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If you are active on social media you will be aware that today is International Women's Day. Celebrated annually on March the 8th, the day is a global commemoration of the struggle for women's rights. To mark the occasion, SwaGG News Africa decided to interview Mrs Phoebe Rotmwa Gonchen Egeonu, CEO of a successful charity organisation specifically aimed at helping Nigerian girls and young women...
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| DiamondShe Africa Models/Crowned queens for World Aids Day |
Examples of DiamondShe's achievements include being:
✳Co-organiser - ‘World AIDS Day’ event 2009-2015, Jos chapter.
✳Sole organiser - street car wash 2012-2014 (raising funds for orphanages and for Sylvia Gowal, sickle cell patient)
✳Sole organiser - ‘Face of Unity’ Plateau State 2012-2013
✳Sole organiser - ‘Miss independence Nigeria’ 2015.
✳The founder/CEO was crowned Finest Girl North Central 2008
SwaGG News covered the hugely successful World AIDS Day Event which Mrs Egeonu and DiamondShe Africa held in 2015 and our write up can be found here:
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| World AIDS Day 2015 with a Secondary School |
http://swaggnewsafrica.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/diamond-she-marks-her-5th-edition-of.html?m=1
https://swaggnewsafrica.blogspot.com.ng/2013/12/photos-of-world-aids-day-2013-with.html?m=1
It featured a number of distinguished guest speakers, a quiz, and an educational play enacted by the students themselves. The aim of the day was to teach the children what HIV is, what AIDS is, how to avoid becoming infected with HIV, the health implications of the disease and the treatment options. The theme of the day and the key phrase used throughout was ”Getting to Zero” (i.e. getting to zero number of deaths from AIDS) and stopping discrimination against those infected with the HIV virus. Mrs Phoebe Egeonu herself gave an impassioned and informative speech.
The theme of this years International Women's Day is "to be bold for change" which applies perfectly to Phoebe. Not only is she bold, but she is also beautiful! As a former pageant winner she could easily have opted to skate through life on her looks. Instead, she chose a very different path, using her intellect and her ambition to inspire other females and bring about change in her community. Through her work with DiamondShe Africa, she aims to:
✳Stimulate the natural desire of every young African girl to adequately pursue her dreams
✳Reach out to all young African girls and train them in skill acquisition
✳Provide the platform for every African girl to showcase her talent
✳Promote the interest of every African girl who dreams of making an impact in society
✳Help fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against African girls
Our interview with this remarkable lady starts below...
Hello, Mrs Egeonu. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us here at SwaGG News! We would love to share more information about DiamondShe with our readers. Can you tell us what age range of girls you work with?
In the modelling agency we work with girls from 18-30 years old but when we are doing programs we work with girls from 10 years old.
And what are some examples of your most current/upcoming projects and events?
Our most current project that we are working on is about empowering young ladies through skill acquisition.
What made you decide to start DiamondShe?
After I was crowned Finest Girl North Central (Nigeria) I had to submit my pet project. That's how I decided to start DiamondShe Africa. So it becomes a platform for the Africa girl child to have a voice to speak out about her challenges and we can all solve those challenges together.
Was it a difficult process to get started and established?
Yes, it was a difficult process to get started because I had no financial support to get an office, register the company, organize seminars and events, and get medical equipment for girls living with HIV. It was (and still is) frustrating to have a great idea and no resource to make it happen. I dream of being able to have a platform where HIV infected girls can be emboldened to advocate about it and to have my organization take RV’s to rural hospitals that can't be reached easily.
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| Miss Independence hosted by DiamondShe Africa |
So as well as emboldening girls and equipping them with key life skills, you also help girls infected with HIV? Can you tell us more about that?
We do that by going to secondary schools to enlighten them on how to prevent HIV/AIDS and to teach them that people living with HIV should not to be stigmatised.
How important have other women been to you on this journey, in terms of encouragement and support?
They have been important to me. They have given me great advice. Some have pure belief in me and some have supported me financially. Ladies living in Jos, Plateau State have been great and I still give it up to Olivia - the state commissioner of women's affairs.
