Women-led actions can be described as having women at the frontline, women being involved in day to day activities. Women, by nature, are leaders, selfless, influencers, caretakers and givers of love and hope. Woman-led actions are brought about by a pressing need that requires urgent attention, especially those needs that have been overlooked by many especially by those in power. As an African woman, it is an honour to let the world know about the challenges that we are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the possible recommendations that can help improving the lives of African women.

Daily struggles are not a new thing to African women. Way before COVID-19, African women have been looked down on, excluded from many important roles in society, being slaved and voiceless. An outspoken woman was classified as rebellious and a bad example to society. African men used this manipulation to keep the African women in bondage for a long period of time. Brave women faced a lot of challenges such as being rejected by society, including their fellow women. Can we blame the African women for crucifying other women for standing up? Absolutely not, because society made sure their minds were programed as such. Society is made to believe that a woman is a slave, voiceless, powerless, not intelligent enough and her only role is to look after her household. Sad right? It is even more sad because even in 2020 some parts of Africa still treat women as such. African women have never been allowed to get formal education, some are still not allowed to do so, while the only education they are permitted to have is being taught how to do house chores and looking after their children and husbands. However, the ball is in our hands as African women, the time is now for African women to rise and let their voice be heard. Quoting Miss Universe 2019, it is time to "rise up, take up space in society and conquer."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges faced by African women have increased, unemployment and loss of education, for an African women, are topping. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of women to get retrenched. Most women in Africa are self-employed and generate income to feed their families and pay for their tertiary education and that of their children by selling on the streets, braiding hair at their small salons at the corner of the street or selling sweets and food at public places. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments were forced to shut down their economies including public places that are women's markets. The lockdown caused the shutting down of restaurants, guest houses and all the other areas that are dominated by women. Accordingly, the loss of income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, led women to losing their properties, as they were unable to continue paying rental fees and monthly instalments, and they were forced to sell their other properties such as beds and televisions in order to enable them to afford a meal as well as paying for monthly rental fees.

The education of an African child is mostly funded by women. The loss of jobs and income opportunities by their mothers affected them too. The education of an African women and that of their children is greatly affected by this pandemic. The fact that schools and universities are closed and the only way forward is online classes, left behind women who do not have access to electricity and electronic devices. There is also a set of women who have access to both electricity and electronic devices but due to loss of income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they will not be able to afford data or access to Wi-Fi. All these factors will hinder the education that enables them to get formal jobs. This is likely to cause depression or even suicide.

I strongly believe that even if the economy fully opens up, men will get more advantages and privilege because of the social norms that dictates that they have a household to take care of, despite the shifting society. Our society still deems this as normal and unfortunately no one will advocate for this. And I would like to applaud initiatives such as Sauti, the Africa Young Feminist Blog, which is a great opportunity to make an impact and to restore the hope of African women. Accordingly, I encourage similar initiative and I suggest the following;

1. African women must be empowered, their hopes and the way they look at themselves must be restored;
2. Free online packages such as free monthly subscriptions to internet, free tables must be given to women;
3. Governments must invest in the life of African women by building them decent houses, supplying clean water, sanitary pads, food, access to good health care, etc;
4. Projects such as soap making trainings for women which will enable them to produce soaps for themselves and for selling;
5. Women must venture into providing essential services that do not require any capital and can be done even during this pandemic.
6. Governments and private organisations must aid financially.

Unfortunately, people will still deem this as a waste of resources, thus making it difficult for people to bring forward viable evidence without discrediting it. In a nutshell, it ultimately rests on how things can be accounted for and presented to an ignorant community who will look at it as a holistic figure. I conclude by quoting Nancy Wilson, the founder and CEO of the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce in an article dated May 2, 2019 that said "it takes only one woman to make a women-led company, that is if you are a tech company looking for investment from venture fund marketed to support female entrepreneurship and participation in the tech sector."

Women are equally important and intelligent as men and deserve to have a voice.

Nelago Lyaela Lilonga is a 27-years old Namibian born in a small village called Okahao-Okalondo. She has a diploma in local governance studies from the University of Namibia and has also studied towards a honours degree in public management. Nelago is passionate about her community and advocates for women empowerment. Her biggest dream is to one day build an orphanage. 

Nelago Lyaela considers herself as a fighter and good communicator. Whenever she faces a challenge, she applies both logic and emotional aspects in equal proportion. She is passionate about learning new things.