Determined to see the province’s children achieving better marks in maths and science, a Sappi-based production manager, Sibongile Gama, started the Sisters in Science for Teens organisation.
With over 26 years of experience in the science field, Gama mentored quite a number of females in the sector and is still determined to see lots of young scientists following suit.
Her motto is “matter is anything that occupies space, so add value to the space you occupy”. Gama is passionate about the science field and calls on young girls and women to tap into its lucrative opportunities.
She holds an N6 diploma in engineering, a national diploma in operations management from Unisa, a BTech degree in pulp and paper technology from the Durban University of Technology, and a postgraduate diploma in business administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science. “There are many opportunities in the field.
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These opportunities know no gender and must be leveraged. Covid-19 disruption has shown that we are far behind; we need to prepare ourselves for the future of work and be ready to occupy the digital sphere,” she said.
Gama started her organisation with the help of her colleagues in 2013. “I brought together young women in science, mostly those I was mentoring at work, and asked them to join me in being mentors for teenagers in the Mbombela area. I had noticed a gap in skills in the local communities. I noticed that each time there was an opportunity for engineers and technicians at work, we would get applications from youngsters from other provinces,” she said.
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“We assisted schools to upgrade their science facilities to ensure teaching was made easy. We aim to partner with local industries and provide a platform on which these learners can visit those factories and workshops to see what is happening in the workplace through excursions and job shadowing,” she said.
One of her mentees, Busi Mokhabela, a chemical engineering graduate from Matsulu, said, “I met Gama through my career network. She helped me acquire my internship and is one of the women I celebrate this month. She inspired and empowered me to become a better version of myself. She showed me that it is possible for any young woman.”
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