Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network

Allow me to re-introduce my self for the purpose of clarity and impactful interactions in this next half of the year 2024! My role in the #STEM Network spaces has purely been voluntary🙏👏.I've taken up difficult decisions and lonely treacherous exciting 😊paths to create a pathway for the youths in #STEM and especially the #GirlsInSTEM not only in Kenya but across Africa 🌍! Thankful to Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network 🙏!& the huge network partnerships that have believed in me.I see a brilliant future & such great 👍 hope for the students,girls,youths and upcoming women in engineering sector in search of fulfilment in this space. I'm willing to partner/ continue supporting such ventures that advocate for learning skills opportunities,capacity building,life encouraging nuggets 🙏 and career opportunities possibilities enabling our Youths of today! I'm also looking into investing my vast expertise in automotive Industry sector to upcoming start ups in renewable energy,Green fleets and E Mobility sector! I'm excited about this years World 🌎 Youth Skills Day Theme 2024:Youth Skills for Peace and Development.The world faces a multitude of challenges today, many of which affect the youth!let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as agents of peace and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.#PeaceforKenyaAfricaWorld Echoing this quote 👇.... And let’s ensure that youth have what they need to build skills for shaping a more peaceful, sustainable future for all” UN Secretary-General António Guterres #WomenInStem #WomeInEmobility #GirlsInSTEM #WorldYouthSkillsDay15thJuly #YouthsSkillsmonetization #Encouragingageneration #FeelFREEtoreachout!🙏

In the dynamic world of STEM, mentorship plays a crucial role in empowering women to succeed. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your career, here are six organizations offering tailored mentorship programs: 𝟏) AnitaB.org: ABI connects women in tech through programs like the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) and Systers. GHC offers networking and professional development, while Systers provides an online forum for collaboration and support. 𝟐) Women in STEM Organization: WISTEM programs at universities connect female STEM students with mentors for career development through flexible, in-person or virtual meetings. They pair university students and professionals with high school girls, offering guidance on college paths, career advice, and fostering STEM interest and representation among young women. 𝟑) Empowering Female Minds In STEM (𝐄𝐅𝐞𝐌𝐒): EFeMS is a Canadian non-profit led by African women, aiming to reduce gender disparity in STEM across Africa by providing mentorship, funding, and professional development. Their program connects female mentees with mentors who share similar interests and goals. The next Mentorship Cohort begins in Fall 2024. 𝟒) SISCODE/GH: Siscode introduces young girls in Ghana to IT and coding, offering internships with small businesses and startups, and connects female university students with local and international mentors. 𝟓) Black Girls Do STEM: BGDSTEM empowers Black girls in STEM through programs like the STEM Saturday Academy for middle schoolers, the Empowerment, Preparation, & Placement (EPP) program for high school students, and a Virtual Collegiate Community supporting college-aged students with mentorship and peer support in STEM. 𝟔) Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network: BGS Network offers a biennial mentorship program connecting mentees with industry leaders. The inaugural cohort included mentees from Nigeria, Sudan, Ghana, and the USA, mentored by professionals from AstraZeneca, Microsoft, and more. Explore each organization to find the right mentorship opportunity that aligns with your career goals in STEM. Let’s empower more women to thrive in STEM together! 💡💪 PS: For more details, visit the organization’s official website. #WomenInSTEM #MentorshipPrograms #STEMLeadership #CareerDevelopment #EmpowerWomen #linkedinforcreators

**🎓 Reflections on the Graduate Indaba at Bindura University of Science Technology 🎓** On May 17, I had the incredible privilege of attending the Graduate Indaba at Bindura University of Science Technology. This event was a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration, and I'd love to share some key takeaways: 1. **Financial Literacy in Career Development**: Understanding how to manage finances is crucial for long-term career success. 2. **Mentorship Program E-Camp**: Presented by Nyasha Manyika, this program highlighted the importance of mentorship in career growth. 3. **Career Flexibility and Growth**: Insights from a recent graduate emphasized the importance of choosing a career path that fosters growth and adaptability. 4. **Engineering as Creation and Problem-Solving**: Engineers are not just problem solvers but also creators, a notion that resonated deeply with me. 5. **Technical and Soft Skills**: While technical skills are vital, soft skills are what sustain and propel you forward in the industry. 6. **Local Opportunities**: Learned about various opportunities from government organizations and parastatals, which are crucial for career planning. 7. **Women in Engineering**: It was inspiring to learn from accomplished women in engineering, reinforcing the importance of representation. 8. **Continuous Learning**: Staying updated and continuously learning is essential to avoid becoming obsolete in one's career. A special moment for me was speaking about mentorship. Initially nervous, I gained confidence as I spoke, knowing the information could benefit others. This was my first experience as a speaker, and I'm incredibly grateful for it. Networking was another highlight. I connected with inspiring individuals like Nomalanga .A Soko , Sicelo Dube , the STEM lady, and Nyasha Hazel Manyika. I also learned about the Zimbabwe Association of Consulting Engineers, which aligns with my aspiration to become a consultant. This event was a wonderful opportunity, especially as I recently finished my degree and am exploring graduate traineeships. I am thankful to the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers and Tea in 60 for this chance. A heartfelt thanks to the Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network, for their mentorship and support, and to my mentor, Dr Murudo. L Kamhara-Mutape whose guidance was invaluable during this event as it was a practical application of our mentorship sessions. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible! Best regards, Vimbainaishe Mutsvairo #GraduateIndaba #Engineering #Mentorship #ContinuousLearning #Networking #WomenInSTEM #CareerGrowth #FinancialLiteracy

