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BENEFICIARIES
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STEM UPTAKE
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DIGITAL SKILLS
Mission & Vision
Creating meaningful impact by partnering with organisations to offer sustainable opportunities in STEM an d provide hope for young women so they may achieve their purpose and unlock economic freedom.
Shaping the future by growing the potential of young women in STEM.
Become a Partner!
Become a Partner, Mentor or Volunteer.
Meet Our Team
Board of Trustees
Babsy Matabane ( Chairperson) | Sinah Gwebu | Rosemary Maphai
Staff Sithole ( CEO) | Robert Hofmeyr
News
Barbie Dream Gap Project Empowers Young Women in STEM this International Day of the Girl Child
Johannesburg, 22 October 2024:
In celebration of International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on the 11th October, Barbie has partnered with the TechnoGirl Trust to empower two girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with a job shadowing and skills development opportunity hosted by IMCD South Africa, leading global distribution partner, formulator and solutions provider of speciality chemicals and ingredients.
The Impact of Women in South Africa's Engineering Sector
Johannesburg, 08 August 2024:
The increasing participation of women in the predominantly male-dominated engineering sector, is gradually changing the landscape and benefiting the industry in the process. In South Africa, the presence of women in engineering is not only promoting diversity but also driving innovation and economic growth.
Globally, women in engineering still represent a minority, making up approximately 13% of engineers in the United States as of recent reports. South Africa mirrors these statistics, where gender disparities in STEM fields are evident.
TechnoGirl Trust: Empowering Women in STEM for Societal Development
Johannesburg, 18 April 2024: The TechnoGirl Trust, a pioneering organisation dedicated to bridging the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, continues its mission to improve the lives of all South Africans by empowering young girls and women to pursue careers in these vital areas.
With a focus on the transformative impact of STEM jobs on society and individual lives, the Trust continues to emphasise the importance of female representation in these fields for societal development and progress, and the stats are representative of this view.
Barbie® and The TechnoGirl Trust Work Towards Closing The Dream Gap in South Africa
TechnoGirl Trust and Barbie are teaming up to empower South African girls in STEM careers!
The collaboration will offer job shadowing opportunities in STEM careers. The Dream Gap Project, initiated by Barbie in 2019, takes a significant stride in South Africa, aligning with TechnoGirl Trust’s proven track record.
The first cohort of Grade 9 girls is set to kick off their STEM journey in March 2024, marking a transformative step toward breaking down barriers and encouraging girls to confidently pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
TechnoGirl Trust and HIVSA partner to increase HIV and health awareness.
November 06
A partnership between the TechnoGirl Trust and HIVSA is bringing an increased level of HIV and health awareness to young people in South Africa. The two organisations share the strategic priority to empower young people to achieve their aspirations while looking after their health and wellbeing.
Addressing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
September 19
In today’s tough job market, empowering youth is key after formal education. Especially in STEM, practical skills are a must. Meet TechnoGirl, a game-changing program for young women interested in STEM careers, aiming to bridge the gender gap and boost social and economic transformation.
PWC – IGNITING A PATH FOR WOMEN TO THRIVE IN STEM CAREERS
August 30
In today’s intricate landscape, we must foster innovation, motivate diverse perspectives, and guide transformative change beyond the established norms. PwC in its online article: Igniting a path for women to thrive in STEM careers, recognises their role in nurturing the growth and advancement of our continent, aligning with our global objectives to build societal trust and address pressing challenges.
Their overarching strategy, known as “The New Equation,” revolves around two interconnected imperatives: cultivating trust across a spectrum of stakeholder concerns and delivering sustained results in an environment characterised by unprecedented disruption risks.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE
February 11
February 11th is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. It is a day created by the United Nations to promote full and equal access to, and participation in, science for women and girls. There are increasing numbers of role models in science for women and girls who continue to make considerable contributions to chemistry and medicine. Role models such as Professor Elena Pettinelli led the team that discovered water on Mars, or Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking research on the genome.
Together with the many women colleagues in the NGO space, as well as in every sector of business in South Africa including the media, TechnoGirl Trust salutes the hard work of women and girls in the science community. “Today, we celebrate all the women advancing science! By doing so, we show our girls that Africa counts on them to discover the next frontiers of research and innovation,” says Staff Sithole, CEO of TechnoGirl Trust. The organisation is an award-winning, internationally recognised employment and talent management programme that was voted one of the top three programmes with the Generation Unlimited initiative.
Cape Talk FM with CEO, Staff Sithole
In a recent interview on Cape Talk FM’s weekend breakfast show with Sara Jayne King, Sithole shared her inspiring vision of creating a world where female leaders are the norm rather than the exception. She discussed the challenges facing young girls and women in the tech industry and how TechnoGirl is helping to address them through its innovative programs and mentorship initiatives.
Her message is clear, with the right support and opportunities, girls and women can thrive in STEM and help shape the future of this ever-evolving industry.
TechnoGirl Trust and HIVSA partner to increase HIV and health awareness.
A partnership between the TechnoGirl Trust and HIVSA is bringing an increased level of HIV and health awareness to young people in South Africa. The two organisations share the strategic priority to empower young people to achieve their aspirations while looking after their health and wellbeing.
This partnership addresses crucially important challenges that South Africa continues to face, with 24% of women aged between 18 to 49 years living with HIV, 150 000 young girls experiencing teenage pregnancy, and limited resources to address personal sexual health in many impoverished communities.
