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Long-term African entrepreneurs

2021-03-09T02:04:25.675Z


The continent has a powerful engine: its 650 million women. Seven of them, from different countries, and with experience in the business and political world, explain how they have applied their experience and knowledge to try to contribute to the improvement of their societies.


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From recycling plants on the outskirts of a big city, from rural schools in the middle of the countryside, from remote Maasai communities ... but also from international organizations and government institutions.

They have turned their jobs into their trenches to fight for the rights of African women.

As entrepreneurs, as creators and, above all, as women who are all, Jaccqueline, Joyce, Faith, Mireille, Lamatu, Awa and Mame Bousso explain in this article what has prompted them to do what they do and what they ask of feminism in this coming year.

They do not know each other, but together they are contributing to the development of a continent, Africa, which would be nothing without its 650 million women.

These are their testimonies, collected thanks to the NGO Kubuka, which works in Kenya, Zambia and Spain.

Jacqueline Nduku: where there is a woman, there is a great change

Jacqueline Nduku is the coordinator of the Kubuka Kleanbera Reciclyng project in Kibera, Kenya, the second largest informal settlement in Africa.

In this place, surrounded by garbage, Nduku tries to sensitize the neighborhood about the importance of recycling.

She started working at the age of 13 due to the death of her father and came to Kibera in 2000 with a young daughter and no education.

“It wasn't easy because I was still young, I didn't have a job and, with my daughter in tow, no one was willing to give me a job.

But I had to face life and started working in the community.

The leaders began to see my passion for my work and began to involve me in different formations such as leadership, community health issues and development ”.

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Currently, she owns a small food store in this settlement, she has also started a craft business with other women, belongs to a neighborhood group called NNDC where she leads initiatives of all kinds for the benefit of the community and is a member of the board of directors of Kleanbera Sacco (credit and savings cooperative).

All this, being the mother of four daughters and supporting everyone around her.

“My attitude towards working with the community made many people happy, especially the leaders, and many opportunities began to knock on my door, and life began to change, I was able to enroll my daughter in school and put food in the table three times a day, ”he recalls.

Explain, however, that the path has not always been easy.

“Sometimes men don't like to be led by women, and I had to fight for them to understand that what I'm doing is for development, and I kept fighting until today, everyone is happy and supports what I'm doing".

Nduku thinks that if she has managed to get ahead, it is because she believes in herself.

"Where there is a woman, there is a great change," he says.

Now, he says he is happy because he has achieved many of his goals in the community and because he likes to work in it, since he has learned a lot.

Her message to other girls and women is clear: “You have to put in effort, work hard, fight and build something for your family and your community.

Women can do much more than men, they can be housewives and at the same time entrepreneurs and work for their own ”.

His wishes for the future are equality in employment by the Government and other companies;

both financial and labor empowerment and that female capacities are valued;

create a good platform to deal with their problems, and "be loved by the community and family members," he concludes.

"Women should have the same opportunities as men and the option to make their own decisions, regardless of their culture or beliefs."

Joyce Mudenda Kanimba: When you educate a girl, you educate the whole family

Joyce Mudenda Kanimba, 61, is the Co-Founder and Director of Kubuka in Livingstone, Zambia.

She founded the organization because she wanted to help the students of Mwandi Community College, where she was a teacher and director for more than 20 years, to continue their education after completing the Primary Education cycle.

“In fact, I founded the NGO Kubuka because helping is part of me and because I felt the need to support people who do not have the opportunity to train in Zambia.

From here the organization has grown and now we also focus on entrepreneurship and we especially support women with our microcredit program ”, she describes.

In addition, she currently has a chicken-raising business in her home to help with the family economy and leads several groups of women in the church, with whom she carries out fund-raising activities from small private businesses.

“As a woman, I have to be active, I fight to be, get up in the morning, take care of my farm, dedicate myself to my house… and I also dedicate part of my life to helping.

In addition, I am the leader of a group called Compasionate, in my church, that deals with the issues of widows, orphans and vulnerable people in general.

To help, we have to create businesses that we implement in the church, such as managing a garden, buying and selling food, etc., and with this money we are able to pay the school fees for the orphans, buy food for the elderly widows. ... ”.

At the NGO, Mudenda co-runs a microcredit program and also the garden.

She has two daughters, two granddaughters and is the matriarch of her large family.

A cheerful and vigorous woman who is the lifeblood of the NGO in Zambia.

