WINDHOEK – There is no doubt that the energetic Executive Director of the Women’s Action for Development (WAD) Veronica de Klerk has trained more than 50 000 people throughout the country over the past 20 years.
De Klerk has a heart for making a difference in the lives of rural and urban communities and not just women.
WAD has trained women and men from all walks of life to acquire skills to establish income-generating projects or to secure jobs.
She says she remains amazed when she sees how women change positively after having gone through WAD’s training programmes and after having established a successful project or found successful employment.
“I am thrilled when they are able to put bread on the table to feed their families very often single-handedly. These are the rewards which drive me and then I say, ‘thank you God I found my calling’,” De Klerk says passionately.
Her father’s death wish was for her to continue the work she does, she told New Era.
Apart from poverty and unemployment, a very serious lack of self-confidence, loss of pride and human dignity are the myriad problems women face, De Klerk further said, speaking from experience.
“This is a result of harmful cultural practices which have impeded the development of women and which stripped women of a voice, an own choice and an own opinion and led them to believe that they should be followers and never leaders,” she said, adding that WAD has played a profound role in boosting women’s self confidence.
Being at the helm of WAD has not always been easy and in difficult and good times she can wholeheartedly rely on the support and motivation of her husband, Adolf.
“Adolf, my principled, strong, diehard, gender-sensitive husband is the wind beneath my wings,” she said. And what exactly drives De Klerk to keep pushing to see communities empowered?
“I am driven by passion and more passion for the work I am doing. I love people and I am in total admiration of the strength, perseverance, resilience and talents of women, I will never be convinced otherwise. What drives me is the twinkle in the eye of poor rural women when they discover their strengths,” said De Klerk who is a mother of one.
Nelson Mandela, who passed away on Thursday night, is her role model.
“His special character trait of being able to forgive to reach a goal for his people, notwithstanding the injustices committed against him by the previous government has a profound impact not only on women but on nations across the world,” she says.
By Alvine Kapitako