Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP)

SWEEP is a sisterhood for economic participation aimed at promoting the economic empowerment of student women. It provides skills and opportunities interventions and seeks to address the barriers to entrepreneurship faced by student women, particularly in the context of gender-based violence. SWEEP envisions becoming a transformational empowerment community of women equipped for economic participation through entrepreneurial activity.

SWEEP aims to break the cycle of dependency and vulnerability by fostering entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in order to enable student women to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth and development of their communities. Through increased economic participation, student women can gain agency, make informed decisions, and exercise greater control over their lives. They can pursue education, career advancement, and personal aspirations, thereby challenging traditional gender roles and norms.

In the context of gender-based violence and unemployment in South Africa, the initiative strives to create a transformative impact on student women’s lives by giving them access to opportunities and skills-development activities that enhance employability, professionalism, entrepreneurship, resilience and self-sustainability. The programme aims to do this by enhancing student women’s academic education and plugging them into a professional ‘sisterhood.’

In a world where gender equality and women’s empowerment are increasingly recognised as crucial for social progress and sustainable development, it is imperative to focus on empowering young women to reach their full potential. The Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) stands as a testament to this vision, aiming to uplift and support female students in their pursuit of economic independence, professional growth, and leadership.

SWEEP addresses the lack of representation of student women in business and entrepreneurship by providing skills and opportunities for economic participation. Unemployment is a significant issue, and many student women face the risk of joblessness even after graduating. Additionally, financial dependency often forces them to stay in abusive relationships. SWEEP aims to tackle these problems by offering practical skills and opportunities, supported by academic knowledge, to help student women participate in the economy through entrepreneurial activities and professional employability skills. SWEEP’s primary goal is to increase the number of student women who are equipped for economic participation through entrepreneurship or employment opportunities. The programme supports them in creating a stable socio-economic environment by starting and growing their businesses or developing their employability skills. By recognizing the potential of student women to become entrepreneurs or employed professionals, SWEEP provides the necessary skills and resources to help them succeed. This empowerment boosts their confidence, enabling them to contribute to the economy and achieve financial independence.

The rationale for the SWEEP initiative is based on the understanding that student women who generate income are less vulnerable and have more options for personal and professional growth. By promoting economic participation, SWEEP aims to create a stable socio-economic environment for student women, enabling them to support themselves and their families without having to rely on an abusive partner or face economic hardships. Increased participation of student women equipped for economic participation through entrepreneurial activity will contribute to their overall economic empowerment, leading to enhanced self-esteem, financial independence, and improved quality of life.

Through its comprehensive interventions, SWEEP expects to achieve the following outcomes:

• Expand Institutional Participation: Through the development of contextualised content, resources, and guidance, SWEEP strives to increase the establishment of new SWEEP chapters across institutions, creating a wider network of student women empowered through entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities.
• Increase Entrepreneurship Awareness: Increased awareness of entrepreneurship as a viable economic pathway for female university students and a greater understanding of gender equality and related challenges that hinder female student participation in economic sectors.
• Enhance entrepreneurship and resilience skills among student women: SWEEP endeavours to enhance the entrepreneurship skills of student women, enabling them to develop innovative business ideas, effectively manage their ventures, and navigate the challenges of starting and growing businesses. The programme aims to foster a strong entrepreneurial mindset and skill set among student women by providing training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The programme also aims to enhance student women’s mental and emotional resilience, enabling them to pursue opportunities confidently and navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business.
• Increase access to finance and business development services for student women: SWEEP recognises the importance of access to finance and business development services for student women’s entrepreneurial endeavours. The Programme aims to facilitate increased access to financial resources, grants, loans, and business support services, enabling student women to start and expand their businesses. By reducing barriers to capital and providing guidance on business development, SWEEP seeks to enhance student women’s entrepreneurial success.
• Increase participation of student women in a supportive community of women entrepreneurs: SWEEP strives to create a supportive community of student women entrepreneurs. By facilitating networking events, mentorship programmes, and knowledge sharing platforms, the programme aims to foster collaboration, peer learning, and mutual support among student women. This community will contribute to the growth, resilience, and success of student women in their entrepreneurial pursuits.
• Increase economic participation of student women: SWEEP aims to empower student women to actively engage in economic activities, whether through entrepreneurship, employment, or other forms of economic participation. By equipping them with the necessary skills, resources, and support, the Programme seeks to increase the number of student women who are economically active and contributing to the economy.
• Reduce dependability and vulnerability of student women: SWEEP acknowledges the connection between economic empowerment and reduced vulnerability to gender-based violence. By providing psychosocial support, education on gender-based violence prevention, and access to resources, the Programme aims to reduce the risk and impact of gender-based violence on student women’s lives. This includes fostering a supportive environment that empowers student women to assert their rights and seek help when needed.