Women's Day at Ndlovu opens up a future alive with possibilities

Touching a live cheetah will remain a treasured memory for many of the girl learners and teachers alike (Picture © Joe Sibiya)

Editorial by Nicola Stevens.

My arrival at the SAEON Ndlovu Node was in the midst of preparations for National Women's Day.

Amanda Thobela, one of the "SAEON kids". Amanda gave a flawless and emotive presentation on the effects of global warming. This grade 11 learner from Frans Du Toit High School managed to convey the importance of grabbing one's opportunities "with hard work and passion" (Picture © Joe Sibiya)

To celebrate Women's Day the SAEON way, the theme of Women in Science was selected. Five female learners were chosen from 12 high schools in and around the Ba-Phalaborwa region. To promote 'Women in Science', the celebrations revolved around demonstrating to these future female stars the future avenues that science can hold for them.

The first day took the form of an outing to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC), where students were given first-hand exposure to the benefits of conservation and how science can be an integral part of these. Faced with, and touching a live cheetah will be memory of the day for many of the learners and teachers alike.

Some of the girl learners even shed tears of happiness when faced with the realisation of the possibilities available to them in an area that was traditionally male-dominated (Picture © Joe Sibiya) Female bonding. Nicola (centre) surrounded by some of the girl learners who attended the programme (Picture © Joe Sibiya)

The second day was a larger affair with 15 girl learners being sent to represent their school. The learners, teachers and principals were given personal insights from women in science and women who use science. The messages conveyed at the meeting really hit home and I was astounded at the pro-active response from the students.

The most astounding address came from one of the SAEON kids, Amanda Thobela, a grade 11 learner from Frans Du Toit High School, who gave a flawless and emotive presentation on the effects of global warming. Within this talk she conveyed the importance of grabbing the opportunities presented to you with hard work and passion.

The response of the learners themselves was amazing. Some of the learners even shed tears of happiness when faced with the realisation of what is achievable. It was a fantastic celebration of a future alive with possibilities, particularly in an area that was traditionally male-dominated and held the myth of being accessible only to the Einsteins of the world.