A Girl's Story

This is a story about one person which reflects the story of most girls, moreso, ladies, out there. A girl wonders what her life is all about and what her life will mean in years to come. She is faced with a million and one questions each day that demand instant solutions or anwers to. A girl is sad  and happy, but mostly sad concerning issues she herself hasn't  figured out yet.

A girl goes to the market and meets a nice guy. She goes to church or mosque, party, shopping mall, beach, poolside, salon, restaurant. And almost anywhere she goes, she meets someone she is attracted to, or who finds her attractive. She battles with her heart on the one guy to settle with. And fights the more with her emotions on who to keep away from, or who to keep as a friend.

A girl's friends are her closest family. They are the ones she spends the most of her times with. Friends define who a girl is and who she would be because they help her define her path in life. Her friends tell her who to love and who to hate. They tell her where to go and what to wear to every place. A friend will show a girl what's her worth by being the first to applaud or reproach her every move. When a girl has a problem, her friends are the first to know. Her consolation comes first from her closest companions, as they are mostly present to share in her pain.

A girl survives robbery, heartbreaks, family loss, rape, examination failure, loss of job, divorce, rejection. One time, she innocently visited her male friend and was met with attempted rape. She survived. Another time, she lost her boyfriend to a more curvier and prettier young woman... her crime? Maybe just trusting and loving too much. Still she survives. Most of her plans are shattered by unplanned occurences. Yet what does she do? She just survives it all. 

A girl dreams. She is told not to dream too big or else remain lonely for the rest of her life. "Get out there and put yourself up for someone to find you attractive. Live your life in such a way that you will appear as a 'keeper' (whatever that meant)", they cry out to her. Can't a girl just be herself and be who she demands to be? Dreams are meant to be free. A girl must then be made to dream freely and daringly. A girl can be a teacher and not an engineer, says the rules. Since when did these sort of limitations define a person? Why then should it define who a girl should be?

A Girl's story lies in her diary. Most girls keep one, because they never forget any event of their lives. They never forget who loved them the most, who pushed them to the limit, or who hailed them the more. Until the day when a girl is given the platform to share her views, a girl will never stop hoping and believing. Every girl has a story to tell...

Justica Anima
justicaanima.com
adjeianima@gmail.com

The Masked Life Called Womanhood

As a young woman, many many ideas and thoughts run with me on a daily basis. My inspiration is not really in a mentor, friend, family, or man... No not really. My inspiration comes from random thoughts about life, love and nature. I've always thought of the liberating nature of today's woman and I have wondered if it's for our good or doom. Today's woman has been taught to be independent but this independence I must say, comes with a cost (an expensive one for that matter). Look good, be educated, have social class... these are some of the things that are expected from today's woman.

Personally, whenever I'm setting out to go somewhere, I expect to look my best. But it comes with a cost. A cost I'm sometimes not able to afford, because well, I'm not earning my own money. But you see, that's the problem because I see nice things I want to get all the time and who am I to demand for them? "Work your ass off and you can get there too", this doesn't seem a bad advice at all but what about getting it now especially when your support system is weak. We are in competition with no other person than ourselves you know?

Glorified messengers that we are. Busy bodies, as I may want to put it.We are always happy running around chasing things which never want to chase us back. Who sends us anyway? I guess it's the urge to turn into an envy in society that causes us to behave in a certain way. Women! We strive, we fight, and we are tagged 'warriors'. The young is taught to be independent and depend on her own abilities. She should not weaken her guards for a man who will not treat her well. What do we then teach the men? Nothing? Who are we fooling anyway? There is a sickness in the bones of humans. Always seeking answers but never finding any. The woman in me has been suppressed to think and act in a particular way. I have been caged like a bird, just like any other woman I know. "You dare not stand up to your feelings for a man, or else he takes advantage of you", they say.

