Frequently, the gritty, unpretty side of motherhood is overlooked. I want women to know that they have the right to question at every stage of motherhood, that they have a voice and that it deserves to be heard. The less isolated we feel, the more we can harness strength in unity and empowering each other.
I’ve experienced and learned a lot in the last few years of mothering that prompted my interest in care, social reproduction and matrescence.
To be a Mamandla Fellow to me means that, I am able to lift up the banner and stand firm on the wings of change, to be part of a transformation that enables me to embrace my uniqueness . I am able to share space and thoughts with women who are driven by the same conviction of driving towards becoming a collective voice for those misunderstood or unheard. Mamandla Fellow programme is an enabler to become, to be equipped to stand for what I needed most in crucial times in my life as a young mother.
Being a Mamandla fellow as a health professional means an opportunity to bridge the gap between clinician and patient, to be part of the solution and not the problem. It’s an opportunity to not only hold a space for them but to learn how to advocate for a better future.
I’m a speaker and always focused on making sure we have what we need in this life.
I have contributed to holding the South African government accountable for this inhuman practice, from the National DoH to Section 19 organizations such as the Commission for Gender Equity and the office of the Public Protector.
Being selected as a Mamandla Fellow/Alumni holds profound significance for me. It signifies an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals, nurture my leadership abilities, and make a meaningful impact in the field of motherhood support and advocacy. I am thrilled to join a community that shares my unwavering passion for empowering mothers and driving positive change in the lives of families.
I am hoping to connect with like-minded women to grow and shift society norms to a mother-centric approach. I am feeling excited to come together with other women who favour this model of community and women-led empowerment!
As a mother myself I think it’s a responsibility of every mom to share love and support to those in need. To be a Mamandla Fellow, I want to continue learning and gaining more wisdom from other women to make a different in my community. I want to share many universal experiences and, most importantly, to make every woman to rise by lifting each other.
Being a member of Mamandla means now I can get to meet other women with whom minds put together we can change the whole perception of a mother and empower mothers so that they become self sufficient and have access to arms/means that can propel them to reach their optimum.