LIVING in a 21st century society, social media and career-driven lifestyles have made it increasingly difficult for women to foster and maintain long-lasting friendships.
This has been the experience for uMhlanga resident, Catherine Bosse, who lives an exciting life as a cabin supervisor for a major airline based in the Middle East.
While she was living her dream of travelling the world, Bosse soon found that the demanding and fast-paced lifestyle was taking its toll on her relationships. Bosse said she began living a very independent lifestyle that often left her feeling lonely. However, in August inspiration struck, and the 30-year-old decided to form her own female social club – Crafting Female Friendships Durban – and from there the initiative grew.
“I wanted to bring the community of women in Durban closer together and to provide a way for women to get out there and meet new people outside of their usual social circles – resulting in new friendships. I also wanted to encourage women to get out more and try new and interesting things that they haven’t tried before,” she said.
In the space of 14 months, the group has attracted almost 200 women aged between 25 and 40. “We try to keep it that age range so that the women have more in common and are at the same ‘time’ in their life, going through similar things in terms of their of careers and family,” she explained.
While it is no surprise that members can expect monthly ladies’ nights, high teas and beach days, other exciting outings that the group have experienced include hiking, ice-skating and zorbing.
Other exciting events to look forward to include horse riding, surfing lessons and the December party bus. Bosse added that she also welcomed input from fellow members.
“Often we take suggestions from the members on what they would like to try out and anything interesting they can recommend, from an activity to a venue,” she explained.
When asked what her future dreams were for the group, Bosse said she hopes to expand the group.
“We are hoping to increase the awareness of the group in Durban to allow for more frequent events, bigger attendance, and a chance for girls to meet a wide range of personalities. Its a great networking opportunity as well,” she said. Bosse said she hopes to also include fundraising and volunteering projects. Aspiring members can join the group via an online link – www.meetup.com/Crafting-Female-Friendships-Durban/.
After signing up, the women will be required to submit a genuine profile picture and answer five profile questions, sharing information about themselves.
Members will then have the option to provide their number to join the WhatsApp group. They are also urged to jon the Facebook page or follow the group’s Twitter profile. An e-mail with all this information will be provided when their request has been approved.
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