Interview: Empowering Tsumkwe’s San Communities Through Education: Women in Media’s Grassroots Initiative

Jemima Beukes, one of the two members of the Women in Media organization shared the below insights on their venture in the village of Tsumkwe. The journalists donated food items and hosted a dinner for the Tsumkwe Secondary school learners recently. Here is the full interview transcript.

“My name is Jemima Beukes, and I am one of the co-founders of Women and Media, established by myself and Limba Mupetami in 2021.. Our primary goal is to empower and mentor young women in the media sphere. However, we also aim to foster a strong relationship between women journalists and newsmakers, addressing the evident under-representation of women’s voices in mainstream media.

In our discussions, Limba and I recognized that true empowerment requires reaching the grassroots. We hold a strong connection to the San people, with Limba growing up in Tsintsabis, and I having Sun ancestors. Historically marginalized, this group of people have been pushed to the peripheries of civilization, demanding attention and action.

What has always troubled me is the exploitation of the San people by some NGOs and foreign groups. They often take crafts from the San people, sell them for a profit, yet tangible improvements in the lives of the San people are scarcely seen over the past three decades.

During a conversation, we pondered inviting a young San girl to the Women and Media annual conference. However, we realized the need to address the root issue – the lack of qualified professionals within the Sun community, be it doctors, engineers, or other professions.

Acknowledging that criticism alone isn’t enough, we decided to take action. Our focus shifted to making a tangible impact on the lives of San children, ensuring they do not fall through the cracks. Although we may not save everyone simultaneously, it’s a crucial beginning.

This initiative, which will become an annual event, is our way of starting at the heart of the problem. We want to see what little we can do as individuals to ensure these young girls and boys receive the support they need. It’s a small step, but a vital one.

I was personally involved in helping parents, particularly those who could not read and write, fill in application forms for their San learners. Upon reviewing the reports, it was apparent that many San learners are struggling with reading, even though they may perform well in other subjects.

Reading is a significant concern that needs addressing. Our grassroots empowerment initiative recognizes that change begins at the foundation. Empowerment is not an intermittent process; it requires consistent, meaningful contact with people.

Limba and I initiated this project over a year ago, intending to visit individual journalists for reporting. However, the challenges posed by COVID and the subsequent departures from newsrooms made it difficult for both senior journalists to be on-site simultaneously for an extended period.

Understanding the cultural importance of giving, we sought assistance to make our visits meaningful. Our goal is to contribute to the empowerment of Sun communities through education. This is just the beginning of a journey that we hope will bring positive change to these deserving communities.”