Empowering Women Through Engagement was the theme for the 2025 UJ Women in Community Engagement Empowerment Programme (UJWiCEEP) held on Monday, 25 August 2025
Hosted by the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Community Engagement Unit, the annual gathering honoured female students, academics, women from local communities and the corporate sector. The event created a platform to inspire, support and strengthen women’s roles in building resilient and positive communities.
Welcoming attendees, Ms Lebogang Ayobiojo, Community Engagement Specialist, said the theme reflected UJ’s strategic commitment to women’s empowerment.
“Our aim is to facilitate women’s pursuit of financial independence, resilience in the face of adversity, and the broader advancement of gender equality and human dignity within South Africa.”
The event featured a range of speakers who shared insights on empowerment, financial independence, and personal growth.
Economic empowerment through CSI
Guest speaker Ms Zanele Shabalala, Manager of Corporate Social Investment at Standard Bank South Africa, reflected on her personal journey and the bank’s initiatives to empower women economically.
“Coming from a rural background, I have seen women close to me suffer in patriarchal systems. I believe that even the small steps we take can inspire change. I love to see women transform, much like butterflies.”
Ms Mary-Anne Ebigo, Senior Lecturer in UJ’s Department of Finance and Investment Management and a Certified Financial Planner, highlighted the critical role of financial literacy.
“Statistics show that people are not as financially literate as they believe. There’s a gap between knowledge and behaviour. Women must take care of themselves and not rely on anyone else to do it for them.”
Delivering the keynote, Prof Kulsum Kondiah, Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Science, addressed the theme Is Imposter Syndrome Disguising Your Authentic Self? She encouraged participants to embrace authenticity as the antidote to self-doubt.
“Imposter syndrome is not a mental illness. Many suffer in silence, leading to burnout and anxiety. The traits of an authentic self include courage, honesty and integrity. Perfection is unattainable — at the end of the day, you must outgrow the version of yourself that survives and become the version that thrives.”
Launch of a new mentorship programme
Closing the event, Ms Tseleng Modjadji, Community Engagement Specialist, announced the launch of the CE Executive and Leadership Guidance Programme.
“This new mentorship initiative aims to strengthen relations with community women by creating an exchange of knowledge. By prioritising engagement as both a vehicle and a goal, UJWiCEEP seeks to elevate women’s socio-economic empowerment.”
The event reaffirmed UJ’s commitment to fostering spaces where women can engage, support each other, and drive transformative change across communities.
Watch the highlights below:
