Mbombela GBV activist receives accolade at Africa Women Summit
Ap Maria Muhari appreciated the recognition as one of Africa's leading women when she received the Women Empowerment Champion Award.
A businesswoman and gender-based violence (GBV) activist, Ap Maria Muhari, was honoured with the Women Empowerment Champion Award at the fourth African Women Summit 2023.
She received this award as one of the most leading women in social development and women empowerment in the country and the rest of the continent.
The summit took place in Cape Town on Friday May 12, and was attended by a community of female policymakers, change makers, global experts and professionals from all over Africa.
“I was very excited to receive this award. I could not believe it when they called my name as the winner. I went to Cape Town to just attend the summit, not expecting to win. I don’t even know who nominated me,” Muhari said.
She appreciated this recognition, because it is proof her passion to uplift women is beneficial to the community.
Muhari is the founder and director of the Hlayisani Electrical Technologies Group, which includes her major non-profit organisations, the Hlayisani Centre of Hope in KaBokweni, Woman of Impact, and the Kingdom Impact Apostolic Ministry in Mbombela.
She said her passion of being a community nurturer was influenced by her childhood.
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“I was sexually abused when I was a girl and I had no platform to open up about the abuse, of which a child was also conceived. I grew up in a village in KaBokweni that did not have spaces in which I could open up about the ordeal. When I found the confidence to speak and share my experience, a lot of women and girls also opened up about their experiences.”
Muhari said she continues to create platforms that encourage young women, especially GBV victims, to speak out to find healing while acquiring skills development.
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She has also helped many women start their own businesses by donating ovens and establishing a women’s co-operative for economic strengthening through the Hlayisani Centre of Hope.
Muhari said she loves seeing all women prosper beyond their limitations.
