Boot Camp Helps Women Learn Traditional Skills and Gain Confidence

What is the Makoti Boot Camp?

Londeka Shezi started the Makoti Boot Camp in 2020. The camp helps women learn traditional skills like brewing beer and cooking. It also offers mental health counselling. The camp is not just for women who are getting married. It is open to all women who want to learn and grow.

Why did Shezi start the camp?

Shezi got married at 24. She moved from the city to a more traditional home. She did not know how to do some things, like brewing traditional beer. This caused problems in her marriage. She thought about other women who might have the same problem. So she started the camp to help them.

What happens at the camp?

The camp lasts for three days. It happens four times a year. Women learn about:

• Traditional cooking and brewing
• Respect and family expectations
• Mental health and counselling
• Empowerment from experts

The camp is held in a place without modern comforts. This helps women focus on learning.

Who can join?

Women between 25 and 50 years old can join. They come from different backgrounds. One woman, Heaven Potgieter, is coloured and not married. She went to learn and relax. She said the camp taught her a lot about respect and traditional food.

Conclusion

The Makoti Boot Camp is about more than chores. It helps women feel strong and ready for any challenge in life.

This article was originally published on Sowetan.