Current Projects
  
Project framework
Women Rebuilding Africa Programme (WRAP)
“Reaching Millennium Development Goals in Africa through Empowerment of women”
“The greatest revolution in any country is the one that affects positively the lives of women’, and
There is no doubt that, if women are encouraged to realise their potential, that it’s not only their life which would be affected but the life and situation of the whole household which is the basic unit of our national economy.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, the father of Mrs Indira Gandi
The Beijing Conference in 1995 stressed the empowerment of women as one of the central development goals of the 21st century. It adopted a Platform for Action which calls for mainstreaming gender perspectives in the design, implementation and monitoring of all policies and programmes, including development programmes.
The Platform for Action commits Countries to design specific programmes and activities in consultation with women's groups and other non governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement the Platform for Action. The Commission on Status of Women urges governments to take all necessary measures to empower women, strengthen women’s economic independence and promote women’s full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Unfortunately, failure to incorporate gender perspectives in the design of macroeconomic policies of governments persists. Ignorance of the role of women in the structure of African households contributes to misunderstanding of women’s roles in economic growth in the world.
Pursuant to the Millennium Declaration of September 2000, governments are committed to promoting gender equity and women’s empowerment to combat poverty, hunger and diseases as well as to stimulate sustainable development. This commitment is a vital part of an effective strategy. Moreover, the World Bank emphasizes the developmental costs of ignoring women and denying them access to key resources. The World Bank urges countries to draft gender action plans.
Still, there has been insufficient political will and sustained commitment to meeting the needs and interests of women.
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2007 suggests that some progress is being made but that the MDGs will be attained only if concerted additional action is taken immediately and sustained until 2015. Many challenges still need to be addressed, including women’s health, poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS. The same report confirms that:
- Over half a million women still die each year from treatable and preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth
- If current trends continue, the target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 Million children
- The number of people dying from AIDS worldwide increased to 2.9 million in 2006
- Half the population of developing world lack basic sanitation. In order to meet the MDG target, an additional 1.6 billion people will need access to improved sanitation. If trends since 1990 continue, the world is likely to miss the target by almost 600 million people.
The above data show clearly that more efforts need to be put in place to fast track the process of reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
In its quest to contribute in the process of African Development, Leading Women of Africa suggests another approach to accelerate progress in attaining the MDGs by 2015.
Promoting LEADERSHIP through reinforcing Unity and Economic Empowerment of women, will play significant role in the achievement of MDGs.
Leading Women of Africa would like to invite UN and its partners, African Governments and other African and International Institutions to partner us as we journey together toward reaching the MDGs by 2015.
All Leading Women of Africa projects will be based on our the main project framework.
- WOMEN REBUILDING AFRICA PROGRAMME (WRAP)
“A leadership and good Governance programme for women of Africa”
Introduction
 “Political changes without fundamental changes in moral and social norms remain temporary victories" Dr Amany Asfour, Egypt
Africa has been characterized by lack of leadership and good governance. With on going political conflicts in many parts of the Continent as well as economic instability, there is a huge need for more women to step in, alongside men and find strategic solutions to various challenges faced by the Continent.
Women Rebuilding Africa Programme (WRAP) is designed to develop the leadership potential of women decision makers in order to unlock peace and stability on the Continent. It is designed to enhance real empowerment for women to understand their leadership role. The programme sets out a powerful leadership experience and transformation in an African perspective.
It is intended that the programme will help to address the current need for more women to access in senior ranks of economic, social, political and public decision-making. This is a global situation affecting governance at local, regional, national and international levels, but in Africa it has been exacerbated by the prolonged period of political instabilities. Women have yet to take their rightful place alongside men in making decisions about the future of Africa.
Why this Women Rebuilding Africa Programme (WRAP)?
This intense, practical and interactive 7-day programme covers the multifaceted dimensions of leadership of women and is designed around four (4) most challenging areas faced in Africa:
- Leadership
- Good Governance
- Conflict resolutions
- Women Economic Empowerment
 “African women from all walks of life have demonstrated capabilities and potentials that extend far beyond domestic and reproductive tasks that must be recognised and adequately tapped to full development efforts”. Her Majesty, S B Molotlegi, Queen Mother of Royal Bafokeng
Much has been said about Leadership. However, much still need to be done to promote true leadership. In Africa specifically, the issue of leadership is increasingly becoming one of the important tools to unlock true sustainable development on the Continent. Are women becoming essential agents to promoting leadership? Who is a leader anyway? A true Leader strives to leave a legacy to the next generation.
