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Women often neglect their own dreams to take care of those around them.
The last two years at the height of Covid-19 have seen even those who had started building towards their dreams watch all their efforts come crashing down.
It is for this reason that a Gqeberha entrepreneur seeks to gather women in one place to motivate them to pursue their dreams.
This, Nolufefe Norawuza will do with the help of Nelson Mandela Bay economic development head Mkhuseli Jack and Eastern Cape businesswoman Babalwa Mbuku who will be keynote speakers at the NMB Women Empowerment and Business Seminar in October.
Norawuza, who hosted the first instalment of the seminar in 2018, said it was even more important now.
“As people, especially women, we tend to place our dreams on the back burner and eventually forget that we are in this world for a purpose.
“We all have dreams and envision ourselves as certain people in the future but due to challenges we encounter in our journeys, we somehow forget about who we wanted to be,” Norawuza said.
She said the event theme was “destiny restored” to emphasise the seminar’s intention to encourage and realign women to their destinies.
For each seminar, she said, she carefully invited speakers whose journeys were inspiring.
“We invite speakers who will reignite women’s passion for their dreams because our vision is to make women realise their potential and use it.
“Babalwa knows all about starting over. She owns a factory for her own line of sanitary towels,” she said.
“She has tried other businesses before but did not succeed. She has an inspiring story of starting over.”
Jack returns as a speaker at the seminar for the second time — he was one of four speakers at the inaugural event.
“[Jack] is very good at encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
“He has a ‘do it’ spirit and spreads it to others who need to hear those words.
“I strongly believe we have a lot to learn from him as entrepreneurs because sometimes people don’t know where to start,” Norawuza said.
“As the MMC [mayoral committee member] for economic development, he can give us some guidance.
“I find it even more important now for women to have spaces like this because the pandemic has been brutal.
“People lost their jobs and sources of income.
“I’m inspired when I hear stories of people who were retrenched and forced out of their comfort zones to start their own businesses.
“Others lost all hope when they were retrenched and I want them to know that they can always start over and succeed.”
Born in King William’s Town (now Qonce) and raised in Kwazakhele, Norawuza is the founder of Phalo Iqhawe Events.
She founded the company in 2016 to host corporate and women empowerment events.
“My purpose is to inspire women to become independent. That’s what inspired the inception of Phalo Iqhawe,” she said.
She also runs a shuttle business under Phalo Iqhawe Events.
The company was a finalist in the best organiser category of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Event Awards in 2019.
The NMB Women Empowerment and Business Seminar will be held at the Athenaeum on October 8 from 1pm to 5pm.
Tickets cost R250 and can be purchased by contacting Norawuza on 073-574-1619.
HeraldLIVE
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