Eva Tito Biyela: Separate yourself form the negativity that life brings
Eva Tito Biyela, is a business woman who has created over 10 businesses since she was in her youth. Eva runs a travel agency, IT and electric business. She also runs businesses in the hospitality industry. In addition to that, Eva is known for her philanthropy work. She has been involved in charity work for many years and has found herself assisting in housing, feeding, building, offering and volunteering. Many call her Eva, mother of many. What inspired you to get into business? After I matriculated I went straight into business. I was already seeing various opportunities which I could provide solutions to, and needs/gaps which I could fulfill. I discovered early on that I am the type of person who gets tired or easily bored when I have to keep doing the same work. So it became a habit for me to venture into something else while I keep another business running. Over the years I tried many different things as a passionate entrepreneur. I was always finding ways to resolve challenges and find solutions to societal needs. My life revolved around business. I have been in business for the past 26 years. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Tanzania. In my book I speak a lot about my experience growing up caught in-between my mother who was a Muslim, and my father who was a Christian. My brother, sister and I were raised to adopt and to practice both religions, and it worked very well. We were happy even whilst experiencing poverty and various challenges. One of my favourite experiences growing up, which I mention briefly in my book, is the relationship between my brother and I. What were the challenges you faced as a young business woman and mother? When I began in business I faced a lot of stress. But, the hardships I went through growing up and being a young entrepreneur lead me to this understanding: Don’t let the stress of life take away the joy of your day Tell the truth always about your situation Be real to yourself Separate yourself form the negativity that life brings I learnt not to take business too seriously, to take things as they come, and to work hard, yet not to try change things I cannot change. Tell us about your family I have four beautiful children, a girl, 24; twins (a girls and a boy) 22; and my youngest girl, 21. They are much like their mother, full of life, business driven, and very much involved in community building and charity work. Two of my children have already taken after me. When they completed varsity they wanted to get straight into business, so that they took over the managing of my IT and electricity business. What led you to talking and writing about your life and business experiences? I have failed many times in my life. I’ve failed in business and in resolving some life issues, but, I wouldn’t change any of that, because it gave me the life experience I have; and I have no problem sharing my experiences. Over the years it has become easier to open up to people and share my story. Through my sharing, I have assisted people to resolve their own issues. From sharing my story with people, I would find myself addressing groups of people, and in turn being asked to speak at church events. As my business grew, this demand followed me everywhere. Eventually I had to answer that call. What led you to write a book? Besides being asked many times by various people to write a book, I never thought I would actually write a book. During my encounters with people, especially woman in conferences and during projects I have been involved in, I would be asked to have on record what I speak about or to package it in a book. Then unexpectedly, the time came when I felt the conviction and urge to write, and that is how the book came together. What is the book about? The book is about the harsh challenges people face, and the how to exercise faith during these challenges. I reference a lot of my own journey and the experiences of getting to a point where all I had was faith to get through my challenges. This faith has been all I have been talking and teaching about the past few years. What projects are you currently working on? Luxury and leisure vacations and cruise ship packages Continuing with my charity work with different organisation; and also my office supports various initiatives Being a speaker at various events and outreach programs Finding solutions and assisting in programs which help women to rise above their challenges and beyond victimization We will soon be launching a magazine for woman in the African continent What did you love about Eva’s story? Let us know more here.
