Some
women make a big difference in a small area, other women make a big difference
on a global stage. Women are making differences all the time in their homes, in
their communities, in their jobs. Women’s lives are different – they speak for
themselves alone and at the same time they can also speak for thousands of voiceless
women who share similar stories.
One
such woman, Ellen Kuzwayo, also known as ‘Ma K’, gave up teaching in 1952 when
she was required to teach her pupils “what appeared to be very poisonous to
their minds” following the introduction of the Bantu education act in South
Africa.
Ellen
Kuzwayo refused to be intimidated by the apartheid system, she found a way to
make a difference as a social worker and campaigner for equality in the
Transvaal. She was also a tireless activist for women’s emancipation. Ellen
Kuzwayo, phenomenal woman, resisted inequality in all forms and she continually
fought for the rights of women in South Africa.
I
celebrate her history because she speaks for thousands of other women as well.
Another
woman whom I admire and want to recognise today is Annie Lennox. She is a
political and social activist, humanitarian as well as a singer, songwriter. Annie
Lennox is renowned for raising awareness of HIV/ AIDS in Africa. Her work
included increasing education and health care for those affected by sickness in
Africa. Annie Lennox worked as an ambassador of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign
where she did her part to raise the global awareness of HIV/Aids, this work was
also enhanced by her performance in two 46664 concerts and by her being a part
of the Make Poverty History Campaign.
In 2011
Annie Lennox was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Inspiration for
Women awards ... and she’s nowhere near finished yet. Annie Lennox is also a
phenomenal woman.
No comments:
Post a Comment