Women leading and dreaming a better world - A new ReWild Original Film π©π½βπΎπ·π½ββοΈπ©π½βπ
A tribute to all women today and everyday
Dear ReWilder,
Every year, in August, South Africa marks Womenβs Month. We pay tribute to and commemorate more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956, in protest against the extension of pass laws to women. These passes served to maintain population segregation, control urbanisation, manage migrant labour, and control and oppress women.Β
This month, we celebrate the women who make this country; fight for this country; raise its children; become its leaders; inspire its communities, and continue to lead the fight for social equity and environmental justice.Β
This ReWild original film above is a celebration and tribute to all women like Sibongile - who continue to push for better education of women; who create safe spaces for women; who are advocating an end to gender-based violence in South Africa; who continue to educate men on these issues; and who are committed to a bright future for women in South Africa.Β
βWhat I would really like for the girls, is that when they are protecting the environment, itβs not about something that is abstract and out there, it is about protecting themselves, their identity and who they are.β - SibongileΒ Mtungwa
Sibongile runs an education centre for young girls and women. She believes that the key to a bright future for women is: education, safe spaces, a reconnection with the land, a space where boys and girls can interact with each other and learn about positive gender relationships from a young age.
βThatβs my dream - men and women working together, knowing that the earth lives. It is possible.β - SibongileΒ Mtungwa
As the IUCN writes: βGender inequality may dramatically limit the resilience and adaptive capacity of women, families and communities. It may also restrict options for climate change mitigation.β The IUCN highlights how womenβs empowerment and equitable gender relations will increase food and economic security, health and wellbeing. This would lead to more environmentally sustainable decision-making, at domestic and at national levels.
Women are the key! Introducing feminist frameworks into socio-economic systems, climate science, policy, and land management incorporates values of empathy, kindness, and holistic approaches to a brighter future. With a rise in the understanding of the need for transdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to the wicked problem of climate change and biodiversity loss, women are uniquely positioned to lead the way.
Hereβs to the countless mothers, poets, teachers, carers, decision-makers, artists, farmers, policymakers, leaders, community members, activists, scientists, professors, domestic workers, authors, and storytellers who continue to shape this country with hope, with considered care, with unending empathy, and with consistent hard work. We thank you.
News from ReWild Africa π
ReWild is proud to announce weβre working with the Biodiversity Partners Program, an innovative acceleration and learning program on biodiversity using mixed learning methods, that is action-oriented, transdisciplinary and local, and aims to develop a community of practitioners. The accelerator models to scale impactful projects and create a community of change-makers.
Sunshine Cinema - Africaβs first solar-powered cinema network, is showcasing the Climate Reality Series Not On Our Soil Action24 around South Africa (more info to follow)
Over the next two months, weβre doing a dive into renewable technologies and heading up to learn more about the launch of the Garob Wind Farm (producing an impressive 140MW of clean energy)
Follow one of our favourite LinkedIn pages βWomen Power Africaβ to be reminded of inspiring women in Africa leading the way to brighter futures
Wild Regards,
The ReWild Africa team