On Thursday, 22 September an event for the women of the D’Almeida and ASLA Communities was jointly hosted by Department of Local Government, Mossel Bay Municipality, Eden District Municipality, and the Word and Life Ministries, in Mossel Bay.
The aim was to uplift and motivate the women to excel, to escape their circumstances and not to blame others and their past for their current living conditions.
The Eden Executive Mayor, Wessie van der Westhuizen said: "You must take charge of your lives again, claim back your self-respect and determine what your purpose in life is. Your self-respect will reflect directly into the community".
The Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderlady Marie Ferreira told the women: "You form the pillar of family life - there is no argument that your health and wellbeing determine that of your families. You, as women must stop for a moment, think and be honest with yourself; if you don’t care for yourself, who will then be the pillar to take care of your family?"
The Leader of the Word and Life Ministries said "When you take care of yourself and your spirit, God helps you make better choices. It is important that you read your Bible because the Bible is food for your spirit in the walk with the Lord".
In closing, sanitary products were handed over to the women.
Ms Hester Petersen, one of the women who attended the event said: "It was a joyous day; I could not wait for this day to happen and even took the day off work to make myself available."
While looking at the products she received, Ms Petersen said: "This came at the right time and I am thankful for what we received.
These items are real necessities, but most importantly I am inspired and touched by all the words of inspiration shared with us".
Eden Executive Mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen, Eden Mayoral Committee members - Councillors John Maxim and Annelise Olivier, Office Manager of Eden Executive Mayor - Mr Vuyani Gouws, Mr Sam Manak -, Manager of the Community Development Workers (CDW) as well as CDW’s and the Pastor of Word and Life Ministries, before handing over the sanitary product parcels to women of the Asla and D’Almeida communities in Mossel Bay.
