Zilanie Nyundo
The Women of Distinction Awards (Woda) Malawi has been receiving nominations for women achievers in 18 categories to be honoured at this year’s gala to be held on May 3 2014 in Lilongwe. Woda was established in 2012 to recognise various achievements by women at different levels. Caroline Somanje speaks with Zilanie Nyundo, the brains behind the awards.
Q. How did you come up with this idea?
A.
In October 2011 I attended a Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) women leadership event. The room was filled with accomplished and amazing women. As I listened to the speeches, I was so uplifted. I wanted to hug these women and share their success with other women, especially girls and young women who are in serious need of role models and mentors. Creating a national awards platform was a high profile way to celebrate women of influence and make them into accessible inspirations.
Q. What exactly do you look for in a winning woman?
A.
Woda recognises ordinary women who do extraordinary things in the work that they do, in the area they live in, or in their homes. We say ‘ordinary women’ because each woman has the ability to excel, in different ways. The criteria the Jury uses to choose finalists who become awardees (Woda is not a ‘competition’ as such, it is the opportunity to recognise excellence) is based on;
Q. Community needs and solutions (30 percent): does the nominee’s activities meet a real community need, particularly in addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
Impact (50 percent): Is there demonstrated impact (new programme or activity begun, number of people served/ employed, personal career progression/promotion etc.) as a result of the nominee’s activities?
Innovation (20 percent): does the nominee’s activities reflect an innovative or unique approach to meeting (community, development, social) needs?
How have the awards impacted women in this country?
One of the most exciting things about Woda 2014 is that it is happening when we have a woman State President Dr. Joyce Banda as the highest achiever in the country. She has a long track record in community service, entrepreneurship and leadership. Her influence is global.
Woda 2012 women have the accolades to enjoy, a notch on their curriculum vitae (CVs). Chief Sakina from Mangochi is one of our happiest stories because she is a ‘Rural Woman Leader 2012’ who uses Woda support and platforms to mentor and encourage girls in her villages.
Woda donated to safe motherhood projects and to all the awardees charities. We aim to create a positive story about women and women leaders in particular. Woda generates more media mileage than any other non-political, women leadership project in the country. This year Woda and partners will donate to Bwaila Hospital maternity wing and the Forum for African Women Educationalists- Malawi Chapter (Fawema) Tilimbikile project for reusable sanitary pads to help keep girls in school at that special time of the month.
Nationally, Woda awardees are well recognised. The US Embassy, Africa women networking and leadership forums have contacted WODA for awardees details that have led to further recognition and opportunities. Thembi Thadzi ‘Young Woman Leader 2012’ is one of these honoured women.
Q. How has Woda response been?
A.
When young women begin to plan their careers strategically, when they look for mentors- we know we are doing the right thing. Women in organisations have lobbied for gender policies. After the 2012 awards and during preparations for the 2014 awards, many women have contacted Woda to offer themselves as mentors, fundraisers, organisers and generally to help make the awards happen.
Former First Lady Callista Mutharika was gracious to host the first awards at New State House. In a politically polarised country, Woda and our sponsor maintains a non-partisan position by not having a political guest of honour and by having the awards at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) this time. The spotlight belongs to the awardees.
Q. How do you organise the time and resources?
A.
Woda is a team effort. Every member has a critical role and we value our partners and sponsors. Some have been with us since 2012. It is also part the course that in the last run up to the awards show, some things run on ‘Malawian time’ and delay us but we always make magic happen.
Q. How and where do you get sponsorship for the awards?
A.
We like the exciting challenge of convincing companies that their great ideas are solid, of measurable value to their brand and then executing it well. It is a win-win situation. We also end up learning a lot about companies and meeting incredible women along the way. Woda is privileged to have sponsorship from corporate sector and media partnerships. Some private individuals are also moved to make personal donations. We also use internal funding.
Q. Who is Zilanie?
A.
I am a creative, curious soul. God blessed me with the ability to create and it is my purpose to contribute to His glory. I enjoy creating new platforms or finding creative solutions to technical problems. I read very widely, I take short courses to continually improve my skills. I also do a lot of research and networking. My 10 –year- old daughter is my best inspiration and counsellor.
Q.
Tell me your background?
A.
A journalist by profession, a creative by passion – I run Blackmore Creative Agency- public relations, events and communications. Blackmore is the dynamic vehicle which manages my client’s brands and is also a wellspring for our in-house creative projects such as Woda, Fashion Malawi Edition (Fame), TEDx Lilongwe, Zillies Chillies, the magazines and the forthcoming Koko Bean Cafe.
Q. Do you have partnership (s)?
A.
Bridget Mangulama Goneso (BMG) Event Solutions and Blackmore Creatives are the team behind Woda. Our media partners include MBC Radio and television, Times TV and Media Group, Zodiak, Galaxy FM, Transworld and Luso TV. Malawi Post & telecommunications allowed people to write to Woda without requiring a stamp. We are in discussions with United Nation (UN) and FAWEMA about the forthcoming Woda2014 awardees and mentoring projects. Anyone or other organisations who would like to get involved should contact us onawards@wodamalawi.com or call +265-993760572
Q. What should we expect from this year’s awards?
A.
Woda has added three new categories: Leadership – Parliamentarians, Diaspora achiever – Making impact in Malawi and her country of residence; My Mother, heroine – Selfless, extraordinary impact in home and community.
We took into account that people wanted to be more involved in selecting women who inspire them so this year people nominated in all categories, but also get to vote in the six ‘popularity based’ categories of the media, sports, arts, leadership, National Woman and Lifetime Achiever.
New venue – the Awards Gala will be held at BICC. Multi channel TV live broadcasts by MBC TV and Times TV.
Hot performances by rising star Aycee James, Music Association of Malawi Awardee Favoured Martha, South Africa’s astounding soul-stress Miss Lira and more.
We are publishing a new magazine in conjunction with the Awards ‘Women of Distinction in Business, Civil Society and Government’
Q. Any additional comments?
A.
PHD must end- the Pull Her Down syndrome, Player Hater Degree or whatever you choose to call it, must be buried and may not be resurrected. Many people have such low self esteem and an alarming amount of greed. If you have to denigrate, castigate, player hate and trample others to feel better about yourself, you are a loser. So don’t hate – celebrate and emulate!
