admin
Joshua Muswere-Herald Correspondent
AFTER the success of her debut work, “A Woman in Pursuit of Purposeful Destiny”, Fortunate Kufakunesu has returned with “Unleashing Her Potential: Guiding a Girl into an Empowered Woman”, which is a transformative handbook for the girl child.
Launched in Harare yesterday, the book sees Kufakunesu making her intentions clear, taking aim at inhibitions impeding girls from realising their dreams.
Speaking during the launch, she revealed the inspiration that drew her to put her motivations and thoughts into black and white.
Kufakunesu taps into her success as a woman who defied the odds to climb to the highest rung of ladders, despite her underprivileged background.
“The inspiration for this book is that I come from a rural background,” she said. “My experiences serve as important highlights for guiding the girl child to become whoever the Almighty God intended her to become.”
The author, who is married to Pastor Prime Kufakunesu, is also a pastor, certified life coach, marriage and family counsellor, and teacher.
“I feel my experiences push me the most,” she underscored, emphasising that in spite of her tight schedule, she always commits to the empowerment of girls, whom she adores.
Furthermore, Kufakunesu juxtaposed a girl’s transformation into an empowered woman with metamorphosis, a process that caterpillars go through to become fully grown colourful butterflies that soar the skies. It takes a significant time and effort for a girl to become empowered, regardless of background.
“My advice to all girls out there is that we all have different backgrounds, but we should neither limit nor pull ourselves back. If we desire to be what God deposited in us, we can become what we were destined to be.”
Kufakunesu said it burdens her to see girls living recklessly, without direction as to what the future holds for them, saying she now feels relieved to have written a handbook to assist them.
“I can always refer them to this book, now. I feel there is a special power within these girls, but they are often-times misled by circumstances. Once this book reaches them, they can retain that power.”
In “Unleashing Her Potential”, her skill and resourcefulness as a motivational writer are showcased. To her, empowerment means recognising and embracing one’s strengths, talents and abilities, and using them to make a positive impact on one’s life and the lives of others.
Kufakunesu strongly believes that her purpose is to serve girls and women in times of need. Through her mission, she has won international awards, including a top gong for the non-profit category at the Women Changing the World Awards 2024.
Luminaries from diverse backgrounds praised Kufakunesu for unburdening girls from restrictive taboos and stereotypes through her book.
Founder and owner of High Achievers Coach Educational Centre, an independent Christian College based in Harare, Dr Tapera Chikandiwa, emphasised the metaphorical meaning of the illustrations on the book’s front cover.
“The butterfly on the book cover symbolises the transformation we aspire for, from confinement to freedom, from doubt to confidence. It reminds us that our struggles are not limitations, but catalysts for change,” he said.
“‘Unleashing Her Potential’, is more than a book; it’s a movement, a call to action, calling us to break from societal expectations, embrace our authentic selves, and develop, just like the butterfly, and cultivate resilience in the face of adversity.”
The book is transformative in that it serves as a roadmap for girls navigating the path to empowerment. From understanding the importance of empowerment to fostering resilience, it covers a wide range of topics.
Through practical guidance and insightful advice, readers are encouraged to discover their passions, overcome challenges, set goals, and build positive relationships as well as embody traits of an empowered woman.
By embracing the lessons from the handbook, girls can embark on journeys of self-discovery, growth, and empowerment as they transition into strong, confident women ready to make a difference in their communities and the world at large.
Online Reporter