VANDERBIJLPARK – A group of women from all walks of life gathered at Quest Conference Center in Vanderbijlpark during a sip and dance session on Saturday, June 3.

The intimate session aimed at helping women with life burdens to mingle over their favorite drinks, be it tea, wine, or any beverage of their choice, and talk through their challenges as a way to heal masked wounds.

Two motivational speakers Boitumelo Motsoatsoe and Lucy Mofokeng took the liberty to share their life journey as a way to help women open up and speak out about their experiences too.

Emotions ran high when attendees took turns to share their creepy stories and challenges they meet on a day to day in their households, love life, and professional spaces.

Following an hour-long intimate session under deemed lights and a cozy setting, the visibly relieved bunch danced away in different attires as a form of relaxation and dusting off heavy trouble luggage.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster on the sidelines, the Organizer of the event, Fumane Mfono said the idea was born when her husband was admitted to hospital a year ago.

“Seeing a lot of women going through challenges on a daily, motivated me to organize this session. I also went through a rough patch when my husband was admitted to a psychiatric ward. I realized that it was mostly women in those wards, sitting on the bedsides praying and hoping for their partner’s well-being.

“Women are going a lot and talking about their problems is not something they are willing to do. This event sets a platform for those kinds of women to sit and sip on their favorite drinks and listen to emotional speakers and later unpack their burdens,” she said.

Mfono added that social media and the outside world have also contributed to the headaches women have.

“The world has set a certain standard that defines and channels women. We are expected to appear strong, always looking ravishing and perfect to the outside world. This contributes to the pressures women live with. As a matter of fact, women turn to hide and die inside because of these standards. We are here to advise each other on how to hold the fort and forge forward in life,” she added.

Giving her reaction to the session, the main Speaker Motsoatsoe said “There is a difference between an idea and discussing something, then being a space with people the idea is intended for. Being with the women today, feeling their emotions, spirits, and realizing how important it is to create a safe space with them to share, drop our masks and engage each other on how to navigate through life challenges has been transformative, I am inspired”.

Nthateng Motaung, an attendee, said there is a need for such events to help many troubled women unpack their burdens.

“I am glad to attend such a session. Listening to other women speak out on their troubled lives, really helps. We need these kinds of engagements as women in order to help us heal unseen wounds we live with on a daily,” she said.