The United Nations (UN) annually observes the 15th of October, the International Rural Women’s Day. The objective is to recognize the critical role and contribution of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
The Minister for the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana will observe and celebrate the International Rural Women’s day and World Food Day with the national Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) in the Eastern Cape. This year’s theme for the day is “Recognising the role of Women in Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development - An invisible workforce.”
The theme highlights the important role that rural women play in supporting their households and communities in achieving food and nutritional security; while improving rural livelihoods through agricultural activities and enterprises.
As part of the celebrations, the Minister will support the Annual General Meeting of the national Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD). All nine provinces will be represented.
Minister Xingwana, along with the Ministers and Deputy Ministers of partner departments, provincial MECs and the Port St John’s municipality will launch and hand over a food garden and agricultural implements to the early childhood centre, the CWP initiatives to rural women, hand over a Hydraform brick-making machine to women cooperatives through the municipality, visit survivors of gender based violence and end the day with a signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Women and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
Key partners in this project include Departments of Human Settlements, COGTA, Communication, Rural development and Land Reform, Tourism, Trade and Industry, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the MTN foundation and the World Conservation Trust.
Media is invited to attend.
The event is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2013
Time: 9h00
Venue: Caguba Community Centre: Port St John’s Municipality, Eastern Cape
Please RSVP with Phuti: Phuti@dwcpd.gov.za or 076 402 7521.
For further information please contact:
Phuti Mabelebele
Director: Communication
Cell: 076 402 7521
Tel 012 359 0222/0224
Email: Phuti@dwcpd.gov.za
