Two young women are getting to step into the world of STEM thanks to the Barbie Dream Gap Project that’s making more dreams possible!
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 October 2024)— In celebration of International Day of the Girl Child, which was observed on 11 October, Barbie teamed up with the TechnoGirl Trust to empower two girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with a job shadowing, dream-building and skills development opportunity!
Focused on advancing the opportunities of girls around the world, this feat of good news is part of the Barbie Dream Gap Project in South Africa—a project that’s helping close the gender gap earlier on in life.
Since its inception in 2018, the Barbie Dream Gap Project has been dedicated to providing equal opportunities. To do this, more barriers for young girls need to be removed; a process that requires education, confidence-building leadership skills and mentorship opportunities.
The TechnoGirl Trust is a non-profit committed to advancing the educational and career prospects of underprivileged girls in South Africa. They have seen 26,172 girls go through their structured programme, with around 75% of participants, on average, advancing to register careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)!
Why STEM?
It’s no secret that fields like STEM have always been male-dominated. But, in a world that continues to reveal itself to be intertwined with technology, this stigma is one that needs to be shattered so that young women, especially those from underserved areas, are not left behind.
A lot of the hesitation for this kind of career path comes from the industry’s patriarchal reputation. That’s why it’s essential that young girls see themselves represented in these fields and further that they are provided with real-world opportunities and positive role models along the path.
Starting in Grade 9, two young teens will gain hands-on experience from professionals at IMCD offices for one week during each of their school holidays. The programme enables the girls to gain awareness about various careers, find the STEM career that they might like to go into and develop professional and life skills—all set out as part of a dream plan 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,” shares Felicity Dube who has gone through and benefitted from the TechnoGirl Programme herself.
“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 concludes.
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