TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
takondwa kaliwo - My Blog
takondwa kaliwo - My Blog
« previous 5


Women Empowernment
Related to country: Malawi

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I have been thinking a lot about women empowernment recently. i dont know if this is a new line of thought or there is arleady an excisting line of thought arleady. but i have just been thinking that most gender equality or inequalities eradication campaghns may not be achieving much because they concentrate on the weaknessess of women and girls rather than their strengths. for instance most gender equality campaighns will publicise stories or case studies of how women are abused,violated and/ or denied their rights. am thinking in this way we are revealing or mainstreaming or even maybe justifiying the idea that women are valnurable and prone to abuse. maybe some perpertrators also get some ideas for abusing women from the gender campaighns. i would rather we concentrate on the strenghts of the women and girls. the fact that some women are able to survive though having some difficulties is an idea that has to be explored. how do some women survive? i would like to see more women and girls trained and encapacitied to survive hardships. they have to be prepared to survive in a competitive environment. as much as women specific programmes are required in some special cases; i would rather women and girls are empowered to survive the hardships they may go thrugh in life as women. for exampe in a situation where a girl is forced to drop out some girls will fight till they survive and some girls will resort into prostitution. what makes a woman choose the best way? what makes her survive? i would like much energy about gender equality promotion being ivested in this kind of research: what capabilities, strenghts and skills are required in women to make them skilled and empowered to actively and equally participate in development and profesional activities. i would like us as gender equality advocates to have a proper knowledge on what skills are required to enable women to survive in life and advocate for the mainstreaming of these skills in our education carriculums and society values. all in all i think women have got the potential to survive the abuse they are facing, all they need are the skills and knowledge to realise, seek support and survive the kind of hardships they are going through. as support groups all we need to do is to help the women realise their potential without weakening them further by exposing their weaknsses. we need to research and encourage women empowernment skills.

June 25, 2009 | 7:53 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


girls and equality
Related to country: Malawi

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

i was recently talking to a coleuge about sex, gender equality and the youth in general. somehow the conversation hinged on why are we not achieving gender equality despite all the campaighns? and by just observation it seems that violations and gender inequalities are increasing instead of decrising... and for instance in our country gender and women empowernment activists are shunned and viewed as not good women. during a recent bridal shower i attaended, one of the women activists that was invited to council the bride to be: about home management and curtersy, started with councilling the girl about the need for flowers around the house, how she should behave around her husbads relatives and how she should keep the romane arrive between her and her husband.. i was not too shocked by the piece of advice which seemed to encourage the girl to bee too submissive to the husband but what shocked me to the roots was her final conclunsion which was " my girl, in terms of gender equality: that is for the public! not in your house! leave gender by the door before entering your house. in your house your husband is the boss period!" i literally jumped out of my chair and said "what! you mean all your activism is never praticed in your house?" i dont remember what she replied but i think from that time i realised why we are making so much little impact... the activists themselves are not convienced of what they are propargating for... i mean if you are not completely convienced of what you are advocating for, how can you convience somebody else? i wish all gender activists are properly trainned and exposed to make a lasting impact i salute all you people trainning young girls to be gender advocates and women leaders..... i know the coming generation will have properly trainned and and exposed to deal with gender and women empowernment isses........ special mention to MOREMI INITIATIVE I SALUTE YOU!

June 25, 2009 | 4:42 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


The MILEAD Fellows Program
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Moremi Initiative selects Twenty-five extra-ordinary young African women leaders from private sector, government, academia, media and non-profit sectors as MILEAD Senior Fellows
Moremi Initiative proudly announces the 2009-2010 MILEAD Fellows. The MILEAD Fellows were selected through a highly competitive selection process and criteria, including their outstanding leadership potential and demonstration of commitment to the advancement of women in Africa. The 25 selected fellows represent some of Africa’s most extra-ordinary young women leaders with the courage and commitment to lead/effect change in their communities.
The Fellows The 2009/2010 Fellows representing regional diversity, come from 21 African countries and include emerging young women leaders engaged in actively leading change on critical issues that range from women’s health and HIV/AIDS, economic justice, community development to political participation and environmental justice.


