There’s a new Mama Afrika in our midst
The country's 60th Clover Mama Afrika is a flower from our very own garden. Nomsa Zimema from Thembalethu, was among eight women from across the country who contended for a place in the dairy company's social responsibility programme.
The mamas are selected from all nine provinces and Zimema is the only one from the Garden Route.
"I am very excited about being a Mama Afrika. I don't have words to express my joy, but I am very proud to become one of the lucky women to be called a Mama Africa," she said.
Through the programme Clover identifies women who are making a difference in their communities and provide them with incomegenerating skills to become self-sustained. By assessing their needs, Clover is able to help renovate their facilities and provide them with skills training so that they can implement self-help projects.
The mamas, in turn, have to transfer their skills to the members of their community, creating both employment and incomegenerating opportunities.
Zimema's super power is sewing, and with her husband and son she runs her own sewing business from her home in Zone 8.
She started the business in 2016 and although she's been sewing for many years, she received her first formal sewing training during a course organised by Clover.
Survival of the fittest
Women hoping to be Mama Afrikas must be able to prove they are leaders, that they look after people such as women, children or the elderly in their communities, and that they are respected, hardworking and resourceful.
Clover helps them to start up bakeries and vegetable gardens and to upgrade childcare centres or expanding sewing or craft businesses, depending on the nature of their work. For Zimema, Clover equipped her sewing room and provided her with new machines.
Awards function
Zimema was announced as George's Mama Afrika during the official awards function held at the Dias Hotel on Thursday 28 March. Each Mama had received
material to have a formal dress made for the function. Clover's Professor Elain Vlok, who initiated the programme and has led it for 24 years, has received a number of awards in her individual capacity as well.