30 May 2022

Creating a supportive environment that encourages mentorship and collaboration is the best recipe to empower girls.
Speaking on Saturday at a graduation ceremony of Orapa Junior Secondary School 2022 cohort of Girls 4 Girls programme which aims to empower girls to lead, Boteti chief education officer, Ms Milidzani Nduna said with mentors to provide real life experiences, women’s chances of succeeding in business improved.

She said girls should be encouraged to lead their own development and elect their leaders.
“Women empowerment involves women’s sense of self-worth, their right to have and determine choices,” stated Ms Nduna and further stating that having female leaders in positions of influence to serve as role models was not only critical to the career advancement of women, but stood to generate broader societal impact on pay equity and changing workplace policies.

Various studies, she said had documented that strong female leadership improved the status of families and communities as well as employee productivity and increased corporate profitability.
The cohort leader, Dr Orapeleng Phuswane-Katse said the objective of Girls 4 Girls was to generate a pool of leaders in communities and out of schools, universities and corporates.
Dr Phuswane-Katse explained  that through Girls 4 Girls programme, women and girls gained confidence to take action to change their lives and impact communities.

She said programme modules were delivered in six sessions being, introduction and building trust, courageous leadership, art of communication, public service and running for office as well as ethics and values in decision making.

Girls 4 Girls country Co-lead, Ms Lilian Moremi said the challenge was that although women could vote and run public office in almost every country, they were still severely underrepresented in legislative bodies such as heads of state and non-profit leadership positions.

Ms Moremi noted that though the gender gap was wide, it was closing slowly but steadily, and the progress could be accelerated by mobilising female leaders to inspire and support the next generation to play a greater role in public leadership. ENDS