Malawian media personality and songstress Ruth Kulaisi has received the Rising Star Award at this year’s Women with a Mission Recognition and Achievement Awards (WWMRA) in South Africa.

According to a letter dated October 15 2022 and signed by WWMRA representative Adasonia Temitope, Kulaisi was selected for demonstrating exceptional role in the media space.

The letter reads:”You have been chosen for your patriotic work and touching lives in the community. Women with a mission drives at creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, life changers and more. With your works and achievements in this space, it is with great joy to have you as a recipient of WWMRA awards.”

In reaction, Ruth said she was honoured and humbled.

“The work I do within the media and personally through the Ruth Kulaisi Foundation is an extension of the purpose that I believe God has called me to empower and encourage women and people around me in general.

“So to think someone has recognised something that is in essence an act of service is truly special to me. This has served as an approval  to my work and an encouragement for me to keep going,” she said.

Ruth hoped the award would make her family, leaders and mentors and employers at Zodiak Broadcasting Station proud.

“The wins and struggles Malawi face are not isolated to her. The vision is to use this pan-African platform to connect Malawian women and men where applicable to like-minded people, whether in business or otherwise,” she said.

The award is given to African woman who are doing different work across the continent.

Ruth claims she knew from the age of 15 she would work with women.

She hopes the award will now connect her to other women who are recepients of the same from other African countries.

The award winner noted that media has opened many doors for her and the people she serves, including those in her initiative— mothers cleaning service— under the Ruth Kulaisi Foundation.

Because of the passion she has for single mothers, especially those going through difficult times, Ruth launched the initiative for single mothers.

She launched it on her birthday, April 10 2021 and called it mothers’ cleaning service.

Growing up, she never thought of being in the media because she was trained in pastoral care at Bible College in Perth, Australia.

“I did a diploma in Christian ministry at Global Heart Leadership College in Australia and my dream was to work or write music for the church and plant churches, which I am still up for. I always knew I would work directly with women and make a difference in their lives.

“And that’s something that I still get to do now with my programme on Zodiak TV called Womanity. The mothers’ cleaning service enables me to nurture my dream,” she says.

The foundation links single mothers with clients who need their clothes washed, house or office cleaned and any other household chores as a livelihood.

Ruth chose to help single mothers because she saw the desperation in their stories each time she talked to them.

“It is a divine duty to raise a child and sometimes when there is no help, it can feel like a burden, yet the child is such a blessing,” she observes.

Ruth ventured into the cleaning service because cleaning is something women already do by knocking on gates in the mornings as piece work.

There are two models of payments— either the woman receives soon after the work or upon an agreement if they would be working there for a specific period of time.

Furthermore, all the payment is 100 percent theirs. The organisation gets nothing.

Referring to Proverbs 31:25 which says: “The woman is clothed in dignity and laughs when she looks at the future because she is fearless, but hopes for the good future.”

He added: “That’s what we want the women to be; hopeful, bold and dignified. We are teaching them that hard work and dedication open doors. As an organisation, we are not necessarily giving them anything for free, but we are teaching them how to sustain themselves,” says Ruth.

She is optimistic that the future of these single mothers, through her initiative, will empower them to be independent.

Ruth has also called on older women to make sure they mentor the younger ones.

She said:”I want older women to pass on the baton to the younger generation by taking us under their wings. Women leaders need to identify young women who they can mentor to come along side them and raise other leaders.”

The TV presenter believes this will ensure there are no gaps in leadership and the continuation to have women leaders emerging strategically.

Ruth observes that it is a beautiful achievement to be the first person to do something(breaking the glass ceiling), but it is not ok to be the only one to ever do it.

She believes a good leader is happy to share information, show the inside and lead the way; the issue is not to be the only one, but to multiply by your influence.

Her word to those that have gone before the younger generation in achieving and winning in life is to teach and  provide guidance to upcoming leaders.

She encourages training of the next generation.

Ruth said:”To my fellow women, lets create room by taking up mentees. We are humans; physically, emotionally and spiritually and in all those aspects, guidance must also be given for us to rise and win together.”

Ruth is also a three-time Urban Music  People Awards nominee.

The post Ruth Kulaisi: Rising star award winner appeared first on The Nation Online.