Geddy on breaking barriers and empowering women

Dar es Salaam. The challenge of women’s lack of trust as tour guides among stakeholders motivated a young Ms Margareth Geddy to start a company to boost confidence in this group.

Ms Geddy argued that the government should recognise the need to add tourism and conservation issues to primary school curricula.

According to her, it would not only encourage more women and young people to enter the industry but also remove myths about it.

Her mission was to empower women by allowing them to seize opportunities in the tourism industry and breaking down the barriers that prevented their involvement as trustworthy guides, which has resulted in her success and the number of women who work as tour guides via her.

She was born in Arusha and knew she would one day be an organisational leader. Ms Geddy, like other women, had numerous challenges, including misconceptions, but she persevered in pursuing her passion.

Ms Geddy currently owns a tour company based in Arusha known as Yeyo Africa. Yeyo is a Maasai name that means woman, and she is employed by the Tanzania Broadcasting Services (TBC).

She made the strategic decision to leverage social media as a platform for promoting tourist attractions while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Journalism at the University of Dar es Salaam. During holiday breaks, she embarked on trips to her village, capturing diverse aspects of nature through captivating photos, which she then shared across her social media accounts.

Ms Geddy, speaking to The Citizen through the Rising Women Initiative, emphasised: “The path to achieving one’s goals is not easily challenging, particularly for women facing numerous obstacles; however, retreating is not an option; the only way is forward.”

She is a social media connoisseur on tourism, travel, and conservation, a media personality, and a TV producer for tourism and conservation shows and documentaries.

How she started her tourism journey

In the tourism sector, numerous opportunities abound; however, some companies hold the belief that women are not suitable to be tour guides. Interestingly, this perception differs among visitors, as they often prefer women for their perceived loyalty and trustworthiness.

After graduating in 2017 while concurrently working at TBC, she officially established her own company in 2019. To enhance her tour guide skills, she pursued short courses in tour guiding. During this time, she recognised a gap for women in the industry and envisioned her company as a platform to empower them.

Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “When I travelled and shared my experiences on social media, people started following me and expressing a keen interest in the places I visited. It dawned on me that there was an opportunity to become a guide and lead tourists to these captivating destinations.” She emphasised that her initial post showcased Materuni Waterfall in Moshi, attracting significant attention.

By breaking stereotypes and creating opportunities for women in the tourism sector, she not only carved a niche for herself but also contributed to empowering others in the field.

According to her, “In 2020, when Covid-19 was at its peak, I thought my life would end because I had just started engaging in tourism. All of a sudden, the pandemic came, which destroyed the sector drastically, but some people encouraged me.”

“In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I believed my life was coming to an end. At that time, I had recently ventured into the tourism industry. The sudden onset of the pandemic wreaked havoc on the sector, causing significant setbacks. However, amidst the challenges, some individuals provided encouragement and support, helping me navigate through these tough times,” she stressed.

Successfully

Currently, she is an ambassador to the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge. Which is sponsored by the African Tourism Partners, UNWTO, and Namibia Tourism Board. Social media Connoisseur connoisseur of tourism, travel, and conservation.

Media personality and TV producer for tourism and conservation shows and documentaries. In her company, during the season, she can get a group of between 10 and 15 tourists per week, depending on the season.

She is currently working with 10 tour guide women as a freelancer; if she gets visitors through her company, she provides them. Since the company is still young, it has not yet received the capital to hire them. “The tourism sector is very promising. I believe very shortly I will start employing other women and give them a platform to show their ability.”

The tourism industry is growing rapidly after coming out of the pandemic. The hope is to attract more women to the area and change the mindset that women cannot be guides. “I always tell those I work with that if you see an opportunity that you can give to others, do it so that a large number of women can benefit from the opportunities that exist in this sector.”

Advise in the tourism sector

She said there is a compelling need for the government to recognise the importance of introducing subjects related to tourism and conservation at the primary level. By incorporating these topics into the curriculum, children can gain an early understanding of the fascinating aspects of these fields, fostering a passion that can endure into adulthood.

“This proactive approach is more effective than waiting until late, ensuring that the younger generation develops a deeper appreciation for the attractions and importance of conservation,” she said.

Ms Geddy added that a sector contributing over 17 percent to the national GDP and generating numerous job opportunities should not be one where individuals only generate passion at an adult age.

“By doing so, the country can cultivate a generation of young people with a profound understanding of tourism and conservation. This approach not only enriches the workforce but also plays a crucial role in effectively promoting the country’s attractions to a wider audience,” she insisted.