AMANDA NDLOVU INTRODUCES BECOMING WOMAN TO OLIEVENHOUBOSCH RESIDENTS

Written by Valencia Legodi

Amanda Valencia Ndlovu born (March 01, 1997) and raised in Pretoria West is a founder and director of a non-profit organisation named Becoming woman, she moved to Olievenhoutbosch in 2012 while she was still in grade 9 and she completed her matric in 2015 then furthered her studies in 2018. On the 3^rd October 2020 Amanda will be launching Becoming women which will only be an hour, the launch will be held at Dhova’s restaurant (ext.36) from 10-11 am.

Becoming woman was inspired by her personal experiences and journey, growing up without an elder sister or brother to guide, motivate and advise her about life, career and relationships. Starting an organisation for her it meant becoming an elder sister to a lot of young women who need guidance, encouragement and support.

The entrance will be two packs of pads that will be donated to some girls who are helping out with the launch, finger foods and snacks will be served to guests attending the event. There will also be music, entertainment and guest speakers namely Katlego Mathale who is a makeup artist and director for make up with Katlego, Ellen Nkuna who is an attorney at Nkuna attorneys in ext.15.

Challenges she faced were negative criticism from different people, being rejected several times by companies she asked funding from “not everyone will like your idea and not everyone will think that big idea of yours is worth funding, there were times were I felt demotivated, at some point I almost lost faith but then I remembered that rejection does not mean what I want to do is impossible, I remembered why I am doing this launch and how it will benefit young women “she said.

She added that the regulations of the lockdown made things even more difficult, because everything is online and certain things are restricted, they used different methods of inviting people to the launch, instead of making posters and distributing them everywhere, they send out invites to a certain number of people that are on their guest list.

The owner of Dovha restaurant offered his place as the venue for the launch, finger food and snacks. The launch has no sponsors yet, she receives help from her neighbours and friends. They are also selling t-shirts for only R150.00 to raise funds for the launch and to place an order send Amanda a text on Facebook.

“ on the day of the launch we will be discussing women empowerment, issues of womanhood, what women go through, the pressure women put on each other, step on becoming a better women ,emotional intelligence, financial freedom, independence, the art of decision making, how women think verses how they act in different situations. I am so excited about the launch and I wish I had someone to guide, advise and encourage me when I was younger, but it is never too late to learn” Amanda said.

In few years from now she sees Becoming woman as an organisation/movement that will recognised nationally and internationally, a movement that will be celebrated annually with different speakers and theme every year. She added that it will groom young women into becoming motivational speakers, life coaches, councillors and social workers.

For more information on the Becoming woman launch and Amanda Ndlovu follow her on Facebook @ Amanda Valencia Ndlovu