Cape Argus

Invest in women to accelerate progress

TODAY, on Internatio­nal Women’s Day, we must accord this global observance the deep respect that we South Africans typically reserve for significan­t national days like Youth Day or Reconcilia­tion Day.

While our own Women’s Day pays homage to women’s pivotal role in navigating our nation’s complex history, Internatio­nal Women’s Day casts a wider net, commemorat­ing the global struggle for women’s rights and the ongoing efforts towards gender equality.

This day serves as a promise and a reminder that no matter how far we as a global community have come, much is left to do to emancipate women from the overt and covert barriers that deny, exclude and oppress them.

Regardless of any official decrees or bills that attempt to codify a fairer society, individual­s will continue to face significan­t obstacles to building better lives for themselves. Nowhere is this more evident than with the barriers facing women and girls in South Africa today.

Yes, significan­t progress has been made in promoting the equality and upliftment of a historical­ly disadvanta­ged group and gender, but many women and girls’ everyday reality remains difficult and desperate.

On this Internatio­nal Women’s Day, it is worth reflecting on the plight of the women and girls who continue to face economic, political, social and cultural barriers while equally appreciati­ng the efforts made throughout our country to help overcome these obstacles.

Education may not ensure one’s path out of poverty, but a lack of education is highly likely to severely hamper and impede an individual’s options and chances of accessing services and economic opportunit­ies. Beyond learning through practical experience­s, literacy is crucial to accessing new skills.

And in South Africa, literacy rates are lagging behind those of the rest of the world – although the country’s official literacy rate is just above 95% (as of 2021), South Africa ranked last out of the 57 countries assessed in the latest Progress in Internatio­nal Reading Literacy Study. More concerning, however, are the reports of growing illiteracy among young girls, with some reports suggesting that 6.8% fewer girls in South Africa can read at levels comparable to those of their global peers.

Reading broadens the mind by introducin­g readers to various situations and contexts they may not encounter daily, nurturing critical reasoning and creating learning opportunit­ies. Writing complement­s this by giving individual­s a platform to articulate and document their unique viewpoints, strengthen­ing their voice and influence. It is fitting then that organisati­ons like the Fundza Literacy Trust understand the power of reading and writing by offering women and girls a platform to train and amplify their voices through these very skills.

By providing a zero-rated platform which anyone with a smartphone or internet connection can access, Fundza is one of the many organisati­ons trying to shore up women and girls’ access to tailored and user-generated reading materials, providing an ever-growing repository of stories, articles and educationa­l written content for free.

The organisati­on has recently released the findings from its annual survey, with the data presenting a unique insight into the struggles facing young women and girls using the platform (that is, women and girls looking for written content). Overall, the data indicates that many South African women face tough economic realities, signalling an urgent need for alternate means to access written materials and opportunit­ies to write.

For example, respondent­s of the annual survey shared that approximat­ely 81% of the women not in education or training lacked full-time employment, with 7.7% having given up on looking for work.

In terms of income, nearly 30% of the women relied on social grants, while only 10.6% had an income. The remainder relied on sponsors and family members to get by – most of the women and young girls using the platform (74%) come from mediumto-large households (4+ members) earning less than R5000 a month. For these individual­s, who are not likely to have easy access to books and reading materials, a platform such as Fundza is a welcome boon.

As shown by the data gleaned by Fundza, more than 60% of respondent­s indicated that their primary language for communicat­ion at home was not English. Fundza, in agreement with Unesco’s stance that mother tonguebase­d education is a key factor for quality learning and inclusion, offers content written in multiple South African languages and encourages users to write and submit their own stories, articles and other materials in their mother tongue. This not only broadens and deepens the pool of shared literature, but exposes readers to the stories and experience­s of others who, like them, navigate South Africa’s uncertaint­ies as women.

The journey to understand­ing the complex realities women and girls face in South Africa extends beyond the observance of designated holidays. It requires an ongoing commitment to listen and integrate their diverse experience­s into the broader societal narrative. Establishi­ng digital and physical safe spaces provides a critical platform for women and girls to voice their stories, air their grievances and share their wisdom.

When organisati­ons like Fundza create such inclusive environmen­ts, we all must champion their efforts. This isn’t just about solidarity; it’s about fostering a culture where every woman and girl has the opportunit­y to be heard, recognised and valued – for the collective advancemen­t of society.