Do not play football. Never visit a man. Do not have sex at random like you're the man. The man is stronger than you, do not challenge their authority. Dress to kill but make sure you don't expose too much. Forget your sex drive, let the man make the first move. Go to school, find work, get married and make babies. The higher you reach, the more you scare the men away, and that may leave you lonely. Women all around the world need to be constantly reminded of these rules. Is it necessary at all? Can't women have a voice of their own?

Really, the bird in me wants to run free. I want to be able to explore life in my own ways not being judged for how much meat I decide to chew. We should not be forced to change who we really are and want to be. The onus lies within a sister, mother, and a friend to challenge the status quo.

I will throw the question back at you. What do you want so badly that the world is stopping you from achieving? Are you okay with the life you are subjected to? What will you do in your power to change what you have been conformed to accept as the norm?

Justica Anima
adjeianima@gmail.com
switstica.blogspot.com

"Women's Impact Is A Catalyst For Nation Building" -Shemimah Dapilaa

Views on Women Impact

Women making impact is the best thing that can happen to any country. Women making impact enhances the development of a country and I believe that is the support men need from us and not just being a house wife or seen as a sex object. Personally, I don't believe in gender equality, but I know it has encouraged, motivated and empowered women in so many ways. The empowerment of women has caused a lot more of them to do wonderful things which is gaining them some level of respect and recognition. Hillary Clinton, for instance, serves as a role model and a motivator for many women around the world. Her strength, hard work and her determination is what every woman should consider having in life. Despite the negative things being said about her, she still stays focused and that is who a strong woman should be. Michelle Obama once said, "Success isn't about how much money you make but the impact you make in the life of others". Based on that, it is my wish to start a venture in Ghana, sometime in the future, to help the less privileged in society.

Women abuse has always been one of the issues that makes my heart bleed. I have always frowned upon women abuse and it has always been my dream to fight it in my own way. This the more reason why I am planing on a foundation to support  and educate women against this act because I believe women are very vital instruments in society and should be treated with love and respect. If I had the power to avert sexual abuse by men on women, I will make an effective law that will protect women and impose a punishment on men who engage in sexual harassment and physical abuse on women. I will also make sure all men who fall victim to this will serve prison terms in order to serve as an example to the others. Through media channels, I will promote the education of the issue of sexual abuse against women in order that it becomes an issue of great concern in the country.

About Me

Shemimah Dapilaa is a 21 year old young woman who hails from Nadowli in the Upper West Region. She is from a family of eight comprising of 5 boys and 3 girls. She attended Sea School Limited JHS in Kumasi and she proceeded to Accra Girls Senior High School for her secondary education. Currently, she is a student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Growing up, she has always been a strong girl. She lived with her step mum at the age of five till now and sees challenges as part of growing up. Judging from her self confidence, she confessed that, "I have always been vibrant since Accra Girls Senior High School through to GIJ and have involved myself in so many activities just to acquire knowledge and to make an impact".

She contested for face of GIJ in the year 2015 where she was part of top ten finalists. She also went ahead to represent GIJ as Face of GUPS(Ghana Union of Professional Students) where she was crowned Face of GUPS in the same year. Being the Face of GUPS allowed her to do a lot of things such as embarking on a volunteering project in her village. During the project, she was able to donate toiletries and cloths to residents and talked to the young girls about the need for education. She also embarked on a Violence Free Election Tour to some Senior High Schools to preach peace with her team which included Irbard Ibrahim ( security analyst ), Konrad Kakraba of GTV, Abdul Hayi Moomen of GTV, and some student activists from UCC and Legon . This project won her an honorary award in this year's Ghana tertiary women's award as the Most Impactful Woman Led Project of the year.

Aspirations and Last Words

I see myself as an impact maker and a generational thinker because I always motivate my family and friends by partaking in volunteer works in my village and also by embarking on projects that impact the lives of people. I also write motivational messages that empower women and the girl child. Purpose is what drives me to do what I do or what I have already done. I have an invigorating energy which every person must have in order to be able to achieve their purpose in life.

