Celebrating Women: Women Empowering Women through Mentorship and Support

In celebration of Women’s Month this March and the embodiment of communal growth and support, the ParentsAfrica’s Financial Wellness Breakfast event emerged as a poignant example of voices uplifting the ethos of women empowering women. With a rather beautiful and impressive array of speakers and attendees coalesced, it was a sight of the strength found in unity and the grace of mutual upliftment. This was not your average event, this was Women Empowering Women.

It became clear that for you to be empowered and to empower, you must be willing to engage actively within networks designed for mutual support and growth. From building boards of directors for your businesses regardless of size to active participation in events that target women. Women find innovative ways to support each other transcending mere financial assistance. Women’s groups, forums, and collectives have evolved significantly, serving as cornerstone platforms for mentorship, empowerment, and mutual assistance. During Women’s Month, the essence of women supporting each other and creating robust support networks shines particularly bright, highlighting the power of shared knowledge and resources. In the midst of this celebration of Women Empowering Women, a particularly heartening highlight was the involvement of three girls from Starehe Girls’ School. Their participation and the poems they presented became a vivid illustration of the impact of witnessing women empower one another. The poems, rich with themes of strength, resilience, and the collective power of women, not only showcased their burgeoning talent but also mirrored the ethos of the event. For these young minds, the experience was transformative, offering them a lens through which they could view their own potentials and aspirations in a new light.

Engaging in this environment, where empowerment wasn’t just discussed but actively practised, provided these girls with living examples of what women can achieve when they support each other. The themes of their poems—solidarity among women and the unyielding strength it fosters—reflected their own evolving perceptions. This experience likely reshaped their understanding of their place in the world, instilling in them the belief that they, too, are capable of remarkable feats when they lift each other. Witnessing firsthand the power of mentorship, support, and communal growth among women, these students from Starehe Girls’ School could now see themselves as part of a larger narrative of empowered women empowering women, changing their perceptions and possibly charting new paths for their futures.

In these collaborative spaces, women from diverse backgrounds weave together a social fabric built on shared goals and mutual support. Here, women find not only financial growth opportunities but also a venue to share experiences, challenges, and triumphs. This culture of sharing fosters a sense of belonging and support, which is crucial in a society where women often face numerous social and economic barriers.

Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert, in the March 2024 issue of ParentsAfrica, encapsulates this spirit perfectly, saying, “It is only foolish people who won’t light another person’s candle because they think it will dim theirs.” This sentiment underlines the essence of mentorship within these groups, where more experienced members guide newer ones, providing invaluable advice on a range of topics from business and investment to personal growth and family management. Further highlighting this message is Fridah Wawira, celebrated in the feature ‘Celebrating Our Heroes’ in the same issue, reminds us that “empowerment begins with understanding.” This understanding is foundational in creating environments where women feel equipped to pursue their ambitions and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Women for Women

These networks inherently build robust support systems, fostering trust and camaraderie that enable members to support each other in various needs—be it financial, emotional, or social. This safety net ensures that no one has to face life’s challenges alone, highlighting the critical role of empowerment in achieving greater independence and resilience.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, the importance of creating and nurturing support networks cannot be overstated. Through solidarity and shared purpose, women can overcome barriers, achieve their goals, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond. Women supporting women; the message from the breakfast event, serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment, lighting the way for women by women.