Accelerating the advancement of black female chartered accountants.
The Summit Africa Foundation in Partnership with the AWCA
The Summit Africa Foundation is honoured to collaborate with the AWCA, offering our support to both the organisation and the industry at large through our ad-hoc financial allocation for 2023.
About the AWCA
The African Women Chartered Accountants Forum, otherwise known as AWCA, was established in 2002, following an urgent need for a platform where African women CAs(SA) could support each other on their respective career journeys and advance the number of new entrants in the profession. The first female CA qualified in 1917. However, the profession only gained its first Black female CA(SA) when Ms. Nonkululeko Gobodo qualified in 1987. In 2002, Black, Coloured and Indian female Chartered Accountants sat at a stagnant 407. By May 2022, the number had increased to 8588.
Lead
AWCA actively promotes leadership development programs offered to our members, which provide mentorship and coaching, encourage board preparation round table discussions and celebrate the success of industry leaders.
It also offers support and opportunities to members who are budding entrepreneurs with ideas that need guidance and resources for emerging and established businesses. The AWCA actively grooms its members to hold key decision-making positions in corporate South Africa and the public sector.
Nurture
AWCA nurtures aspiring chartered accountants through programs that assist them in preparing for their board exams and working through academic challenges until they qualify.
It also provides valuable support programmes such as financial literacy workshops and Power Teas for members who are new in the profession. These events allow members to engage with influential industry leaders in a relaxed environment.
The Power Teas provide the platform to learn how to navigate various challenges, including corporate politics and unwritten rules in business, while inspiring resilience and leadership.
Identify
The AWCA identifies and nurtures young girls who aspire to become chartered accountants. They actively work with these aspirants to help them achieve their goals. The AWCA bursary programme is essential to this process, providing financial support for students at institutions of their choosing. The AWCA has also established student chapters across numerous South African universities. These chapters serve as vibrant platforms for aspiring accountants to share knowledge, discuss their academic experiences, and connect with seasoned mentors who guide them as they navigate the chartered accounting profession.
The AWCA approach
