Pro-Femmes/TWESE HAMWE sharpens leadership skills among the local Government Newly Elected Women Leaders
About 85 newly elected Women leaders at various levels in the Southern Province, have been advised to fulfill their leadership responsibilities while at the same time fulfilling domestic responsibilities.
They were briefed on December 31st, 2021 at a session organized by Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe, with the aim of increasing their knowledge to fulfill their responsibilities and particular attention is paid to the barriers that can prevent them from achieving their potential in leadership positions.
The Coordinator of the National Women Council at the Southern Province level, Kampororo Jeanne d’Arc, said that the training and advice given to women will help them to have a solid plan and to know how to fulfill their responsibilities and continue to care for their families.
“Such training helps women leaders to understand how to do the various tasks in an easy way because they have been shown how to plan and learn to prioritize,” she said.
“The first thing we ask them is that they do not have to feel that they have a lot of things, in their minds they first feel that it is possible. In this case also, they must know that being a leader doesn’t mean stopping women’s responsibilities at home.” Mrs. Kampororo said.
She reminded them that going to the board is a big responsibility so they have to fulfill it properly because they will be held accountable.
In their conversations with women they have shown that they have gained a lot and that their confidence in fulfilling their responsibilities has increased.
Masengesho Marie Rose, who was elected to the local government in Nyaruguru District, said: I feel more confident now and they have advised us to be humble and work well with those we lead. ”
She went on to say that in her future endeavors, she will continue to consult with her husband to make their home a model for the better, and for the community.
Women who have been elected leaders have shown that barriers that prevent women to become leaders include religious beliefs and sometimes husbands that prevent their spouses from competing for leadership positions.
Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe Executive Director Emma Marie Bugingo said the training was aimed at empowering women to fulfill their leadership responsibilities.
She said the problems identified as barriers for women to fulfill their responsibilities were also seen in their research and therefore found that the solution is strengthened dialogues and advocacy.
“Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe sessions and workshops include bringing together these different levels, including religions and churches, to discuss with them because they are sometimes based on limited knowledge or understanding,” she said.
She said they are currently training women in leadership positions, but that they will discuss the matter with their partners in the future so that they can understand their role in helping their wives fulfill their leadership responsibilities.
Eighty-five women from Gisagara, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe and Huye participated in the training.
