By Abubakarr Tarawally
In a heartwarming initiative aimed at uplifting the lives of women and girls in Sierra Leone, the Young Women in Governance Network (YWIGN) has ended one-day career exploration seminar in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), with over 250 women and girls in Kono Distrct.
The seminar was held on Saturday July 13, 2024, at the Fillie Faboi Hall in Tankoror Chiefdom, and the initiative forms part of the commitment to support the Government’s Free Quality Education through STEM training to empower women and girls with life-sustaining skills.
During the event, Regina Gborie, President of (YWIGN), emphasized that the training was not only a life-changing seminar for young women and girls, but also a strategic initiative seeking to increase women representation in STEM.
She said many young women and girls in Kono have been facing barriers such as access to information, lack of mentorship and societal stereotypes that had hindered their pursuit of STEM careers for very long time, and urged the participants to use the skills learnt at their own advantage.
“This first ever seminar does not only aim to increase awareness and understanding of STEM career but also to boost confidence and motivation among young women to pursue these fields. We also want to see how these girls choose appropriate university courses, and motivate Science Teachers to continue putting up their best in their service delivery” she said.
Gborie also highlighted the importance of STEM in courses like medicine, engineering and software design, and emphasized the viability of those disciplines for economic growth and entrepreneurship.
Abdul Salam, a representative from the Deputy Director of Basic and Senior Secondary Education’s office in Kono, said they had developed education plans for 2022 to 26 at the ministry, with nine priority objectives to address gender and other forms of disparity in education.
“We have developed a stream called Science and technology. Before now everyone sees Mathematics as a no go area. Today, we have topics in Mathematics which are now causes to purse, Statistics, Calculus, and Mathematics and numeracy to encourage girls’ participation,” he said.
On her part, the Director General of Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Musayeroh Barrie, noted that STEM and aviation had created the field of which technology; engineering and science would converge to enhance a dynamic and ever evolving industry.
She said that STEM is a testament to human generosity where the principles of Physic and Engineering come to life and Mathematics ensures precision and safety, and Technology drives innovation. She encouraged women and girls to offer STEM programmes which have an exacting revolution, contributing to the advancement that makes Air Transport faster, safer and more efficient.
“Example like Mariatu Captain Kamara, one of Sierra Leone’s female pilots, represents what is possible when determination meets opportunity. She has proven that women can excel in any field,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of Kono University of Science and Technology, Dr. Sama Mondeh, said that the University will be industry focus to create job opportunities for those qualified in STEM related areas in order to produce the best critical minds in Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics around Africa. He added that for decades STEM have been dominated by men, and said young women and girls crashed land in courses because of friends’ influence.
“Today, young women and girls have made very great move in nursing, and the hospitals today 60 to 65 % of women are nurses. The Kono University for now have nine Faculties including Mining Engineering, Information Communication and Technology, Agricultural Science and Technology, Environmental Science, Medicine and Applied Science, Pure and Applied Science, Engineering Science and Technology, Education,” he said.
Stakeholders, pupils and teachers from 10 different schools and expert from various STEM fields attended the seminar with the theme: Empower Her: Exploring Diverse Paths Beyond Traditional STEM Career.
