Invest in Women and Accelerate Progress
Mahikeng Local Municipality, in collaboration with the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports, and Recreation, successfully hosted a Women’s Month celebration at Lomanyaneng Library on August 29, 2024. The event, themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” was graced by Executive Mayor Cllr. Tshepiso Mphehlo, Director for Community Services Dr. Kesolofetse Lefenya-Motshegare, Cllr. Mpho Phuthego, Library Staff, Angels of Tomorrow, pastors, community members, dignitaries, and local school learners. The celebration honoured the achievements of women and their vital roles in their communities.
A key message from the keynote speakers emphasized that addressing global challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, rising poverty, and climate change requires empowering women. Investing in women can drive progress toward a healthier, safer, and more equitable world for everyone.
It was emphasized that the time to act is now, and to ensure that women are not left behind, librarians and all attendees should focus on five critical areas:
- Gender equality is a fundamental human right and key to building inclusive societies that benefit everyone.
- Implementing gender-responsive financing.
- Supporting feminist change-makers.
- Transitioning to a green economy while fostering a care-oriented society.
- Eradicating poverty.
In conclusion, prioritising these areas will accelerate progress and promote equality for women in all aspects of life.
Contributors Ms Maake and Ms Nani
NWU Library Highlights Role in Social Cohesion and Agricultural Advancement
The Taung Agricultural College recently celebrated Library Week under the theme "Library Fostering Social Cohesion," an event highlighting the library's critical role in uniting communities through knowledge sharing. As part of the celebrations, the North-West University Library was invited to engage with students and staff, highlighting the importance of agriculture and research in driving sustainable development. The collaboration underscored the importance of agricultural research in addressing global food security challenges, fostering innovation, and advancing rural economies by promoting access to valuable academic resources. Libraries were placed as essential facilitators of social cohesion, education, and agricultural advancement.
The event saw an enthusiastic gathering of secondary school students, agricultural college students, and employees, all united by a common appreciation for the transformative power of libraries. Among the distinguished presenters was the North-West University's Learning and Research Manager (Mahikeng Campus), Ms N Madikane, who contributed her insights and experiences to the day's proceedings. She mostly touched on the issue we are currently facing with primary school children who cannot read properly and on ways we can deal with this problem.
Mr Dire, an Irrigation Specialist, emphasised the crucial link between food security and water, highlighting that water is fundamental for food production, processing, and preparation. Effective management of water resources is essential to ensure long-term food security, particularly as climate change and population growth increase the pressure on these resources. To address this, the speaker highlighted the need for sustainable practices, policy interventions, and technological innovations to help balance the growing demands for water and food.
"In some areas of South Africa, food insecurity is not due to a lack of resources; rather, it comes from the construction of houses on land that should be used for agricultural production". This statement points to the issue of land use, where urban expansion and housing development encroach on fertile land that could otherwise be used to grow food, thus exacerbating food insecurity despite the availability of natural resources. This highlights the challenge of emphasising how land use decisions impact food security.
Contributors: Mr Emilio Stuurman and Ms Nomzingisi Madikane