Katuka continues to empower Namibian women
The first training session of the Katuka Mentorship Programme took place in the capital on Friday.Sponsored by Bank Windhoek for the past six years, this year’s programme sees 24 mentors and 26 mentees embark on a journey of empowerment.
The programme enables and encourages business and professional women to achieve their goals.
The organiser of the Economist Businesswoman Projects, Desèré Lundon-Muller, said the engagement and energy during the orientation was incredible, setting the stage for what promises to be a transformative journey throughout the year.
She thanked Bank Windhoek for its invaluable support, saying “the bank’s commitment to empowering women and fostering personal and professional growth is truly inspiring. This partnership is not just an investment in our programme but a contribution to shaping the next generation of empowered, confident women leaders in Namibia.”
Two of the mentees, Foide Ngipandulwa and Sevelia Nakalemo, said they are proud to have joined the programme and look forward to becoming better individuals and professionals.
Ngipandulwa, a part-time lecturer at the I-Care Health Training Institute Namibia, shared that she joined the programme because she believes that one cannot grow if they do not step outside of their comfort zones. “I would like to see what is out there and go beyond boundaries to see my potential and growth,” she said, adding that she looks forward to a personal transformation this year.
Nakalemo, an economist by profession, said that she joined the programme looking for an environment that could help her achieve her personal goals. “I encourage every woman out there, especially the married ones, to look into joining the Katuka Mentorship Programme so that they can grow into better individuals and professionals,” she said, hoping for an exciting transformative journey.”
According to Bank Windhoek’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sponsorships, Bronwyn Moody, the bank believes that pairing the right mentors with this year’s new intake of mentees and the 525 that have come before them is in itself an act of positive change that has the potential to empower young businesswomen who believe in their dreams and write their destiny.
The programme, which matches a mentor and a mentee with similar professional or personal interests to share their skills and expertise for a year, has been in existence for the past 24 years. It has produced significant results in the careers of the participating mentees.