Volume1 Issue 9
New feature
April 2015 Easter Edition
5th Anniversary conference
Celebrating 5 years of love, fellowship and faith We are excited about our upcoming conference that we can’t help but reflect on God’s grace over the years, and truly trust in the NOW grace. We have been praying, planning and seeking the face of God in preparation for our conference this July. We truly believe in excellence and God has connected us with some amazing people this year. We are looking forward to connecting with all you amazing women. Most of all, we are excited about what God is going to do that day. Here is a little throwback of the ministry over the years.
Women for Jesus over the years
2010
2011
2012
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New feature
Women of influence: Mogau Seshoene “The Lazy Makoti”
1. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself (where you grew up, your childhood memories) and the type of vision you had for yourself whilst growing up? I grew up in Mankweng Turfloop, a township just outside Polokwane. I am the 1st born daughter of a pastor and a teacher. I have one sibling, a sister. I grew up in a strict and loving home. Some of my fondest memories include waking up every weekend to my mother’s baking. Growing up I always thought I’d become a doctor! lol 2. What type of challenges have you had to face that have ultimately shaped you into the woman that you are today? Definitely the everyday challenges of running my own business. Some days nothing goes your way and you can get really discouraged. This had taught me to trust Gods timing. When things don’t happen exactly when I want them to, it always turns out that something else that is better is coming my way. I’ve also learned to be more self-sufficient and independent. Nothing will be handed to you, you have to work for it. 3. Tell us more about The Lazy Makoti? The Lazy Makoti is basically cooking classes for the modern girl who would like to learn all the necessary basics of getting around in the kitchen. Nothing too fancy or pretentious. Just simple easy everyday meals. We also have merchandise line with aprons, chopping boards and tea sets.
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4. Where do you see The Lazy Makoti in the future? I see The Lazy Makoti as a national brands with presence in each province. A TV show, as well as a recipe book. More than anything I’m trying to build a truly South African brand that will live on for generations. 6. What does a day in the life of Mogau look like? Busy, busy, busy! From giving a class, to attending meetings or interviews, to planning and facilitating pop up sales, to checking on the merchandise or sourcing new products and liaising with clients or potential partners 7. What are some of the challenges that come with running a business as unique as yours? Can you briefly outline those? Time management definitely, some days it just seems there are not enough hours in the day. It leaves very little time for yourself and loved ones. But these are the early years so hopefully once everything is set up it will allow me more time to myself 8. Outside of your business, what do you like to do for fun and to get your mind off things? A long bath with candles relaxes me always. But apart from that, the usual, a good book, a good movie, a day out with friends and my absolute favourite is time with my sister and niece 9. What advice can you give to women wanting to venture into similar businesses? Prepare yourself. Save as much as you can as running capital, funds disappear quickly. Find a mentor, someone to help guide you through the process. Get a thick skin. You will lose a lot of people along the way, teach yourself to be self-reliant. 10. Let us congratulate you on your recent achievement of winning R150 000 towards your business at The Hook Up dinner. What has this done for your business? Thank you, it is a great cash injection that is much appreciated as a small business. It will allow me to make bigger moves quicker. I will soon have premises where the classes will be held 11. What message can you give to our readers? (mostly women) The world would be a nicer place if women were nicer to each other. 12. Any final words? Good luck to everyone trying to start something. Anything. Whatever it is. Don’t give up. Your break through will come sooner than you think.
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New feature
Mentorship programme partners We have been getting a lot of positive feedback regarding the mentorship programme and people wanting to partner up with us and for that, we are very grateful. We encourage others to partner up as mentors and volunteers prior the launch of this programme. Meet some of our amazing partners
Puledi Rapetsoa “I am a 20 year old young woman who has over the past 4 years been finding herself in the Lord. With the help of W4J, JCR and other Christian organisations, I have developed the love of speaking to my peers about what "we" go through. I speak to them about MY (our) encounters as young women in Christ and try to reach an agreement on how WE can get through these things. (Through Christ) I at a young age was a victim of physical and sexual abuse by close so much time trying to make sense of why it happened to me. But truth is, we all know that God would never put a burden" on our shoulders that is beyond our strength. So with all this, I would love to assist young girls in finding themselves in Christ, helping them go through challenges and simply let them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel”
Kholiswa Thobakgale “The reason why I'm interested in mentoring is because I believe that in life we all need someone to hold our hand and give us direction. There are certain things that are just too hard for one to bear on their own and having a mentor makes things a bit easier to deal with. I have a passion for charity and assisting others to develop knowledge that will enhance their personal growth and most importantly their spiritual growth. It's not everyone who has the privilege of being taught about Christ at an early age and have constructive information imparted to them that will enable them to decide and act wisely in any aspect of their lives. Mentoring is more than the transfer of knowledge, advice and insights from the mentor to the mentee, it actually changes lives and makes one to realise a lot of things they never knew about themselves. It helps to identify our strengths and keeps us motivated to always strive for greatness and also our weaknesses, inner being and true purpose in life. It gives one a change of heart, character and mind-set. I want to help others to be motivated to do better and to always have a positive mindset knowing that in all toil there is profit.”
