Supporting Ambitions: Encouraging Women and Girls to Pursue Careers in Science, Endorsed by CCBA.
Venturing Women in STEM: CCBA, GEM, and GIST's Impactful Efforts
In the spirit of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, African women are breaking barriers and shining in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), boosted by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and partners. Let's take a look at CCBA's ventures and collaborations with Girls Excellence Movement (GEM) and Girls in Science and Technology (GIST), focusing on promoting women in STEM across the continent.
Community Building Through Empowerment
Recently, a partnership between GEM and Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of CCBA, led to the first Inspiration-On-Wheels outreach at Sogakope's Comboni Technical Vocational Institute (COMBOTECH). The enlightening session covered topics ranging from menstrual health and online rights to STEM education, career paths, sexual assault awareness, and effective team engagement. The attendees were offered free sanitary pads and mathematics sets.
Closing the Gender Gap in STEM
Statistically, women make up only 30% of science professionals in sub-Saharan Africa. According to a World Bank report, this imbalance is primarily due to factors like unfavorable stereotypes, discrimination, traditional gender roles, and inadequate resources. CCBA's Managing Director for Voltic (GH) Ltd., Flora Jika, is determined to change this narrative. As Jika puts it, "We aim to create greater shared opportunity for the business and communities we serve across the African continent. Opportunity is more than just money; it's about a better future for people and their communities everywhere on the continent."
GEM: Building Future Female Leaders
GEM, a dynamic collective composed of volunteers from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, America, and Britain, works tirelessly to empower girls by delivering targeted capacity-building programs. Their vision is to create confident, fearless women ready to take on leadership roles, especially in STEM fields. Among their many endeavors, GEM and Voltic have partnered to organize workshops, establish internship opportunities for female STEM students, and launch the GIST-UMaT Chapter in Takoradi for promoting female participation in STEM.
GIST: Nurturing the Next Generation of Women Scientists
GIST's objective aligns with Voltic's commitment to women and youth empowerment, providing mentorship, guidance, and coaching to help young women excel in their STEM careers. They collaborate with Voltic on internship opportunities, workshops, and initiatives to inspire and educate girls across Ghana.
A Shared Future With Shared Success
Jika believes in investing in women's economic empowerment as a means to creating a better future for all. By fostering improved livelihoods, increased earning potential, and skill development programs for women, CCBA strives to generate shared value while expanding its business and enriching communities. Ultimately, the efforts of CCBA and its partners will go a long way in reducing the gender gap in STEM across Africa, opening countless opportunities for women and setting them on the path to success.
- The health-and-wellness of women, including menstrual health, is a focus in CCBA's partnership with GEM, as demonstrated by the free sanitary pads and mathematics sets offered at Sogakope's COMBOTECH.
- Beyond promoting business, CCBA's Managing Director, Flora Jika, aims to create a better future for communities by closing the gender gap in STEM fields across Africa.
- GEM, a global collective, puts a strong emphasis on educational programs that foster personal-growth and learning for girls, with a specific focus on STEM education and career paths.
- Technology plays a significant role in GEM's capacity-building programs, as they use digital platforms to educate on topics like online rights and effective team engagement.
- Science education and self-development are intertwined with GIST's efforts to nurture the next generation of women scientists, aligning with CCBA's commitment to youth empowerment and development.
- By fostering women's education and empowerment, CCBA and its partners hope to create shared success and generate shared value, paving the way for a future where women's contributions in STEM are equally recognized and celebrated.
