Johannesburg, 11 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 chemicals and ingredients.

Focusing on advancing the opportunities of girls around the world, this initiative forms part of the Barbie Dream Gap Project in South Africa, aimed at closing the gender gap that begins in childhood. Since its inception in 2018, the Barbie Dream Gap project has been dedicated to providing equal opportunities and removing barriers, fueling education, leadership skills and mentorship opportunities for young girls. 

The TechnoGirl Trust, an organisation committed to advancing the educational and career prospects of underprivileged girls in South Africa, has worked with IMCD South Africa for many years to create long-lasting change. By providing girls with real-world opportunities and positive role models, girls learn that they can succeed in traditionally male-dominated industries like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). 

“This partnership embodies our commitment to closing the Gap between girls and their dreams, and inspiring girls to see themselves in any role they choose, especially in fields like STEM. Collaborating with the TechnoGirl Trust and IMCD South Africa is a fantastic way to show girls that they have the potential to shape their own futures,” said Terusha Naidoo, Marketing Manager of Mattel South Africa. 

Starting in Grade 9, two young women will gain hands-on experience from professionals at IMCD offices and labs in South Africa, for one week during each of their school holidays. The programme that enables the girls to gain awareness about various careers, find the STEM career that they’d like to go into and develop professional and life skills, all set out in a programme developed by the TechnoGirl Trust and approved by the Department of Education.  

“The work readiness part of the programme was the most impactful for me, as I learnt soft skills like how to articulate myself in a work environment,” says Felicity Dube IMCD SA Internal Sales Administrator, who has also gone through the TechnoGirl Programme, and job shadowing at IMCD. “I think Barbie is committed to giving girls the resources they need, and support to believe that they can be anything. I encourage girls to keep dreaming and, make sure that they chase their dreams, asking for help when they need it,” she says. 

IMCD is known for fostering innovation and inclusion. During their time at the company, the girls are supported and mentored by women in various roles previously unfamiliar to the girls, exposing them to careers such as Food Technologist, Quality Assurance Manager, Packaging Engineer, Food Production Manager and many more. 

 “STEM fuels innovation and progress, shapes our world through groundbreaking discoveries and unlocks doors to exciting careers and endless opportunities. By exposing the students to the world of opportunities a career in STEM can offer, we hope that one day they might join IMCD on our continuous journey to create positive change through problem-solving, innovation, entrepreneurship and our freedom to act,” says Daniela Bloomer, Marketing Automation And Communication Manager at IMDC South Africa.