Legal and rights awareness

The day Chipo Makoni met Gender Links (GL) in 2013 marked the genesis of a violence free life. She was trained to become a successful business woman and be able to compete in a world dominated by men. The skills she attained helped her to stop relying on her husband for survival. Before she met GL she was a victim of a hand to mouth scenario as she lacked the basic knowledge on savings and budgeting. Lack of basic knowledge on how to manage income and expenditure forced her to live like a slave as she was forced to beg from her husband on a daily basis. Whenever she begged him for money he took it as an opportunity to insult or assault her. Her partner viewed her as a useless mother of female children whom he did not have care for.

Lucia Zulu had always been an entrepreneur but had nothing to show for it because there was no remarkable progress as far as the business was concerned. Each time the business generated profits she would spend the money without keeping a capital reserve. Consequently, her business was on and off because, after misusing the funds, she had to go back to square one and borrow capital in order to get back into business. She had no bank account to keep her money safe.

As an existing entrepreneur Jasmin has set an example; she has proved to be a very courageous woman and is making her way in the entrepreneurship field. Jasmin explains that her most memorable experience with Gender Links (GL) was attending the Regional Summit 2015 in Botswana. This was Jasmin’s first ever trip to a foreign country and she has learnt a lot from the other participants at the Summit. Jasmin explains that the summit experience has helped her to grow in her business and in her personal development.

Mildret Mango was referred to Gender Links (GL) by her ward councillor in 2014 and she immediately joined the entrepreneurship programme. She managed to attend two phases of the training but failed to attend the last phase of the training. Her phone was not reachable prior to the workshop and the organisers failed to get hold of her. She found the lesson on the importance of market research and business planning very useful and she immediately put it into practice in her business.

I was very excited and scared to be told that I would be representing my area at the Botswana national summit at Gaborone. I really learnt a lot from the other contestants about issues surrounding abuse and business. I was able to speak in front of a lot of people about my business. I was very impressed with myself for doing this as I never thought I would be able to speak confidently in front of so many people. Even though I did not win, I gained a lot of knowledge from this experience.

I experienced abuse from my partner but I now know much more about abuse and its causes, its signs and ways to prevent it. I am now able to educate other people who do not understand the power of abuse and I explain how I managed to escape abuse by leaving my partner who did not treat me well. I always encourage people from my community to try and see the importance of being a business women. There is one lady from my community who listened and then decided to start her own business. She is selling hot dogs, airtime and sweets. I helped her by providing start-up capital and she paid me back.

I have shared my experiences about gender violence and how it can be overcome with people from my community. I also encouraged people to go and see social workers for guidance and counselling and get professional help. Since most men are perpetrators, I try and sit down with these men to help them to realise that what they are doing is wrong. Again I share the knowledge I got from Gender Links about owning businesses and I inspire women from our community. I have registered myself with many organisations like LIMID and youth organisations, so that they can call me to go to workshops. For instance, LIMID offer courses on poultry, small stock and how to handle livestock.

Zethu was introduced to Gender Links by a friend. “At first I thought it was going to be like any other workshop I had previously attended until we were asked to relate the kind of abuse we had been through.À She was shocked as to what gender based violence has to do with entrepreneurship or starting a business. “I soon learnt that the past has an impact on how someone conducts him or herself in futureÀ. It answered the questions as to why she was easily discouraged when faced with challenges, not just in business but in life generally. She then realised that her past has affected her life immensely. Mbambo is also thankful for the faith she has in Christ as it has helped her stay sober and focused in life. “I am also thankful for my family’s support which made me feel like I belong,À she said

Nathalie is one of the beneficiaries of the entrepreneurship project, led by Gender Links (GL) in the urban council of Mahajanga. Attending the training was very exciting for her: she made new friends and established new relationships, especially during the national summit, and she could foresee new perspectives for her business.

Nathalie started the training in July 2014. She attended every step of the training and all of it was beneficial for her. The most interesting parts were the techniques of entrepreneurship such as book keeping, investigations before deciding to act, etc.

Makabelo Nqaphane was married with three children. She lives in Mapholane in the district of Mokhotlong. She has now separated from her husband after being in an abusive relationship for a very long time. She did not see herself living without her husband as she had always maintained that her life revolved around her husband, until one day when her husband kicked her out of the house with the children. She could not forget that as it was during the night when he came from the shebeen and he was fighting with her and the children

Her name is Matsiu Koali from Ntsupe Council in the district of Qacha’s Nek. She calls herself a very rural and modest woman. After being abused she did not want to be with other people as she assumed that they were talking about her and she hid in her house. Even the councillor who invited her to the GL training worked very hard to convince her, but now she cannot stop smiling when she sees what GL has done for her. She found the training very important as it taught her about self-worth and to detest abuse. It taught her love; to love herself and be confident in any situation. She could not stop talking about the business skills she gained during those training sessions and how they made her business very successful.

Ever since I started attending Gender Links workshops a lot has changed for the better in my life. In the past I had no respect for my mother nor for my children, I was indeed a bad mother but now I have transformed into a better person and a respectful mother. I also respect and care for my mother and my children who are proud for me as their mother. Whenever my mother is sick I take the responsibility to take her to the clinic and do household chores including going to the fields. I am so glad that peace and harmony reigns within my family.