Can you tell us more about Olivia?
Olivia was, at one time, a commissioner for women's affairs in plateau state and when we went to her she felt the need to be part of the noble cause of DiamondShe Africa.
The DiamondShe organisation itself must be seen as a wonderful example to girls and women, of what is possible when you set your mind to it. Are you considered a role model in your community? How big a responsibility is this and how does your role effect your own life choices and decisions?
Yes I believe I am. Girls in high school have told me that I am, and some of my lovely DiamondShe agency models have told me the same. I hope a billion more can call me their role model in the future after DiamondShe Africa touches their lives positively.
Its really a huge responsibility because I am still learning and wouldn't want to make mistakes. I don't want to disappoint anyone! But honestly, I have made some mistakes in life - but I correct my mistakes always. This role affects my life positively and makes me decide only on being the best I can be.
Do you hope to expand your work to a national level? Perhaps through franchising the concept?
It is more than just a national level initiative. The dream within scares me but I know DiamondShe Africa will get there. I hope to franchise the concept indeed.
What are your biggest success stories, have you had so far in terms of girls who have been helped?
My biggest success story was a sickle cell girl who couldn't walk for years due to a health crisis. DiamondShe Models organized a street car wash in 2014 to raise funds to help her have surgery in India. The 2 million naira was raised by the governor, David Jonah Jang, now a senator, after he heard of the car wash (aside from the money my DiamondShe models made during the two day exercise.) So because of that, Sylvia Gowal walks today.
You mentioned the DiamondShe models. Can you elaborate on that please?
DiamondShe Modelling Agency is a platform for young ladies to show case their talents through modelling, earning and still doing charity work too. They earn to support themselves while in school and some do it to support DiamondShe Africa. It is a great way for the young ladies to boost their self esteem through their passion to be beauty models.
What achievement so far are you proudest of?
I am proud of all my achievements, but helping Sylvia walk is my proudest. This same achievement was key to my national award as Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador in the year 2014!!
Being able to help teenagers in secondary school understand how to avoid HIV, by organizing world aids day from 2009 – 2015 gives me inner joy too.
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| World Aids Day with Rochas Foundation secondary school Jos 2013 |
Wow. That is amazing! Congratulations. How did you feel when you heard you had been given this award?
It was a great feeling getting an award and even being noticed. With the selfless works of DiamondShe Africa, I give God all the glory, and thank my husband for believing in my dreams. I dedicate the Nigeria Good Will Ambassador award to every girl child in Africa.
Do you have any thoughts or beliefs you would like to share with the SwaGG News readers regarding emboldening females and gender equality etc?
Regarding emboldening women, I just want women to understand that low self-esteem is the key cause to low productivity in the manifestation of inner potentials. A woman needs to be bold and never allow society's criticism to make her feel low and unworthy to change her world positively. Every woman is great in her own unique way and she needs to discover her unique gifts and let her light shine.
My view about gender equality is that no matter how women fight to have equal rights with men, they should never try to be a man. We can be powerful while still being feminine, so let's be careful not to become macho men. Being female while reaching great heights means true power. Trying to be a "Man" isn't the right way to gain gender equality. Trying to be a husband not a wife in ones matrimonial home isn't natural you know? But we must say NO to gender based violence!!!
In what way is International Women's Day important and how can it make a real difference?
International Women's Day is so important. It's a platform that holds so much – education and empowerment programs that help lift up girls across the globe. Like the theme of this year said; "be bold for change". This will reduce low self esteem within lots of young girls and women. So it's really making a difference in our lives.
What is your number one piece of advice for females in terms of how to boost confidence and self esteem and achieve their dreams?
My one piece of advice is that every woman should put God first, love themselves, believe in their ability, and never let a male make them lose focus in life because focus is the key to success. Thank you.
Mrs Egeonu thank you for your time. Good job. We hope to cover more of your works on our platform.
https://facebook.com/rotmwa.gonchen.9
Diamond She Africa founder was interviewed by Jennifer Menzies for SwaGG News Africa.
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| Jennifer Menzies |
Posted by @pocarlee
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