Participants in the November 2025 Woven Wisdom Workshop hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. Photo: David Mang’enda
A four-day workshop in northern Namibia equips women with skills to provide transformative leadership and service
(LWI) - Women from Lutheran churches in nine countries across the African continent have been inspired and empowered by a workshop entitled “Woven Wisdom: Women Leading the Future of Diakonia in a Changing World.” Supported by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the 10 to 14 November event brought together 28 women of different generations from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the host country, Namibia.
The workshop provided an important space to showcase community-based diaconal work, learn about best practices, strengthen regional cooperation and equip women with skills to provide transformative leadership in their own contexts. Through field visits, peer learning and participatory dialogue, the women shared experiences and discussed ways of dealing with challenges including the climate crisis and gender injustice, as well as the risks and opportunities offered by rapidly evolving digital technologies.
The workshop opened with a warm welcome for participants in Windhoek from members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), before they embarked on an eight-hour journey to Oniipa District in the north of the country. “The journey itself became a first lesson in community-building,” noted one participant. “Sharing stories, challenges, and hopes along the way already created a bond among us.”
Change happens when women build strong relationships, when they weave wisdom, faith and courage
Rebekka Meissner, LWF Program Executive for Diakonia and Member Church Projects
Speaking during the inaugural session, Rev Dr Naufiku, General Secretary of ELCIN, quoted an African proverb. "If you want to walk fast, walk alone; but if you want to walk far, walk together. Our collective unity and shared purpose are essential in navigating today’s challenges,” he added, encouraging participants to share the knowledge gained at the workshop with their sister churches.
A key theme of the workshop was ‘Reflective Leadership’, introduced by Rebekka Meissner, LWF’s Program Executive for Diakonia and Member Church Projects. She encouraged participants to examine their motivations, emotional responses, and the impact of their actions as leaders in faith-based and community spaces. Drawing on biblical examples, the session emphasized the importance of servant leadership and the need to lead with humility and compassion.
Reflecting on the way that participants engaged with each other through stories, art and other creative activities, Meissner noted that the workshop was marked by “generous and vulnerable sharing.” She said: “Women built each other up by naming the pains and injustices they have faced, asking for support, and sharing life lessons, knowledge and wisdom. Change happens when women build strong relationships, when they weave wisdom, faith and courage,” she added.
Empowering rather than imposing
Linda Chikerema of ELCIN’s Diakonia, Mission and Social Services department facilitated a session on addressing the needs of indigenous populations, emphasizing that effective diakonia must be “contextually grounded and culturally sensitive.” Effective action requires “listening to communities, acknowledging historical injustices and co-designing interventions that empower rather than impose,” she explained. Another of the facilitators, Dr Emma Nangolo led participants in thought-provoking conversations about gender justice, demonstrating how critical topics can be discussed in respectful and constructive ways.
Participants visited Omutunde Village, a women-led support group working with people living with HIV/AIDS. Members of the group showed their income-generating projects, including beadwork, marula oil production, and a savings club, demonstrating how intergenerational collaboration strengthens sustainability. They also highlighted how governance structures, developed through the ELCIN Good Governance Project, helped members manage resources, pay school fees, and enhance community resilience.
Weaving together wisdom, experience, compassion
During another field visit to the Engela Parish Institute, participants witnessed the impact of recent storms on community infrastructure, while the ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre showcased services for people living with disabilities, including braille printing and community-based rehabilitation. The visits provided vivid examples of how holistic diakonia, combining social, economic, and spiritual support, can transform communities.
Through biblical insights, practical tools, digital awareness training, and community engagement, the workshop aimed to equip participants to lead transformative action that honors people and is culturally sensitive. The delegates departed Oniipa not only with strengthened skills, but also with a network of like-minded women committed to weaving wisdom into action across Africa.
“As women, your task is to weave our wisdom, experience, and compassion into every aspect of our work, bringing hope, healing, and transformation wherever we serve,” concluded Rev. Joseph Ngula ELCIN’s Director of Mission, Diakonia and Social Services.
