In celebration of International Women’s Day, Glade invited women form all spheres of life to honour their existence on Friday.
The event was hosted under the campaign of ‘Make Africa Bloom- In My Era’. The purpose of the campaign was to celebrate all women no matter the era they are currently in.
Whether you are in your blooming era, perhaps you are in your stillness era, maybe you are in your healing era or you are in your baddie era, all were celebrated. This day was to honour women who are owning their era.
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Marketing Director for SC Johnson Africa Cluster, Lesego Segopolo said,, “Glade really believes in how fragrance can liberate women, how fragrance can be a part of women in whatever era we go through.
“Today, we are still able to celebrate the ‘Mbokodos’ of Africa and elevate the upcoming ones as well.”
Make Africa Bloom is a programme aimed at women who seek to solidify their career trajectory, or are budding entrepreneurs who need the extra boost to blossom into their truest potential.
The event also hosted a strategic women empowerment panel which featured Zulaikha Patel, Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni and Rashmi Vadivelu. These women addressed multiple ways of providing women with platforms that speak their truth.
According to Patel, South African anti-racism activist, we tend to assume that people are automatically supposed to have access to the resources that will aim to better their lives. However, our country limits people with not having the tools to empower themselves.
Patel spoke about the importance of making societal impact in order to drive women empowerment in communities.
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“Women are not just sitting at work without ideas that could positively impact their lives, but they do not have what is required for the next step. It is these private sector companies that should go to communities to empower women through investing in women entrepreneurship,” said Patel.
Success for different women comes in different definitions. Other women may define success as having economic control over their lives or owning a title deed and land to sustain themselves and their community.
Laurie-Mthombeni former, Miss South Africa defined what success looks like and the importance of using your softness to empower yourself and male counterparts being advocates for women empowerment.
“If you understand that your background is poverty, you are always ready for action or being angry.
“Allow the era of softness, to forgive yourself, your family. Allow kindness to self and allow your partner to treat you right and let go of the boss-baby energy,” said Laurie-Mthombeni.
In 2024 they are taking this a step further by partnering with Concord for Young Women in business, an NGO that trains female entrepreneurs in rural communities.
