THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014 LEADERSHIP ‘Advocating for Young Female Role Modelling in Leadership’ Namibia- Keetmanshoop April 2014 Nythen Dien 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SYNOPSIS MY MOTHER IS MY ROLE MODEL…RAISED BY A SINGLE FEMALE PARENT, GUIDED BY HER SKILLFUL HANDS, GROOMED BY HER SOFT HEART, DISCIPLINED BY HER UPRIGHT CHARACTER AND RAISED WITH HER GODLY VISION, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM BORN A LEADER BECAUSE OF A WOMAN. SHE MADE ME REALIZE ONLY ONE THING AND THAT IS THAT IS THAT EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP. AS YOUNG MAN, I HAVE NOT BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND LEADERSHIP AT SCHOOL OR ON MEDIA, I BEGAN TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND LEADERSHIP FROM MY MOTHER. A WOMAN WHO LED HERSELF, HER CHILDREN, HER FAMILY AND SOCIETY AND TODAY IS THE BACKBONE OF GROWTH FOR HER NATION. HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL NOT PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE PECULIAR IMPORTANCE OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP AND THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE TO START WITH FEMALE LEADERSHIP ADVOCACY AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. I HAVE ADOPT YOUNG FEMALE ROLE MODELS IN LEADERSHIP AS ONE OF MY MAIN FOCUS ADVOCATING EQUAL REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING IN ALL AREAS ESPECIALLY IN PREPARATION FOR FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN THE SADC REGION. MY CASE STUDY SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTS TWO YOUNG PHENOMENAL FEMALE ROLE MODELS IN THE LEADERSHIP ARENA.

ADVOCATING FOR YOUNG FEMALE ROLE MODELLING IN LEADERSHIP’ ZELDA NATACHA HAKSKEENELAIN BOOIS

OBJECTIVES TO MOBILIZE YOUNG FEMALES TO BECOME ACTIVE AND ENGAGED CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING PARTICIPATION AND IDENTIFYING EXISTING SUPPORT SYSTEMS, RESOURCE AND OPPORTUNITIES TOO DO SO. WORK WITH YOUNG WOMEN TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP, CAPACITY BUILDING, INCOME GENERATION, AND INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. ADVOCATE FOR ROLE MODELLING IN YOUNG FEMALE LEADERSHIP MENTOR, INSPIRE AND CREATE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION TO PPROMOTE EQUAL REPRESETATION AND PARTICIPATION IN DECISION- MAKING IN ALL AREAS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

BACKGROUND 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Currently young women are not encouraged, equipped and exposed into Leadership positions. Through Advocating Young Female Role Modelling in Leadership, I am adamant to change the status quo in my sphere of influence by using my skills, influence and time to help young females rise to their full potential and create a cycle of continues inspiration of role modelling amongst them and those around them I am a woman of yesterday, today and tomorrow. I am an active agent of change. I represent hope where there is none or little. I am a Pillar of Strength, Courage and Wisdom. I am not simply a woman because of my gender, but rather because of my innate ability to cope and keep my head up in a time of adversity, my exceptional ability to love and be loved, a selfless community builder and leader and...the cradle of the whole nation.

KEY ACTIVITIES MY TARGET IS SCHOOL GOING AS WELL AS OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUNG WOMEN. CREATE SUCCESS STORIES OF YOUNG FEMALE ROLE MODELS IN LEADERSHIP HAVING MOTIVATION AND INFORMATION SESSIONS EVERY MONTH ESTABLISH PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS CAREER GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT CYBER DIALOGUES SPORTS ACTIVITIES EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES ESTABLISHING YOUNG WOMEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Amount local currency (specify) Amount in Rand Gender specific allocation Gender in mainstream projects (please specify) N$ Trainings N$ 4000 Exchanges N$ 6000 Amount contributed in cash or in kind by partner organisations (please specify) N$ 2500 Transport N$ 2500 TOTAL N$

CHALLENGES SUPPORT FROM ELDERLY LEADERS SLIP-UP AND STEREOTYPE OF YOUNG FEMALE LEADERS IN SOCIETY TRADITIONAL NORMS AND BELIEVES 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESULTS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: THESE TO WOMEN ARE BOLD TO TESTIFY THAT THEY ARE NEITHER THE WEAKEST NOR THE SMALLEST, BUT THE TOUGHEST AND THE LONGEST LASTING. THEY ARE NOT THE MOST POPULARLY KNOWN BUT THE MOST RELIABLE. THEY ARE NOT THE RICHEST BUT THE MOST SELF-SUSTAINED. THEY ARE NOT A THREAT, BUT A CATALYST AND AN ACTIVE AGENT OF CHANGE. THEY WILL NOT BE SILENCED, THEY WILL EXERCISE THEIR EQUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS….THEY WILL CHALLENGE THE STATUS- QUO. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

DEPUTY JUNIOR MAYOR-KEETMANSHOOP JUNIOR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HON ZELDA NATACHA HAKSKEEN GRADUATE OF THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE- TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRADUATE FROM THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AWARD WINNER AT THE GENDER LINKS NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SUMMIT IN THE CATEGORIES OF LEADERSHIP AND RADIO-MEDIA

MISS ELAIN BOOIS- YOUTH ACTIVIST PARTICIPANT OF THE NATIONAL YOUNG WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION- //KHARAS REGION GRADUATE OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME YOUTH LEADER AT HER CHURCH

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION I’VE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE CANNOT WORK IN ISOLATION. HOW ARE THESE BEING APPLIED? 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING EVALUATION ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION OUTREACHESLOBBYING STRATEGY RESEARCHPLAN 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

NEXT STEPS ENCOURAGE THE ELDERLY LEADERS IN SUPPORTING THE JUNIOR COUNCIL TOGETHER WITH ALL RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG FEMALE ROLE MODELS IN LEADERSHIP CHANNEL MORE ENERGIES AND RESOURCE TO COME UP WITH SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVITIES THAT CAN TRANSFORM AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF MANY YOUNG WOMEN. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SUCH AS THE YOUNG WOMEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME FEMALE LEADERSHIP CAMPS OUTREACHES AS STARTED ALREADY 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA