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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2016)
Page 12 The Skanner October 5, 2016 News Former First Lady of Two African Nations, Graça Machel Launches Pan African Women in Media Network Network of women journalists will work with Graça Machel Trust I n an efort to trans- form the narrative and negative perceptions of African women and children, Graça Machel, the former irst lady of two African nations, re- cently established a irst of its kind Pan African Women in Media Net- work (WIMN). The network of wom- en journalists will work in conjunction with the Graça Machel Trust. “The Graça Machel Trust’s women’s rights program is based on our aim to multiply the faces and amplify the voices of women, especially in areas where they are “ founder of the Foun- dation for Community Development in Mo- zambique. “Through our women’s networks in agribusiness, inance and ‘Women Creating Wealth,’ we foster links active women across sec- tors and professions who can work collectively to inluence, shape and drive the socio-econom- ic policies to ensure that they achieve economic prosperity and social ‘When economically empowered, women take control of their lives, set their own agendas, provide solutions to their problems and chal- lenges, and develop self-reliance’ underrepresented,” said Machel, who is also the and build a critical mass of highly-qualiied and change.” The Graça Machel Trust works across the African con- tinent to am- plify women’s movements, inluence gov- ernance, and advocate for the protection of children’s rights and dig- nity. The Trust c o n s ol i d a t e s the work of Machel and Graça Machel said that the primary seeks to build mission of WIMN is to amplify the voices of on her legacy women’s movements, inluence governance by inspiring and promote women’s leadership and the younger contributions in the economic, social, and generation to political development of Africa. take up new challenges and create sell Simmons in 2006.” Chavis continued: “We societies that value and discussed the ongoing care about social justice. Machel noted that the struggle and movement primary mission is to to transform Africa for amplify the voices of progress and the libera- women’s movements, in- tion of all who stand for luence governance and freedom and equality.” Prior to her marriage promote women’s lead- to Mandela, Machel ership and contributions was the wife of Mozam- in the economic, social, and political develop- bique President Samora Machel. She also served ment of Africa. The Trust also advo- for more than a decade as cates for the protection that country’s minister of children’s rights and of education and culture. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAÇA MICHEL By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Con- tributor) dignity. Recognizing the cru- cial role that media plays in shaping societal atti- tudes, Machel said it’s important that women are at the center of trans- formation within the me- dia landscape. The new network has also gained the support of the National Newspa- per Publishers Associ- ation (NNPA), the Black Press that’s comprised of approximately 208 Af- rican-American owned newspapers across the United States. “The National News- paper Publishers As- sociation supports and salutes the Graça Machel Trust that efectively empowers African wom- en. When African wom- en are empowered, it results in advancing all African people through- out the world,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, the president and CEO of the NNPA. “The Diamond Empow- erment Fund, co-found- ed by Russell Simmons, me and others also rec- ognizes the extraordi- nary global leadership of Graca Machel and the Graca Machel Trust. I vividly remember meet- ing Graça Machel at her home in Maputo, Mo- zambique along with her husband South Africa President Nelson Mande- la and my colleague Rus- Machel said that WIMN will drive coor- dinated messaging and build awareness on is- sues related to health, education, and women’s economic empower- ment, which will have a positive efect on women and children. “Given the inluential role that media plays in shaping societal atti- tudes, the network seeks to change the present narrative of women that presents them as power- less victims and ignores the many positive stories and successes,” Machel added. “When economi- cally empowered, wom- en take control of their lives, set their own agen- das, provide solutions to their problems and challenges, and develop self-reliance.” Machal added: “To build a strong and equi- table future for all Af- ricans, we acknowledge the fundamental con- tribution of women and ensure that we create a supportive and enabling environment where they are able to fully partici- pate and beneit.” The network will also create an inter-genera- tional platform to allow young talented female journalists to participate and work alongside the continent’s more sea- soned veterans.