By Angeline Mikiri
Masvingo City will this November hold a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Summit on the 30th of November 2018. WED was launched in Zimbabwe in 2015 in Harare and its Global Founding Ambassador is Natalie Jabangwe the Ecocash Chief Executive Officer.
In 2015 prominent women like Mrs Devine Ndlukula The Founder of Securico, Rudo Boka, Beatrice Mutetwa amongst other women were guest speakers at this inaugural event. Since then the movement has grown in leaps and bound. Because of the passion I have in as far as women empowerment is concerned I became the second global Ambassador in 2016.
Since then WED Zimbabwe has embarked on some women Empowerment projects, among the soap making and detergent making projects where we have partnered with Masvingo Polytechnic in training women. On the celebration we will see women entrepreneurs being awarded their certificates. Because of this project these women are now making their detergence for sale. In the Rural district of Zvimba in Chirau.
WED Zimbabwe has embarked on the goat project, where women have embarked on a goat rearing project, there by empowering women. Women Entrepreneurship Day was launched in New York by a lady called Wendy Diamond. The first event convened on November 19th, 2014 at the United Nations in New York City. It included a conference, speakers, and the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Awards.
An Education Philanthropy Pioneer Award was given to President Obama’s grandmother, Mama Sarah Obama, for her work in bringing gender equality to education in Kenya.Today WED is celebrated in more than 144 countries in the across the world including Zimbabwe. Some of the African countries are South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Ghana, Senegal,Botswana, Zambia among others. A MOVEMENT TO EMPOWER, CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT WOMEN IN BUSINESS. The WED mission is to empower the 4 billion women across the globe to be catalysts of change, and uplift the 250 million girls living in poverty globally. In addition to the mission of empowerment, WED is committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who can amplify our message of expanding businesses with social-good initiatives in communities around the world.
This years WED has lined up panel of high profiled speakers of various corporates heads and business personalities. Amongst other speakers are Mrs Sinikiwe Gwatidzo, the Registrar at Great Zimbabwe University, Vongai Makamure Nduna, a Communication Expert, among other high profiled speakers. I am inviting women leaders, business women, aspiring entrepreneurs, business men and all those who support women empowerment. The Minister of State for Masvingo Province Hon Ezra Chadzamira will proclaim WED and it’s opportunity not be missed as he will articulate how the Government;s in as far as women empowerment is concerned. With also the special emphasis on the major projects like the Tokwe Mukosi and the dualisation of Harare Beitbridge, how women can also take part in such major projects.
With a variety of days dedicated to various causes, one might ask – Why does the world need a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day? Consider then, that women perform 66% of the world’s work, yet earn 10% of the world’s income. At the same time, they account for 85% of consumer purchases and control $20 trillion in worldwide spending. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is generating a movement that carries throughout the year in support of women in business globally. WED ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide. The flagship UN event is live-streamed and celebrated in 144 countries and 110 universities and colleges celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day internationally reaching over 1.4 million people.
WED is a once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with some of the most distinguished entrepreneurs and Rub shoulders with our influential audience, including Change Makers, Social Entrepreneurs, Philanthropists, Executives, , Heads of International Organizations, Leaders, CEOs, Celebrities,
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is a great occasion to make life-changing connections, participate in the largest celebration for women in business, learn from the greatest, brightest and most kind-hearted minds and be a part of a larger discussion to empower women!
Women currently make up less than 4.2% of Fortune 500 CEOs in the United States
- According to a 2013 business survey, in the U.S. alone, there are approximately 8.6 million female-owned businesses, with $1.3 trillion in revenue, employing 7.8 million people.
- Women-owned businesses are set to grow 90% over the next 5 years, with 500,000 new businesses in the U.S. alone each year!
- Chocolate chip cookies, computer code, Kevlar (the bullet-proof material for protective vests, etc.) and the windshield wiper all have something special in common: THEY WERE INVENTED BY WOMEN!
- An educated woman is one of the single most powerful forces for change on this planet. Economists have discovered that “the girl effect” occurs when you empower a young girl with a long-term education, she devotes 90% of her greater earning potential back to her family, the education of her children, and building her local community, which elevates her family from poverty and changes her world.
- Women have a 97% repayment rate for micro-loans which make them ideal candidates for starting small businesses.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone who loves to support and celebrate extraordinary women leaders and establish a global support network should join us! Whether you just graduated college or you have a passion for making a difference in the world you should be a part of this movement!
Do you empower women and inspire girls? Do you support women-led or owned business? If you answered YES to either of those questions, then you should definitely attend Women’s Entrepreneurship Day! It’s a magnificent opportunity for both men and women to get inspired and celebrate the wonderful world of entrepreneurship