Education will stirr your passion and you will be a true agent of change...

Every other day, is a day Malawi is struggling to keep girls in school and put an end to early marriage. There are a number of well-known people that are working effortlessly on these issues. Rebecca Phwitiko may not be a new name to most of us who read the daily newspapers. This young multitalented lady is probably well known in her role as Public Relations Officer for the largest government department but she also dabbles in advocacy in the areas of girls’ education and young women’s leadership.  She has been involved in a number of global advocacy programs.

Looking at Rebecca, she is just a girl. She could have been like many other girls in Malawi, she could have ended up somewhere unknown, uneducated, and we would have never read her name in the papers.

Maybe she would have been presented as a bride somewhere before completing her education either by choice or force. If she hadn’t stayed in school she would not be where she is today. Rebecca is a Malawian girl who has done all her education in Malawi, from primary, secondary till university. She is a product of the University of Malawi specifically Chancellor College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities.

Education has allowed Rebecca to set a name for herself in the society, it has taken her miles she never imagined she could tread.  At only 26, Rebecca has four years’ experience working as a journalist for the state broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre, where she was exposed to a diverse range of development issues including challenges girls face in pursuing their education. 

In her current position as Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology she handles internal and external communications as well as events management.  She also sits on the World YWCA Board, making her one of twenty women from around the world governing the global women’s movement which is present in about 115 countries. www.worldywca.org 

Hardwork, perseverance and purpose have gotten her this far but for Rebecca there is more to be done. She believes, as Thomas Edison said, that if we all did the things we are capable of we would literally astound ourselves.

NB: This profile is shared for motivational purposes,feel free to share it with young women/girls who you know are still not aware of their potential.If you are looking for mentorship on how to unfold your potential and academic motivation for young wome and girls contact the owner of the blog through email: alibewawo@gmail.com
#girlsmuststayinschoolsupportgirlseducation#

Photo credit: AMARU Photography in support for girls education
visit www.amaruphotos.com

It all begin with a dream...

With a wish, yes that small dream...Do You have dreams or wishes and all you see is nothing but the impossibility of your dreams coming true?  Well, Catherine Namale Kaimila is just a young woman who has been through a journey just like you. It all started with a dream, a wish and little did she know that one day she would live it but she had faith that she would. Honestly, we all dream, some of us dream in colors, others choose to have their dreams in grey and some decide to have it in black and white. Whatever the differences may be, we all do dream. It all depends on the attitude and focus that we attach to our dreams as some of us may just dream while others strive to make their dreams alive.

As a young lady who was just about to graduate from University, Cathy started visualising having her photo with her suffixes on a company website. She hoped that someday it would come to pass. She never had the slightest idea when that would happen or which company it would be. From the time she was a young girl she knew her way to getting hired by a company was through education and she pursued it wholeheartedly. All her primary school days were just days wishing of growing up and turning her dream into reality. She never really figured out what it would take to reach her goal until the time she joined secondary school. As Cathy pursued her secondary education at Our Lady of Wisdom Secondary School, She started getting inspired by women in top positions and then she discovered that the secret to reaching such positions was through education. Thus when she started seeing herself at University, she could imagine of the day she would be graduating wearing the wisdom hat, she could foresee herself in an office afterwards and living her dream. She dreamt of inspiring other girls in secondary schools who would wish to achieve as much as she would have. 

From Our Lady of Wisdom Secondary School, where she did her secondary education Cathy joined The University of Wales in United Kingdom where she attained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Studies(honors) majoring in Marketing. All along she still held her dreams tight, she still believed in making her dream come true. Putting her focus right on education, she continued to pursue her MBA in International Business. It was with no doubt that she would make it with a Distinction   and become proud alumni of The University of Gloucestershire in the UK. While others would think with an MBA it was time to stop, Cathy continued to pursue a post graduate diploma in  Business Management and upon completing her post graduate diploma, Cathy came to live her dream when she got hired by Press Corporation Limited, the only Conglomerate in Malawi as a Management Trainee. After completing the management training she was given a substantive post at Press Properties Limited as a Sales & Marketing Officer. 

"It has always been my dream to have my photo with my suffixes next to it on a company website, specifically in the management section, I can proudly say the Lord made my dream come true as I am part of Management at Press Properties Limited. I owe my success and everything that I have become to God almighty. With focus, hard work, determination, open mindedness and faith everything is possible."says Cathy Kaimila. 

This does not mark the end to her education neither does it mark the end to creating more dreams as she is moved by Catherine Pulsifer's qoute that: "those who achieved success do not stop, they never become complacent, they keep learning and looking for new knowledge. Never think you have made it, there is always more to learn and do." Catherine Namale Kaimila is currently enrolled on a Leadership Development Programme sponsored by Press Corporation Limited and facilitated by Redpoint Consulting a South African based entity. Her message to young girls is to stay in school, keep their dreams alive, and they can achieve anything in life if only they have faith and belief, young girls need to have a vision, work hard, and stay determined and dedicated. Always remember that all things are possible for those who believe. The sky should not be the limit. "You can do it, yes you can!"

NB: this profile is shared for motivational purposes, feel free to share it with young women and girls you know who are still not aware of their potential. If you are looking for mentorship or more details on girls education please contact the owner of the blog through (Maggie B.B. Phiri through email: alibewawo@gmail.com)
#girlsmuststayinschoolsupporttheireducation#

Photo Credit: AMARU Photography in support of girls education

Visit: www.amaruphotos.com

Visit: www.amaruphotos.com