Developping Africa One Woman at a Time

Debates during the GES 2015 in Nairobi
Debates during the GES 2015 in Nairobi, July.

I trust you are now firmly back into business after #ObamaHoliday.

When Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, enumerated the following facts (and some more) during the SPARC Advocacy forum in the run up to the #GES2015, she brought into sharp focus the necessity of educating the African woman.

  • The face of poverty in Africa is an 18-year old woman in the rural area without any education or skills.
  • 60% of the poor are women.
  • 70% of women in entrepreneurship are in the informal sector; where majority of them are trapped in non-productive activities.
  • The absence of women in decision making traps women in low productive sectors.

These statistics are evidence that Africa’s development is impossible if women are not educated and empowered with skills as a matter of urgency. During the debates, young women expressed their thirst for knowledge, of learning from successful women – especially from their mistakes and challenges. Women were urged to mentor each other and to make a deliberate choice to bring other women up to their level.

My challenge to you today is to choose a woman to mentor. Just one. The impact an army of mentors uplifting one woman at a time can have on the development of Africa is unbelievable. Let’s do it!
Are you already mentoring someone? Please share your experience here in the comments to encourage others to do the same.

Angela

P.S. The second season of BizzRafiki [http://angelakamanzi.mkazi-magazine.com], my mentorship program for women entrepreneurs is underway. Find the details here. I’m looking forward to working with you. http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=99446a0039a8be92fb0bdc679&id=f45b6210d8&e=f5f9086cd2

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About Angela

Angela Kamanzi is passionate about empowering African women through entrepreneurship. She is the publisher and founding editor of MKAZI, a digital magazine that offers solutions and tools to women who are starting up in business or taking their ventures to the next level. She is the founder of BizzRafiki-Your Friend in Biashara, a mentorship program which specialises in helping budding or aspiring women entrepreneurs start or grow high income business ventures from their passion. For more than ten years she contributed to a number of local and international publications as a freelance writer. She has 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship. She lives in Nairobi with her husband and their two sons. Her journey was featured on Lionesses of Africa, on AM Live NTV , in the Saturday Nation, on Supamamas website and Mummy Tales blog.

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