• “Each working group essentially has identified their own needs, their own goals, and work collaboratively to serve their peers, serve the community of Cape Town, and to really work to seeing a kingdom response to the challenges that our children and women face.”

    Grace Nkomo

  • “There are evidently multiple challenges threatening the life of children in Mwanza, which require concerted response.”

    Iman Murtonen Zadock

  • “We were connected with 80 organisations before, and suddenly through the city gospel movement, we were connected with 200 people.”

    Gary Kamaal

The Viva Network: Viva brings its partner networks together to learn from each other so that the impact can be multiplied as good practices and programmes are replicated.

These three Case Studies give a clear picture of how different networks operate.

  1. Grace Nkomo, Executive Director of Connect Network in South Africa, explains how the network’s strategy is built around four pillars: networking, equipping, collaboration, and advocacy, while thematic working groups are used to help member organisations identify shared challenges and develop practical solutions together.

  2. Iman Murtonen Zadock, Coordinator of the Mwanza Children’s Action Network in Tanzania, describes how the network brings together churches, NGOs, and community-based organisations to address critical challenges affecting children’s wellbeing.

  3. Gary Kamaal from Viva India explains how the Delhi Children’s Network evolved through collaboration with the City Gospel Movement, and how this new model of developing a children’s track within broader collaborative citywide networks is bringing greater reach and impact in other Indian cities as well.

Video Presentations

Dr Grace Nkomo, Executive Director of Connect Network in South Africa, explains how the network enables and strengthens the engagement between churches and non-profit organisations serving vulnerable women and children through its working groups and collaborative platforms.

Iman Mutonen Zadock, Coordinator of the Mwanza Children Action Network (MCAN) in Tanzania, describes how the network brings together churches, non-government organisations, and community-based organisations to address critical challenges affecting children’s wellbeing.

Gary Kamaal from Viva India explains the transition from a traditional network model to a new strategy of embedding children's work within existing city gospel movements in India, expanding reach and impact.

Speaker Presentations

  • Connect, South Africa

    The Presentation as a PDF.

    Click Here

  • MCAN, Tanzania

    The Presentation as a PDF

    Read Bio

  • Viva India

    The Presentation as a PDF.

    Click Here

Further reading / additional resources

  • Connect, South Africa

    Web page with more information about the network.

    Click Here

  • Mwanza Children Action Network (MCAN)

    An article about how the network developed.

    Click Here

  • Network Development

    An article about how the different approaches to network initiation and development, featuring Viva India.

    Click Here

Reflect

  • Question 1

    What stands out to you when reflecting on the work of each of these networks?

  • Question 2

    What are the similarities and differences between the approaches in how networking is done?

  • Question 3

    One of Viva’s roles is to bring networks together into a ‘global network of networks’. How might someone hearing about these different approaches decide which one is the best to use in their context?

Take Action

  • What opportunities are there for embedding a concern for children in any existing network or collaboration in your city or country?

  • If you are part of a network already, could you carry out a review of the working groups, and ensure they are being used to their full potential?

Speakers

  • Dr Grace Nkomo

    Director of Connect, South Africa

  • Gary Kamaal

    Director of Viva India

  • Iman Mutonen Zadock

    Network Coordinator, Mwanza Children Action Network

What I have learned…