There is a leadership quality in every woman. Engaging in the issue of women in leadership will equip women to participate actively in the future of their respective Countries.
 The World Leaders at the 2005 World Summit concluded that good governance is integral to economic growth, the eradication of poverty and hunger, and sustainable development. The views of all oppressed groups, including women, youth and the poor, must be heard and considered by governing bodies because they will be the ones most negatively affected if good governance is not achieved.
In this topic, emphasis is placed on linkage between human rights, public administration and effective and responsible service delivery. The following topics are covered:
- Responsibility and Accountability
- Anti-corruption measures in both public and private sectors
- Ethical Governance (policies and best practices)
Good governance is critically needed in Africa, especially if we are to achieve the UN millennium development goal of halving poverty by 2015.
 Political instability is one of the very serious issues challenging peace and stability of Africa. This module will facilitate the engagement of women in multifaceted dimensions of peace such as forgiveness, reconciliation, tolerance, peace maintenance and peace-building. Women are encouragedto embrace transformational values and promote peaceful co-existence.
Following topics are covered:
- Peace Building
- Process of Reconciliation
- Women Economic Empowerment
 This module is designed to stimulate Leaders to engage into raising the issue of women economic empowerment in their respective Countries to a level of mainstream and mass awareness. It will encourage women to support creations of businesses owned by women. It will also highlight the contribution of women in economic advancement of the Continent.
Objectives
Women Rebuilding Africa programme (WRAP) offers women in leadership across Africa a unique opportunity to acquire some of the most powerful leadership perspectives and practices from various experts and leaders across Africa and beyond. This programme is set to:
- Encourage women to step into their leadership role on the Continent
- Increase awareness for their responsibility and accountability
- Motivate women to play significant role in political conflicts on the Continent
- Encourage women to take their rightful place in the economy of the Continent.
Expected Outcome
This practical programme will encourage participants to engage effectively and efficiently, as leaders, in the process of maintenance of peace and stability as well as economic development of their respective Countries.
Practical Programme
A well-integrated practical programme support is established consisting of 2 day visit to various leadership centre and facilities such as: Parliament, Government offices, Directors of private and public Companies … where candidates can interact with their counterparts in South Africa.
Who can attend?
Women Rebuilding Africa programme (WRAP) is designed for women in leadership in public and private sectors.
- Government Officials
- Business Leaders
- Civil Society Leaders
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, Please contact us!
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- WRAP: Personal and Business Development Programme Women
“Unleashing economic potential of women”
This Leadership programme that was launched in Milnerton area in October has equipped women to take their future in their hands. The programme concluded on 14 November 2008. Of the 25 candidates that started the programme, 15 of them graduated. It was an emotional moment for many as for some of them it was the first real achievement.
To ensure efficient women’s support, Leading Women of Africa is forming a team of area leaders who are equipped to interact with women on an ongoing basis. The role of these area leaders is to assess empowerment needs of women in the area as well as the economic possibilities in that area.
Meet some of our area leaders
  
Charlene Paterson Jenny Williams Nozuko Nxasana
Rugby area leader Brooklyn area leader Du Noon area leader
These dynamic area leaders have wasted no time. They are already engaged in planning major empowerment activities for 2009.
More empowerment programmes are lined up in 2009 for these areas.
Our leadership activities will be expanded to other areas such as Atlantis, Ceres, Malmsbery and Jo Slovo in the first quarter of 2009.
Leading Women of Africa is a Pan-African women platform promoting Leadership and economic empowerment of women. This emerging women forum is positioning itself to monitor the advancement of empowerment of women as set by the Platform for Action designed at the 1995 Beijing Conference.
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- Making a Difference by Taking AIM
By
1000 Can Change the World
Making a difference is what it’s all about!
 Visualize this – an African village woman listening to an inspirational message – her eyes wide open as she “sees” for the first time how her “poverty mentality” has kept her living in squalor… She listens again and again… She feels the power within herself to take steps to change her life.
As this woman feels more inspired, experiencing her own magnificence, she savors life more fully… Now, she’s listening to other messages about caring for her family… and listening even more, she discovers how she how she can market the exquisite baskets she weaves – Wow! She may even be able to sell her beautiful crafts over the Internet together with other women in her village.
You see… being a woman, she has shared these audio messages with her friends, family and others in the village. Each of them has listened to the inspiring, empowering messages several times. As others in the village and neighboring villages see how much energy and enthusiasm these village women have, they want to know how this happened… and the life-enhancing messages spread farther and faster.
