insurance scheme

Awards Press Release

On behalf of Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) I would like to express that we are humbled and honoured to have won two awards, the Community Development NGO of the Year Award from the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO) and the Best Practice and Innovation Award for our Informal Traders Insurance Scheme by CEAA at the 13th NGO Directors’ Annual Summer Retreat held in the resort city of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our members, partners and stakeholders for their unwavering support and dedication to our mission. These awards are a huge sign for stakeholders trust in us and belief in our efforts and perhaps the indelible journey that the organization has over walked over the past 8 years. We are committed to continuing our work in impacting communities while providing transformative leadership in the informal economy. We look forward to continuing exploring prospects for collaboration with potential partners. We are once again indebted and grateful to those who voted for us to get this inspiring recognition. Yours in celebration Michael Ndiweni BVTA Executive Director

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Africa Day Brings Local Women Informal Traders Together

Celebration of Africa Day Brings Local Women informal Traders Together.Female vendors and traders in Zimbabwe recently gathered to celebrate Africa Day, organized by the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) Women’s Council. Moreover, the aim of the event was to create a safe and enjoyable space for women to celebrate their African heritage, network with peers, and share experiences. BVTA President, Jacqueline Ndlovu, stressed the importance of empowering women traders due to the many challenges they face, including unpaid caregiving and discrimination. Female Traders Challenges“Female traders face several challenges, including unpaid care work and discrimination. It’s crucial to provide them with a space to go out and have fun as women, while retaining our cultural values,” said Ndlovu. ParticipantsThe event brought together traders from diverse backgrounds and provided an opportunity for them to share experiences and learn from each other. Embracing TraditionsAdditionally, the event was well-received, with over 50 participants enjoying traditional food, music, and dancing. Related Content: BVTA introduces Insurance scheme for informal sector.According to Ndlovu, the empowerment of women traders is crucial to the growth of the local economy and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. Empowering womenShe stated, “When you empower women, you empower families and the whole community. This is why we are investing in young people who will drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the future.” Despite these challenges, female traders remain optimistic about the future, calling for greater support from the government and city authorities to create safe and inclusive trading spaces. Safe & Inclusive Spaces“We want to see more support from the government and city authorities to create safe and inclusive spaces for us to trade in,” said Ndlovu. “But we are also taking matters into our own hands and building a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.” BVTA Membership Support, Debrah Mukasa, acknowledged the important role that BVTA Women’s Council plays in guiding vendors and ensure their safety. “BVTA Women’s Council guides how we work as vendors, how we operate and provide safety for vendors and traders,” said Mukasa. Valuing HeritageMukasa also said that Celebration of Africa Day was important as it reminded us to value our culture and traditional food. BVTA has been working to support local informal traders for years, providing capacity building workshops, advocacy, and access to financing through their revolving fund.

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