Non-profit organisation Positive Cycle, based in Auckland Park, has been announced as finalist in the category of women empowerment in the communities at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards.
The Gender Mainstreaming Awards aim to provide companies with public recognition for good practice and excellence in tackling gender mainstreaming and equality in the business place. Gender mainstreaming involves the public policy concept of assessing the different implications for women and men of any planned policy action, including legislation and programmes, in all areas and levels.
Founder and owner of Positive Cycle, Jacques Damhuis was very proud that the company was appointed as one of the finalists at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards. ”This is the third year that the awards have been running. We are competing alongside large organsations as well. The company is very proud to have been selected for the awards. Having a colleague like Amy de Breyn on my team has been immeasurably useful,” he said.
Office manager at Positive Cycle Amy de Breyn explained that she has been privileged to be able to work and grow in an industry that has been considered male dominated in the past. “When you look at gardeners and you look at farmers, stereotypically it is a male-dominated environment. Having something like this award behind us, possibly will be opening up the farming and agricultural industry to more women,” she said.
De Breyn explained the honour it has been to have the company selected, “It really is something awesome. It is humbling to see that we will be competing with larger companies as well. It is more than just gender equality, which is the amazing thing about these awards. It is about proper ground-level economic empowerment, that we are uplifting women in the community through equal employment,” she said.
The awards will be held on 18 August at a gala event held at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand.
