laboy; Professor Ida Susser and
Professor Vagner de Almeida. Contributory trainers are
HIVAN Deputy Director Jill Kruger, Dr Rachel Bray (University
of Cape Town), Mark Hunter (on his Isithebe research)
and Professor Keyan Tomaselli, Head of UND's Culture,
Communication and Media Department with visiting academic
Dr Matthew Durington from Temple University. Four ethnographic
films were screened during the first training session
for discussion and analysis, two from America and two
from South Africa.
Practical projects included recording observations
at the training site at McCord's Hospital, mapping the
physical layout of a stretch of the Durban beachfront
and recording early morning activity there, interviewing
and data collection.Enrolling trainees with NGO backgrounds
together with academics and graduates proved valuable.
Candidates from NGO organisations and outlying districts
brought a wealth of experience in the HIV/AIDS epidemic
which stimulated questions about field research and
the framing of research questions. The meeting of people,
from different walks of life, allowed for a stimulating
combination of persons with a "grass roots"
awareness, with others with academic backgrounds who
have both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Guests at the cocktail party included the trainers
and trainees, senior personnel from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Holst and Dr Giddy from McCord Hospital, Ms
Jabulili Madondo from the eThekwini local government
and guests from NGO organisations. Persons with a particular
interest in HIV/AIDS research were also present, such
as Mr Jack Hillmeyer, US consulate political advisor
and his political assistant Mr Nkosikhulule Nyembezi,
as well as representatives from the HEARD Institute
and the Reproductive Health Unit Research Unit.
Professor
Preston Whyte (HIVAN) and Professor Richard Parker (Columbia
University) designed the Ethnography course. They were
also among the key trainers. Other members of the University
of Columbia training team include Doctor Robert Sember;
Doctor Miguel Munoz-Laboy; Professor Ida Susser and
Professor Vagner de Almeida. Contributory trainers are
HIVAN Deputy Director Jill Kruger, Dr Rachel Bray (University
of Cape Town), Mark Hunter (on his Isithebe research)
and Professor Keyan Tomaselli, Head of UND's Culture,
Communication and Media Department with visiting academic
Dr Matthew Durington from Temple University. Four ethnographic
films were screened during the first training session
for discussion and analysis, two from America and two
from South Africa. 
