CIVNET training programmes. They are also more responsive to engaging communities about their problems. They have first-hand experience and knowledge of what can be achieved after having been empowered by the information and knowledge received from attending the CIVNET training workshops. In some instances the workshops are even being endorsed by the authorities and public representatives at local level as non partisan informative forum that benefits the community; • CIVNET’s policy of focusing on marginalised poor people has been successful, and they have achieved their objective of ensuring the inclusion of women and the youth in their training workshops. It became evident that many of the leadership roles are occupied by women and young people who have a dedicated commitment to ensure the success of their community “action plans.” They have organisational skills, are articulate and are seriously engaged in their tasks;18 • CIVNET undertook to ensure that at a minimum there would be 30% youth participation in each of CIVNET workshops. Youth participation in 2006 was estimated to be 31.3%;19 • The majority of CIVNET’s training participants are women, their participation amounting to 66%. CIVNET has aimed for at least 50% of workshop participants at every CIVNET workshop to be women.20 50% of the CIVNET Board members are women. The majority of facilitators are women. The majority of the Provincial Committee members are women. Five (5) of the eight (8) Provincial Chairpersons are women and seven (7) of the eight (8) Treasurers are women. CIVNET is an equal opportunity employer. Five (5) of the thirteen (13) members of the secretariat are women. It is noted with concern though that the majority of these are in finance and administration. Women candidates will be encouraged to apply for most of the vacancies to be filled in the coming year; • CIVNET’s values and principles have been integrated into the way in which the community participants engage each other and interact with public servants.21 The efficacy and success of the CIVNET training programmes is further supported by a request from a Residents Associations in Bulawayo for training in community mobilisation. Social mobilisation through community initiatives such as those provided by CIVNET creates the basis for future mobilisation as the political events unfold in the country. The assumption is that community mobilisation would be one of the outcomes of the CIVNET training workshops and not a separate process initiated by community members who have not participated in the workshops.22 18 19 20 21 22 However most of CIVNET staff in the provinces were men, who are highly competent and a significant resource to the organisation. The reasons given for why there were no women employed in these positions by CIVNET is because of possible threats and risks that they may have to endure travelling through the rural areas Youth is defined here as anybody falling between the ages of 16 and 30. The consultant did not have access to the records detailing the number of women participating in the training workshops. The values include tolerance and respect for diversity, holding elected leadership accountable, democratic decision making practices and procedures as well as transparency and inclusivity This of course does happen given the experience of the mobilization of the youth militia, the war veterans, the police and the army during the course of the last 10 years. We are however arguing that communities that would historically not be mobilized around issues because of fear and intimidation now understand why it is important for them to take up mass action, when and if necessary. 18 THE CIVIC EDUCATION NETWORK TRUST (CIVNET)) IN ZIMBABWE – Sida EVALUATION 2008:51