IGNITING A PATH FOR WOMEN TO THRIVE IN STEM CAREERS
How organisations can play a role in ensuring that future generations are ready to take their place in an ever-evolving world
In countless industries and countries across the world, the most in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist ten or even five years ago, and the pace of change that underpins this is only set to accelerate. This stark fact was highlighted in a 2016 World Economic Forum report. For many youth in South Africa, the pace of change can be daunting, and persevering amid tough social and economic times has proven to be a great challenge. A key question is what can organisations do to ensure that future generations are ready to assume their roles in a rapidly evolving world?
In PwC’s newly released publication, Igniting a path for women to thrive in STEM careers, we outline four crucial steps that organisations can take to support youth on this journey:
UNICEF South Africa Collaboration
Thanks to our valued collaboration with UNICEF South Africa, we are delighted to offer a glimpse into the TechnoGirl program from the perspective of our talented learners as they navigate learning, attending school, and participating in thrilling job shadowing opportunities with some of our esteemed host companies @GIBB and @Reckitt, witness the transformative power of youth empowerment in action.
SAFM with TechnoGirl Alumni, Lesego Kekana
Our TechnoGirl alumni Lesego Kekana, was recently interviewed by SAFM. During the interview, . Kekana shared her experience as a TechnoGirl and how the program helped her in her career. She spoke about how TechnoGirl exposed her to different STEM fields and helped her discover her passion for computer science. Kekana also discussed how the program provided her with invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities, which allowed her to secure an internship and later a job in the tech industry.
The interview showcased the significant impact that TechnoGirl has had on Kekana’s life and career, and highlighted the importance of programs like TechnoGirl in promoting gender equality in STEM fields. Overall, Kekana’s interview was a testament to the power of investing in programs that empower young women and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM.
Channel Africa with Operations Manager, Mahlatse Sithole
Our Operations Manager, Mahlatse Sithole was recently interviewed by Channel Africa to discuss the organization’s mission and its impact on young girls in South Africa.
The interview focused on the importance of International Women’s Day and how TechnoGirl is empowering young girls in the field of technology. She highlighted the need for more women in tech and how TechnoGirl is bridging the gender gap by providing opportunities for young girls to explore and pursue careers in STEM fields.
Minister Angie Motshekga CNBC Interview
In an interview with CNBC, Minister of Department of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga spoke at length on the impact and reach of the TechnoGirl Programme. The programme has been instrumental in ensuring that the Department of Basic Education successfully onboarded young girl learners in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning streams.
Daily Thetha Interview: Mahlatse Sithole
Our Operations Manager Mahlatse Sithole, was invited to SABC 1 TV talk show DAILY THETHA.
An exciting live television show that seeks to inspire and empower South Africans through engaging dialogue.
TechnoGirl was invited to join a panel discussion themed “The Time of The Shape Shifter” to profile and highlight the good work that is being done by “shape shifters” in their respective communities. As a talent development organisation making an impact in the lives of girl children in communities, TechnoGirl was identified as one such shape shifter that could bring a meaningful contribution to the discussion.
Testimonials
Nonkululeko Nzama
“My name is Nonkululeko Nzama – I was one of the Techno Girls. I job shadowed at MultiChoice and AA for accounting.
I passed my matric and had no funding. A friend of mine suggested that we go to the GCRA offices to try our luck. I got there too late and they were not taking walk ins anymore. One of the ladies there recognised me and asked if I was part of the TechnoGirl program and I said yes. She took my documents and just like that, my entire undergraduate and residency was taken care of.
I pursued a career in accounting and I am forever grateful.
Thank you so much for granting me the opportunity to stand out and achieve all that I have achieved. “
Victoria Madoha
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the TechnoGirl programme. Being part of this programme has played a very big part in me choosing a career path in IT. I am glad to have been exposed to an industry that I knew nothing about and found an interest in. Going into the programme I was unsure of what I wanted to do after matric and after taking part in the programme I was very certain of the career path that I wanted to take. I’m glad that I did not give up on my dream and did my best to achieve it.”
Moroesi Agnes Lephoi
“I did my job shadowing at Road Accident Fund (RAF) through TechnoGirl Trust in the year 2013, and I must say that this was a life changing experience for me. When I was selected to become part of the programme from Reasoma Secondary School, I had not realised how fortunate I was to have gotten this opportunity. My experience at Road Accident Fund instilled an interest for technology in me. After my job shadowing I wanted to study IT, however this was my early secondary years as I was only doing grade 9. With progression of time I leaned more into engineering, hence the Mining Engineering path.
I was fortunate enough to also be part of the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day in 2016 as a TechnoGirl. The profound speeches that were delivered by very powerful women on that day inspired and gave me the confidence to persue my career in Mining which has been known to be a male dominated industry. TechnoGirll is such a motivational programme that gives a girl child hope and vision beyond their current circumstance, and I hope and pray that more girls from disadvantaged backgrounds become exposed to such programmes.”
Get in Touch!
Contact Info
Address
2nd Floor, Roan House
263 Kent Avenue, Randburg
Gauteng, South Africa
263 Kent Avenue, Randburg
Gauteng, South Africa
Call us
+27 11 781 9950
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday ………… 9 am – 4 pm
info@technogirltrust.co.za
