Do Women’s Month events deliver lasting impact beyond the hashtags?

by | Aug 26, 2026

Every August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, but are these celebrations honoring women by creating lasting change?

  • Young women still face high unemployment rates, which shows the need for action that supports women beyond August.
  • Events such as Her Africa offer women tangible skills, mentorship and opportunities.
  • Women’s Month should move past inspirational speeches and towards practical action that creates notable change. 

During Women’s Month, events across the country focus on women’s empowerment, wellness, business networking, and women in the arts. But, are these events sustainable beyond Women’s Month? The impact of these annual events deserves closer attention.

According to Statistics South Africa’s (STATS SA) Quarterly Labor Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026 women continue to face higher vulnerability to unemployment and remain concentrated in certain occupations.  Young woman between the ages of 15 to 24 account for 38,2% of those unemployed and not currently in education or training (NEET).

Pictured is a graph showing the percentage of 15 – 24-year-old young women classified as NEET IN Q2:2025 and Q2:2026.
Graphic: Chrislyn Majiedt

These figures suggest that the events that happen during Women’s Month need to offer practical skills, mentorship and opportunities that could turn inspiration into action past August.

On Friday, August 21, 2026, ALX South Africa (ALX SA), a Pan-African organisation dedicated to helping young people build in-demand digital, creative and entrepreneurial skills, hosted their Her Africa Women’s Month event.

Panellist Nozipho McLean, an actress and producer, spoke about the frustration of attending events and feeling inspired but not getting “the juice” of how to achieve success like the women she admired.

Nozipho McLean speaking at the ALX SA Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.

McLean’s ‘Long Story Long’, a podcast and live event series, addresses this by providing practical and implementable steps.

Amina Patterson, venture growth strategist and Wits commerce graduate, challenged the women in the audience to be ‘audacious’ and pursue the big ideas they have, whether it works out or not.

Audience member asking a question at the Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.

“Something that inspires me the most is seeing women go out and build their own products, whether it works or not you have done what 90% of the population has not done,” Patterson said.

Aisha Jackson, regional general manager for ALX SA, says the organisation has graduated 350 000 young people in six to seven years, with 20 000 of graduates based in South Africa and 60% being women.

Aisha Jackson, regional general manager of ALX SA, facilitating the Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.

“I’m sure that women are walking away with one thing that’s tangible, that they can tangibly change in their lives,” said Jackson.

The contrast between Women’s Month celebrations and the ongoing challenges reflected in the labor statistics highlights the need for events that provide women with useful tools they can use beyond August.

FEATURED IMAGE: A photo of the stage where the panel members of the ALX Her Africa event were seated. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt

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