WINDHOEK – Twenty-eight participants from all 14 regions completed a Beads Training Workshop that was given by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare as part of the ministry’s efforts to develop basic skills that communities could use to generate money. “This programme aim to mobilise communities towards self-reliance by equipping them with various skills to enable them to play active roles towards their own development,” said the acting Director for Community Development in the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Josia Kavaa, during the closing ceremony last week 21 August in Windhoek.
Participants were trained to work with beads producing various products such as flower vases, tissue and jewellery boxes, lampshades, handbags, seat covers and so forth. “After completion, these women are expected to train others and impart skills to many other women (and men) so that more people acquire these skills and use them to make various products for own use and for sale to earn income,” said Kavaa.
According to Kavaa, by providing such opportunities to women they are enabled to gain the necessary skills to become economically productive and self-sustainable. He added, “economic independence for women reduces their dependence on men and thus in a nutshell, reduces gender base violence”. He also cautioned the participants that they will be closely monitored by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare staff members in order to ensure that the skills gained and material and tools provided are put to good use.