Women told to think big |21 May 2005

The true values of women as beautiful, successful and meaningful beings equal to those of men were highlighted recently in a workshop on women empowerment.

The workshop was organised by the Alliance of Solidarity For the Family (ASFF) in collaboration with Women's Action for Development (WAD) of Namibia, represented by its executive director Veronica De-Klerk and her husband Adolf De-Klerk.
It was held at National House.

WAD, one of the most prominent advocate of women's rights in Namibia has over a decade of experience in working with rural women and believes that in no circumstance should women accept subservient roles in the society and allow their self-esteem to be down-trodden.

"Accept yourselves as you are instead of trying to be someone else.
"Good self-esteem can only come from within," she told the women participants.
"After all, why should you allow yourself to become a copy when you are born an original?" she asked.
"God has created women with wonderful attributes and has blessed us with the gift of caring and giving birth to the new generation of humankind,” she said.

Women, Mrs De-Klerk said, have the ability to hold on to professional jobs and be an attentive and caring partners and loving mothers at the same time.

Pointing out that in Africa women are marginalised, bonded by traditions and in general have accepted to be lesser beings that men, Mrs De-Klerk launched an appeal for women "to rise from their cooking pots" and use their influence and talent to make a difference in their lives.

Though she was disappointed to note that very few women occupy key positions in the country, for instance at political level, Mrs De-Klerk said she was happy to see that girls here  enjoyed the same education as boys, and that they were even performing better.

While women in the country enjoy more freedom than their counterparts in African countries, Mrs De-Klerk said they need to further develop their self-reliance, for them to depend less on the system.

Agriculture is one area where she said she has noted very few women participating in..
But Mrs Rosemary Elizabeth, the executive director of ASFF has given her assurance that Seychellois women are changing for the better and are leading in certain economic activities, for example in the growth of newly-launched cottage industries in the country.