• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
  • Manage Subscriptions
Sunday, September 24, 2023
TechEconomy
Advertisement
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV
No Result
View All Result
Techeconomy
No Result
View All Result

Home » The Health and Well-Being of Women in Our Poorest Communities

The Health and Well-Being of Women in Our Poorest Communities

Techeconomy by Techeconomy
August 16, 2022
in News
0
Sifax
Advertisements

On the 9th of August 1956, between 10,000 and 20,000 women marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria in protest against the extension of the Pass Laws to include women. 

In commemoration, 9 August is celebrated as Women’s Day and the month of August was declared Women’s Month by the South African government.

RelatedPosts

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

September 23, 2023

LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja  

September 22, 2023

But what has become of the legacy those women fought for 66 years later, especially in terms of their health and well-being? First, let’s look at the current overall current situation in South Africa.

The Lives of South African Women Today

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) of the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2021 there are still many challenges South Africa faces if they hope to achieve gender equality by 2030. 

From under representation in managerial positions, large pay gaps compared to male counterparts in similar work, larger numbers of unemployed women, especially among black women, more women being discouraged from the labour market than men, greater familial responsibilities, teen pregnancies, gender-based violence to greater vulnerability to hunger.

Supporting and Empowering Women of South Africa

All these factors take a heavy toll on the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of women – especially those in impoverished communities.

We spoke to two women affecting real change in the lives of women in these communities in their respective roles at The Love Trust: Charmaine Gola, Director of Fundraising, and Mabel Sikhakhane, Acting Principal at Nokuphila Primary School.

The roles of women

To understand the bigger impact these factors have on communities and society, we first need to get a better understanding of the various roles in their homes, communities, and society at large.

For Sikhakhane, women are the yardsticks by which their communities are measured: they hold the sword by the blade. Even when unemployed and illiterate themselves, women are the ones who ensure that their children are fed, clean, clothed, educated, and have a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in.

In her experience, they are the ones that attend the parent meetings, join the parent workshops, respond to the teachers’ letters regarding their children’s behaviour and are supportive of their children’s education.

Women care about education, though they may be poor, they believe that education is what will remove them from their current living conditions. For Sikhakane women are their community builders and community activists. 

According to Gola, women in these communities are the agents of growth and development. They play a critical role in the achievement of social and economic changes in their homes and at times in their communities.

To put this in perspective, close to a third (30,1%) of all people who had jobs in the 2nd quarter of 2021 were employed in Elementary and Domestic work occupations (which again were predominantly held by women). 

Buying piece of mind

Now imagine that nearly half of the country’s workforce is suddenly facing unemployment because they largely accounted for the Elementary and Domestic work which came to a screeching halt during the pandemic.

This is a stark illustration of how income and access to basic necessities have a huge impact on the responsibilities that women in poorer communities take on compared to their more affluent counterparts.

Women in these communities do not have the ‘luxury’ to put themselves first, says Gola, because there are always more pressing issues.

This would mean they hardly allocate time for their mental health issues or even their physical wellbeing often times a reactive approach to their health than a proactive one because of the lack of resources, including time.

If you have to choose between taking a day off work to sit at the local clinic and not getting paid for that day, then many would choose to ignore the health issue and go to work instead.

For Sikhakhane the obvious difference is that most women in affluent communities are employed, educated and professionals in their fields.

Their husbands are employed, are professionals, and together they are able to take care of their families: they live in proper houses (not shacks) with running water, electricity, and internet and the children go to good schools.

Even as single parents, mothers who are working professionals are able to take care of their families. As a by-product of their income, Sikhakhane also points out that women in affluent communities face fewer challenges because of the access to resources and support it affords them.

Doing More Despite Having Less

Yet, despite their hardships and the toll it has on them, Sikhakhane shared examples of great generosity shown by women in these communities.

One example she shared was of a woman who opened an informal soup kitchen and who packed lunches for the child-headed family next door.

The woman was a cleaner but because she earned more than those around her she decided to share what she had.

For Gola, this generosity and spirit of volunteering are less of a choice and more of a necessity: people grow despondent waiting for opportunities of change to come their way. They, therefore, decide instead of waiting to rather stand up and do something themselves. 

Helping Hand

To make sure the women in their communities stay strong The Love Trust understands the importance of nurturing the health and well-being of the women and mothers in their reach.

