Over the course of the celebrations, the “WINners” – as they are called – gave presentations on the breadth of the programme, including its focus on training, coaching, networking and peer mentoring. They also shared what changes it had brought to their professional and personal lives.
It quickly became evident that the WINners had acquired not only a wealth of information from the WIN programme but that it had created a cohesiveness and camaraderie among participants, a hunger for learning and a boost in confidence. For many participants, public speaking would have seemed unimaginable at the start of the programme but at their final event, all glided through their presentations with ease.
Pamela Mburia, Chair for the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) and Alakok Mayombo, Chair for Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa), added that instead of lamenting about the lack of women in decision-making positions, the WIN programme actively equips women journalists with the tools to perform at the highest levels. Tikhala Chibwana, co-ordinator for the WIN programme in East and Central Africa, said the WINners had a bright future ahead of them.
“Armed with their three to five year career road maps, the soon-to-be-awarded certificates in media leadership from Wits University and that infectious confidence, there is no doubt that the WINners will go places,” said Chibwana.