On Friday, 7 February 2020, Bank Windhoek pledged its support to the Katuka Mentorship Programme. The Bank's Head of Corporate Affairs, Hayley Allen, announced this at the Programme's Mentorship Orientation Training event hosted in Windhoek.
“Empowering women who are in business is why supporting the Katuka Mentorship Programme is the perfect fit for Bank Windhoek. We are a partner for growth for women entrepreneurs – both personally and professionally. And we are proud to be a conduit to the relationship that mentors and mentees will be building over the coming year," said Allen.
Launched in 2001 by the late Lena Markus, a former Businesswoman of the Year in 2000 in the category Corporate/Professional, the Katuka Mentorship Programme aims to empower and encourage entrepreneurs, business and professional women to achieve success in their careers through mentorship by seasoned business-minded and professional women.
Addressing the mentees and mentors as she thanked Bank Windhoek, the Programme's Organiser, Desèré Lundon-Muller, said: “The core objective of the programme is to create a platform for your professional growth, leadership skills as participants, and we do this to bring out the best in you. We also encourage you to share and plough back the knowledge gained within your communities."
Currently, in its nineteenth year, the Katuka Mentorship Programme has produced significant results in the careers of the participating mentees. To date, 373 entrepreneurs and businesswomen have completed the programme.
2020 Programme timeline
After passing a screening selection process conducted in October 2019, a total of 49 mentors and mentees completed a three-day Mentorship Orientation Training, which took place from Wednesday 5 until Friday 7 February 2020, in Windhoek.
A renowned human resource specialist, Sabine Ruegg from Thalestris Training Consultancy, conducted the training. "I am very impressed with all the mentors and mentees. As for the mentees, they are rough diamonds, which we are sure will brightly shine after we complete this year's training," said Ruegg.
Below is the full list of the Programme's 2020 mentors and mentees:
Mentors: Regina Ambambi; Naita Awene; Dunja Berger; Luzelle Coetzee; Rosalia Fototlela; Hendrina Hango-Ndakola; Gloria Kapingana; Ritta Khiba; Maryke Krohne; Rosalia Mulamata Simonee; Janet Njembo; Erika Preuss; Louise Profijt; Sabine Ruegg; Louise Shixwameni; Lovisa Uukelo; Annemarie van der Riet; Helene Vosloo and Ndawedapo Shaanika.
Mentees: Etuna Akuunda; Josephine Angula; Selma Benjamin; Tamzyn Conradie; Mina Ruth Elias; Ottillie Endjala; Selma R Hamutenye; Rauna Hekandjo; Jessy Hidulika; Eunike Iiyambo; Joolokeni Joel; Bibiana Kadira; Mbeurora Karamata; Sharon Kavita; Tukondjeni Mutota; Letty Namwoonde; Ngajo Ndjoze; Twapandula Nghifindaka; Mandisa Rasmeni and Christofina Shindume.
“As we journey together in this partnership, we hope that each one who is involved in this process reaches her full potential. Our challenge to you is that you see obstacles as opportunities to re-orientate your thinking and that you move forward a little wiser," concluded Allen.
The Katuka Mentorship Programme is open to all women with Namibian citizenship. It requires participants to have the desire to learn, develop, and commit to its activities for a year. After scheduling events and meetings, both the mentors and mentees meet for training sessions. The second training gathering for this year will take place in April, and the third in August.
