Macuba Council

"I would like to thank Gender Links for the work that has been done in empowering women with business skills, not only in Mandlakazi, but also in other councils. Although I recognise what GL has done and is still doing, I encourage GL to extend the programme for more councils because, based on my experience, there are many women out there who need to be trained in order to grow socially and economically. GL should continue training, monitoring and evaluating as it is doing now to see and listen to the changes happening in women's lives''.

The leader was workshoped on gender action plan and centre of Excellence. She then while working for Sowa Township, encouraged the council to have a gender committee which she formed thereafter and workshopped on the COE process. She then prepared to present on the category of Economic empowerment at the national and regional in 2010. She then never stopped and went on to unveil the gender mainstreaming curtains in Chobe District where she baptized the committee and gave them all authority to plan and execute their activities. In 2012 Mrs Jeremia exhumed the long buried gender action plan of Chobe District Council, formed the now active gender committee and helped them stand on their feet to understand all that there is about gender mainstreaming in the COE. She saw them through the 2012 summit locally and regionally which they have since excelled, not only in the COE process but as well as other categories which they have shown to also excel on with the Champion pioneering it.

In my job, I have come up with development structures that will help improve life in my community. A gender task team has been formed that shows us all the way to go when it comes to gender issues. Being able to interact with everyone really helps me align everything in the right direction. This is an advantage that came from GL's involvement in the community; it really showed us the importance of bringing everyone together to make collective progress on an issue.