Growing and marketing your brand via social media – The tale of 5 #MotherlandMoguls
[bctt tweet=”When used right, digital media can be harnessed to make a direct impact in the society” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It is not often that one catches five aspiring women in the same spot. Well, maybe it’s often, but what are the chances of finding them engaged in a fashion project to raise awareness and funds for charity? These five #MotherlandMoguls are part of the ongoing Romperade Campaign, an online fashion charity event to raise funds for Living for the Needy Foundation. SLA contributor Emma Kwenu Smith caught up with the five who have successfully grown their brands online, to ask them quick questions about the impact of social media marketing on their businesses. What’s the role of social media in charity organizations and specifically for your brand? How has social media given you exposure as a brand/charity foundation? Caritas Aryee, Founder, Tatas and Friends Foundation. You would notice that, largely, Ghanaian charity foundations have always run on traditional media. It’s easier to hear a radio ad calling for donations for the Osu Children’s home etc. rather than a social media campaign for funds. This is the exact reason why Tatas and Friends Foundation has been a game changer in the industry. We started with social media and still the story has not changed. It has been a huge boost for us, and we encourage others to do same. First off, our publicity is done via social media. It is easy to get Kenkey for the Needy, (which is our major fundraising project) trending on platforms such as twitter and IG. Since we are a charity organization, we are unable to invest in traditional media for publicity. However, through social media, we receive access to grant interviews on TV and radio. In doing so, we have been profiled alongside other solid brands on platforms such as Starr Woman Project, TedX campus, Reach for Change and many others. And to think this publicity is free! We just had to capitalize. The second bit of using social media is that we are able to reach out to people both locally and internationally to raise money. People we do not even know, reach out to us so that they can donate to the cause. It is amazing! Social media is a powerful tool, it has shaped the Living for the Needy brand and has given us a lot of exposure. How do influencers promote a brand and how rewarding is it to include them when building your brand online? Jessica Naa Adjeley Konney, Fashion Blogger, Trends&Blendsgh. Influencers have become the new voices of brands —they are already largely recognized on social media for carving a niche. At this point, they have grown an audience that is interested in every content they churn out which is great for people who would like to patronize their services. [bctt tweet=”If you’d like to speed up the process of advertising a new brand, influencers are the way to go” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Being an influencer myself and having featured influencers as well, I can say that the exposure they give to a brand is immense. Featuring an influencer takes many forms —you can have them use and review your products and put up posts on social media. They can also be included in events and can feature in huge campaigns so that it gains traction. How do you know which digital audience to engage with for your brand and how do you decide which social media platform to use? Constance Efua Mensah, Creative Director, EfuaStanzz Fashion. It starts with knowing the general audience target for my brand. We are more skewed towards women’s clothing but basically, all our marketing is geared towards the confident woman. In that light, it is important that we build an identity that resonates with our targeted audience. [bctt tweet=”Choosing one social media platform starts with knowing & understanding your audience” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Images are essential for my fashion brand —it helps clients (both potential and existing) know what my brand is capable of providing. After all, to be comfortable enough to purchase a dress, you need to see it and assess it from all angles. As such, I mostly use Instagram and Facebook as a means of communicating to my audience. Facebook has a wider reach, meaning more people see our posts and it also allows for effective picture/video sharing. Instagram also has a beautiful and simple approach to marketing. Content, particularly on Instagram, is simply more shareable, easier to understand, and far more universal than other types of content. Also, it is full of people eager to connect with a brand on a more intimate and tangible level. Does social media directly affect your client base? Lamisi, MakeUp Artist, Lamisi Artistry. Truth is, I do get over 80% of my clients via social media. The rest is through word of mouth. [bctt tweet=”MUAs need social media, people need to see your work before trusting you with their faces” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I leverage heavily on Instagram particularly so that people see the images —it is an excellent platform for sharing all my works. However, the industry is very competitive, as such, it is important to make sure that your images are of good quality. Else, how will you stand out and win potential clients over? For brands like Coca Cola, Vodafone etc. there may not be a very direct correlation between the sales you make and your social media investment. However, for us in the beauty industry, it’s very plain. [bctt tweet=”Social media dictates our potential client base and ultimately, it is where we get our clients” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The more posts on your social media pages, the better? Why? Maud Mensah, CEO, WigClub That statement is indisputable. The more you post and engage your audience, the more visible you are. However, you do not want to share too much information that it suffocates them and drives them away, and you also don’t want to share so little that they become disinterested. It is important to find the right balance for your brand. As
Faith Uwantege: I had a burning desire to help street children
