Nathi Masuku
A BULAWAYO based Christian oriented organisation, Ignite, has set sight at educating women in business in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through tailor-made online courses.
Already, the organisation has been commended for offering an integrated series of knowledge sharing platforms that have transformed as many.
With a reach across southern Africa, the organisation has dedicated itself to offer an array of educational courses that aim to transform small and emerging businesses run by women.
Drawing inspiration from Christian teachings, Ignite aims to change women’s take at business principles in relation to financing the kingdom of God.
The organisation is currently offering lessons to women from different countries in Southern Africa through digital platforms in line with Covid-19 prevention protocols.
Over 175 women have been trained in business and other related courses during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni has hailed the faith based organisation for its dedication to empower women.
Nyoni said it was an admirable move by institutions such as Ignite to concentrate on women empowerment programmes that hinged on faith based education and training.
“Government has always called upon everyone in this country to support women in whatever capacity they can. If we have organisations like these that champion giving women knowledge on business, life skills and survival, then we are on the right path,” said Nyoni.
She said as the country celebrates women’s month, it was proper for organisations to align all activities toward supporting the women’s cause.
Bongiwe Ndlovu, the organisation’s administrator said as part of commemorations for the international Women’s day, they held a graduation ceremony for 50 women who completed a month long life skills training.
“We are not only teaching and training these women, but we give them word based training. For the class that graduated in the first week of March, they were put under intense faith related teachings on three notable women in the Bible namely Deborah, Anna and Esther.
“For the class currently in session, training is expanded to look into the characters of Jael and Lydia. There is more to just the faith imparted as women are taught how to use the Bible in their business enterprises. This is a first for any business and life skill related training,” said Ndlovu.
“Basing our courses on these two phenomenal women in the Bible is a sure way of attaching our teaching into how business women relate to certain characters in the Holy book. This is total transformation and empowerment of the business women and those still contemplating to venture in certain projects in the economy.”
She said the Christian based institution had an aim to reach all women who would want to turn their business projects or businesses and run in a way that aligns to Christian teachings.
“As Ignite we are an organization not affiliated with any church though Christian based. Our training is open to women from every sphere of life. So far we have reached women in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the United Kingdom,” she said.
Since its inception in 2016, Ignite’s director Mrs Linda Chikerema said the organisation has been a beacon for the transformation of women.
“We have empowered women through offering several courses which include preparatory sessions that help women understand their role in society, a leadership course that helps women understand how to strike a balance between motherhood and leadership and of course business and life skills.
“As Ignite we could not fold our hands and wait for the lifting of the lockdown before resuming these important lessons. We continued to equip our women with much needed moral skills in the comfort of their homes because the multifaceted challenges they face need them to be well prepared to deal with them, now more than ever,” said Chikerema.
Meanwhile, Ignite awarded a 73 year old woman a scholarship to continue training for the ongoing courses.
“We awarded a full scholarship to Emily Moyo, a 73 year old woman who has shown dedication in her studies. We hope this will also encourage young women to stop procrastinating and find life changing training at Ignite.”
