07 Apr 2014

They say a world full of empowered women is not one where men are marginalised. It is a world where everybody thrives. The Boteti Women Empowerment Network (WEN) vision is just like that.

Started hardly four years ago in Boteti, Women Empowerment Network (WEN) has experienced tremendous growth as its membership has grown from the initial six members to current of more than 100.

Founded by Ms Kgalalelo Mokgweetsi, a community liaison officer at Boteti Mining in 2011, the empowerment network is aimed at empowering women. Ms Mokgweetsi stressed that the women empowerment network started with only six women from some of the villages in Boteti but has since grown with membership around the country.

When WEN first started it constituted of only six women, each from a different village in Boteti now it has over 100 members all around the country, she added. Ms Mokgweetsi said WEN is stirred by five pillars of spiritual upliftment, women empowerment, health issues, matshelo a batho mo gae (community empowerment) and sport participation. She explained that the women liberation linkage address general issues affecting women in the society.

 “We talk about women abuse, as women we have to realise that we also abuse each other. A woman has to realize that breaking another woman’s marriage is tantamount to abuse.  Through WEN women are also taught respect for their partners and to avoid situations where they argue in front of children. If there is an issue in the house wait until your children have gone to sleep then you can talk to your husband in secret”, she said.

She said any unrest in a family or between partners would ultimately affect the children, therefore, she said it was a woman or mother’s duty to protect their child and raise them in a secure and loving environment.
 Ms Mokgweetsi said WEN plans to host a workshop to commemorate mother’s day, which she said was  a day worthy cherishing and celebrating. The WEN founder believes that women need to stand up for themselves and be leaders because they were born leaders.

The empowerment group among others instills public speaking skills in young girls and women in order to build their self-esteem as most Village Development Committees are headed by women.

Fitness is mandatory with Ms. Mokgweetsi thus they participate in long walks an example being between Motsumi JSS to Khwee junction to keep fit.  She commends mothers who acknowledge sport as a career but stresses that every child needs to have education as a fall back.

Boteti Women Empowerment Network also involves in fun activities like picnics, secret pals and bible sharing.

The group registers females from the age of 18 years and above. Ms Mokgweetsi said group members had a challenge of conducting meetings which are mostly held during the week because some members go to work,  adding that members who no longer stay in Boteti still participate and attend WEN activities. Ends