Rosemary Mbeng Agbor (CAMEROON)
Reema Abas Amr (EGYPT/ SUDAN)
Sofiat Makanjoula-Akinola (SWITZERLAND/ NIGERIA)
Rama Salia Dien (FRANCE/ SENEGAL)
Aminata Fall (Guinea)
Honorine Umoti Gasasira (RWANDA)
Takondwa Kaliwo (Malawi)
Mary N Kanoi (KENYA)
Sophia Kokor (GHANA)
Yvonne Larvin (UGANDA)
Fatou Malang (GAMBIA)
Sebabatso Manoeli (USA/LESOTHO)
Huda Mohamed (SOMALIA)
Martha Mutale (CANADA/ZAMBIA)
Chiedza Mutizi (ZIMBABWE)
Muthoni Nduhiu (KENYA)
Charmine Linda Ntuli (SOUTH AFRICA)
Biringanine Julie Nzigire (DRC)
Bello fatima Oluwakemi (NIGERIA)
Haika Harisson Ngowi (TANZANIA)
Daintowon Pay-Bee (LIBERIA)
Annette Quarcoopome (USA/ GHANA)
Sarah Simba Riziki-Neema (DRC)
Chikwanda Vongai (ZIMBABWE)
Oluwaseun Wazari (NIGERIA)
About The MILEAD Fellows Program
The MILEAD Fellows Program is a uniquely designed initiative committed to the long-term leadership development and promotion of Africa’s most promising young women leaders. Fellows go through a yearlong training and mentoring program, designed to build skills, strengthen networks, and support women’s leadership on critical issues. Over the course of a year, selected fellows, progress through three phases that include: Identification and preparation of fellows through leadership development, networking, conferences, mentoring, and training; Promotion of fellows through media coverage and networking; and Support of fellows through career planning, management and access to opportunities and resources. Fellows continue to receive and share life-long solidarity and support through the Alumni Network of the program.

For more information, contact More Initiative: Tel: +233 242 901 222; Email: info@moremiinitiative.org or Visit: www.moremiinitiative.org

June 20, 2009 | 8:31 AM Comments  1 comments

Tags:


MILEAD FELLOW!
Related to country: Malawi

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Moremi Initiative selects Twenty-five extra-ordinary young African women leaders from private sector, government, academia, media and non-profit sectors as MILEAD Senior Fellows
Moremi Initiative proudly announces the 2009-2010 MILEAD Fellows. The MILEAD Fellows were selected through a highly competitive selection process and criteria, including their outstanding leadership potential and demonstration of commitment to the advancement of women in Africa. The 25 selected fellows represent some of Africa’s most extra-ordinary young women leaders with the courage and commitment to lead/effect change in their communities.
The Fellows The 2009/2010 Fellows representing regional diversity, come from 21 African countries and include emerging young women leaders engaged in actively leading change on critical issues that range from women’s health and HIV/AIDS, economic justice, community development to political participation and environmental justice.


