02 Apr 2019

The fight for women empowerment comes from as far back as the French universal suffrage, and it is only proper that women of the modern era keep alive the journey that was started by their ancestors.

Such words of advice were said by Ms Ntshadi Mushayandevu, an entrepreneur, when she was delivering a motivational speech during the International Women’s Day Commemoration organised by Devine Destiny in Jwaneng on March 30.

Ms Mushayandevu said this was more so that women empowerment was still one of the issues that continued to elude the society. 

“As women we want to play life on a level ground with men and not having to work twice as much to be on the same level. 

It is time that women learn to put words into action,” she said. 

She also encouraged women to start grooming the girl child from as early as birth as teenage hood may be too late, and that a girl child should be encouraged to take up well rewarding professions that were traditionally associated with men.

“As mothers, we are the ones that spend the better part of our children’s early ages with them right from birth, so this positions us better to groom them for a better future by levelling the playing ground. It is an opportunity to teach the girl child to go out and conquer the world,” she said.

Ms Mushayandevu also said that empowering the girl child would also ultimately help develop the country.

Another attendant, Ms Gaone Bagopi, who is also the Jwaneng magistrate, urged women not to be dependent on men as being independent would help them sustain themselves in cases of misfortunes such as divorces.

She cited societal ills such as physical abuse and inequalities at work as some of the major challenges that women face, and therefore urged women to respond to such challenges by adding a balance in their lives through empowerment.

For her part, the public relations officer for Devine Destiny, Ms Maipelo Thamage said the objective of their organisation was to empower both women and the girl child by giving them a platform across all professions to share ideas.

She said that such ideas cut across all challenges that women may face. 

“We also go around schools addressing the girl child on life skills and career development because we want to empower women to be better members of the society. Our organisation is not only confined to Jwaneng, but even surrounding villages,” she said.

The event covered a wide range of topics that were of concern to women, such as financial advice as well as health and wellness. ends