Going Home to Africa
Donation protected
What makes a woman of 58 want to drive, on her own, from Europe, through Africa to Zimbabwe?
Why should older women think that the best part of their lives is over? Perhaps the best is yet to come! Dot Bekker has decided, at 58, to do something extraordinary, she aims to drive almost 20,000kms (12,000 miles) through at least 20 African countries to Zimbabwe. In asking Dot why she wants to undertake such a journey, she answers “I left Zimbabwe almost 37 years ago and no matter where life has taken me, it remains the home of my heart and there comes a time in life when you must listen to your heart.”
In speaking to Dot you will tangibly feel her passion for Africa and although many people have given doomsday suggestions (mainly from people who have never been to the places I’m going) that she should not do this, she remains adamant, “why not?” she replies “it seem to me that if I was a man no one would be remotely concerned. Men, or couples, do this journey all the time.”
For Dot the journey is to be one of getting to better know and understand a part of the huge continent of Africa, (3x bigger than Europe) the different countries, landscapes cultures and people. “I’m so looking forward to meeting the people, in my experience the people of Africa are on the whole warm and kind people and I hope to evidence this in my travels” says Dot.
Dot plans to not only return home but to use the opportunity to raise funds for scholarships for girls to attend school, whether at a primary or secondary level. Asking why she has chosen this cause, Dot responded “to be honest there are so many things that need attention in Zimbabwe right now that it was hard to choose. However, I chose to look at the long term, I truly believe that quick fixes will improve things for a while but they will not make changes to the future and so I chose to uplift through education. I consider that the education opportunities of girls in Zimbabwe are disappointingly fewer than those given to boys and I’m just looking to even up the score. I’ve spent many years working with organisations promoting women’s equality and so this seemed to match that goal.
See more about the reasons for and what the fund can do here. http://goinghometoafrica.com/index.php/girl-s-education
***********************************************************
“What is homing? It is the instinct to return, to go to the place we remember. It is the ability to find, whether in dark or in daylight, one’s home place. We all know how to return home. No matter how long it’s been, we find our way. We go through the night, over strange land, through tribes of strangers without maps and asking of the odd personages we meet along the road” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés – Women who run with the Wolves
***********************************************************
Dot Bekker has been mentoring and working with Entrepreneurs for many years, helping them develop strategies for success. She works with clients across Europe and Africa.
Born in Zimbabwe, she left in 1981 when faction fighting amongst the ruling parties broke out between the ruling parties and went to South Africa with her first husband. At 26 she was unexpectedly widowed and it was since then that she has been on a journey of self-discovery and working with women’s organisations and delving into Entrepreneurship and setting up a Small Business Network. In 1997 she and her second husband moved to UK to enable him to study and has in the past 20 years, in Europe, lived in UK, Portugal and Luxembourg.
To contribute to the Girl’s education fund, please donate here or directly on the website - www.goinghometoafrica.com.
Why should older women think that the best part of their lives is over? Perhaps the best is yet to come! Dot Bekker has decided, at 58, to do something extraordinary, she aims to drive almost 20,000kms (12,000 miles) through at least 20 African countries to Zimbabwe. In asking Dot why she wants to undertake such a journey, she answers “I left Zimbabwe almost 37 years ago and no matter where life has taken me, it remains the home of my heart and there comes a time in life when you must listen to your heart.”
In speaking to Dot you will tangibly feel her passion for Africa and although many people have given doomsday suggestions (mainly from people who have never been to the places I’m going) that she should not do this, she remains adamant, “why not?” she replies “it seem to me that if I was a man no one would be remotely concerned. Men, or couples, do this journey all the time.”
For Dot the journey is to be one of getting to better know and understand a part of the huge continent of Africa, (3x bigger than Europe) the different countries, landscapes cultures and people. “I’m so looking forward to meeting the people, in my experience the people of Africa are on the whole warm and kind people and I hope to evidence this in my travels” says Dot.
Dot plans to not only return home but to use the opportunity to raise funds for scholarships for girls to attend school, whether at a primary or secondary level. Asking why she has chosen this cause, Dot responded “to be honest there are so many things that need attention in Zimbabwe right now that it was hard to choose. However, I chose to look at the long term, I truly believe that quick fixes will improve things for a while but they will not make changes to the future and so I chose to uplift through education. I consider that the education opportunities of girls in Zimbabwe are disappointingly fewer than those given to boys and I’m just looking to even up the score. I’ve spent many years working with organisations promoting women’s equality and so this seemed to match that goal.
See more about the reasons for and what the fund can do here. http://goinghometoafrica.com/index.php/girl-s-education
***********************************************************
“What is homing? It is the instinct to return, to go to the place we remember. It is the ability to find, whether in dark or in daylight, one’s home place. We all know how to return home. No matter how long it’s been, we find our way. We go through the night, over strange land, through tribes of strangers without maps and asking of the odd personages we meet along the road” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés – Women who run with the Wolves
***********************************************************
Dot Bekker has been mentoring and working with Entrepreneurs for many years, helping them develop strategies for success. She works with clients across Europe and Africa.
Born in Zimbabwe, she left in 1981 when faction fighting amongst the ruling parties broke out between the ruling parties and went to South Africa with her first husband. At 26 she was unexpectedly widowed and it was since then that she has been on a journey of self-discovery and working with women’s organisations and delving into Entrepreneurship and setting up a Small Business Network. In 1997 she and her second husband moved to UK to enable him to study and has in the past 20 years, in Europe, lived in UK, Portugal and Luxembourg.
To contribute to the Girl’s education fund, please donate here or directly on the website - www.goinghometoafrica.com.
Organizer
Dot Bekker
Organizer
Bertrange