My passions are in the field of media, politics, and human resource. I have never had the aspiration to be very rich, but I would like to earn enough to reach a stage where I can help others, give my family a comfortable life, and start my own business venture in Ghana. My aspiration in life is to have a loving and supportive companion and give my mother the respect and comfort that she deserves. A fulfilling life where I can look back and feel happy about the richness of it all. A life full of knowledge which I have used to make others life better.

Interview by: Justica Anima
Ghana Institute of Journalism
adjeianima@gmail.com

Adu Amani- Ambition, Opportunities, and Taking Chances.

                               

"I don't have challenges because I see them as experiences and opportunities to learn from", this seems to be the daily mantra of Vera Adu Amaning of Adu Amani Klodin. She is an outstanding woman entrepreneur doing great things with her talent, career and personality which I believe young people and aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from.

Career Path

The brand Adu Amani Klodin was inspired while helping with a friend who was into fashion accessories. Their first attempt was called VAAD Style, also a fashion brand. VAAD failed due to difficulty in reaching a ready market,  and the unavailability of her partner and friend. They lost a lot of deals with customers in the course making closing down the last option.

Vera later sought for a job at a Printing Press. Fortunately, she had a background in printing so she had little problem securing a job. While doing this work, a colleague enquired from her where to get hand made shoes to buy from. Vera then used the opportunity to show her colleagues some pictures of her old creations from VAAD. Her very impressed friends encouraged her to pursue the fashion vision and build a business from it. After seeking permission from her former partner, she started Adu Amani Klodin which is gradually gaining grounds on both the local and international markets.

Adu Amani Klodin can be found online at www.aduamani.com where shoes, slippers, bags, belts and many more fashion accessories, mostly handmade, can be shopped.

Hobbies and Fun times

Vera is a lover of creativity. She prefers to spend quality time creating new innovations and better styles for her brand. Hanging out and attending events also gets her spiced up for new energy and motivation. Cooking and trying her hands on new things are other activities that lighten her up. However, the greatest moments of joy for her comes with just being alone at home, soaked in her own world and thoughts. Most of these fun moments have catapulted the young woman to unimaginable fame. Her Chalewote Street Art Festival moments for instance are remarkable times which have gained her some popularity in the social media circles. It has also won her the "Adomi Bridge" title, emanating from a hairstyle she wore to the event, and this has been trending online since last year.

Social media 

Adu Amani, as she is mostly known on Facebook, can be described as a social media freak. Her daily posts online can be described as a mixture of education, information and entertainment. She also has accounts on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, where she shares her works and fun times with her followers. Her love for social media allows her to turn her fun moments into a wonderful learning experience and avenues of opportunities for herself and her followers. Vera employs exceptional digital marketing strategies that she uses to promote her brand and other Ghanaian brands. She takes the chance to inspire, educate, and accept challenges through her social media platforms. Not a wonder that she clocked a deal with Woodin Fashion through her social media exploration.

Woodin Moments

Earlier this year, she had the chance to work with Woodin on their Wednesday Style Session, which features Fashion designers who teach customers simple fashion tips that they can practise at home. Speaking to her on how she got such an opportunity to work with a big fashion brand as Woodin, this was what she had to say:

"I must admit that it was a favor from God. I had always wanted to work with Woodin because I love their fabrics and I use them to design the male loafers that I work on. Some of their designs look more like leather making it easier for us to work on them", she confessed.

Excited about sharing the whole experience, she continued, "Five years ago, I visited their outlet in Osu to enquire on how I can work with them or at least sell in their shop, but I was disappointed when my efforts proved futile. Perhaps, I didn't try hard enough but i kept posting my designs on their timeline. Last year,  they updated a post on their Facebook page asking their fans to choose someone as their ambassador from a list of celebrities they had outlined. I commented with  my name, choosing myself as an ambassador. This seemed like a silly approach but it turned out positive. The next day, I received an appointment letter from Woodin asking to work with me on their DIY(Do it Yourself) Wednesday project."

