Equality in Action: How Asante Africa Supports Women’s Empowerment on Women’s Equality Day
On August 26th we’ll be commemorating Women’s Equality Day, a day whose roots lie in the right to vote, and one that takes on more meaning as women’s rights continue to be under threat with the rise of authoritarianism and assaults on democracy.
In an election year, it’s more important than ever to support women’s equality in the U.S. and abroad in every way possible.
Women’s rights need to be actively fought for and protected. Nowhere does that resonate more than in the rural communities of East Africa where the existence of FGM, early marriage, and poverty combine to deprive girls and young women of their livelihoods.
By providing skills training, much needed resources, and merit and need-based scholarships for low-income families, Asante Africa strives to empower young girls (and boys) so they can become leaders in their communities. And one of our alumni has proven to be a great inspiration this Women’s Equality Day.
A scholarship empowers a future entrepreneur
About 146 kilometers west of Nairobi lies Narok Town, where former Asante Africa employee (and alumni) Anne Muli resides. As part of a family of six, money was tight for Anne’s family. As a result her school attendance was off and on, and though she was a bright student, her learning, and her future, was being disrupted.
When we visited her high school in Narok in the early 2010’s seeking a partnership, one of the directors told us her story and how Anne could benefit from financial support. Asante quickly granted Anne a scholarship that began in high school, and continued through university.
“That’s when I was introduced to their Youth Livelihood Program, whereby they were training us about dream mapping, setting goals, financial discipline, and how to work on the challenges you will go through,” recounted Anne.
“So my experience with Asante Africa was a defining moment for me…I got an opportunity to clarify what my dreams were, and learn how to navigate the different challenges that came my way. It was one of the turnaround moments of my life.” (Anne Muli, pictured below)
Women’s Equality Day Facts
- When is it: International Women’s Equality Day is held annually on August 26th
- What is it: Honoring the suffragette movement, the celebration formally recognizes the 19th amendment and women’s right to vote, which was signed on August 26th, 1920. Women’s Equality Day was first introduced by Congresswoman Bella Abzug (NY) for designation in 1971. In 1973, Congress subsequently approved the resolution and August 26th officially became Women’s Equality Day.
How to honor the day: If you’re looking for a way to honor this special day, be sure to register to vote, and help others register to vote, especially the women in your life.
Overcoming challenges to start her businesses
After graduating with a degree in purchasing and supply chain management, Anne began working for Asante Africa Foundation as a Youth Livelihood program coordinator. Now the skills she learned as a student were helping her “Pay-it-Forward” and prepare other girls and boys to enter the job market or become entrepreneurs themselves.
Anne’s unique position of having gone through the program provided an experienced point of view, one that could advise management on what was (and was not) working when it came to the youth.
As a result, Anne’s know-how played a vital role in helping the organization tweak its approach and expand across East Africa, into Tanzania and Uganda.
During her six years working for Asante Africa, she began using her skills to start nascent businesses in the mobile banking (electronic payments) and cosmetics industries.
It was a savvy move…she not only had the guts to start a business but identified how she could bring the kind of unique value that creates a sustainable business. It must be true that fortune favors the bold, because one of her businesses ended up assisting the other.
Anne’s cosmetic business
“In Narok we have so many people in rural communities that aren’t able to access the cosmetics that people in big cities can afford. With social media and TikTok they are seeing so many different creams…or different hairstyles and are thinking ‘why can’t we have these things here?’.”
“So that’s how I identified the gap,” Anne continued. “I can bring the cosmetics folks enjoy in the big towns back to the rural area, so people can feel like they could become as beautiful as they’ve been seeing, so they could also belong.”
“You need a lot of money to start a business, but being in the mobile banking industry it was easier for me. I had a relationship with the bank and could share my business proposals.”
With her banking background, Anne was also able to develop strong relationships with her suppliers and distributors…as a result they could supply the products right to her shop where she provides retail and wholesale goods to consumers and small businesses alike.
As things come full circle, Anne pays it forward by helping fellow small businesses in and around Narok Town grow. As a distributor of cosmetics, she’s formed loyal relationships with the salons purchasing her products. She helps them get their businesses off the ground by giving discounts and delivering products up front so they can pay her on the backend.
“I’m happy to see they’re businesses growing, I’m here to sell them what’s new and needed in the market,” she said proudly. “And of course we have a team of about ten young people working for us as transporters and the like.”
An empowered entrepreneur reflects on Women’s Equality Day
Operating as a female entrepreneur in Kenya has given Anne a unique perspective on the progress that’s been made this Women’s Equality Day, but also the progress yet to come.
For example, she acknowledges that while women have the right to vote it may not be enough to just cast a ballot.
Anne began, “for me, International Women’s Equality Day is all about a reflection of what impact I’m having in the place I am. How is my voice heard and how am I able to challenge the status quo?”
“This day is a moment of reflection of how I am making a meaningful contribution in all spaces, whether political, economical, social, or spiritual. Because I came to realize, as a woman, I am given that space to sit at that table, but if I’m not able to offer a tangible solution to the current challenges we face then there’s no impact I’m making. So for me it’s about reflection, and going a notch higher..we want to see our contributions making a tangible impact in each of the places we are in.”
“(Ultimately) I want to stand as a symbol of hope and possibility. Having deliberately decided to come back to the place I was born to have this business up and running as a symbol of hope and possibility shows those who are coming up that it’s possible to walk into those big offices and have your voices heard.”
WRITTEN BY: Chris Bass