WE South Africa Takes a Bold Step for Change

Every year, on 8 March, the world commemorates International Women’s Day by celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and renewing commitments to accelerate gender parity.

This year’s theme is ‘Women in the changing world of work’, supported by the hashtag, #BeBoldForChange.

Coinciding with this global event, WE South Africa, an integrated marketing and communications agency, announces the establishment of the WE Development Trust, a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative that will empower black female beneficiaries.

The WE Development Trust will have a 30.1% stake in WE South Africa, the local office of WE Communications, which has a presence in 18 markets worldwide. The Trust has proudly partnered with the St Mary’s Foundation, to educate the future leaders of our country. These girls will experience the power of education to change lives and will become ambassadors for a truly transformed South Africa.

While this was a well-timed coincidence, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between what International Women’s Day stands for and what the WE Development Trust hopes to achieve – the empowerment of women through education and equal opportunities.

Purposeful collaboration

WE was first introduced to the St Mary’s Foundation through Thandi Chaane, a long-time friend of WE’s through the WE+ Network and a board member of the non-profit organisation. The Foundation’s mission is to invest in the education of academically talented girls who have the ability to be leaders in their communities one day but who cannot afford top-class education.

As a female-founded and owned global organisation, WE Communications believes that giving back needs to be at the heart of the business. Our co-founder, Melissa Waggener Zorkin, has always been a firm believer that education and a love of learning will help change the world, so it was important to us that the WE Development Trust continues that legacy.

WE are also proud to place the Trust in the very capable hands of Ms Chaane, who will serve as an independent trustee and Director, alongside our other trustees, Padmini Moodley (Chairperson) and Sharon Best, WE’s EMEA Finance Director. By aligning with the St Mary’s Foundation, we have partnered with a known and established entity that has a solid history of empowering girls through education.

Female empowerment has always been at the core of WE Communications globally. The South African office enjoys a 69% female representation.

Be Bold For Change

The world of work is indeed changing, fuelled by technological advancements and the perpetuity of everything being in motion – brands, stories, societies. As the private sector, we have a responsibility to ensure that we prepare young females for this dynamic workplace with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

As an independent company, WE South Africa is able to collaborate with the best partners in the industry, who in turn introduce us to worthy causes, like the St Mary’s Foundation.

According to UNESCO, every extra year of primary school – a critical foundation for secondary and further education – can mean 10% to 20% higher wages for a girl, and when a country sees a 10% increase in girls going to school, its GDP increases by 3%.

That’s the bigger picture.

WE South Africa – and by association, our clients – are all now a part of something so much bigger than ourselves and the work we do. WE has always been and will always remain committed to purpose and to change. Equality is a mindset that requires people and social and political systems to change. Change can be slow, but progress is what matters.
And so, on this International Women’s Day and through the WE Development Trust, in partnership with the St Mary’s Foundation, we are proud to #BeBoldForChange.