2011 - Cape Town
16 November 2011
The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town
The 2011 Freedom to Create Prize celebrations in Cape Town began with an extremely powerful and engaging Forum on Female Empowerment at the Fugard Theatre on 16 November 2011, to discuss new opportunities and trends, and the issues that continue to create barriers for the flourishing of women.
The participants invited to speak at the Freedom to Create Forum have challenged powerful and deep-rooted structures that keep women in their communities oppressed and vulnerable. These role models have envisioned an alternate reality – one in which women have every right and opportunity to flourish. They speak for women who have no opportunity to share their anguish and aspirations.
President of the Foundation for Community Development and a leading role model for women across the world, Mrs. Graça Machel was the keynote speaker at the Forum. She was joined by four remarkable panel participants, Unity Dow - the first female judge of the Botswana High Court, Chouchou Namegabe - Founder of the South Kivu Association of Women Journalists, Molly Melching - Founder of Tostan and Gcina Mhlophe - renowned South African freedom fighter, actor and activist. Read more about the panel members here.
Each member of the panel – working through governmental institutions, the judiciary, the media and non-governmental organisations in South Africa, Botswana, the DRC and Senegal – shared their experiences and challenges, providing insights on creating lasting change for the women in their communities.
For further information surrounding the 2011 Freedom to Create Prize events in Cape Town, please click here.
