Forestry Initiative Empowers Rural Schoolgirls
The future of Nomvelo Nzuza, a Grade 12 student at Phindizwe High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal, might be brighter after she watched a video at school about a woman who was raised by a single mother but yet was able to grow, become independent and have her own business in forestry. “I was really motivated by her journey,” says Nzuza. This video was part of a series that has been produced by She is Forestry, a project set up by Forestry South Africa and the Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC).
“There is an increasing number of girls, especially in rural communities, who are dropping out of school before reaching matric because they see childcare grants at their only way out of their circumstances,” says Makhosazana Mavimbela, executive director of the FSCC. This issue is exacerbated by period poverty where girls are not able to afford female hygiene products resulting in high absenteeism.
She is Forestry is a non-profit organisation that celebrates and supports women within the forest sector and encourages girls to seek a career in forestry. “We truly believe that this project epitomises the words of Nelson Mandela: ‘Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom’,” says Mavimbela.
Founded five years ago, She is Forestry has grown beyond expectations. “It all started with a webinar in 2020 and has grown into a change-maker actively creating positive change and impact through various platforms,” Mavimbela explains.
The She is Forestry team recently visited Nomvelo’s school, which is one of five supported across forestry-focused provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern and Western Cape. The team handed over a four-part video series aimed at addressing the worrying trend among South African girls.
The videos were born out conversations with the principals at the five schools who highlighted a need for female role models and career advice as a solution to the high dropout rates among female learners. The team decided that instead of a one-off career day, videos showcasing various forestry careers and featuring women role models would be a more lasting and widely usable resource.
“The forestry sector is rich with incredible female role models and excellent career opportunities for women, especially those living in rural areas where forestry is prevalent,” says Mavimbela. “The challenge was bringing them the life, which is why I handed over the baton to Forestry South Africa’s Katy Johnson.”
Johnson comments: “While reading Michelle Obama’s book The Light We Carry, I was struck by the question ‘how can we dream about what we cannot see?’”
“This mirrored the challenge faced by rural schoolgirls who see only a future through marriage and childcare grants amid high unemployment. We wanted to present alternative paths and create a sustainable solution benefiting many cohorts at our five schools and beyond.”
She is Forestry now also rallies funds to purchase items such as toilet paper, printer paper and feminine hygiene. These basic items are in dire short supply at rural schools. “The receipt of the donations has been remarkable, but it was the reaction to the videos that brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye,” says Mavimbela.
She is Forestry was acutely aware that it could not help everyone, but instead chose to focus on creating lasting sustainable change. “If we could just inspire one girl to stay in school, help one child to pass their maths exam, prevent one girl from the indignity of period poverty, then we would have achieved our objectives,” adds Johnson.
Thulani Ndlovu, principal of Phindizwe High, is grateful for the support, saying that absenteeism linked to period poverty at his school is down since the donation of menstrual cups by She is Forestry in 2022, while calculators helped to push pass rates from 30% up to 70%.
“We really hope these videos serve to keep girls in the classroom and show them that there are careers out there for them,” notes Johnson. “More importantly, these girls will see that there are women like them who have faced similar challenges but are now flourishing within the forestry sector.”
Mavimbela adds that the team is currently expanding the video series featuring equally admirable role models such as heavy machine operators, scientists, communication specialists and training facilitators.
Thulani Ndlovu, principal of Phindizwe High, is grateful for the support, saying that absenteeism linked to period poverty at his school is down since the donation of menstrual cups by She is Forestry in 2022, while calculators helped to push pass rates from 30% up to 70%.
“We really hope these videos serve to keep girls in the classroom and show them that there are careers out there for them,” notes Johnson. “More importantly, these girls will see that there are women like them who have faced similar challenges but are now flourishing within the forestry sector.”
Mavimbela adds that the team is currently expanding the video series featuring equally admirable role models such as heavy machine operators, scientists, communication specialists and training facilitators.