How does this happen?? You see… this villager could be one the fortunate women in South Africa (SA) who has access to the Leading Women of Africa’s Women Rebuilding Africa Program (WRAP).
Yes, I am so excited to be working closely with Madelein Mkunu, founder of the LWA. Together, we are pooling our resources to build virtual teams in SA to develop and deliver audio information modules (AIM) to women in SA villages.
Women with expertise in specific areas – mentors – record inspiring, enlightening, empowering presentations on digital audio files. This information is uploaded onto handheld audio players, and the players with AIM are delivered to women in the villages to listen to and to share with others.
Just think of the impact this can have! Think about all the lives that can be enriched, enhanced, improved – Women coming more alive! Embracing life! Being more productive! Feeling good about themselves! Being empowered and empowering others!
This, my dear friends, is my vision and my mission is to make it happen – all over the world! We can take AIM anywhere in the world – desserts, mountains, jungles – Anywhere – anytime! That’s beauty of AIM!
Working together we can create a whole new world for women AND their families AND their communities… all while we save the planet.
Because all of our work is done electronically – virtual teams, digital files, etc… we save so much and get such fantastic results – using minimal resources… environmentally sound and as well as being practical, effective and efficient. What more could we want?
Let’s all work together to make this vision a reality for women everywhere – I invite you to come into your own magnificence and to share your gratitude with other women – your beauty, spirit, wisdom, joy and power. Together, we have the power to create a whole new world.
We can indeed change the world!
- Leading Women of Africa ROUNDTABLE
“Bridging the gap of Communication and Technology for women of Africa through teleconference”
Brief Summary
The Developed World is characterized by increasing and efficient use of technology. Technology has generally improved life and business in all segments and sectors of society. Unfortunately, African continent has not kept pace with technological advancement.
"The information gap is very real and clearly whatever we can do to close it must be encouraged," Manuel told a news conference in Berlin on the UN-backed millennium development goals.
"Any initiative that can leapfrog over traditional means of getting information to people must be encouraged. Information is power and it supports democracy and it supports decision-making."
For centuries, Africans in general and women in particular have been boxed in their under-developed environment and had little information outside their areas. Even though the use of mobile phones is on rise in Africa, the high cost of access is relatively high for women, who make up the majority of the poor in developing countries.
Leading Women of Africa (LWA) introduces Leading Women of Africa ROUNDTABLE using “teleconference” technology as one of the effective means to connect women of Africa (from grassroots level) with each other African as well as global women and allowing them to access vital information that will shape their future.
The use of Communication and technology will allow women to change the level at which they communicate and adopt a new perspective on the world.
Women will still be living locally but can become more aware of what is going on globally. This project represents the beginning of Unity and Economic Empowerment of Women of Africa.
Problem
Many women in Africa are poorly placed to benefit from a knowledge society because they have less access to resources of communication and technology.
While women from other western nations are on par with their male counterparts when it comes to these areas, African women are still a step behind.
Sad it may be, but the average African woman won't know the difference between Aviva and the local rural bank.
That's how much they need to be exposed to modern communication, information and technology.
Project Mission & Objectives
Mission
The mission of this project is to facilitate effective communication for millions of African women that are boxed in the rural areas of the Continent to allow them to exchange information with outside world.
Objectives
It is expected that this project will:
- Facilitate connection and interaction between women of Africa and global women
- Unlock solutions to progressive approach for true women empowerment
- Facilitate Leading Women of Africa Board members regular meetings
- Facilitate linkage of information between rural and urban women
- Expose women at grassroots level to new trends of technology
- Fast Track the technological empowerment of women
- Assist to identify the economic potential of women in the rural areas
- Facilitate education and training for women using technology
Expected results
Between now and 2015 when the millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be assessed, LWA hopes to raise a new generation of women leaders that will be informed on today’s life trends and will be technologically empowered and ready to leave a legacy for the next generation
From the Organization Management point of view, this project will allow advancement of work where finance is a constraint. It will also save on Travel and accommodation expenses for board members to attend monthly meetings in international venues.
COMPUTERS AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY NEEDED
In order to reach women at grassroots level in Africa, we are still in need of computers and Internet connectivity in remote areas of the continent. DONATE A computer today
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FUTURE PROJECTS
- Leading Women of Africa agree with many of an urgent need for an African Women’s Bank if growth has to be achieved in Africa.
SHOULD YOU WISH TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE ABOVE PROJECTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE OFFICE.
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