As part of concluding Women’s Month, the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Humanities, in partnership with the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Johannesburg, hosted a remarkable event on Friday, 30th August 2024. This collaborative initiative highlighted the importance of menstrual health and education while offering essential support to young women. The event exemplified the strengthening bilateral relations between UJ and the Consulate-General, underpinned by a mutual commitment to gender equality, social justice, and the empowerment of women.
The partnership between the UJ Faculty of Humanities and the Consulate-General aims to foster women’s empowerment and build a more equitable society. By providing both financial aid and crucial resources, the initiative seeks to inspire young women to reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Empowering women through education and support
Prof Kammila Naidoo, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, welcomed the attendees and shared words of encouragement. The event featured several inspirational talks focused on women’s empowerment, gender equality, and the challenges young women face in South Africa. Among the speakers were esteemed academics such as Dr Mpumi Mkhize, Director of Transformation, and Prof Corne Davis, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication, who shared personal experiences and valuable insights on overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
A key moment of the event was the announcement of bursaries awarded to two deserving female students. These bursaries will significantly ease their financial burden and enable them to pursue their academic goals with greater focus. In addition, the event underscored the importance of menstrual health by donating a substantial amount of sanitary pads to students in the Faculty of Humanities, reinforcing the message of empowerment through practical support.
Celebrating top achievers
Miss Kamogelo A. Mtobi, recipient of the Top Performance Award for the first-year female cohort in the Faculty of Humanities, expressed her excitement: “I’m feeling very excited and overwhelmed, and my advice would be, when you’re procrastinating, just study for five minutes, because five minutes is better than zero minutes, and then it will build up from there. You can do it. You can always do it, no matter what.”
Miss Amy Zietsman Brits, who won the Top Performance Award for the second-year female cohort, echoed this sentiment: “It’s a great honour. I think we’re both really happy to have won these awards and are so grateful and appreciative. Everything. Thank you. It’s always great to be a woman.”
Looking forward
Programme convenor, Prof Corne Meintjes, Vice Dean of Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Humanities, announced the awards with great pride: “It is an award for top performance as a first-year female student in the Faculty of Humanities, and that goes to Miss K.A. Mtobi. Congratulations. The second award goes to the top performance in the second-year female cohort, and that goes to Miss Amy Zietsman Brits. Congratulations to both of you.”
Prof Meintjes extended her gratitude to all those present, reflecting on the significance of the event as a fitting close to Women’s Month: “I’m really happy to see so many of you here, and I truly hope that this event will be memorable and that you take what you’ve learned here forward. However, it is time to offer a few words of thanks.”
The event served as a meaningful reminder of the importance of empowering women through education, support, and recognition, and it strengthened the bonds of cooperation between UJ and the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in their shared pursuit of a just and equal society.