Rosemary Mbeng Agbor (CAMEROON)
Reema Abas Amr (EGYPT/ SUDAN)
Sofiat Makanjoula-Akinola (SWITZERLAND/ NIGERIA)
Rama Salia Dien (FRANCE/ SENEGAL)
Aminata Fall (Guinea)
Honorine Umoti Gasasira (RWANDA)
Takondwa Kaliwo (Malawi)
Mary N Kanoi (KENYA)
Sophia Kokor (GHANA)
Yvonne Larvin (UGANDA)
Fatou Malang (GAMBIA)
Sebabatso Manoeli (USA/LESOTHO)
Huda Mohamed (SOMALIA)
Martha Mutale (CANADA/ZAMBIA)
Chiedza Mutizi (ZIMBABWE)
Muthoni Nduhiu (KENYA)
Charmine Linda Ntuli (SOUTH AFRICA)
Biringanine Julie Nzigire (DRC)
Bello fatima Oluwakemi (NIGERIA)
Haika Harisson Ngowi (TANZANIA)
Daintowon Pay-Bee (LIBERIA)
Annette Quarcoopome (USA/ GHANA)
Sarah Simba Riziki-Neema (DRC)
Chikwanda Vongai (ZIMBABWE)
Oluwaseun Wazari (NIGERIA)
About The MILEAD Fellows Program
The MILEAD Fellows Program is a uniquely designed initiative committed to the long-term leadership development and promotion of Africa’s most promising young women leaders. Fellows go through a yearlong training and mentoring program, designed to build skills, strengthen networks, and support women’s leadership on critical issues. Over the course of a year, selected fellows, progress through three phases that include: Identification and preparation of fellows through leadership development, networking, conferences, mentoring, and training; Promotion of fellows through media coverage and networking; and Support of fellows through career planning, management and access to opportunities and resources. Fellows continue to receive and share life-long solidarity and support through the Alumni Network of the program.

For more information, contact More Initiative: Tel: +233 242 901 222; Email: info@moremiinitiative.org or Visit: www.moremiinitiative.org

June 20, 2009 | 8:22 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


youths and freedom of expression
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

youths are especially noted for their exploring nature.
i think by the nature of passing through from childhood to alduthood, youths are at liberty or have the task to explore their boundaries, their responsibilities and their roles within the society.
as such in this exploring manner youths ussually try things that are out of the norm, things out of the ordinary, they ussually try to do things that will make them extra- ordinary.
and that is where the conflict arises.
society expects its members to behave the way everyone should, the way that will not offend someone and the way that is established and maintained by the societies social values.
but by the nature of being youth, you are passing through an era where you are supposed to behave out of the ordinary if you are to discover who you really are: what you belive, what shapes your behavior, what you can and can not do.
and this is where my argument comes in.
to what extent should the youth exercise their freedom of expression?
surely the youth must be at liberty to express themselves through a language that is suitable for themselves
but the challange comes in when they are using a public medium like the radio?
how far can the youth use their own language? their own issues? their own choice of words without offending producers, funders and other listeners?
in programmes intended for the youth.
how far should issues of culture, respect, normality be used for censoring the subject matter or the language used?
for instance in a radio programme aimed at sensitizing the youths about their sexuality.....
what language should be used? that applicable to the youths or for anyone who might be listening to the radio?
what subject matters should be adressed? those affecting the youths or those affecting anyone dealing with the youth?
how should the presenter present the issues? as if adressing the youths or whoever happens to be listening.
the youth are also ussually economically unempowered to launch projects that will carter for their needs, the way they want to be adressed.
in this case how far can the youths be independent of donors, boses, structures and rights?
so following this... how far can the youths practice their freedom of expression?
and how can these limitations shape their behavior and what kind of people they become?
personally i belive that in initiatives intended for the youth: subject matter, mode of presentation and intended outcomes should be left to be decided by the youths themselves. and as much as possible we should let the youths control their own programmes...
when issues of culture and identity are over emphasised in youths initiatives we might end up limiting the growth of our youth and and repressing the new inovations that might come up from their explorations. and this situation might end up making societies to repeat the mistakes they have been made for generations after generations.

April 27, 2009 | 7:26 AM Comments  1 comments

Tags:


« previous 5


takondwa kaliwo's Profile

takondwa kaliwo's Friends


Latest Posts
Women Empowernment
girls and equality
The MILEAD Fellows...
MILEAD FELLOW!
youths and freedom of...

Monthly Archive
May 2008
August 2008
October 2008
November 2008
March 2009
April 2009
June 2009

Change Language


Filter By Type
Travel
Topics

Friends
Dave Matthews
Edward Kankhomba
sahr yillia


7807 views
Important Disclaimer