by Marion Smith

There are moments when a gathering becomes more than an event. It becomes a statement.

That was the spirit behind Women Rising, the launch of an international anthology celebrating women’s voices, journeys, experiences and achievements, held during Women’s Month at the residence of H.E. Erika Álvarez Rodríguez, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to South Africa.

The initiative was presented by the International Diplomatic Spouses Association (IDSA) in collaboration with Avança, Mulher, bringing together women from the diplomatic community and beyond in celebration of the extraordinary ways in which women rise, often quietly, courageously and without recognition.

The ceremony was curated and led by Ms Egna de Sousa, Curator of Avança, Mulher, who welcomed guests and introduced the concept behind the anthology.

Opening the proceedings, Ambassador Erika Álvarez Rodríguez reflected on the significance of celebrating Women’s Month in South Africa and the importance of creating spaces where women can share their stories and inspire others.

The keynote address, delivered by Mrs Winny Lamola, Patron of IDSA and spouse of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, was entitled “When Women Rise” and provided one of the most powerful reflections of the morning.

Drawing on the image of a butterfly emerging from its transformation, Mrs Lamola reminded the audience that the most important part of a woman’s rise often happens before the world sees it.

“We have become conditioned to recognise rising, and it looks like an achievement,” she noted, referring to appointments, titles, businesses, podiums, photographs and awards.

But, she argued, some of the most consequential ways women rise will never make headlines.

A woman rises when she raises a child who will contribute differently to the world. She rises when she keeps a family standing through challenges no one outside the home knows about. She rises when she becomes educated and ensures another girl gains access to education. She rises when she walks through a door that previous generations of women could not enter and then refuses to close that door behind her.

“Never mistake invisibility for insignificance” was among the central messages of her address.

Mrs Lamola spoke of the internal journey that precedes public recognition: rising into one’s own voice, rising into responsibility, rising beyond feelings of inadequacy and recognising that one’s journey can create opportunities for others.

She also reminded guests that women must be free to choose what rising means for them.

The woman building a company is rising. The woman leading a country is rising. The woman pursuing an education is rising. The woman healing is rising. And the woman raising a family is rising.

Women’s liberation, she emphasised, should never require one woman’s choice to be diminished in order to validate another’s.

This year’s celebration also carried particular historical resonance in South Africa, marking 70 years since more than 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against the extension of pass laws to women.

Mrs Lamola drew a line between those women and the women gathered in the room, reminding the audience that today’s generation stands on the shoulders of women who challenged injustice and opened doors for those who followed.

She also invoked the legacy of Queen Nzinga, the renowned African leader and diplomat, whose story demonstrates that women have long exercised leadership, diplomacy and statecraft, even in societies where political power was overwhelmingly controlled by men.

Her message was clear: women rising is not a new story. It is a continuing story.

And that is precisely why the word “rising” is so significant.

It does not say women rose. It speaks in the present continuous: women rising.

There is no point in a woman’s life when she must declare herself finished.

Mrs Lamola encouraged women to continue learning, writing, creating, beginning again and refusing to allow age or circumstance to convince them that their season of rising has passed.

She also spoke of the responsibility that comes with reaching one’s own summit.

“If you have reached the summit, reach down and help someone else rise” was the powerful sentiment behind her call for women to share knowledge, open doors, mentor others and create opportunities.

One of the most significant outcomes of the Women Rising project is precisely this opportunity to extend women’s voices beyond the room.

Mrs Karem Ruiz de Livieres, President of IDSA, formally presented the vision for the international anthology.

She described Women Rising as a collection written by women of the diplomatic community and their sisters and colleagues across cultures, bringing together stories of heritage, art, lived experiences and personal journeys.

The anthology is expected to bring together more than 100 women across four continents, creating a literary tapestry that reflects the diversity of women’s experiences.

The stories will take different forms, including poetry, prose, letters, chronicles and personal reflections, but will be united by a common thread: the experience of womanhood, resilience, transformation and hope.

Mrs Ruiz de Livieres also highlighted an important philanthropic dimension of the project.

Once production costs are covered, proceeds from the sale of the book will support women’s education, helping to provide opportunities for women to study and obtain university degrees.

The ambition is therefore much greater than producing a book.

It is about creating a legacy.

It is about transforming personal stories into opportunities for another woman.

It is about ensuring that a woman who receives an education can change her family, her community and, ultimately, her country.

As Mrs Ruiz de Livieres reflected, one act of generosity can begin a chain of change that continues for generations.

The launch also carried an important message about storytelling.

Women are often encouraged to celebrate achievements, but the stories behind those achievements can remain hidden: the sacrifices, setbacks, private battles, moments of doubt and quiet acts of courage.

The world may see where a woman has risen, but only she knows what she has risen from.

That is why stories matter.

The closing remarks were delivered by H.E. María del Rosario Mina-Rojas, Ambassador of Colombia to South Africa, who thanked guests for being part of the occasion and for contributing to a celebration that placed women’s voices, experiences and solidarity at its centre.

Women Rising is ultimately more than an anthology.

It is a bridge between generations, cultures and continents.

It is an invitation for women to tell their stories, not because their journeys are perfect, but because their journeys matter.

It recognises that rising can happen in a boardroom, a parliament, a classroom, a diplomatic mission, a community, a business, a hospital room or a family home.

Sometimes rising is public.

Sometimes it happens quietly.

Sometimes it is visible to the world.

Sometimes nobody is watching.

But every act of courage, growth and transformation matters.

And perhaps the most powerful message from the launch was this:

When a woman rises, something rises with her.

A child rises. A family rises. Another woman rises. A community rises. And sometimes, an entire nation rises.

Women are not finished when they reach one summit. There are always new hills to climb, new chapters to write and new doors to open.

So, wherever she finds herself, the invitation remains the same:

Rise. Keep rising. And when you reach higher, make it possible for another woman to rise with you.