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<\/p>\nCharity Mandishona, the Country Representative of the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust\u2019s Network of African Businesswomen \u2013 Zimbabwe chapter, is a passionate advocate for women and girls’ rights, a dedicated feminist, and an ‘economic promotion’ trainer. With a rich background in supporting women’s entrepreneurship, Charity plays an important role on the boards of several influential organisations, including the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations. Her commitment to uplifting women in business is evident through her active participation in initiatives like the Women Open Market Day events, which inspire and support women entrepreneurs to integrate into the value chain. A conversation with Charity spotlights her journey into advocacy, the many rewarding experiences she has gained, the challenges she has overcome, and the significant impact she is making.<\/p>\n
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Question<\/strong>: How did you become involved with supporting women, and what motivated you to join the network?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: What do you find most rewarding about your work?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: What challenges do you face in this field?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: How have these challenges influenced your work?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: What have you learned from joining the Trust’s women in media network?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: What is one of your most memorable moments working with the Trust?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: How has working with the Trust impacted your professional life?<\/strong> Question<\/strong>: How has the Trust influenced your personal life?<\/strong> Photo: Women supported by Charity proudly display their handmade products at a market day event in Zimbabwe, organised by the network.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Charity\u2019s work with the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust is about more than individual success; it\u2019s about building a legacy. Her vision emphasises the need for greater visibility and equality for women in all areas of business and governance. By ensuring women take on leadership roles and receive recognition for their contributions, we can create a future where their economic efforts are truly valued.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Charity Mandishona, the Country Representative of the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[742,95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","category-womens-economic-and-social-advancement-highlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7025\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nCharity:<\/strong> My involvement started when a friend invited me to a strategic planning session. The discussions resonated deeply with me, so I shared my profile and joined the network. My drive to assist marginalised women in business fueled my decision to become a key part of the organisation.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> The most rewarding part is working directly with women in business. Seeing their talents recognised and their businesses transition from informal to formal operations is incredibly fulfilling. It\u2019s gratifying to know I contributed to their success.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> Reaching women in rural areas is a significant challenge. The technological gap and limited resources make it difficult to hold effective meetings and training sessions. Overcoming these barriers is crucial for real progress.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> Being a woman has allowed me to advocate for women’s rights at higher levels. However, financial inclusion remains a significant hurdle. Property ownership issues, often biased towards men, prevent women from accessing substantial loans. This challenge has only strengthened my determination to support women’s financial independence.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> I\u2019ve learned the importance of visibility and formalising businesses. These lessons have shaped our approach to ensuring women gain the resources and recognition they need.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> Organising the Women\u2019s Open Market Day was particularly memorable. It gave women a platform to showcase their products and connect with industry leaders. The enthusiasm and networking that took place were truly gratifying.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> My involvement has greatly boosted my leadership confidence and visibility in the field. Engaging with high-profile executives and effectively articulating women\u2019s issues has opened many doors for further advocacy.<\/p>\n
\nCharity:<\/strong> The Trust has helped me transition from informal work to creating opportunities for others, like exporting products overseas. This has improved my life and positively impacted many other women, creating a ripple effect of progress.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-14-at-14.55.26.png\")