[bctt tweet=”Faith Uwantege: If I didn’t have a big heart, I would probably have given up” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Faith Uwantege set up Faith Foundation to answer the issue of Rwandan children and women living below the poverty line. To realise her dream, she saved up while working her 9-5, all while knowing that when she quit, it’ll be to work in something she was truly passionate about. Through her foundation, Faith encourages vulnerable women to sell handicrafts they make themselves. Faith Uwantege is working towards breaking the poverty cycle in Rwanda by encouraging people to be self-reliant. What do you think of the industry you work in? Well, that’s quite a handful of a question but I’ll try my best to answer it. On a personal level, what I dedicated my life to do is not something that’s being done by everybody else. So I cannot say I am competing or comparing myself with anybody in the industry. All I can say is that it takes a lot of passion, dedication and selflessness to be in this kind of industry. So what do I think of this industry? I think the answer to that question is quite relative depending on who you ask! Tell us about saving your salary to see your dream come true. How long did you have to save? Did you have any other plans outside just saving? I really can’t specify how long it took me to save in order to start my dream. All I remember is that I had this burning desire to help helpless children and get them off the street. It is not actually monetary saving alone, I sacrificed my time to be with these children and to try to pinpoint the most vulnerable ones. In what ways do you restore hope to vulnerable children and women? I restore hope in vulnerable children and women first of all by convincing them that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Before giving them any other form of help, I give them a vocal assurance. I teach women how to be self sustainable by creating and selling hand crafts and helping their children live a better life. I teach women how weave baskets (commonly known as ‘agaseke’) and I also teach them how to use sewing machines. How do you think the poverty cycle can be broken in Rwanda? The poverty cycle in Rwanda can only be broken by teaching people to be self-reliant, by changing their mindsets. Most poor people in Rwanda think that since they are poor, they are only meant to survive on government hand outs and foreign aid. This is a wrong perception because nobody was created to be poor. Once you convince them that they can actually be self-reliant, that’s the beginning of poverty eradication. [bctt tweet=”Faith Uwantege: What I dedicated my life to do isn’t being done by everybody else” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What is exciting to you about being a young Rwandan woman today? What’s exciting to me about being a young Rwandan woman today, is that I have a say in the society. Thanks to our president, who actually embarked on a war to ensure that there is gender balance in the country. He also ensured that all children have equal opportunity in education and jobs in order for them to contribute to the development of the country. Do you engage in any other projects outside Faith Foundation? I dedicate myself fully to this foundation and that’s all that I do. I might consider doing other things in the future but at the moment, I think my effort and focus is still vital in the foundation. Who is your mentor and how important has she/he been in the growth of your project? My mentor is Nick Hills, he is one of a kind! He has played an important role and is still there for the Faith Foundation in so many immeasurable ways as a donor and as my advisor. I look up to him! I met my mentor Nick Hills first during his visit to Rwanda. Like most other tourists who had travelled here, Nick came with his family to see Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. [bctt tweet=”Faith Uwantege: As a young Rwandan woman today, I have a say in the society” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What five skills do young women need to successfully run a foundation like yours? The five skills I think women or any other person for that matter needs to be successful in running this kind of foundation are; Dedication: A woman needs to be dedicated even if the journey seems rough. It’s actually the challenges that make us more stronger in this kind of field. Determination: A woman that wants to be successful in this industry, must be determined. Without determination, you’ll easily give up. Passion for what she does. I always tell people that it’s very important to do something that they are passionate about. Be it in a business or in a non- profit organization, it just makes it so much easier. If there’s no passion, then don’t even bother. Hard work: Work harder even without expecting something in return. It’s worth it. Simply having a big and helpful heart. If I didn’t have a big heart, I would probably have given up. There are many challenges in this industry, especially that it does not pay. It’s the big and helpful heart that drives us. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Didintle Moatshe: The teenager bringing hope to her community
[bctt tweet=”Didintle Moatshe: The motive behind my project is the situations I have been through” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The fact that Didintle Moatshe is a teenager doesn’t stop her from working hard to make a change in her community. Together with her partner Kgotso Makgalema, Didintle is trying to save girls in their communities. Both Didintle and Kgotso do this through several projects, including one that provides free sanitary pads to girls so that they remain in school. Supported by the local church, schools and other stakeholders, Didintle shows that it’s never too early to start campaigning for positive change. Her bravery extends to openly sharing her experience with rape. Didintle does this in order to heal and to give hope to other girls who are rape survivors. You’re 16 years old, why have you decided to start these projects as a teenager? I decided to start an organization as teenager because I felt that the government was not doing enough. Most of the time, it is like they do not care. We have been waiting for a lot of things that the government promised to offer but has still not provided. I started this project to fill the gap that has been left alone. The sanitary pads initiative is the project I first started with. Its aim is to help girls who can not afford sanitary pads. I have witnessed it happen, girls who bunk class because of ruined skirts and girls who miss a week of school because her period has started. I started this as a teenager because I felt the government promotes safe sex —which is a choice, more than hygiene of girls. Tell us about Barrier Breakers. Barrier Breakers is the main organization we started. It includes everything —not only sanitary pads— it aims to provide the needs of our communities. We do not want to revolve around one issue, we deal with all of them. In addition, we are breaking barriers of poverty and inequality in our communities. We are building bridges to help others cross, to get to the other side where grass is green and everything is bright. We give hope to those who