I Host Women's Empowerment Retreats Across Africa-Here's How Growing Up in Zimbabwe Inspired Me

"Last April, my guests and I prepared to leave the wild embrace of Xigera, a living art gallery in Botswana's Okavango Delta. This is where we hosted Roar Africa's fifth Women's Empowerment Retreat. As we prepared to readjust to the clamor of city life back home, one guest uttered a sentence that stopped me in my tracks: "Empowerment begins with presence.""

"At the core of Roar Africa lies our credo: When African women rise, wildlife will thrive. These retreats bring that philosophy to life with a measurable impact. We had our first retreat in South Africa in 2019, and the progress I've witnessed on subsequent journeys to Kenya, Rwanda, my homeland of Zimbabwe, and now Botswana, has been nothing short of staggering."

"Every moment of these retreats is meticulously designed by me to showcase the absolute best of the African destination we choose. Game drives, bush walks, and meditative moments connect us to nature, while inspiring female speakers like CEOs and founders of nonprofits share their stories. This creates an environment where collaborative relationships are nurtured-films and books, TED Talks, scholarships, and more have come out of the partnerships formed at our retreats."

Roar Africa's Women's Empowerment Retreats convene women with African female change-makers in safari destinations to cultivate presence, collaboration, and leadership. The retreats combine curated experiences—game drives, bush walks, meditative moments—and presentations by CEOs, nonprofit founders, and entrepreneurs to inspire partnerships. Since 2019 retreats have taken place in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, producing measurable impacts in maternal health, education, and conservation. The credo "When African women rise, wildlife will thrive" guides program selection and outcomes. Partnerships emerging from the retreats have led to films, books, TED Talks, scholarships, and ongoing community initiatives.

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