The City of Ekurhuleni is leveraging the partnerships with other government departments and the private sector to break barriers that hinder young girls to enter male-dominated work careers.
As part of the initiative, the city recently hosted a symposium in Alberton in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education and the private sector to enlighten young school girls that they can crack it in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics career fields.
Women who are professionals and owns companies in these fields were invited to encourage the 150 high school girls in attendance.
Some of the inspirational women who spoke to the young girls were the former minister of home affairs, professor Hlengiwe Mkhize who is a founder of the Nolwazi Foundation for Girls and a director of Women in Mobility IT Solutions and Training, and Fikiswa Majola from Microsoft.
Also read: City of Ekurhuleni finetuning call centre operations
One of the guest speakers at the event, Lindiwe Dladla kaMkhonza, a director of Chiefkazi Investment Port, ran a competition for the young girls to win a trip to accompany her to the United States of America for the sitting of the United Nation Commission on the status of women in March 2019.
Zaheeia Adam from Willowmore High School in Benoni won the trip.
According to Zaheeia, attending the symposium and having had an opportunity to listen to other women who have made it against odds was a motivation in itself, but getting the opportunity to sit with other imminent women at the United Nations Commission on the status of women was mind-blowing.
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Springs Advertiser, Boksburg Advertiser, Benoni City Times, African Reporter