One
of the highlights of the organization is the celebration of South African
Women's Day when the accomplishments of outstanding South
African women globally are honoured. We pay tribute to the individual contributions
they have made to our common good. These women serve as role models for all of
us.
We salute them and their achievements. In honouring these exceptional women,
South African Women for Women is also making a contribution to the betterment
of all women in South Africa.
While the awards ceremony is perhaps the most easily recognized
program of SAWW, we offer a full range of educational programs that fully reflect
our mandate.
For example, we are proud of the South African Women for Women’s
Teacher Mentoring Program through which we were able to send eleven Ontario
teachers to schools and educational centres in South Africa to introduce
new teaching strategies and support teachers. This
initiative is a first for SAWW and is designed to specifically respond
to the needs identified in the South African schools. One
of the important by-products of this initiative will be the establishment
of an electronic network of teacher communication with their Canadian
counterparts.
In
this way, communication and dialogue will be able to continue long
after the Canadian teachers return home.
Additionally,
the organization’s Board members
and patrons take every opportunity to articulate the needs and aspirations
of the South African community to our supporters.
Most importantly, we offer scholarships to disadvantaged South
African students. We are proud to say that the Scholarship Fund has successfully
sponsored a number of students thus far, and the applications continue to flood
in each year.
It is important to note that South African Women for Women
is funded solely by its membership fees and fundraising activities. Membership
growth is therefore a priority, currently, we are developing new incentives
and programs, which will keep our members involved and we hope, attract new
members.
It goes without saying that a large membership means a bigger bank
balance. A
bigger bank balance means we can provide more support.