For many children growing up in rural Limpopo, careers in science, engineering, and technology can feel like distant dreams.
But organisers of the Dream Women in STEM Technovation Summit hope the three-day programme, which began on Thursday and concludes on Saturday, will help turn those dreams into opportunities.
Already inspiring learners in Pietermaritzburg, Durban, and Soweto, the national initiative has expanded to Limpopo, where young women from underprivileged schools across the province are spending three days engaging with engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders through mentorship, leadership development, and hands-on STEM learning at Tom Naude Technical Secondary School in Polokwane.
Hosted by Dream Big Stay Humble in partnership with SAICE STAR, the summit aims to expose learners to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while equipping them with the confidence, skills, and networks needed to pursue futures they may once have thought were beyond their reach.
Summit representative Khayelihle Nkabinde said the programme was about giving hope to girls whose circumstances often limit their opportunities.
“This summit is about bringing hope to rural girls. We’re here to mentor them, open doors to opportunity, and show them their circumstances don’t define them.”
The summit builds on a programme launched in Pietermaritzburg in 2024 before expanding to Durban and later Soweto, where learners from Johannesburg and Pretoria participated in innovation challenges, mentorship, leadership development, and public speaking programmes designed to prepare them for careers in STEM.
Organisers say the expansion into Limpopo reflects their commitment to ensuring girls in rural and under-resourced communities have the same opportunities as those in urban centres.
Another representative Takalani Netshipale said many participants continue to face significant barriers, making access to mentorship and industry exposure more important than ever.
“The aim of this summit is simple: to reach girls in the deepest rural communities and show them they can be bigger than their circumstances.”
Netshipale said many learners grow up facing challenges that stretch far beyond the classroom.
“Yes, they’re facing real challenges, poor roads, lack of services, and broken homes. But this summit is a light in that space. We’re giving them access to mentorship, an opportunity to see education in action, and access to decision-makers early. That’s our national mandate.”
Throughout the summit, learners are participating in engineering workshops, financial literacy sessions, virtual reality demonstrations, innovation challenges, and practical problem-solving activities aimed at encouraging them to develop solutions for issues affecting their own communities.
For schools, the programme is providing an opportunity to expose learners to careers that are often difficult to access in rural areas.
Makhado P. Ngobeni, an educator at Vhafamadi Secondary School, said the summit offers experiences that many learners would otherwise never have.
“Vhafamadi Secondary School is proud to have our learners participate in the Dream Women in STEM Technovation Summit. This is a life-changing opportunity for our learners,” Ngobeni.
He also explains that limited exposure to STEM careers often prevents rural learners from seeing what is possible.
“Coming from rural villages where exposure to STEM careers and role models is often limited, this experience opens their eyes to possibilities they may never have imagined. It allows them to interact with inspiring women who have succeeded in STEM and encourages them to dream beyond their current circumstances.”
Ngobeni said programmes such as the summit help learners realise that their backgrounds do not determine their futures.
“Experiences like this build confidence, ignite curiosity, and remind our learners that their background does not define their future. With determination, hard work, and education, they too can become future scientists, engineers, innovators, and leaders.”
She said the school believes the mentorship and practical knowledge learners gain will continue shaping their ambitions long after the summit ends.
“We are deeply grateful for opportunities that empower our learners, broaden their career aspirations, and inspire them to believe that they can compete and succeed on any stage. We are confident that the knowledge, inspiration, and mentorship will have a lasting impact on their future career goals.
Saturday Star
Anita Nkonki
iol.co.za
