The Ekurhuleni metro recently hosted a symposium 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.
The symposium was held at the Alberton West Gallery Hall.
Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, said 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 former Minister of Home Affairs, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize (founder of the Nolwazi Foundation for Girls and a director of Women in Mobility IT Solutions and Training), and Fikiswa Majola (Microsoft).
Majola is also a chairperson of the Youth Empowerment in South Africa for the international non-profit organization, Duke of Edinburg.
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 won the trip.
Zaheeia said 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.
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