Ladies of Dignity: Our Adventure into Womanhood Experience

For us the ladies of dignity,

As members of the Ladies of Dignity Soroptimist club, attending the Adventure into Womanhood Programme hosted by SI Durban at Durban Girls Secondary School was nothing short of transformative. The day was filled with powerful lessons, inspiring stories, and moments that reminded us of the importance of self-belief and resilience.

One of the standout moments for us was hearing from Ms. Amelia Krishna, a South African Power Lifter and Africa's Strongest Woman. Her story about breaking through barriers in a male-dominated field resonated deeply with us. Ms. Krishna reminded us that the path to success is never easy, but when you remain determined, follow your passion, and believe in yourself, you can achieve greatness. As young women, we often face doubts about whether we belong in certain spaces, but her words gave us the courage to continue pursuing our dreams, even if the odds seem stacked against us.

Dr. Pretha Shah's session was equally impactful. She engaged us in an interactive discussion about the complexities of womanhood, especially as we prepare to leave high school and step into the world as young adults. Navigating relationships, managing our emotions, and dealing with the constant influence of social media are real challenges for us. But Dr. Shah gave us practical advice on how to handle these situations with grace and intelligence. Her emphasis on emotional intelligence—understanding ourselves and our emotions—really hit home, and we’re excited to start applying these insights in our everyday lives.

The presence of Ms. Allesha Govender, founder of Azar Consultancy, was another highlight. Her focus on helping learners like us access opportunities and learnerships opened our eyes to the possibilities available to us beyond traditional career paths. She reminded us that no matter where we come from, our talents and passions can lead us to fulfilling and impactful careers. It's empowering to know that organizations like Azar Consultancy exist to help young women find their way in the world, especially when resources and opportunities feel scarce.

One of the most significant takeaways from the day was the power of sisterhood and community. Watching our fellow Soroptimist clubs from Durban Girls Secondary and Avoca Secondary present their projects under the Soroptimist International Youth Activate (SIYA) banner was so motivating. Seeing what young women can achieve when they come together with a shared purpose reinforced our belief in the work we’re doing as the Ladies of Dignity. We left the event with new ideas, inspiration, and a stronger commitment to our vision of empowering young women in our community.

The event wasn’t just about listening to others—it was about engaging, learning, and growing together. From the nutritious meals to the thoughtful goodie bags, everything about the day made us feel valued, and more importantly, made us realize how much we can contribute to the world around us.

As Ladies of Dignity, we’re returning to our club with renewed energy. The lessons we learned from the incredible women we met will guide our future projects, and we can’t wait to share these insights with our peers. The Adventure into Womanhood showed us that no matter where you start, dignity, determination, and a belief in yourself will take you far. Here's to uplifting each other and making a difference, one step at a time!

- The Ladies of Dignity-