BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – One Billion Rising is set to open a Savings and Credit Co-operative (SACCO) to empower women financially.
According to One Billion Rising Director Colani Hlatjwako, the lack of financial muscle and ways of making money was amongst the contributing factors to the rising number of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the country.
Hlatjwako said women needed to be empowered to be leaders in their own space and needed a platform where they would apply their skills to improve their economy.
She said this during a training held in Manzini on Wednesday where, through the help of MTN Foundation, a SACCO for women was born. One of the women, who attended the training said she learned a lot and was ready to change her life for better through the knowledge she gained during the three-day long training. While speaking on behalf of MTN Foundation, Evidence Ntshalintshali mentioned that they were committed in assisting the organization and promised to contribute towards the Savings and Co-operative Society.
The organisation’s director said they were focused on producing leaders who would bring change to the nation and business sector.
“Through education and action, we cultivate leaders who rise to break barriers and pave the way for a future of equality and justice for all,” she said.
The training was themed Eswatini feminist transformative Leadership School. The training was attended by 30 young women and women from the community circles established by One Billion Rising and Journey of hope for women and girls Eswatini. This project was implemented in partnership with The African Women Leaders Forum (AWLF).
The training ended with a stakeholders/media briefing on Wednesday morning.
“The aim was to communicate the significance of the transformative feminist leadership training, ensuring that it has a broader impact and creates lasting change. To build solidarity on the advocacy actions that will be carried forward. Also we got to share progress on our work in the community circles,” Hlatjwako concluded.
