Women Rebuilding Africa Programme (WRAP)

Women Rebuilding Africa Programme (WRAP)
“Reaching Millennium Development Goals in Africa through Empowerment of women”





“The greatest revolution in any country is the one that affects positively the lives of women’, and
there is no doubt that, if women are encouraged to realise their potential, that it’s not only their life which would be affected but the life and situation of the whole household which is the basic unit of our national economy.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, the father of Mrs Indira Gandi

Partnership Proposal

By





Contact Person:
Madelein Mkunu
Tel: 002721 551 99 29
Mobile: 00 27 84 919 3398
E-mail: Madelein@leadingwomenofafrica.com








Cape Town, 23 September 2008,

To: Whom it may concern


Re: Reaching the Millennium development Goals through empowerment of Women

Dear Sir or Madam,

Leading Women of Africa is pleased to present this partnership proposal for your review. We would like to take this opportunity to invite the United Nations and its partners for Development, African Governments, other African and International institutions to partner with us by providing support as we move toward contributing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Leading Women of Africa was officially launched in May 2008, during the “1st Leading Businesswomen of Africa that took place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 18-21 May 2008. (please visit www.leadingwomenofafrica.com).

During the past few months, we have been identifying leaders across the continent that will be in charge of implementing various projects on the Continent. The process is being successfully implemented and we are pleased to inform you that Leading Women of Africa is operating in over ten (10) African Countries already.

Our current projects include:
Leading Women of Africa Roundtable, “Bridging the gap of Communication and Technology for women of Africa through teleconference”
Personal and Business Development Program for women in Cape Town, South Africa
“Creating awareness of economic possibilities in the Country”
Feminar, the Leading Women of Africa Magazine (launched in May 2008)

Projects soon to be implemented:

Financial (banking) literacy for women of Africa, giving the financial power back to women
Women Leadership Centre Cape Town, empowering women through training and education
Women Rebuilding Africa Program (WRAP), partnering to develop the pilot to build virtual leadership teams in South Africa to deliver digital information to women at the grassroots level
Resource and information Centre for women of Africa, Website
An online African Shopping and business Opportunities Village, website

For more details about the above and more future projects, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@leadingwomenofafrica.com .

We look forward to collaborating with you as we journey together for empowerment of women at grassroots level in Africa.

Yours truly,

Madelein Mkunu
Founder and CEO
Leading Women of Africa

















Introduction

The Beijing conference that took place in 1995 stressed the empowerment of women as one of the central development goals of the 21st century. Commission on Status of women would urge governments to take all necessary measures to empower women and strengthen their economic independence and to protect and promote their full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In the Millennium declaration in September 2000, Governments commit to promote gender equality and empowerment of women as one of the effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and diseases and to stimulate developments that is truly sustainable. A series of time-bound targets, now know as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were set, with deadline of 2015.

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2007 suggests that some progress is being made but that the MDGs will be attained only if concerted additional action is taken immediately and sustained until 2015. Many challenges still need to be addressed, including women’s health, poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS. The same report confirms that:
- Over half a million women still die each year from treatable and preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth
- If current trends continue, the target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 Million children
- The number of people dying from AIDS worldwide increased to 2.9 million in 2006
- Half the population of developing world lack basic sanitation. In order to meet the MDG target, an additional 1.6 billion people will need access to improved sanitation. If trends since 1990 continue, the world is likely to miss the target by almost 600 million people.

The above data show clearly that more efforts need to be put in place to fast track the process of reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

In its quest to contribute in the process of African Development, Leading Women of Africa suggests another approach to accelerate progress in attaining the MDGs by 2015.

Promoting Unity of women of Africa and reinforcing their Economic Empowerment will play significant role in the achievement of MDGs, through 8 TOP Priorities set by the Organisation:
Personal Development (poverty mentality…)
Economic Empowerment (Inter-Trade, Job creation, Income generating activities…)
Communication and Technology
Women’s Health
Farming Technology
Environment
Women’s Education and Literacy
Africanism: Knowledge of the African Continent (geography, history, culture…)

Leading Women of Africa would like to invite UN and its partners, African Governments and other African and International Institutions to partner them. If all else failed; Women, united, will not!

Women Rebuilding Africa programme (WRAP)

I.PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Life Purpose: Everyone is born for a purpose (vision and passion)
Childhood vision: When you were a little girl (setting goals)
Building Self Esteem and Self worth
Unleashing your full potential (finding courage and inner strength to change)
Overcoming effects violence and abuse
Celebrating womanhood
Communicating effectively
Creating and nurturing relationships
Increasing productivity
Women in Leadership (different levels)

II. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Financial literacy

Basic Financial management
Banking literacy
Home finances
Budgeting
Saving
Investing
Taxes
Financing education

Business management

Creating and evaluating business ideas
How to choose partners
Transitioning into business as an entrepreneur
Writing your Business Plan
Financing your business
Marketing your Business
Managing your Business
Growing your Business
Networking to increase business

Business Opportunities

1. Conducting market research
2. Identifying and evaluating business opportunities
3. Merging these opportunities with your business
4. Using the Internet to maximize opportunities
5. Entrepreneurship

III. WOMEN AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduction to computer and Internet
Joining the global network (Internet skills +)
Internet marketing your products (website, e-mail, picture…)
New life with technology

IV. WOMEN IN FARMING - Education on Farming Technology

1. Improving working conditions
2. Growing better produce for sell, export
3. Using other methods: Organic, natural
4. Assessing your market and return on investment (Time, effort and money)

V. WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT

1. Preserving the environment
2. Using “green” products and methods

VI. WOMEN AND HEALTH

1. Knowing your own body
2. How to have safe pregnancy and birth
3. Using family planning
4. Preventing and living with HIV
5. Hygiene and related matters
6. Living healthier with good nutrition

VII. AFRICANISM – Learning about

1. African culture
2. African history
3. African geography

Conclusion: Achieving the Millennium Goals through empowerment of women