BWA: Empowering local businesswomen
We want to acknowledge and thank our members and key sponsors Investec, MBSA and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), who have contributed to all our accomplishments over the past 20 years
The Businesswomen’s Association (BWA) East London branch was established in 1999 by prominent local businesswomen.
The first chairperson was Patti Graham; followed by Mary Wrench; Bea Hackula; Lizelle Maurice - the longest serving Chairperson; Deidre Nxumalo-Freeman and the current chairperson Ruth Troskie. For 20 years, this association has added value and contributed to empowering, inspiring and uplifting businesswomen in East London.
The main objectives of the BWA is to connect local businesswomen with each other; form local alliances and strategic partnerships with various organisations; facilitate training and discussions on topical issues; and enhance members’ business acumen through a structured annual programme of events.
The BWA has provided East London businesswomen with opportunities to network and grow their businesses from ongoing high-level business networking events to personal and business development programmes such as the BWA Entrepreneurial & Development Series and the Mentorship Programme launched in August 2012 to partner less-experienced businesswomen with experienced mentors.
The BWA East London branch also partnered with the Inspiration Awards and Fort Hare University in uplifting approximately 20 member NGO’s through the Adopt-An-NGO business Development Programme and the monthly Business Development Workshops.
“As a beneficiary of the Adopt-An-NGO programme, the knowledge and expertise that the organisors shared and will continue to impart has been invaluable to us,” says Teresita Ndibongo, Director of Indawo Yethemba.
For 20 years, the BWA East London branch has contributed to the upliftment of women and youth in local communities through various social responsibility projects. The successful Sanitary Sistas Programme collects and distributes sanitary pads to school-going girls in impoverished communities.
The Corporate Wear for Young Women Programme collects good quality second-hand corporate clothes from members for underprivileged young women entering the jobmarket. Through the Stationery Start-up Programme, the BWA partners annually with local disadvantaged schools, providing basic stationery packs donated by BWA members.
“We want to acknowledge and thank our members and key sponsors Investec, MBSA and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, who have contributed to all our accomplishments over the past 20 years,” says Ruth Troskie, Chairperson of BWA East London. “We also want to extend our thanks to our committee members, intrepid businesswomen who have volunteered their time and skills to help empower, inspire and uplift women in our economy and communities – we applaud you.’’
● For more information, call Sibongile on 043 721 3363 / 084 468 8310 or email el@bwasa.co.za.