To her, this was a dream come true, and a first step to becoming part of the Woodin family. "I was really excited about the opportunity of having Woodin on my portfolio/CV after 5 years so much that the package they offered really didn't matter to me", the fashion entrepreneur concluded. 

Words of Advice

It is okay to fail, she told me, adding that, "I start some creations afresh all the time because I find out that I have made mistakes on them". According to her, certain things we wish for will not come out as expected, however we must not see them as challenges but rather a chance to start all over again. This time, doing things the better way.

Vera advices young people by leaving them with these words, "Spend your time wisely. Learn a skill, a trade, or study a course. Stop visiting places like the Accra and West Hills Mall just to take pictures. All these things do not add value to your lives". She cautions everyone to build on themselves and carefully nurture their personality in order to be relevant in society.

Future Plans

She hopes to use her brand and its resources to fund and sponsor many worthy causes in society in the years to come. She also plans on training and educating young women, especially in rural areas, with requisite skills and business ideas so that they can live meaningful lives in their societies. 

In ten years, Vera sees herself to have gained a degree, married, and with children. By then, her fashion brand would have also gained much solid grounds in the fashion and business industries.

Interview and Story by:
Justica Anima
Adjeianima@gmail.com
Switstica.blogspot.com

Are Women the Weaker Sex?

"The more women know about business, money and finance, the greater freedom they will enjoy and the more likely they will be to discover their own power." - Robert T. Kiyosaki, International Bestseller of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

We often hear stories of women whose husbands left them for another. We also hear of women abuse in our societies, either physical or emotional. Most often, these women do not leave when these harsh conditions are meted out to them and so they are termed weak. Women have a weak physical outlook, are mostly soft-hearted, kind, and caring in nature. However, these qualities cannot be used to draw conclusions that women are weak.

Women contribution in world dominance cannot be overlooked. They play a key role in bringing humanity into existence through childbirth. Also, they act as good managers starting from the home. Women are also great with sales and marketing as they have tolerance and patience with every kind of customer they meet. They exude peace and promote profitability at the workplace.

Go to our schools today and analyse for yourselves. It is of no doubt that our girls are taking the top scores in the classroom. Girls exhibit diligence and smartness towards learning as compared to the boys. It is only saddening that along the line, these smart individuals are brainwashed with the idea that it is a man's world. Due to this, women grow up thinking various sectors in the job market are men's domain.

Going back to the olden days, women were those who began trade and business. When men went to hunt and farm, it was women who sold the proceeds in order to generate income for the family. As agriculture gradually made way for industrialisation, men adopted these skills of their women. It is not surprising that today men run businesses and politics to somehow the disadvantage of women.

In recent times, women are taking up managing businesses, attaining higher education, and running parliament and law firms alongside their male counterparts. In fact, they are doing so well in these areas. In view of this, celebrating women excellence should be encouraged in order to draw more of them into these areas. Women today are liberating themselves from the idea that they are the weaker ones, and that they cannot thrive in a man's world.

Truth is, the battle of whether or not women are the weaker sex lies not in muscles or physical strength. Rather, it lies in mental power, emotional strength, and general wellbeing of both sexes in all aspects of life. Societies which blend both men and women's strength are those that will thrive.

As we celebrate International Women's day, I take the opportunity to salute all the strong women rubbing shoulders with men in every dispensation. More and more women must join forces to bring their ideas on the table. Perhaps, women taking up governmental roles will help curb the many problems that the world is facing today. Let us help build a strong force as women and never be stopped in our tracks while pursuing the higher calling on our lives. Let us free ourselves from depending on our men so much that we lose sight of the many strengths that lie within us.

Are women really the weaker sex? What is your take on women's impact on society? How has a woman played key role in your development as an individual? Let's get interactive on these questions wherever we find ourselves. 

Justica Anima (on all on social media networks)
Email: switstica@gmail.com
Blog: switstica.blogspot.com