She dreams that women have the spirit and awareness of helping each other.

“I have a motto that I always try to put into practice: 'Let's try to do good to everyone at all times.'

In the Bible, in chapter 6, verse 9, it is said: "Do not tire of doing good, because in the end the Father who is in heaven will reward you," he instructs.

This woman believes in educating girls first and foremost.

"When you educate a girl, you are educating the whole family, because most of them have that empathy to help others."

Following these thoughts, education is the key to their future happiness.

“I think great efforts are being made around the world to educate girls and women.

In fact, we are very committed to education, we have a project called 'Safe House' with 15 students who are given the opportunity to live in a safe environment and train in Secondary.

This project has made me realize how important it is to encourage them to study and evolve.

Women can be important people in the world, like today, in Zambia and in the United States there are two female vice presidents, and that is a great step towards our empowerment ”.

Faith Pashile: not only working for equality, but also believing in it

Faith Pashile is a Masai.

As a child, she dedicated her time to herding cattle and to the tasks of a woman of her ethnic group, especially linked to caring.

Despite having little time, she knew that going to school would create a future for her.

Thanks to his tenacity, he managed to get to university.

Today, at 33, she has a degree in Sociology from Moi University, Kenya and works for the Government, helping Kenyan companies to internationalize.

But she is also the founder of Wanawake Kenya, a platform that promotes gender equality, fights for the rights of girls and women and combats the two harmful practices suffered by those of her culture: female genital mutilation and child marriages. .

Thanks to their work, dozens of women and girls have an opportunity to raise their voices and decide about their lives, through work alternatives and education, respectively.

“I want to be a voice for those who have no voice.

I want gender violence to be eradicated in my community.

This desire prompts me to support women and girls and I will not stop being that voice until I achieve my dream: a world free of violence against women and girls ”, she assures.

Pashile dreams that girls have the same opportunities as boys in terms of education, that they go to school and get an education like boys and can finish their studies.

"I believe that education is a basic need as a person and a great tool for the future, and giving women and girls the same opportunities as men and boys, and thus being able to decide their destiny, can change the world."

This entrepreneur hopes that one day, all the problems women face, because they are, will disappear.

This is what fuels her determination to move on and do what she thinks is right: empower women through education.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, Pashile makes one wish: that women could empower each other and aspire to achieve equality.

"Women must not only work to achieve equality, but we must believe in it," she reflects.

And as for short-term improvements, he is clear: “I don't want girls' dreams to be shattered by poverty or pernicious cultural practices.

I want them to achieve their dreams, to have great economic advances.

I don't want them to be subjected to abusive marriages because they are afraid of escaping since they are poor and cannot support themselves ”, she lists.

Mireille Gnammi: develop and express opinions without fear or shame

Mireille Gnammi is the head of OAN International's Social Policy projects in Nikki, Benin.

She works with women's cooperatives to market the fruit of her labor, shea butter.

In addition, she coordinates the microcredit access program for female entrepreneurs in her commune to contribute to their emancipation through access to business economic activity.

She is moved to see her companions well strengthened, sure of their power.

"May they develop and express their opinions without fear or shame," he sighs.

For this reason, this March 8, she has decided to spend it debating about issues relevant to feminism and also to have a party to spend the day.

As for the short-term improvements you would most like to see, consider financial independence.

"I would like to develop small activities that allow us to have a livelihood and also improve in matters related to women's health," he asks.

Lamatu: women do their best to keep others well

Lamatu, a Beninese and animator of the Nikarit project of OAN International, works with women's cooperatives that, through the production and sale of shea butter, obtain resources for their families and thus improve their access to food, education or health .

“I work with the women who live there on various projects.

I translate your concerns and inquiries, and give you advice.

I love my job, and I do everything for my children, so that their life is better than mine.

I will never force my daughter to marry the man I want, no.

She is going to marry whoever she wants.

All I want is for my children to have peace in their life and to find their love, that's all for me.

It is impossible to open my heart, but if you could see how happy I am when my daughter achieves her goals, it is a huge joy ”, she says.

Being a mother, she has always fought to transmit the values ​​of equality to her four children and, in addition, she works as an entertainer and translator at the Louis Amigo Center for nutritional recovery for children of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters, where she accompanies mothers and children.

"My mother only had daughters and my father said: 'What are the girls going to give me in the future?'

It used to be said that women can't do anything.

