It is said the story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. However, this is a tale that remains undermined as women the world over still fear the open plains of an enlightened world leaving the struggle to but a handful of women who dare change the status quo. New Era Newspaper journalist Jemima Beukes spoke to some of these women who want change.
NE: Who is Annelien van Wyk (AVW)?
AVW: “My natural response to this question would be to highlight my historical background, academic achievements, personal interests and life experiences, but then I realize I would not answer your question. Honestly, I still have to find the true essence of who I am, my authentic self. I have so many roles I play and so many external and situational things that are intertwined in my personality and character with which I associate myself that I so often confuse myself that these are actually what define me, which in essence is not who I am. The only time I feel authentically me is when I think, when I get lost in my thoughts, lose track of time, so therefore I would say I’m a deep thinker, a dreamer, compassionate, extremely modest and humble, caring, enormously playful, creative, nurturing, loving, generous, addicted to laughter, giving, disciplined, strong-willed and extremely stubborn. I am a very positive, enthusiastic and optimistic person who is not afraid of making mistakes and taking the blame therefore. Furthermore, I’m extremely flawed, imperfect and don’t believe the world is supposed to be perfect.”
NE: What inspires you?
AVW: “Independent thinkers, hardworking, positive, rebellious people inspire me. In fact, they fascinate me. I’m easily drawn to hardworking people with a sense of purpose. People that challenge the status quo and refuse to conform to societal norms. I think societal norms are a way to control us, they mess with our minds and limit our actions, particularly that of women to the advantage of men. People that dare to be different, think different and act different are my biggest inspiration.”
NE: Who are your female heroes, and why?
AVW: “My mom, she is a strong woman who makes things happen. She doesn’t wait for circumstances to become right, she makes circumstances right. My mom is a woman with a strong will and inherent influencing skills which she uses to get what she wants.”
NE: How did you get involved with youth?
AVW: “Through the National Youth Council when Phanuel Kaapama was secretary general of the institution many years ago. They came to the //Karas Region and I found myself elected as Chairperson of the //Karas Regional Youth Forum. I got elected to the National Youth Council Executive Committee, served two terms, from 1997 to 2005. Thereafter I was appointed as National Youth Service Board member, served as deputy chairperson for two terms, from 2006 until 2012. I couldn’t understand why I found myself in these positions because I’m not a talker, and these are positions for expressive people, I’m usually the quiet one in meetings, I like observing and learning in a very quiet way. Through these experiences I gained incalculable wisdom and will never exchange it for anything else. It enlightened me entirely and I gained so many life-long lessons that I can share with young people. I’m currently employed by the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture as Head of Centre at the Keetmanshoop Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Centre.”
NE: It is obvious that youth development is your great passion, why youth?
AVW: “ To me it’s more purpose than passion. However, I’m particularly passionate about my purpose. The reason I choose youth is because I’m inherently rebellious like most young people. I can easily relate to young people and their attitudes.
“Many of us, the leaders of today, pretend as if we’ve never been young, always looking down on the youth and criticising them all the time. Talking about youth as leaders of tomorrow, young people are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders today, they are in leadership positions today, they are responsible for the peace and stability of this beautiful country, today, not tomorrow.
“Our young people don’t need critics, they need role-models. We expect our youth to be angels, which we’ve never been and still are not. We expect to walk our talk but we don’t. They learn as they see. You can’t tell a youth to do as you say and don’t do as you do, it simply does not make sense. Doing that is undermining their intelligence on a very serious level, which make them hostile, aggravated and more rebellious. I’ve realised that youth work is no more about numbers and volumes. How many young people were present at a particular activity or event? It’s about individuality, about changing at least one young person’s life for the better and trust me, there is nothing more fulfilling than helping them to find their purpose and fulfil their potential to become the best that they can be.
“Youth work is about crafting an all-encompassing environment where discussions are sparked that encourage the young people to think for themselves and be challenged, where we see the young people as individuals without the labelling and understand that they come from different backgrounds and circumstances. A place where they are accepted for who they are and where they come from, without judgment. Where they can grow into responsible and proud citizens and just be themselves. It is an honour to serve and a real privilege to work with them.”
NE: What makes you tick?
AVW: “Challenges makes me tick. It forces you to a place where you have to discover your potential which otherwise you would not have been exposed to if you had not experienced these challenges. Attempting to change lives in a positive way also makes me tick.”
NE: How do you balance business, work and home?
AVW: “It’s all about balance and priority. Home comes first, then my passion – youth and community work – then business. I’m a mom first, then a community and youth worker and finally a business woman.”
NE: What has been your biggest achievement?
AVW: “Raising my son as a single mother by the grace of God. I look at him and thank God for the guidance and strength to be able to discipline a rebel. That’s what he is, a disciplined rebel in the real sense of the word, without a doubt.”
NE: What would you term as equality?
AVW: “Equality, in my personal opinion means to accept one another as the same in terms of ability while recognizing our distinct differences. Men are the leaders of society and therefore they need to be at the forefront of societal issues, because men don’t listen to women who are most of the time at the forefront with awareness and other campaigns and that’s why our social ills continue to rise. When men decide to step out and address issues that concern communities, you will see how our social ills decrease. Men listen to men, not to women. They hear women, but they don’t listen to them, that’s my personal opinion.”
NE: You have been working extensively with young women, what are the common challenges young women face on a daily basis?
AVW: “I’m of the opinion that the most common challenge that young women face on a daily basis is a sense of worth, or lack thereof. When young women know their sense of worth many of the challenges that they face today will not be challenges. Society and the media focus on what women lack and therefore they started to believe that lie that they will never be good enough and as a result thereof, they compromise to the extent that they lose their dignity. If you know your worth you will know exactly when a relationship or situation becomes harmful. You’ll know what you deserve and refuse to settle for anything less than the best. You will be decisive and accept change. You will stand up for yourself. You will not be threatened by the beauty or intelligence of the next woman and therefore would not be envious and jealous, which is also another challenge amongst young women. In many instances, young women lack positive role models, guidance and consistency, while others are lacking discipline and have not established any boundaries.”
NE: Why do you think is it important that women are celebrated?
AVW: “Women should be celebrated because of their faith, hopefullness and their ability to persevere. Many women find themselves in dire situations for many years, with their health hanging in a precarious scale, but they continue to serve, to hope that one day, their situation will change, knowing that the chances of that happening are very slim to non-existent.”