Throughout history, women have sought and created spaces within their communities to support one another, share knowledge, and advocate for their rights. These spaces emerged as a response to the exclusion and marginalization women experienced in male-dominated spheres, and for women to come together when faced with changing engendered roles. Women’s societies, clubs, and organizations emerged, providing physical spaces where women could network, acquire new skills, and collectively work towards their goals. These spaces were often catalysts for social change, empowering women to challenge societal norms and assert their presence in fields traditionally dominated by men.
In my own life, the physical spaces which have fostered my growth are those that provide safety, allowed me to have a voice and provided opportunities for connection and access. As we, at WomHub, have walked the journey with female entrepreneurs, we have found that these spaces provide platforms for empowerment, collaboration, and innovation. Spaces provide a supportive environment that encourage women to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. They offer resources such as training programmes, workshops, and access to mentors. More so, physical spaces create opportunities for face-to-face interactions, allowing women to build relationships, exchange ideas, and form a sense of community, ensuring that women have dedicated environments where they can thrive. In a hybrid world, we can now call “business as usual” virtual spaces have become instrumental in breaking down geographical barriers and fostering global connections among women entrepreneurs. Online communities, social media platforms, and virtual programmes have transformed the way women entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, and support each other. Virtual spaces provide accessibility, flexibility, and convenience, allowing women to participate in entrepreneurial activities regardless of their physical location. By leveraging virtual spaces, women entrepreneurs can access diverse networks, and opportunities that transcend traditional boundaries. Whether it be physical or virtual, or even both, spaces create communities - ensuring that the voices, contributions and progress of female entrepreneurs are recognized and amplified in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. At WomHub, we’ve invested in providing spaces to build communities. Communities of entrepreneurs, mentors and innovators who are changemakers and role players in driving our economic growth. Female entrepreneurs like, Tsholofelo Moagi, founder of Sip-Sum Afrika, Ndilisa Didiza, founder of Kgothatso Innovations and Yolanda Mbanguzi, founder of Zoe Consulting, have made our hubs a home. Their experiences describe our hubs as providing:
Our hubs, are unique and based on WomHub’s experience and understanding of the important role spaces play for women, providing flexibility and consistency that women need to support their business growth. Beyond using the space, we love to create an internal economy of suppliers from our accelerator programmes that provide products and services to ourselves and our partners. We follow a membership model that:
We are currently open for business in Cape Town and in Johannesburg with plans in place to expand further soon. Watch this space! It’s not just about building co-working spaces but building community. Find your space in ours – become a member today!
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As the world celebrates International Women in Engineering Day, this year's theme, "Make Safety Seen," WomHub takes on a broader dimension, emphasizing the importance of ensuring safety not only at engineering sites but also in the digital realm. Women continue to be underrepresented in engineering and cybersecurity fields, but organizations like WomHub and our foundation WomEng are taking bold steps to address this disparity and support the growth of women engineers in the digital age.