But now, even though I am a woman, I do everything I want.

The work that a man does, I do.

Others say that if the woman works and earns something, she no longer obeys her husband.

But it's not that. Why?

Because the woman, as soon as she has a little, does not think only of herself, she thinks of those who are by her side and even those who are far away.

Women do everything they can to keep others well.

I adore being a woman and I thank God for being one ”.

Awa Dianor: covid-19 has highlighted the resilience, creativity and innovation capacities of women

Awa Dianor has a very extensive curriculum: she is responsible for the NGO partner of the Xaley Foundation in the My Life Project program, which accompanies out-of-school girls.

She is also a former director of the Ministry of Women, Family and Children within the Ministry of Social Development of Senegal.

She is a municipal councilor and very active in feminist movements;

in fact, she is also in charge of the women's committee and the network of women's groups in Biscuiterie and is president of the Network for the Family and Solidarity that every year offers free consultations to the elderly, on the promotion of local consumption , assistance to talibés children in donations and to homeless families.

Dianor speaks of Senegal as a developing country where the legal, social and economic status of women is not taken into account.

This led her to train in Social and Family Economics and dedicate herself with self-denial to solving all the problems that hinder the empowerment of women.

For a few years now, governments have carried out initiatives that have partly improved the situation, but much remains to be done.

At the national level, it lists: “Eliminate structural barriers of any kind faced by women, orient priorities towards the provision of basic social services, resolve the social demand for health, education and training, infrastructure, strengthen social protection for groups vulnerable, unlocking the potential for women's participation in the economy and mobilizing resources and supporting local initiatives ”.

At the local level, Dianor also has priorities.

For her, it is important to promote a healthy and safe environment for the development of communities, intensify efforts to combat discrimination and violence against women and girls, promote female leadership, develop circles of solidarity and mutual aid within organizations and Now, in times of pandemic, strengthen the resilience of Senegalese women through the implementation of innovative and adapted projects.

This policy believes that during the health crisis women have shown their full potential.

"Covid-19 has highlighted the resilience, creativity and innovation capacities of women," she defends.

Now her greatest desire is the definitive eradication of the pandemic, and some more, such as the appearance of new female talents, the elimination of obstacles that hinder the effective involvement and participation of women in the life of their communities and the definitive disappearance of the sexist violence.

"Strengthening peace and security are the only guarantees of harmonious and sustainable development," he instructs.

For this reason, it demands that the equitable redistribution of wealth be ensured to eradicate the state of poverty of vulnerable groups and that the principle of equality be guaranteed in all programs and projects initiated for the communities.

Mame Bousso Samb Diack: rigorously apply the penalties against abuse and mistreatment

Mame Bousso Samb Diack is Senegalese and also responsible for the NGO partner of the Xaley Foundation in the My Life Project program.

In addition, she was president of the FAWE (Forum of African Women for Education) that deals with the education of girls by offering scholarships for their studies and former national president of women of the Democratic League party, Movement for the Labor Party (LDMPT) .

As if that were not enough, she was elected in two terms as a member of the National Assembly and a member of the Economic Community of African States ECOWAS.

She has now retired from politics to care for the women and girls in her community through training and local development.

Carried out a program to promote girls' reproductive health through ICT.

Active in the feminist movement since 1972, Samb Diack is convinced that the future of developing countries remains linked to sustainable development in which women have a role to play.

The penultimate daughter of a family of eight children, two boys and six girls, she faced the reality of the situation of women, mother and wife very early on.

"I was the victim of stereotypes such as that I had to stay home and take care of my siblings, that at school I could be the victim of attacks, that I would get married early, that I would assume family responsibilities ...", he enumerates.

Despite having a hostile father to state education, her uncles enrolled her after his death.

Having lived through this deprivation of education, like her sisters, she made the decision to become involved in the women's rights movement.

Now, she claims that, although there is well-defined legislation towards the protection of women, it is not applied systematically.

"The penalties against abuse and mistreatment are not rigorously applied, so women feel unprotected," she says.

Likewise, he criticizes the existence of a 2004 law that ensures compulsory education from 6 to 16 years, which is not respected either.

"The absolute parity law approved in May 2010 is not fully applied for access to decision-making bodies despite the progress made at the political level."

And it also refers to the impact of covid-19 on women in your country.

"It has increased poverty, directly affecting their empowerment."

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2021-03-09

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