This National Women’s Day, we celebrate women making a difference in the Social Employment Fund (SEF) project, exemplified by Linda Zondi, a project manager for SEF at Planact.
Planact is not a ‘do good feel good’ organisation, we work on eliminating the exclusion of vulnerable communities in local government processes to improve living conditions and alleviate poverty. Linda’s work on the SEF project showcases her dedication to this mission.
Reflecting on National Women’s Day, Linda says, “Imbokodo holds it where it’s hot, where it’s sharp, showing how strong women are.”
For her, the day symbolises women’s strength and resilience amid glaring social challenges.
“Listening to the stories of other women whose lives have been changed by the SEF Project, evolving from single, jobless individuals to empowered working mothers supporting their families, is truly inspiring,” she recounts, highlighting the project’s profound impact, particularly in informal settlements.
Linda advocates for a year-round empowerment of women.
“Women should be supported, encouraged, empowered, and celebrated every day, not just on one day out of 365,” she says, emphasizing the need for continuous recognition of women’s achievements.
“Women are doing a lot to empower and upskill fellow women through various programs. We may not reach all of them at once, but each step we take goes a long way.”
Linda’s dedication to uplifting women aligns with Planact’s objective to connect marginalised communities with local economic opportunities. The SEF project enables communities to be integrated into government development schemes, private and public ventures to foster fair distribution of resources and opportunities. It exemplifies how targeted social employment initiatives can significantly impact vulnerable women’s lives.
Linda is hopeful that such social employment projects have a potential to effect positive community transformation.