As part of activities marking Africa's women's day celebrated every 31st July, Dr Tumasang Swiri Foundation organised a conference on the theme "Realising the African woman's human capital growth through social and economic development"
During the conference discussions were geared towards understanding the meaning of human capital growth, the African woman: her potentials, her challenges, factors hindering her economic and social growth and finally some strategies in helping the African woman realise her economic and social development.
The aim was to contribute to the eternal problem of making women autonomous and economically viable in a society characterised by male chauvinism.
The panel was composed of:
1. Moderator and guest speaker : *Dr Mrs Solange Swiri-Tumasang* ( founder and CEO of Dr Tumasang Swiri Foundation)
Subtheme:
what do we understand by women's human capital growth, social development and economic development?
The way forward...
2. Speakers
- *Mrs Nkangot Valérie* ( teacher and business woman ):
Subtheme: Who is an African woman
- *Mrs Griselda Nfor* ( Member of WEDA)
Subtheme : the challenges of the African woman
- *Mrs Ekembe Mirabelle Mbacham* (Co-founder GWAH Cameroon)
Subtheme:
factors hindering her towards attaining economic and social growth and some solutions
It was a wonderful conference. Very interactive and enriching. Much was said about women social and economic growth and some challenges to attain it. Recommendations were made towards realising socioeconomic growth. The women proposed some strategies that could help empower women such as organising training workshops, making access to education open to all, promote gêner equality, stop gender violence, provide basic social amenities, having an entrepreneurial mind and many others. A holistic approach to sustainable development is necessary for women Empowerment especially in a post pandemic world.
Almost 60 participants brought in constructive and innovative strategies and all the contributions were valuable to furthering the cause towards complete autonomisation of the woman.
Some members suggested we do not end on platforms but take the measures down to our communities.
"Gender discriminatory practices have placed the woman at the disadvantaged point for so long. I greatly appreciate Dr Tumasang's initiative in paving a good path for the African woman through this platform. However, advocacy shouldn't stay only in plate forms but each enlightened women should take the bull by the horn and go down on the field to actually help to rewrite a woman's story for her and empower her through awareness talks. Through this means, those in this plate form will become social correspondences and the voice of the voiceless. It will only be by meeting women and talking to them that their social and economic strength in the pursuit of sustainable development will be made visible. These women need to be psychologically and mentally strong in order to give back to their communities in a big way" said Dr Vivian(a participant)
" I think such a day should have been dedicated to those African female warriors who without education, fought wars etc and brought glory to Africa. Why not get back to our own local communities or villages and profile our great grandmothers, grandmothers and even mothers who did great things as African women as well even without having been to school" said another participant
The questions we need to ask ourselves as women are: how do you use your skills(human capital growth) for productivity? How does the skill you benefitted through formal or informal training help you in realising economic and social growth?
In conclusion, we can say that
Women are the guarantors of their destinies. Unleashing their full potential is essential to their self development.
use your skills to make our society productive do not acquire knowledge to be selfish with it. Share your skills with fellow women so they too can come out of the vicious cycle of poverty..
As women, we can join NGOs and share our knowledge, *no woman is empty* you must always have something to share with others.
If you are good at cake making, teach a suffering woman, if your skill is business management, organise a webinar and share your knowledge.
How do you use your skills for productivity?
*Be that woman who makes other women smile and not cry*
*be a woman who uplifts other women and not the one who tramples on others*
Dr Solange Swiri Tumasang
Founder and CEO Dr Tumasang Swiri FOUNDATION and Kids for Kids Cameroon
Call +237654337720
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