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Enjoying the liberties that were brought by my business
I used to be a shy person but the entrepreneurship programme gave me the zeal and courage to be independent. I now have confidence in myself and I am able to work with my own hands. The interaction and networking skills I acquired during the training empowered me and the community now views me differently.
I encountered Gender Links (GL) in 2014 after I was identified by Bulawayo City Council to participate in the entrepreneurship programme. I attended all three phases of the training and my confidence which was lost due to the abuse that I experienced was restored. I was a person of low self esteem but the training changed me and I became a better person who viewed life positively. Since my first day of the training I vowed to work hard so as to better my life and stop depending on my abusive husband.
During the training I learnt how to plan for a viable business. I was equipped with business management skills, marketing and customer care. These relevant skills helped me in setting up my new business and this is how I earned my economic freedom. I stopped depending on the person who was abusing me and he also stopped the bad things he was doing in my life.
Before I met GL I was not involved in any business and the thought of owning a business never crossed my mind. My whole adult life I was focusing on the abuse that I was subjected to. I failed to do anything productive in life because my mind was not free it was always occupied by negative thoughts.
 I started experiencing Gender Based Violence the day I got married to my husband who was very stubborn. He was enjoying having multiple relationships at the expense of my happiness. His behaviour affected me a lot as he would bring women to our matrimonial home and have sex with them. I had nobody to share those horrific incidences with because my parentsâ house was a no go area. My father was believed that once one got married she must never return home no matter how bad the situation might be. He made it a policy never to accept anyone back home.
My husband took advantage of this and he would even leave me for weeks and my children suffered the burden of working in the fields for us to have food on the table. The children had to work extra hard because the fields were our only source of food.
The entrepreneurship programme healed me and restored back my lost life. People from my community were surprised on how I managed to change my attitude towards life. Some benefited important lessons through observing me and they used them to improve their lives. By the year 2030 I will be a millionaire and a well respected business person in society.
Sustaining the Movement: Feminist Fundraising in Uncertain Times. #FeministFunding #HumanRights
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 5, 2025
đ Link to register: https://t.co/FAI4SdgDhg pic.twitter.com/AcY1BKDTCL
đŁAppel Ă candidatures !
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
Le #MarangFund est dĂŠsormais ouvert !#Botswana #Lesotho #Maurice #Madagascar #Namibie
Subventions jusqu'à 50 000⏠disponibles pour soutenir des initiatives LGBTIQ.
Date de clĂ´ture: 30 juin 2025.https://t.co/uuoUTibOh6 pic.twitter.com/I5aH7NRLhg
Call for Applications!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
The #MarangFund is now open! Grants up to âŹ50,000 available to support LGBTIQ-led initiatives in #Botswana #Lesotho #Mauritius #Madagascar #Namibia.
Deadline: 30 June 2025.
Information & Apply: https://t.co/uuoUTibOh6 pic.twitter.com/uWqJc1cPLK
Empowering women, youths & men in @karibamunicipal. Today, Gender Links is supporting entrepreneurs to run successful pay toilet services & market hub through business skills training, market access & financial inclusion. Let us build a thriving local economy. @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/1t6PImGafw
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
âł Closing soon!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 3, 2025
REMINDER: Weâre seeking a top-tier WordPress dev & designer to rebuild a visually striking, user-first Gender Links website.
đď¸ Closing date: 6 June 2025
đ https://t.co/bxYY7vN3VB
@GenderLinks is empowering communities through inclusive local economic development. Today's workshop in @MurewaRdc brought together women, youths & men from the waste management value chain to discuss growth strategies and market access. @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/ZjH8Q9WOiH
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 30, 2025
Day 2 of @GenderLinks workshop in @nortontown is all about empowering local economies. The Fish Farming project is bringing women, men & youths together to drive growth through the Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee. #LocalEconomy @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/s4aFZ81GVo
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 28, 2025
đŁCall for Expressions of Interest!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025
Weâre seeking a WordPress web design & developer, with expertise to rebuild user-friendly, visually compelling and well-organised Gender Links websites.
Deadline: 6 June 2025
Info & submissionđhttps://t.co/bxYY7vN3VB pic.twitter.com/fed7GfyMFl
Gender Links empowers the @nortontown community through aquaculture capacity building. Today, we are strengthening the Norton Fish Farming Cooperative, supporting women, youths, and men in the aquaculture value chain. #localdevelopment @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/27F314RdfP
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025
Gender Links empowers the @nortontown community through aquaculture capacity building. Today, we are strengthening the Norton Fish Farming Cooperative, supporting women, youths, and men in the aquaculture value chain. #localdevelopment @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/27F314RdfP
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025