By Karabo Ntanzi
Woman of Wisdom (WoW), a non-profit organisation (NPO) established in 2010, aims to improve and enrich lives.
“What keeps us going is knowing that we have touched so many lives,” said co-founder, Caroline Sithole.
According to Sithole and Pastor Thandi Tinyiko Dwane the organisation was initially premised on Proverbs 14:1, “A wise woman builds her home.” They wanted women to build homes that are financially, spiritually and psychologically empowered. The organisation has grown and now boasts with “Friends of WoW”, to cater for the male counterpart and the boy child.
They started by hosting workshops and seminars on social ills that women face. The organisation has workshoped women on topics such as parenting, dealing with divorce, different marriage contracts, and dealing with the loss of a loved one, inter alia. In 2016 they organised an exhibition themed “Woman Arise,” for female entrepreneurs.
“There is a funding dependency syndrome in South Africa. You find a woman with a good idea and skills, but they end up abandoning the concept due to lack of funding. You can start something with what you have, funds and support will follow,” said Dwane.
Woman of Wisdom evolved in 2019 when they secured funding through the Extended Public Works Project funded by the Department of Public Works and managed by Industrial Development Trust (IDT).
This opportunity compelled the passionate duo to come up with innovative ideas to create jobs within the communities.
Six hundred participants came on board. They were taught skills and empowered in various programs, including hospitality, administration, recycling, arts and craft, beading, sewing and music. These activities equipped participants with ways on how to sustain their families.
In 2020, WoW collaborated with the Departments of Health and Education. They deployed 800 participants to assist with the screening at clinics, hospitals and schools.
This year, the organisation secured a two-month contract, which enabled 900 participants to feed their families. Programs extended to baking, jewelry designing, gardening and paper mache, a technique of producing accessories from paper. “Participants are always eager to learn. Youngsters were drawn to gardening, starting from preparing the soil, planting, watering and eventually harvesting their crops. Others shared their produce with neighbours and the less fortunate, thus contributing towards food security”, Dwane remarked proudly.
The NPO is starting to yield fruits and other stakeholders are coming on board FP&M Seta offered 20 participants, 17 females and three males, for an accredited sewing course. There is no stipend and participants will receive a Seta accredited certificate at the end of the term. The module covers theory and practicals in designing, drafting, and sewing garments, including costing, and preparing participants to venture into business.
The Solidarity Fund has donated towards Gender-Based Violence programmes; an unchartered territory for the NPO. Woman of Wisdom have qualified Social Workers working voluntarily, assisting with social cohesion and referrals where necessary.
However, it is not always a bed of roses for the partners. Working with a lot of people in such an environment poses its unique challenges. Mostly the cultural diversity, communication barriers, expectations to be paid on a specific date while payment depends on compliance documents and the funder’s availability. “Participants are desperate when the project starts and accept the terms and conditions. When there is a delay with the payment of stipends, they start making allegations and go as far as airing their complaints at radio stations,” Dwane referred to a recent incident.
“We continue to forge forward, through the challenges and accusations because we know beyond a shadow of doubt that we are making a differnce in our communities. We will not stop what we are doing on account of a few rotten apples, concluded Caroline.
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