They achieve this by providing moral psychological support workshops as well as sending weekly parcels of vegetables home with the children (they have a rotating roster). They also have a list of families in need to whom they send monthly grocery packs. 

In closing, Gola had the following she wished to share with the women of South Africa: We honour you; we see you; we appreciate you!

I pay tribute to all the women of this country who have and continue to stand up against an unjust society, paving the way for the economic equality of future generations.

Advertisements
innovation
AIT
Advertisements
Tags: cleanclothededucatedfedThe Love Trust
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

How Nigeria will Benefit from UK’s New Trading Scheme ‘DCTS’

Next Post

Google Invests Part of its $50m African Investment Fund in eLogistics Company Lori Systems

Techeconomy

Techeconomy

Related Posts

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA
News

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

by Techeconomy
September 23, 2023
0

The Harvard Club New York played host to a landmark event, the Human Capital Africa (HCA) Roundtable on the learning...

Read more
LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja

LG Electronics Donates Healthcare Equipment to FMC Abuja  

September 22, 2023
Africa-America Institute

Africa-America Institute Honours MTN Group for Helping in Africa’s Digital Transformation

September 21, 2023
Babajide Sanwo-Olu Bursary

Sanwo-Olu Approves N375.4m Bursary for Lagos Indigenes

September 21, 2023
HP Work Relationship Index

Majority of People Worldwide Have Unhealthy Relationship with Work – HP Work Relationship Index Shows

September 20, 2023
President Tinubu’s Address at the 78th UNGA

President Tinubu’s Address at the 78th UNGA

September 20, 2023
Next Post

Google Invests Part of its $50m African Investment Fund in eLogistics Company Lori Systems

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertisements
Ad 15
Insurance Meet Tech
Advertisements
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
​Sodiq Tijani Toju Africa

Meet Sodiq Tijani, a Product Expert and Entrepreneur Banking the Unbanked

March 2, 2023
Product Led vs Sales Led Business Models

Product Led vs Sales Led Business Models: What Startups Should Know

January 10, 2023
Samsung Galayx A04e - Cheapest Samsung Phones in 2023

Cheapest Samsung Phones in 2023

September 11, 2023
Sodiq Tijani Youcloudpay

How Sodiq Tijani is Empowering African SMEs for Economic Growth

February 9, 2022
Google Cybersecurity Scholarship

Google Recognizes Shortage of Cybersecurity Experts in Africa, Announces Scholarships

22

Ad Dynamo Has Eyes on Nigeria – CEO

19

Digital Marketing in Africa: Bringing Much-Needed Skills to Nigeria’s Youth

16

Ad Dynamo by Aleph Group Launches free Digital Academy

14
QoS - Drop Call Rate among MTN Airtel 9mobile and Glo

QoS: Drop Calls Rates for MTN | Glo | Airtel | 9Mobile by Enextgen

September 23, 2023
Emirates aircraft

Emirates to Scale up London Heathrow Flights from October

September 23, 2023
Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of Human Capital Africa at UNGA

Note from the Human Capital Africa Foundational Learning Roundtable at UNGA

September 23, 2023
NCC Talent Hunt through Hackathon

NCC Extends Submission of Application for Hackathon to September 30

September 23, 2023

Follow Us

APPLY

NCC Talent Hunt through Hackathon
Apply

NCC Extends Submission of Application for Hackathon to September 30

by Admin
September 23, 2023
0

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has extended the deadline for submission of applications and entries into the 2023 Talent Hunt...

Read more

WomenPreneurs

Hiring in South Africa by Jessica Hawkey redAcademy
WomenPreneurs

Women in Business: Q&A with Jessica Hawkey, Founder & MD of redAcademy

by Techeconomy
August 22, 2023
0

"Jessica Hawkey is the Managing Director of redAcademy"

Read more

BusinesSENSE For SMEs

Managing Difficult Customer
BusinesSENSE For SMEs

Five Keys to Managing Difficult Customers

by Techeconomy
August 23, 2023
0

You will at one point in your business be confronted with dealing with difficult customers. So, mastering the right strategies...

Read more
  • About Us
  • Career
  • Contact Us
  • Policy

© 2023 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
      • Phones
      • Apps
      • Gadgets and Appliances
      • Accessories
      • Laptop
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
      • Broadband
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Commerce
    • StartUPs
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • Appointment
    • EventDIARY
    • Partners
    • Editorial
  • Podcast
  • TECHECONOMY TV

© 2023 Techeconomy - Designed by Opimedia.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.