In February, I was surprised and humbled to be accepted as a mentor by the Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network for the #Black_Girl_STEM Mentorship program 2024. Learn more about the program here 🔗 https://bgsnetwork.org/ Initially, I felt like a mentee myself. But I embraced the challenge, remembering why I was drawn to the program #growth. Meeting my mentee Anne Fridah Njeri, initially amplified my nerves. Her accomplishments were impressive! Yet, our first session was fantastic. Her enthusiasm to learn was contagious. Through our mentorship, I've learned so much: 🚀 Stepping outside your comfort zone fosters incredible growth. 🚀Mentorship is a two-way street. We all learn from each other. 🚀Your knowledge, shared honestly, can empower someone's journey. 🚀Vulnerability strengthens connections. Be open to learning together. 🚀Mentorship thrives in a safe, supportive space 🚀Use what you have learned from your mentors to guide you to successful results  🚀Introduce your mentors to some of your networks and  they might find helpful Witnessing Anne Fridah Njeri growth has been incredibly rewarding. During the Mental Health Awareness month - May, she organized a powerful Mental Health Awareness webinar,gathering experts from different industries, and raising Mental Health awareness in  the digital Space – a testament to her dedication and the impact of mentorship. I'm incredibly proud of Anne Fridah Njeri leadership and of myself for stepping up as a mentor. Gratitude to BGSN for this opportunity and to the amazing speakers David Komu Mathabo Lekeba Dennis Mahugu who shared their expertise. Share your knowledge! Mentor someone. And don't underestimate the power of your story, no matter how "small" it feels. #BlackGirlsSTEM #Mentorship #GrowthMindset #mentorship

Throwing it back to last Thursday where we wrapped up May with an incredible #Cyberwellness Webinar! A huge thank you to our amazing speakers who shared their valuable insights and expertise, and to our engaged audience (You) for your active participation and thoughtful questions. ☑ David Komu led us in an informative session on common cyberthreats such as #phishing and how to ensure we are vigilant. Can you spot the difference between eBay and eBey? ☑ Mathabo Lekeba informed us on the importance of establishing our digital identities to help us deal with #comparison and peer pressure which negatively impact our mental health in the digital space. ☑ Dennis Mahugu brought the conversation full circle by advising us on mindfulness practices in the cyberspace. This includes simple practices like turning off your gadget at particular times and being present in your surroundings, for example during dinner. ☑ Co-organizing and hosting this webinar was a tremendous achievement, filled with significant learning. A great shout out out to Mpona Mohapi and the Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network network for their unwavering support and partnership. The webinar was an important step towards fostering insightful and impactful conversations on the #cyberspace. As Lao Tzu coined, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Grateful to God, for this one and more to come! Definitely looking forward to hosting more impactful cyber conversations and projects in Africa and beyond. #cyberwellness #mentalhealth #webinar

Our third symposium is almost here and it promises to be an informative session to crown it all. The session, hosted in collaboration with the education and career consultancy firm ACE Global, will be centred on "Pursuing Postgraduate Opportunites: Putting your Best foot Forward". Our Guest speakers, Papa Kojo Botsio and Faithy Ngaira from ACE Global, are going to speak to our mentees on how to strategically position themselves for global opportunities. #bgsmentorship #womeninstem #reachforsteminitiative

One of our mentees from this year’s Black Girl STEM Mentorship Programme, Anne Fridah Njeri, is making big moves alongside her mentor Mpona Mohapi , and we couldn’t be more proud! Join us for what promises to be an insightful webinar in a few hours in recognition of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth ! Link in post!

One of the most impactful journeys I have been on this year includes a mentorship program by Black Girl STEM (BGS) Network network with Mpona Mohapi. Did you know Lesotho is the coldest country in Africa? Now you do. I learned this from Mpona Mohapi on our first introduction call on Google Meet. The consequent sessions have had us defining personal and professional goals and implementing them. One thing I have been consistently learning from Mpona Mohapi and organized speaker sessions by phenomenal black women such as Emmanuelle Afaribea Dankwa is the need to be a learner, which is a necessity in #STEM, to be bold and impactful with the knowledge and experiences we gain. #cybersecurity #digitalliteracy #saferdigitalfuture

Last weekend, our mentees spent time with the graceful Nana Amma Debrah-Apomah as part of our 12-week black women in STEM mentorship programme. It was a session filled with wisdom and nuggets for staying ahead in an ever evolving world of STEM. We express our profound gratitude to you, Nana Amma Debrah-Apomah, for selflessly sharing your knowledge and experience with us!

Our first symposium for this year’s mentorship program is underway. Our speaker, Emmanuelle Afaribea Dankwa, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA, will be speaking to and engaging with our mentees. We cannot wait to learn more this Saturday. #BGSmentorship #reachforsteminitiative #womeninstem