have lost hope in everything and seek intervention in their lives. Our slogan is, “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”. [bctt tweet=”Didintle Moatshe: I felt the government promotes safe sex more than hygiene of girls” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What has motivated you to start this project?How did you start implementing it? The motive behind this project is the situations I have been through. I learnt that in the world we all do not have equal chances and we need each other. Ubuntu principles are also behind the project. We all need to practice them and this is me practising Ubuntu. Whatever background I come from does not give me the right to fold my arms and watch women who are supposed to lead in the future suffer. I started this project small where I asked the congregation and the youth of my church to help me gather sanitary pads and toiletries. This was a success and we donated what we raised to Kgomotso Children Centre in Soshanguve. So it all started in church. How do you plan to effectively provide for individuals in need in your communities I plan to get help from companies who are willing to help, as well as from many other individuals who support such initiatives in their communities. Our plan of action is to distribute in schools. This will leave us with a certain percentage who do not attend schools. Some are at safety homes and others in their private homes but we are also going to reach out to them. We plan to donate two packets of pads to individuals in schools and leave extra packets at schools for when they run out. We target five schools every Friday where we freely distribute the sanitary pads. [bctt tweet=”Didintle Moatshe: We all need to practice Ubuntu principles and this is me practising Ubuntu” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about the meaning behind #SaveOurGirls? #SaveOurGirls was a name proposed by my partner working with me in this project, Kgotso Makgalema. We decide to go with the name #SaveOurGirls because we believe that we are saving girls from the pit of poverty. Our roles in this situation is for us to throw in the rope to help them up to reach their destiny. Save Our Girls is another way of saying let’s keep girls in school, save them from the hungry lions waiting to devour them by taking advantage of their circumstances. We want to build a country where women know their worth. We are restoring the dignity and pride of girls. #SaveOurGirls is a cry to the public to help girls who are in need. You are very open about being a rape survivor, can you share why? Many say I am still young to talk so openly about my rape story. What I believe is that in order to heal, I have to talk about it. I have to be free from the chains of rape. I thought to myself, why should I sit and cry while I have Christ? Still, it was not easy. I had to step out of depression, I had to divorce all the suicidal thoughts and find ways to feel good. I might not know who my rapist is but I know that God will never leave the wicked unpunished. Sharing my story can give life to someone who has lost hope. Surviving rape is never easy but I turned back and went back to my first love who is Jesus. My message is, whatever you go through now and just remember God will never put in a situation knowing there is no escape. Praise him in your darkest moments and let his feet dance to your tune. God’s timing is always right. [bctt tweet=”Didintle Moatshe: We want to build a country where women know their worth” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Do you see yourself continuing your projects
Keoratile Ngobeni: I wasn’t going to waste a year of my life doing nothing
[bctt tweet=”Keoratile Ngobeni: I started Queen Mentality after I was forced to take a gap year ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Who says you’re too young to be a philanthropist? That person should meet Keoratile Ngobeni, a 20 year old feminist and philanthropist from Mabopane, South Africa. Driven by her passion to empower women and develop youth, Keoratile founded Queen Mentality. With the tagline “Fierce. Fearless. Focused”, Queen Mentality works with women through seminars, events, workshops and community projects. This is all to raise a “generation of Queens”. When she’s not focused on turning young women into queens, Keoratile Ngobeni writes and works her hustle as a business woman. Tell us about Queen Mentality. What motivated you to start this organisation? Well, I started Queen Mentality after I was forced to take a gap year this year. I had told myself that I wasn’t going to waste a year of my life doing nothing. I knew I’d rather spend time impacting the lives of people in whichever way that I can. Queen Mentality strives to bring out the best version of the women (and men) we cross paths with. Since you took a gap year, what would you love to study and why? When I first applied to university I had applied for International Relations and Politics. I got accepted to study it but unfortunately I didn’t manage to register. Now, think this was the best thing to happen to me then because I have since changed my mind. I want to study Law. I was going to be stuck with a course I’m not passionate about. [bctt tweet=”Keoratile Ngobeni: I’m going for everything they told me I wouldn’t achieve” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What is your greatest strength? My belief in myself. It took me a long time for me to believe in myself and now that I do, I’m going for everything they told me I wouldn’t achieve. It’s what keeps me going. What is your biggest achievement So far, Queen Mentality is my biggest achievement. It has opened a whole lot of doors for me and made me grow into the woman I am today. Condoms or pads? Why? Definitely pads. As much as unwanted pregnancies and STDs are important for people to refrain from, a woman does not choose to go on her periods —even when she can’t afford too. You don’t hear that boys skip school because they don’t have condoms! Over 6 million girls skip school every month because they can’t afford sanitary pads for their cycle. [bctt tweet=”Keoratile Ngobeni: Queen Mentality has made me grow into the woman I am today” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Love or money? Money! As much as money doesn’t buy happiness. I don’t think I’d personally ever be TRULY happy if I were deeply in love but I didn’t have money to afford essentials. Name three things in a women you find attractive. Confidence Ambition Giving credit to other women! For example, congratulating or being happy for another woman who is doing well for herself, telling other women their people, not having the “pull her down syndrome“. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.