Windhoek celebrates mother, employee

EACH Wednesday, the United Nations Information Centre (Unic) Windhoek, celebrates women and their accomplishments.

In light of the Global Day of Parents, Unic Windhoek celebrates its own Beauty Kalokela, a woman who has dedicated her life to her family while juggling a job and giving back to the community.

Global Day of Parents is observed on the 1st of June every year. It provides an opportunity to appreciate parents for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.

Beauty exemplifies this selfless commitment to her family every day.

Beauty, who has worked for Unic Windhoek for 14 years, grew up at Mpola, a village close to Katima Mulilo. Her mother took her to Zambia after a divorce with her husband where Beauty attended Grade 1 and 2.

After Beauty’s father found out she was in Zambia, he sent his sister to fetch her, and Beauty returned to Namibia in 1978.

She then restarted and finished primary school as well as part of secondary school at Katima.

Beauty did not finish secondary school because her stepmother did not support her and she moved out of her father’s home and stayed with her cousin. Later, she moved to Windhoek.

Beauty married her husband in a traditional wedding in 1990, and in 1997 the couple legalised their marriage in the magistrates court.

They lived outside of Windhoek at a military base until they bought a house in Windhoek in 1999.

She has five children, ranging from two to 26 years of age. Her lastborn is named Blessing, as her birth was a surprise and a blessing. She also has one grandchild named Joy, who has brought joy to her family.

Juggling her family, her work and her extensive involvement in the community has kept Beauty busy. “It’s not that easy. It is difficult being a mother. However, people I’m working with are good people. If my child is sick, they allow me to go to the doctor and take care of my child,” Beauty explains.

Beauty says that being surrounded by her loving family has been the best part of being a mother. Her parents and grandparents are no longer alive and she says that, “I’m not alone anymore. Sometimes I sit and think if I did not have children, I would sit and be very quiet. But now my house is loud and happy, and I am very thankful.”

Before Beauty started working at Unic Windhoek, on 8 April 2002, her husband worked briefly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and she only received N$500 a month from him to support her and her family. In order to make extra money, Beauty worked hard to sell sweets and sewn goods to make extra money.

Because of this experience, Beauty urges women to get involved and find what they are passionate about and not to sit around and wait. Although she did not finish secondary school, she believes that even without an education people can do much and make something of themselves.

They just have to put in some hard work.

“As a woman you have to work really hard. If you just sit at home and wait for someone to help you, it won’t happen. You can’t wait for your husband or boyfriend to take care of you,” Beauty says.

A spiritual woman who is very involved with her church, Beauty says, “Sometimes when God sees you trying he will say, ‘Child, let me help’.”

In consideration of the Global Day of Parents, Beauty urges parents to continue working to help their children and family even when challenges such as financial struggles arise. She says, “It’s difficult when you don’t know where to start. Sometimes you have to borrow money. I started by borrowing N$100 from a friend.”

She continues by emphasising the importance of equality in relationships, “If only one pocket is bringing in money, sometimes there is stress at the end of the month, which causes fighting.”

In terms of women’s empowerment, Beauty mentions that things are different now than they were a few decades ago. She explains, “These years are not like before when parents had farms and food. The rain that time was such that you could cultivate and get things from the farm. Nowadays there is not enough rain, and people have to work hard and work together to get things”.

“It’s important to know how to do the same work as your husband. What is the difference? If my husband can do it, why can’t I? We must know how to do everything equally so that we can support one another.”

A peaceful woman, Beauty gets along with many people and enjoys helping out her community. If someone is sick, she enjoys lending a helping hand and being there for people who do not have as much as she has.

If someone does not have food or clothes, she goes out of her way to assist them.

“We have to share. If I am going to eat, what about them?” Beauty says.

A selfless woman, her motto in life is that she works and does everything for her children.

– www.un.org/africarenewal