She is Forestry, a campaign initiated and led by Forestry South Africa and the Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC), has made a significant impact on the lives of rural girls in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
The project was launched to address issues such as high absenteeism and dropout rates in rural schools due to socioeconomic challenges like poverty and unemployment.
Makhosazana Mavimbela, the executive director of the FSCC, said a growing number of girls in rural communities are dropping out of school before completing matric because they see childcare grants as their only way out of poverty.
“This problem is further compounded by ‘period poverty’, where girls cannot afford female hygiene products, leading to high absenteeism,” she said.
The non-profit organisation She is Forestry was established five years ago to celebrate and support women in the sector and encourage girls to consider a career in forestry.
“We truly believe that this project embodies the words of Nelson Mandela: ‘Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom,’” said Mavimbela.
She added that She is Forestry has surpassed expectations. “It all started with a webinar in 2020 and has evolved into a change-maker actively creating positive change and impact through various platforms.”
The She is Forestry team recently visited Phindizwe High in Eshowe, one of five schools it supports in forestry-focused provinces. The team presented a four-part video series designed to address the concerning trend of high dropout rates among girls.
The idea for the videos stemmed from discussions with school principals who identified the need for female role models and career guidance to mitigate dropout rates.
Instead of organising a one-off careers day, the team created videos showcasing forestry careers and featuring women as role models, aiming to provide a durable and widely accessible resource.
After seeing the videos at Phindizwe High, Grade 12 student Nomvelo Nzuza felt inspired by the story of a woman who, despite being raised by a single mother, achieved independence and established her own forestry business. Now Nomvelo believes she can also have a brighter future despite her circumstances.
Mavimbela highlighted the rich opportunities for women in the forestry sector, especially those in rural areas where forestry is prevalent, and emphasised the importance of bringing these stories to life.
Katy Johnson, who leads the project at Forestry South Africa, said she was inspired by a question from Michelle Obama’s book The Light We Carry: “How can we dream about what we cannot see?”
Johnson said this question resonated with the challenges faced by rural schoolgirls who often see marriage and childcare grants as their only possible future due to high unemployment. “The aim was to introduce alternative opportunities and establish a sustainable solution that would benefit multiple groups at five schools and beyond,” she said.
Forestry South Africa is now also raising funds to procure essential items such as toilet paper, printer paper and feminine hygiene products which are in short supply at rural schools.
Johnson said they can’t assist everyone, so they decided to focus on creating sustainable change. “Even if we could inspire just one girl to stay in school, help one child pass a maths exam or prevent one girl from experiencing period poverty, we would have achieved our objectives.”
Thulani Ndlovu, the principal of Phindizwe High, expressed gratitude for the support, citing a decrease in absenteeism linked to period poverty since the donation of menstrual cups in 2022, as well as a significant increase in pass rates from 30% to 70% with the help of calculators.
Johnson said they hoped the videos would encourage girls to remain in school and demonstrate the diverse career opportunities available to them. More significantly, she believes the girls will see women who have faced similar challenges and are now thriving in forestry.
Mavimbela said the video series is being expanded to feature equally inspiring role models such as heavy machine operators, scientists, communication specialists and training facilitators.
