Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
It was a day of fulfilment and empowerment for 120 women who attended the Muslim Youth Movement’s Women’s Day event at the Northmead Secondary School in Phoenix, Durban.
Tears were shed, lifelong connections were made, and women came out to support each other at the event, hosted by MYMSA, and Motivation and Empowerment (ME) an NPO, led by community activist Munira Essop.
The event was addressed by two dynamic keynote speakers, Dr. Mariam B Khan, a sexual and reproductive health specialist, and community activist Arun Naicker.
“Women were identified from within the Phoenix community to attend this event. These women were underprivileged, abused, or have disabilities. Some of them were flood victims affected by last year’s Durban floods and they are still living in makeshift camps. We wanted to make all these women come together so they can feel loved, and we can give them hope,” said Essop.
She said the day started with blood pressure and sugar testing and later proceeded to breast cancer screening.
“We had talks, fun, and games. There were valuable and meaningful interactions with the women. Many women could offload and talk about their problems in that space, which is what they really needed. The women who attended were ready to open up and share their pain and struggles with us. We had moments where everyone in the room just cried together, hearing about another woman’s struggles. There was equality, love, caring, sharing, and giving all around,” said Essop.
Sharing her thoughts on the event as one of the keynote speakers, Dr. Khan said:
“As we slowly recover from the pandemic, we have noticed the impact of disrupted social support systems on social well-being, mental and emotional health. As human beings, we need a sense of belonging, we need community. Community is where we find comfort during challenging times. Single mothers, families living in poverty, people who are differently abled, or elderly people living alone, are particularly vulnerable without community. We all have the capacity to offer comfort and support. Find your strength and use that in beneficial ways to help build diverse communities that contribute to each other’s social well-being.”
The other keynote speaker, Arun Naicker, described the event as ‘mind-blowing’ on many levels.
“We had a cancer survivor woman, and one would never know or guess this.
She came up and told us her story of how she was in a wheelchair and what she went through. Then a mother shared a story of how her child was brutally murdered and how she had to take on domestic work after the death. It was highly emotional,” said Naicker.
She said the event opened up safe spaces for women to share their stories and that was incredible to her.
“It became a collective memory and a positive bank from which other women can draw.
My talk was titled: ‘Women Hold up the Sky’. I did an interactive session with them where we talked about the significance of the day and then talked about how women hold up the sky in all aspects of life, irrespective of who they are or their status. It was well received, and the audience interaction was excellent,” said Naicker.
Attendee, Sherin Ahmed, praised the organisers of the event and said the day was exceptionally planned.
“I really didn’t know what to expect. But from the moment I walked in through the doors, an ambiance of professionalism, warm hospitality, and efficiency greeted me. I knew that I had made the right decision to choose my local event over others. The programme was well organized and the host Munira Essop was captivating as an MC and a motivational speaker. The two keynote speakers were outstanding in the content presented and their charm and charisma,” said Ahmed.
She said the journeys of women who shared their heartbreaking stories really gripped the audience emotionally, making her realise what pain women go through but how they come out of that as victorious survivors.
Another attendee, Sandy Moonsamy Sigamoney, said: “It was absolutely uplifting and inspiring. It touched the heart and soul and brought people down to earth. It taught us that your social status does not matter. It was inspiring to see a young doctor who was so down to earth too. She was a unique speaker,” said Sigamoney.
Rasheeda Dawood, a counsellor at a local school in Phoenix said the event was informative and enjoyable.
“There were a lot of ladies who really came out with their challenges and experiences, and I got to learn from all of them. Also, I had no idea about how a mammogram is done, and I learned something new at this event,” said Dawood.
