30 August 2008 to 1 September 2008

Gender Odyssey is an international conference focused on the thoughtful exploration of gender. Gender Odyssey strives to create an empowering environment where people of all genders can share their experiences and learn from the experiences of others.

Through dialogue, peer-led presentations, and sharing skills and expertise, Gender Odyssey works towards  creating broader and evolving language, social support, and life pathways that support all gender identities.

On this years conference in Seattle (WA, United States) Tebogo Calvin Nkoana presented a paper which shares his experience as a trans‐man in South Africa, and how his calling from the Ancestors has given him an experience different to other transgendered people.

18 to 20 August 2008

The Department of Social Development in partnership with the European Commission and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime is hosting a conference at ICC, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province from 18 to 20 August 2008, to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP). The theme of the conference is: Victim Empowerment in South Africa.

The Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) was officially launched in August 1998 as one of the key programmes under pillars one of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). It is inter-sectoral and inter-departmental in nature to holistically address the diverse needs of victims of crime and violence. Representation on the VEP comprises of the following core NCPS government departments, namely, Social Development, as the lead and co-ordinating department; Health; Correctional Services; Education; Justice and Constitutional Development; South African Police Services; and Community Safety.

June 2008

Gender DynamiX held the 4th Gender Diversity Awareness Seminar at the Saartjie Baartman Centre on Friday 13 June 2008. Two male to female and 2 female to male transgendered people spoke about their experiences as transgendered individuals and about their journey with its challenges, joys, successes, fears and concerns. The delegates at the seminar were given an opportunity to ask questions and get clarity on issues they wanted more insight on. The Gender Diversity Awareness Seminar series started in May 2005, before Gender DynamiX was formed as an organisation. The past three GDA's were attended by an average of 10 Pan African participants per seminar, who at the time were attending research training at the African Gender Institute (AGI) at the University of Cape Town.

May 2008 

Every year, Dr Eve presents a short course at the South African College for Applied Psychology. During these presentations she covers issues related to transgenderism. For the 2^nd year now Dr Eve invited Gender DynamiX to be guest presenters during one of the sessions. A general introduction about Gender DynamiX was given and then 3 transgendered people, 1 male to female and 2 female to male, related some of their experiences and expectations from healthcare workers. Tebogo from Gender DynamiX shared about his experiences as a trans man from a traditional African perspective and how his calling to be a traditional healer had helped his family and friends to accept his Transsexuality. Another transmen shared how he had escaped into drugs to try to deal with his feelings and rejection and how after discovering the truth about himself turned his life around.