Interview by: Agnes Tengovandu Tjindjo (RWA Namibia)
Agnes Tengovandu Tjindjo is an active member of the Namibian RWA. She is a small scale farmer and the regional representative of the Erongo Region in Namibia. This short piece is a conversation that Agnes had with Welile, Dorcas and Bridget at the 2019 feminist school about involving young women in the RWA.
Q: What brought you to this movement?
Welile (Swaziland RWA): My mom is a member of RWA in Swaziland. I joined RWA through her because I saw how it was of help to our family and our experience with eviction from land. Especially with our story because we were evicted by our family. My mom being part of RWA is what made me become part of RWA.
Q: How is the youth involved in being part of RWA
Welile (Swaziland RWA): In my community the young women started doing community work. We are a small group. We help the communities with their funerals and help them with anything that they need. We are still trying to find a sponsor to assist us with doing work on sanitary towels.
Q: What efforts has RWA Zambia made to recruit young women into movement?
Dorcas (Zambia RWA): Most of the RWA women are old. Our challenge is how do we pass our knowledge of indigenous seeds onto the younger generation. We would like young women to join so that can take this information forward. We decided that for this to happen it is important that information should be passed on to younger girls and that we can engage with one of the schools in our are to share this information. We approached one of the school to share information on the different types of indigenous seeds. We presented the different types of indigenous seeds and made a table for the young people to see. They really enjoyed our presentation and asked where they can get the seeds. At that function the DC was present. They appreciated it because we involved the young generation. After the children looked at the table some of them were buying in smaller quantities so that they can take it and show it to their parents. We enjoyed it because our knowledge wont die. It is important that we do adopt this approach as RWA so it is not only old women who stay with the information but also young people who can carry this forward.
Q: What efforts has Zimbabwe RWA made to recruit young women into the movement?
Brigitte (Zimbabwe RWA): We have made efforts to include young women in the involvement and participation in development and business programs. For e.g. including young women in market fairs and seed fairs. The young women are given equal opportunities and awards to motivate their participation in these activities.
Q: What are the challenges of recruiting young women into RWA
Dorcas (RWA Zambia): Most young women do not like to be part of farmers because they don’t like to work hard. The other issue is that they do not have enough knowledge. Another challenge is that when we don\’t have the resources it is very difficult to reach out to many schools. That is why it becomes difficult to share the knowledge because we don\’t have the resources.
Q: What is the role of the older generation in RWA in involving young women in the movement?
Dorcas (RWA Zambia): Otherwise things are on our side and when we call the young generation they don\’t refuse because they want to see. These are including of young boys because they are the fathers of tomorrow. These are the children we should talk about gender based violence. They start from young to abuse and violate young girls. If they brought together and educated they will know not to abuse young girls. They will also learn the value of indigenous seeds
Q: Why is it important for young women to attend the feminist school?
Welile (RWA Swaziland ): This is my second time at the feminist school. This time it was a bit different because I got to understand what feminism means for me as a young woman. I always ask myself “Why should I be a feminist especially in Swaziland? – because it is a monarchy one cannot out voice your thoughts as a woman. The feminist school is important for this.
I learned a lot and I was very interested in the food and land audit. In Swaziland we don\’t own land. We only have land leases. I farm on my parent\’s land because the only person who can acquire land is a man. If you are unmarried you cannot acquire land.
Brigitte (RWA Zimbabwe): This is very important because the school helps to demystify the perspective of being a feminist. Being at a feminist school changed me to know and appreciate how feminist are important in advocating for equality of all. Ecofeminism lens helps to be mindful of the future generation.
It is important for young women to attend because in as much as we want to advocate for change it should start with the youth. If they don’t attend it means we will forever be undermined as women. Also through media, young women can play a role in mainstreaming feminism in all our activities. Feminist school gives young people an appreciation of the role played by our mothers and ourselves in the ecosystem.
