ORAPA: In an effort to motivate female students to pursue engineering professions, last week Debswana’s(OLDM) Orapa  Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines hosted a workshop dubbed “#Ask an Engineer”.

Over 200 Junior Secondary School female students from various schools participated in this event.

The “#Ask an Engineer,” initiative is geared at sparking interest in careers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) particularly for female students. The initiative is a partnership between Debswana and Debeers Group under the Women in Engineering Programme. Similar workshops have already been held in countries such as South Africa, Namibia and in Botswana (Jwaneng).

The other most important objective of this initiative is to try and address the low number of women engineers in various engineering professions as compared to their male counterparts.

A number of seasoned female engineers formed part of the event to share their career success stories with the students. The event was also used as a network session, where students were given the platform to ask questions regarding various engineering professions.

First to speak at the event was the Chief Education Officer in Boteti Sub District and former Mathematics teacher Milidzani Nduna. She encouraged female students to take up mathematics and science based courses, mainly because there is shortage of skilled workforce in such courses.

“Everyone is capable of making it in mathematics and science courses regardless of gender. It is how much effort one puts in their studies which determine their success. By the way, science and mathematics based courses pay very well .They are scarce skills. I am very happy today that I see a lot of girls who are willing to learn about science and mathematics based courses,” she said.

Aditi Lachman, a female civil engineer from the Woman in Engineering Programme who was also a guest speaker from South Africa, was the first to share her career journey with the students. She revealed that Civil Engineering was never her passion during her childhood years but fell in love with the profession during her time at tertiary level. She explained that Engineers are futurists as they think ahead and plan on how the world will look like in years to come.

“They are also strategists, artists and scientists. I am very passionate about my career and I enjoy every moment of it,” she said.
She encouraged the female students to not limit themselves but follow their dreams and passion in Engineering,” she said.

She said their mission as engineers is to develop a more diverse engineering workforce through education and technology. Lachman also said through the advancement of engineering and technology there are already new innovations around the world, such as 3 D printing, drones, biotechnology and artificial intelligence among others.

Tumelo Botlhole, a Geo Science Engineer who works as a Technical Assistant for the General Manager at OLDM also encouraged the girl students to pursue engineering courses and not underestimate their potential. She encouraged them to put more effort in their studies especially in Mathematics, Science and English subjects.

Botlhole said that when she was young she did not have any clue as to what she wanted to be.  Despite the confusion, she said that she managed to pass her secondary education at Mater Spei College. She was then admitted at the University of Botswana where she acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology.

“I did a few Geology class lessons and fell in love with the profession. I graduated with a Degree in Geology. I also ended up doing a Post Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering,” she said.
Among other important issues, she said that Geology is a broad course not only restricted to the mining environment. She also said both males and females can equally pursue the profession.

A Mine Engineer, Tshepo Tshambane also shared her success story. She revealed that she studied hard for a BSC first year at the University of Botswana where she passed with flying colours by obtaining a first class in 2010. She said that she was under pressure from her family as they wanted her to become a doctor. Despite the family pressure, Tshambane stood resolute and followed her passion in engineering. In 2012 she got a scholarship from government and studied Metallurgy in the United Kingdom(UK). She then graduated with an Honours Degree in Mining Engineering in 2016.

“Here I am.I am currently working as a Learner Official in OLDM as a Mining Engineer. My job entails pattern layout, drilling, blasting and charging holes with explosives right in the mining pit. I really love what I do and enjoy it to the fullest. Everything is possible if you only believe in yourself and love what you do,” she said.
Several other female engineers also shared their success stories ranging from Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Telecommunications Engineering and Geotech Engineering.