Social entrepreneurs. Women uplifting women

Over the years Zimbabwe has seen an increase in women thriving as leaders and passionately paving the way for the next generation of women. Young girls have an opportunity to dream and achieve as they have a pool of role models and mentors to learn from.

By Fadzai Mathabire

This March, as we join the world  in commemorating Women’s day 2021, we are excited to highlight several women who are stepping up and making an effort to lift up young girls in the process. In highlighting and celebrating their work, we aim to inspire young girls  and avail to them knowledge and lessons  from real life experiences of thriving women. 

Patience Mkandawire

She grew up in the rural Nkayi District and faced financial challenges that led her to drop out of school. Thanks to Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) who helped her raise funds to continue,  she is now studying towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology and software engineering. To ensure that more young girls get the same opportunities as she had, Patience is helping girls from Nkayi do the same and to get the education resources they need during the pandemic-induced school closures. According to Patience, (CAMFED) is an NGO that aims to help African women and girls  to accelerate their transition to livelihoods and leadership. You can read more about Patience and CAMFED here. 

Picture adapted from the Zimbabwean

Mildred Moyo

Lighting Bae as some call her, Mildred is a lighting and set designer who doubles in power solutions. She has done well in building her career up from the ground in a male dominated industry. She started her own company, Phenomenal lighting and power solutions which specialises in stage lighting , Solar and Housing Installations and has provided services  to a lot of festivals including  shoko festival. It wasn’t enough for Mildred to make it to the top, she still aims to see more women taking up lighting and power related careers. Check her out on her social media pages @Mildred Moyo and @Phenomenal lighting  and power solutions.

To make this possible she gives free knowledge and skills through masterclasses and practical experiences to young ladies interested in the field.

 

Glanis Changachirere

Glanis Changachaire founded the Institute for Young Women’s Development to promote women’s participation in political spheres. She was inspired to start this initiative after having to fight for a chance to get a good education as a girl child from a poverty-stricken family in rural communal lands of Mashonaland Central Province. More information on how she is doing this can be followed through this link.

Today, her organisation, IYWD is raising political consciousness of ordinary young women by educating them and encouraging them to stand up against injustice and challenge the power structure without fear.

Rumbidzai Chigama

This Zimbabwean model with many titles including Miss Glamour Look International, focuses on inspiring young women through positive changes. She works with pageants in Zimbabwe to ensure that young ladies get to discover their talents and work towards reaching  their full potential. She is also the founder of The fashion hub zw, whose projects bring together fashion lovers while promoting fashion talent and more. Find out more about her from this interview with Pumzi blog.

In Conclusion 

The above are merely just a few of the women working to address issues of gender equity and encouraging equality by increasing opportunities for young girls and women in Zimbabwe. There are many other names maybe with even greater works than these and most udocumented. Every woman has something  to offer and so deserves an opportunity to succeed to their full potential. Celebrate every woman and whenever you can, give her a chance.