Women’s Month Featured Woman: Sagwadi Chauke
- What do you love about yourself and what you do?
I love everything about myself from my dark skin to my strong heart, including the fact that I am deeply rooted in culture. What I do, gives me a sense of belonging.
- What/who is your biggest influence?
My biggest influencers are the women in my life (my mother, grandmother and my aunt) they have taught me the importance of independence. I am a strong woman today because of them.
- What barriers have you faced, in becoming successful in your field? How did you overcome them?
Obviously, like any other South African youth graduate, the biggest barrier that we are facing is the fact that there aren’t many job opportunities. So, overcoming this barrier meant that I had to take a job that I didn’t necessarily studied for.
- If you could describe yourself in three words, what would it be
Smart, independent and goal-driven.
- Name one reason you love being a woman in general.
Women have the ability to love and oppose at the same time. I will love you and still disagree with you when you’re wrong.
- How are you celebrating being a woman during Women’s Month?
I try and reach out to victims of abuse offer a shoulder to cry on and my advice. Sadly, we live in a country where there many victims of abuse and so identifying them isn’t as hard as it should be because it’s a lot of them.
- If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would that be?
“Do not underestimate yourself.”
- What do you think is the biggest issue today facing women?
Gender-Based Violence.
- What main change would you like to see for young girls in the next generation?
The perception that men are supposed to be the providers must stop. The truth is women are just as equally strong as men, yes not physically, but in other aspects. We’re caring; we’re nurturing; we’re intelligent – I can go on and on.
- How important is it for girls to lift each other up, and what does that mean to you?
Lifting each other as women to me is support, encouragement, help regain your self-confidence, fill one another with positive thoughts and hope. It’s fulfilling to know that someone sees me as a sister they can rely on at any given time.
