The Uganda Media Women’s Association recently introduced an impactful space that celebrates remarkable women who have made significant contributions to society. The weekly talk show on 101.7 Mama FM has so far hosted women whose stories have been a source of great inspiration, encouragement, learning, and empowerment. Flora Aduk, the program’s host, has compiled highlights and key takeaways from the diverse range of women she has featured. These stories will certainly influence and motivate other women to dream bigger.
JACQUELINE ASIIMWE
Founder & CEO, CivSource Africa
The journey to self is never-ending. Somehow, we think it is an arrival lounge. No! It is truly an ongoing journey. I have learned to see my life in seasons. What is the season you are in now, and what do you need? Reach out for help. There are so many ways to get help, right from our phones to our friends to our communities. What community are you building around you that is buffering?
Develop the practice of self-reflection, and self-awareness, and have a community around you of people who are also invested in your wellness. Sometimes, we surround ourselves with people who are just taking, extracting and that’s all they are doing. Do you have people that are also filling your cup? People who mind that your cup is full? Surround yourself with those people.
Practice gratitude. I have kept a gratitude jar for the last 5 years and every day I write what I am grateful for that day on little notes. Find a minimum of 3 things a day to be grateful for. This helps to lift the spirit and make you aware that you are more blessed than you actually know. Start to name and notice the ways in which you are blessed.
The more I reflect on my life, the more I think about my footprint and legacy, what am I leaving? My footprints have varied in my life. There was a footprint of an activist, there was a footprint of being a mother, a carer a nurturer and now there is a different footprint. So, what is your footprint, determine it for yourself, contribute to it, and write it. Are you telling your story, and in what ways? You just never know what or how you will impact someone with your story. Be it wisdom, foresight, or even your mistakes.
HELLEN NANTEZA KAWESA
Assistant Director Ceremonies, Parliament of Uganda & Public Relations Specialist
If reputation were a colour, red and white are best suited. Red is often seen to signify danger, your reputation should be held as such and guarded jealously as it can make or break you. White on the other hand brings to light the purity of a good reputation, thus it is critical for one to ensure that they keep their reputation clean.
Family is very critical. You must ensure that you build and maintain your relationship with your family, this may be the immediate family or extended family. Their support will help you in your life journey.
Let’s not compromise our standards in our work. Take the straight path and not shortcuts and stand for the truth, be professional, and hold the hands of other people so that you operate as a team because we can never succeed alone, we will succeed with teams.
Give back to humanity because when God puts us in a position that we hold, it is our responsibility to support others. There is always somebody out there who wants to learn from us, and there is someone you can help. It is very important that you keep asking yourself, what can I give to somebody?”
If you are passionate about something, embrace it and enjoy it, especially if it is your profession. These are some questions to think about. Do you understand it? Have you mastered it? What do you have to do to grow in it? And growing is about creating networks and getting on top of the field?”
Build your brand and be present. Educate yourself in your line of specialty and be confident. Take advantage of social media to market these attributes. Be available to volunteer or help in the different communities you are in, be it Whatsapp groups, as this helps you build networks.
DR SABRINA KITAKA
Senior Lecturer, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Academic
If you are not sitting at the table to decide on the menu, you will end up being part of the menu. It is important for you to work your way through and be part of the table of decision-makers not simply do your job as is. I was once the president of the Uganda Pediatric Association and was at the helm of advocacy at that point, the tagline “Every child should grow up and reach their fullest potential” spoke to me.
It is important to give adolescents and young people confidence, energy, and a desire to want to excel in their space.
The boy child too needs to be empowered, supported, and given the confidence that they need. This can even be from participating in a sport. If an adolescent scores a goal and is celebrated, for instance, this builds their confidence, music dance drama, and public speaking are also some confidence-building aspects. Confidence can’t be bought in a supermarket; it starts with practice.
Parents need to be present. Parents are suffering from TB (being Too Busy). Parents are looking for cash yet it is not everything. Sometimes children and adolescents just want you to be present. And do not practice presentism. This means you are in the house but you are using your phone. Keep that phone away, keep that newspaper away, and just listen.
A family that prays together stays together and that doesn’t mean in the same house but staying together means they are bound together and solidifying their community practice, family values, and their family norms. If a parent says I will be home by 7pm then be home by 7pm. Parents should learn to trust their children and also believe in them and let them know that they always have their back.
“My formula to wellbeing is ABCD. A- Ask for what you want, B- Be who you say you are, C-Care for others, and D- Dare to live your dream. The fifth one, keep smiling and enjoy yourself.
MS DIANA NINSIIMA KIBUUKA
Country Lead, Girl 4 Girls and Director BNI Uganda
Stop waiting for people to give you permission to excel. We attach a lot of importance to the thoughts of others. At the end of the day, no one is going to sit down and determine the days you live and when you die which is sad and very powerful too. The one who has control is you. Begin to make these decisions now. There is no guarantee of tomorrow so you have to live it out today.
Be accountable but take ownership of your decisions and actions. Consult widely but take ownership.
Entrepreneurs need to look beyond passion and factor in the process and people element. You must have the right people with the right skill set supporting your business and you must be able to be compliant. Business owners need to set goals, they need to measure the goals and be able to achieve those goals.
Women entrepreneurs need to separate their business from personal expenditure. The challenge we face as women in business is that we don’t separate our personal costs from the business costs. The result of this is that we are unable to plough back our profits into the business so we are always in need of capital injection. There are so many opportunities for women-owned businesses. Be intentional and search for them, for instance, via your banks.
Women need to challenge themselves and be courageous. A lot of them need to believe in themselves, look in the mirror, and say I can do this, it is possible, that inherent belief in self is what we unlock and create a sisterhood where they believe they have a support system.
Our mentorships programme at G4G is supporting women to take up that space in their community, in their family or work space and own it. Say, I am a leader and because I am a leader, I can do it. Have the belief that I am a powerful tool in God’s hands, I can create change. I am uniquely positioned to be a tool of change… Women still feel like they need to be given permission. They feel like they have to be invited to the table. At G4G we are reminding them that they don’t need to be given permission. You can actually take a seat at the table, if there is no seat for you, bring your chair and if no space absolutely, create your own table and bring people around it, both men and women but most importantly don’t fail to ask yourself the question, what difference can I make here?
