This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the European Union Ambassador to South Africa Dr. Riina Kionka. We discuss some of the European Union’s priorities, with an emphasis on digital as an enabler and sustainable development - the green deal. Ambassador Kionka speaks about the evolving narrative between the EU commission and Africa towards a relationship partnership for the mutual benefit of both regions. We consider women in leadership and the positive direct and indirect impact they have on other women as role models. We reflect on several mechanisms to attain gender parity, such as target setting and including women on recruitment selection panels to compensate or overcome human biases. Tune in for more….

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Mauritius - Fionnuala Gilsenan. We discuss some of her former diplomatic roles in East Timor, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Our conversation touches on potential points of knowledge exchange between Ireland and South Africa, with a focal point on women, in areas of peace and security, gender-based violence, education and economics.  We consider women in leadership, and note the positive role-model effects that Ireland’s first female president, Mary Robinson, had on women, not just with political aspirations but with ambitions to succeed in other sectors. Tune in for more….

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - Thoko Didiza. We discuss some of the dynamics of agriculture, encompassing the spectrum of subsistence to commercial farming, although the various constituencies are positioned at different levels they all require support mechanisms in the form of technology reform, financial backing, market facilitation and access. Minister Didiza mentions an emphasis on enabling rural communities, especially women, to turn their assets, like goats and cattle, into revenue generators i.e. milk, cheese and meat production. We discuss disproportionate land ownership, favouring men over women, and the fact that women’s relationship to land tends to be through men. Minister Didiza shares some aspects her recent appointment to chair the African Union’s Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment, which partly entails leveraging expertise of the continent to deal with matters affecting these domains in an integrated best practice approach. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South African actress, presenter and producer – Zakeeya Patel. We discuss the art of storytelling and its power to move people. Zakeeya shares some of her career highlights and being able to realise her ambition to participate in the world’s biggest entertainment industry, Hollywood. We talk about her long-term goals to be able to tell stories by women, about women and for women. We address positive changes that have been introduced into the television and film sector to protect women from harassment. We reflect on education and financial security as key empowerment tools for women to own their futures, their voices as well as their stories. Tune in for more….

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the former Vice President and Minister of Women of The Gambia - Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang. Our conversation encompasses women in politics, business and leadership. We emphasise opening spaces for women to participate in mainstream economies, for example, through implementing the African continental trade agreement and deriving benefits such as access to resources, capacity building and support for their enterprises, which in turn enables them to contribute more meaningfully in their local communities as well as their national economy. Some of the entrepreneurial projects set up in The Gambia, for women, revolve around local resources, for example, salt production enterprises and animal husbandry initiatives. Access to finance through micro-financing has been another important enabler. We note that gender equality is vital for building inclusive societies, developing social justice, equitable power structures and developing capacity for communities. In order to achieve progress it is vital for individuals to remain relevant through continuous learning and being attuned to social signals. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South Africa’s Deputy Minister Trade and Industry Nomalungelo Gina. We discuss some of the Department’s programmes to counter high levels of unemployment in South Africa, to promote inclusive economic opportunities and cross-border participation in the continent – facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. We highlight policies that enable economic empowerment for women across the work spectrum and note several social policies for example interventions that help formalise stokvels. We contrast the comparatively low representation of women in upper echelons of the private sector with government, as well as the selection of a limited number of women for board seats. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to award-winning multi-talented actress Kate Normington. We explore acting as a profession from her experiences and perspective as a woman. We touch on aspects that have contributed to her longevity in the industry, from patience and faith in pursuit of roles during periods of uncertainty and taking advantage of situations, to reinventing yourself through continual learning to remain relevant. We touch on limitations concerning the body of work available to women, remarking on various media studies from the likes of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media and tests such as Bechdel-Wallace, which demonstrate that females are significantly underrepresented in film, accounting for an average of just 30% of speaking roles. Yet, media is an enduring platform that is an intrinsic part of many cultures thus women deserve equal exposure and to be portrayed inclusively. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to award-winning multi-talented actress Ilse Klink. We revisit a few of the memorable characters she has portrayed in productions like Scorched, Chicago and Isidingo and the impact roles have on the psyche and society. She discusses some of her motivations that go into selecting roles that represent women of today and do not perpetuate narrow stereotypes, as well as constantly honing her skill set for versatility. We speak about the challenges that women still experience in the performing arts, ranging from harassment to pay disparity. We reflect on the freedoms associated with freelance performance as well as the business acumen required for economic success. Tune in for more…

This

week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Fifi

Cooper a multi-award-winning

rapper, songstress and independent producer of MoCooper Records. We reflect on

Fifi’s journey into the music business and paving the way for other female

rappers to enter the mainstream. We talk about some of her recent projects, such

as composing a film soundtrack and judging newcomers on a TV talent show. She discusses

the independence and responsibilities of owning a record label and how she uses

this platform to open opportunities for others. She considers the importance of

developing a female network for musicians to share developments and confront negative

issues experienced in industry as a cohesive unit. Fifi also shares some of her

key motivators, from being a mother to approaching everything she does like it’s

the first time. Tune in for more…

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South African singer LaSauce. We highlight aspects of her journey into the music industry and ambitions for the future as a performer. We talk about the importance of finding purpose to help direct a person’s efforts into a meaningful trajectory. We reflect on the role of social media as an engagement channel to connect with fans, and consider the planning required to maintain interesting media content that attracts audiences’ attention. We address some of the social issues that young women of today grapple with and how greater public awareness, for instance of gender-based violence, is helping women protect themselves and drive socio-cultural transformation amongst menfolk. We acknowledge the examples of women who have walked their respective paths to empower the current cohort of women, who in turn will make it easier for the next generation to realise their dreams. Tune in for more…