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, where virtual interactions are increasingly prevalent, it is crucial to make safety a priority not only in physical spaces but also in the digital domain. WomHub recognizes this urgency and has been at the forefront of empowering women engineers to thrive in a digital-enabled future. WomEng (Women in Engineering), WomHub’s foundation, is a global non-profit organization dedicated to promoting gender equality in engineering and technology, focuses on creating opportunities and providing resources for women to excel in their chosen fields. Our work extends beyond traditional engineering sites, highlighting the significance of cybersecurity and virtual safety in the modern world. To encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering, WomHub offers a wide range of initiatives. One of their flagship programmes is the WomEng Fellowship, which provides employability, entrepreneurship and cybersecurity opportunities to aspiring women engineers. The fellowship connects participants with industry leaders, enabling them to gain valuable insights, build networks, and access potential employment opportunities. Recognizing the need to foster inclusivity in the cybersecurity sector, WomHub has also launched the Future Skills Initiative. This programme aims to equip women with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand AI and cybersecurity, an area that has historically been dominated by men. Through workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programmes, WomHub is empowering women to break barriers and contribute to the critical field of engineering safe societies, both physically and virtually. Additionally, WomHub actively collaborates with leading engineering and technology companies to create a more inclusive environment for women. By partnering with industry giants, the organization seeks to eliminate biases and foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. These collaborations not only provide women engineers with valuable opportunities but also challenge societal norms and inspire change within the industry. In a digital-enabled future, where technological advancements are re-shaping industries, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. WomHub recognizes this and acknowledges that women should play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of our virtual spaces. By championing the cause of women in engineering and cybersecurity, WomHub is not only breaking barriers but also making safety more visible in the digital realm. On this International Women in Engineering Day, let us celebrate the remarkable work of organizations like WomHub and their tireless efforts to empower women engineers. By addressing the gender gap in these fields, fostering inclusivity, and promoting digital safety, WomHub is driving positive change and shaping a future where women engineers can thrive and make significant contributions to society. As we look ahead, it is imperative that we continue to support initiatives like WomHub and our foundation WomEng and collectively work towards creating a more equitable and secure digital world—a world where women engineers are not just seen, but also heard and valued for their expertise and talents. Mining is one of the oldest professions in the world and still one of the most important ones to support a global insatiable appetite for everything from luxury goods to smart phones and basics like electricity. Increasingly, women have been playing a pivotal role in the sector, but it has been long and slow. On this International Women in Mining Day, however, we proudly recognize the tremendous efforts of WomEng and WomHub in collaboration with our incredible partners in advancing gender diversity and inclusion within the mining sector. Our work has been transformative, understanding the crucial role the sector plays in our continent’s economic development and reimagining what mines of the future will look like. We take stock of the following strides within the mining sector:
Commitment to Empower 10,000 Women and Girls: WomEng and WomHub have embarked on an inspiring journey to support 10,000 women and girls through our partnership with De Beers Group under the Building Forever Initiative. This commitment demonstrates our dedication to creating pathways for women to thrive in the mining sector. By providing mentorship, educational programmes, and leadership opportunities, we’re equipping women with the skills and support needed to succeed. What is incredible about the partnership is the holistic approach to building the entire ecosystem to support women and girls in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Canada, and the UK. The programmes target the entire gamut of women and girls from high school technovation camps to the university fellowship and TVET programmes, to upskilling the sector on cybersecurity skills, that is just on developing talent in the sector. In a world increasingly reliant on technology and sustainability, WomEng and WomHub are leading the charge by supporting women entrepreneurs through the Trailblazer Women in Tech and Sustainability Incubator. This ground-breaking initiative provides a nurturing environment for women to develop innovative green tech solutions for the mining industry. By offering mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities, WomEng and WomHub are empowering women to drive positive change in the sector. Talent Development in Diamond Processing with HB Innovation Labs: Recognizing the untapped potential of women in diamond processing, WomHub has partnered with HB to develop and run the HB Innovation Labs to cultivate talent and bridge the gender gap but also support young people in Botswana. Through this collaboration, we developed gender skew programmes that are empowering young women and men to excel in this field. By offering specialized training, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge technology, we are paving the way for more young people to become leaders in diamond processing. Sasol Women in Mining Incubator: To address the unique challenges faced by women in the mining industry, WomHub has collaborated with Sasol to establish the Women in Mining Incubator. This programme fosters a supportive ecosystem for women in mining, providing mentorship, business development support, and access to crucial networks and resources. By empowering women to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential, this incubator plays a pivotal role in advancing gender equality within the mining sector. Having women actively participate in the mining industry is not just a matter of equity, but a strategic imperative. The contributions of women in mining yield multifaceted benefits. On International Women in Mining Day, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in mining and the transformative work undertaken by WomEng and WomHub and our partners. Through their commitment to empowering women and girls, fostering talent development, and supporting women entrepreneurs, we are redefining what it means to create impact in this sector, and we are excited to see the ripple effects of our impact. To find out more about our programmes, check out www.womhub.com for details or email us on info@womhub.com |