It all started with a knock on my office door on a cold autumn’s day in July 19 years ago. When I opened the door it was Loretta. She did not have her usual smile on her face but I invited her in and we hugged it out.

We discussed the possibility of starting our own organisation that focused on women and young girls. We became very excited by our discussions and all the possibilities for this wonderful nameless organisation. We approached a few women and after some discussions we had our first Woman’s Day gathering of about 20 strong women, and it was during this gathering that WECAN was officially baptised. 

With limited resources and finances the WE CAN crew worked hard to develop programmes and workshop materials that would have a positive impact on all that would participate. 

At WE CAN we believe that every woman that comes through our doors will leave a changed woman, one that can stand up for herself, one that is not afraid to be who she has become through the participation of the programs that WE CAN developed.  

WE CAN has grown in leaps and bounds within the past 19 years. It is now in a position to employ a few women on a permanent basis which is a huge success compared to the organisation’s starting point.   

Personally, I also grew by being part of this phenomenal group of women, standing tall amongst my peers and speaking up for myself and for the woman without a voice. 

My wish for this organisation is that it will continue to grow and be the safe space for women, and especially young women, to find their righteous place in society again.

As a young woman, WE CAN has allowed me to not just get involved in a community project but to understand the vast problems women face as well as our OVC. It has created a pattern of thinking if I accomplish this what affects would it have on those communities or organizations I deal with. It has created me to also affirm myself in my beliefs and understand the diversity of others. 

As a daughter, WE CAN taught me that even in family systems that not everything the way our parents and grandparents have done things are the best ways but there is a sense of understanding what they trying to achieve for the family. It allowed me to question value systems and improve communications. 

As a new mother, to encourage my daughter as young as she is that our hearts are meant for those who need our help. She might not understand the value of my words right now. So I need to show and lead by action. We CAN has taught me to be proactive and to do things even of the odds seem impossible. 

As a woman in today's life. WE CAN has encouraged me to be bold and let my thoughts be heard and not to be mediocre. Women are meant to break glass ceilings oh heck we can even build our own building no stopping our limitations. 

Allow yourself to learn and grow, it might be uncomfortable in the challenge but to help ourselves is key in understanding our uniqueness and never stop trying or doing for those who need us. Our playing small serves no one.