As a part of our #womenwhowow series in celebration of International Women’s Day, meet Clementina – an educator and fashionista from Zambia. 

As an educator, tailor, and well-respected community-leader, it’s obvious that Clementina should be celebrated on International Women’s Day. So allow us to (re)introduce you to Clementina from Zambia!

In addition to her invaluable contributions to the children in her community as a volunteer teacher, Clementina has organized a group of women to form a tailoring business. And, when COVID-19 public health mandates required face masks in Zambia, this business swung into full-force, making much-needed masks for community-wide distribution. By selling the masks at an affordable rate, the group was also able to generate income to reinvest in their business. As Clementina explained, “sewing face masks can help keep our community healthy, and it can also help us raise funds to purchase more sewing machines and other tools that will help us meet the demands of production.”

By participating in her community-based organization, educating girls, and creating a women-led business, Clementina creates more space for other women to lead. “It is important for women to be leaders,” she shared, “because currently, most leaders we have are men. Now we want to close the gap between men and women leaders.”

What is Clementina’s International Women’s Day wish?

To bring more women into leadership positions. To do this, Clementina urges education above all else. “[W]e must take young women to school so that they will be influential leaders… then we are assured that poverty will reduce in the community. I beg all parents who have young women to take them to school.”

Clementina puts her community’s education and health first. Join us in celebrating her.

Ngaulubali Lwakusefye Kwa cinkumbawile Kwaba Namayo isonde lyonse. Kumanyeni Clementina nga Kafundisha, Kabili kabila wansalu Ukufuma Ku Zambia.

Nga Kafundisha, Kabila, namuchindikwa kabili intungulushi ya chindama muchende ekala. Chili icha yana ukuti Clementina tumusefye pa bushiku ubu ubwa kusefye kwabanamayo. Kanshi tusuminisheni tumilange Clementina uwa ku Zambia!

Ukubikapo fye imilimo ishikalamba abomba nga kafundisha uwaipelesha ukwafwilisha abana muchende yakwe, Clementina alilonganika ibumba lyabanamayo ilya kubila insalu munchende ekala, ili ibumba lilechita utuma kwebo twakubila insalu. Elyo ubulwele bukumine chalo chonse ubo baleti Covidi 19 bwaishile ifunde lyalifuma ilya kufwala utusalu twakufimba pamenso mu Zambia, aya makwebo yakubila yaliya pantanshi no kukula sana.Ilibumba lyalipanga utusalu utwingi utwa kufimba pa menso uto umushi onse waleshitafye pa mutengo u wachipisha nganshi. Ibumba lyabanamayo ilya kubila lyalipanga impiya ishakuti shakoselesha amakwebo yabo ukuya pamulu. Clementina alondolwele ukutila, “ukubila utusalu twakufimba pa menso twaliyafwa abantu mumushi ukwikala ababumi, kabili kuti yatwafwako ukushita ama mashini yakubilila ayengi, nefibombelo fimbi ifyakutwafwako mumilimo yesu.”

Mukuibimba muli aka kabungwe, kabili nga kafundisha waba kashana, no kupanga utumakwebo twaba namayo, Clementina alakoselesha nabambi bana mayo ukuba intungulushi, atile “cikanakala banamayo ukuba intungulushi, pali ndakayi intungulushi ishingi twakwata ni bashitata. Lelo tulefwaya umulinganya mubutungulushi pakati ka bashitatat naba namayo.”

Bushe ukukabila kwaka Clementina nikwisa pali ubu ubushiku bwakusefye kwabana mayo ubwacinkumbawile?

Kukabila ukutila bana mayo abengi baisa mubutungulushi. Mukucita ici, Clementina alekoselesha sana abantu ukusambilila ukucila pali fyonsefye.” Tufwile ukutwala abana besu abanakashi kusukulu pakutila bakabe intungulushi isha maka mumushi. Ifi nga fyacitika tuli abashininkishiwa ukuti ubuchushi buli no kupwa mumushi. Ndelombako ukutila abafyashi bonse bakoseleshiwe ukuleta abana abakashana kusukulu.”

Clementina alibika ukusambilila, no bumi bwabantu pantanshi ya fyonse. Natuisanshe bonse tusefye Clementina