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Business on the rise
This new feature will be looking young and upcoming business women. This month’s business on the rise is Elegant Eplato evento, which a catering and events management company based in Limpopo owned by Refilwe Sambo and Bokweni Machaba. Tell us how about the business? Our business Elegant Eplato evento is collaboration of two languages, namely: English and Spanish. It simply means Elegant Dish and Events. We do not only offer catering business, but we also do event planning and coordination. It started when I (Refilwe) started cooking and baking for my family during holidays and people would then visit because of my food and they would sometimes ask me to bake for them, for a fee that is and last year I decided to do it on a professional level, and I was joined by Miss Bokweni Machaba who is my business partner and she also enjoys being in the kitchen and an organising guru. What inspired you to go into this field? Whenever I was feeling down I’d either write or make a delicious meal, my mum one day said to me, God has placed a huge anointing on your hands use it well, it was early last year when I started doing platters and baking muffins and cupcakes for other people. As a small business, what challenges have you been faced with? Under-pricing and it made us not to make profit, and we realised that we are the one’s suffering. And also stubborn people. What has been the highlight of your business thus far? When a lady took a chance on us and out of all the well known bakery’s she chose us and when we delivered, she couldn’t stop praising the cake, she couldn’t stop telling us about how much she actually enjoyed the cake. Having a name that represents us, Bokweni and I are two young ladies who love elegant things. We love all things nice and sweet (giggles) Bokweni is a phenomenal lady I am blessed to have her as a business partner “said Refilwe Apples or Tomatoes…..Tomatoes If you could cook for anyone who would it be and what would be on the menu… I know this is out of the box, but I’d like to cook at my own wedding. I’d make Turkey Skewers, Marinated Chicken, Ribs and Meatballs with 3 salads and brown Rice with sweet corn and dessert I’d serve frozen yogurt, what’s the point of serving something I don’t like when frozen yogurt is there Christmas or Easter…Christmas, the vibe jus drives me crazy lol, plus an excuse to indulge and not care about my weight
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New feature
A Site to See: thecorporatecanvas.co.za
This new feature will be posting the spotlight on website, blogs, Instagram and Facebook pages that you must see. The internet is great space to learn new things from people around the world with just a click of a button. Our first Site to See is the CorporateCanvas.co.za.
According to their website the site is “Edited by Zimasa Qolohle and curated by Karabo Ngoatle, The Corporate Canvas serves as a Careers, Finance and Culture/lifestyle platform for African Millennial women. We serve as a mantra and aesthetic for young women in their early career years to stand up and paint their own destiny in terms of their career, finances and surroundings. It is our duty to inspire, motivate and inform.”
You will agree that a lot of times when a “successful” women is profiled, she is either a bit too old for you to relate or you only hear a one-sided story of her professional life. The Corporate canvas not only profiles young, empowered women but women who are successful as sisters, wives, partners, mothers and community builders. With articles on culture, lifestyle, career and finance you will never leave their website not empowered.
Some of our Favourites are:
NETWORKING FOR WOMEN IN THEIR 20S BY LERATO MABOYA
MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD & THE LAW BY ZIMASA QOLOHLE
STEPS TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER BY MOSA THEKISO
Find them on their website thecorporatecanvas.co.za and Instagram thecorporatecanvas.
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Woman of the Month: Hagah, The Side chick
She is familiar with being mistreated, with being overlooked and with ordered around. She also knows what it's like to be with a man who will be hers. Although generally obedient, she knew when to stand up for herself and escape animosity, and only God’s word brought her back to submission to her baby daddy's main chick. The Lord saw her in the times sadness and despondence. And to her, God became a God who sees her though everything that happened in her life.
#WomanOfTheMonth
That we may have life in abundance Its Easter and bunnies and eggs seem to be popping out everywhere. The overly commercialised holiday should instead serve as a reminder of the day Christ stood on our behalf to truly redeem us to a life in abundance. I urge everyone to truly reflect on the significance of the cross. We have been bought back to eternal life and have been stripped off our sinful nature. As Paul puts it “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Life in abundance, grace, the perfect sacri-fice, a truly beautiful exchange Beauty for Ashes
being never
of her
Birthdays Molatelo Mathoko Meladi Montjane Lebogang Segona Granny Ramachela Masadi Modiba Tumisho Sako And many others‌