GL grieves & celebrates the life of Sarry Xoagus-Eises

Windhoek 14 November: Gender Links learned with deep sadness yesterday of the passing away of our flamboyant, irrepressible and much loved Namibia country manager Sarry Xoagus-Eisis following a short visit to Karibib.

A veteran journalist, South West Africa Peoples Organisation (SWAPO) freedom fighter, tireless campaigner for the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and gender activist, Sarry’s giant footprints will live on.

“As the Gender Links family we are in shock,” said GL Chair Emily Brown, who is also Head of Department / Senior Lecturer Communication Namibia University of Science and Technology. “Sarry was synonymous with gender and the media, gender and local government, Gender Links in Namibia. It is hard to imagine our work here without her.”

“Stalwarts earn their spurs,” added GL CEO and long- time colleague Colleen Lowe Morna. “It would be hard to find a more loyal, more hard working, more devoted foot soldier than Sarry. In decades of service to women’s rights, she traversed Namibia and Southern Africa, making the case with vigour and with humour, a voice not to be ignored.”

Founder of the Namibia chapter of Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA), Sarry joined Gender Links in July 2009 as the Gender Justice and Local Government facilitator in Namibia. Her gender research experience includes the media monitoring project in 2006, the HIV and AIDS baseline study in Namibia as well as being the coordinator of the research on the representation and participation of women in Local Government titled At the Coalface, Gender and Local Government in Southern Africa.

Under her stewardship, 36 Councils in Namibia became Centres of Excellence for Gender in Local Government. The Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, which hosts the Southern Africa Broadcasting Association (SABA) has become a champion for gender in the media.

In her Learning Journey at Gender Links, Sarry wrote:

“Some journeys are planned, others happen at short notice and many happen unexpectedly. Mine is not an ordinary journey from Windhoek to Johannesburg. It is journey of capacity building, of acquiring more knowledge and that of challenging certain gender roles. A journey is taken to arrive at a designated destination. I use this journey as a learning curve.

Positions at GL go with huge responsibilities and accountability. Failure in the duty assigned is not negotiable. When I was promoted to the position of country manager, I knew my responsibilities were going to be huge. But when I was promoted, I was involved in a tragic car accident. I thought my dreams were shattered. I am not 100 per cent healed, but I am keeping my head above water. I soon returned on my exciting journey– a journey of wanting to achieve wonders.

Mistakes are learning curves. It gives us time and space to rectify the wrongs. Mistakes are bound to happen but how they happen needs to be carefully addressed. I made mistakes but I have always had plan B in place.

Peer learning has been an asset along my journey. Their constructive criticism has contributed to my personal growth. To be IT literate is key. Being connected to all social networks is empowering and one of the most important skills I have gained during my time at GL. Learning is not a short cut process; it is a journey to arrive safely at your destination. Nobody is too old to study.

The recent human resource training we had in South Africa at GL HQ has opened my eyes. I can now plan better, delegate, impart knowledge and create enough space and time to concentrate on my personal life.

Let us make GL the home we all cherish. Let us make GL one of the greatest NGOs locally, regionally and globally. Let us make GL visible in its totality, be it with the donor community, government, UN Agencies or all those who want to be associated with GL.

I rest my case here!”

Gender Links will honour Sarry in January 2018 by renaming its Pools View Conference Room the Sarry Xoagus-Esis Conference Centre.

May her soul rest in eternal peace.

We grieve and we celebrate.

Download the booklet dedicated to the memory of Sarry Xoagus-Eises