25 Jul 2018

Molefi Senior School Form Five students Boipelo Molefe and Michelle Gaborekwe, have returned from a trip in South Africa where they were exposed to the aviation industry.

The were nominated for Girls Fly Programme Africa (GFPA) through Women in Aviation Botswana. 

The duo who are mentored by Stepping Stones International (SSI) flew to Johannesburg to meet with other girls from South Africa at the Paramount Leadership and Adventure camp after winning an essay competition on aviation related topics that also required attachment of a clean and appealing academic report.

After the selection by Women in Aviation Botswana to join other 19 local girls and the rest of the participants in a weeklong trip in Johannesburg, they  would be engaged in stimulating and challenging educational initiatives aimed at creating an awareness of Science Technology Engineering Mathematics, (STEM) field with a focus on aviation and space careers in Africa.

The 17-year-old Boipelo said the trip ignited her passion for aviation especially piloting and also exposed her to the broader spectrum of aviation.

Boipelo said she also enjoyed networking and learning from other girls her age and amassed more knowledge from Women in Aviation who inspired her even more after the realisation that only a minimal number of females were into aviation.

On another note, Boipelo who also won a seat for GFPA said the trip inspired because she met a young South African pilot who agreed to mentor her on  aviation.

She applauded SSI for endless opportunities highlighting that GFPA was one of the opportunities she benefitted from as she first participated and graduated from the first cohort of English Access Micro-scholarship Programme, an initiative by the US embassy to provide English Language instruction along with leadership and life skills.

For her part, Women in Aviation Botswana secretariat also the first engineering graduate from a local institution Ms Keneilwe Bubani said their organisation aimed at introducing young school girls to aviation.

Ms Bubani said they promoted the advancement and leadership of women in the aviation and space sector through education, networking and mentorship. 

She further said they also continuously honoured the unique history of women in aviation and space and documented their achievements.

Through their GFPA foundation, she said they aimed at empowering  the next generation of aviation and space leaders in Africa by shaping and developing future leaders in the STEM sphere in Africa.

“We encouraging an excellent work ethic, ambition, goal setting, drive and focus on our girls as well as cultivating a culture of community-building and volunteerism among the youth in Africa,” Bubani said.

She also said the girls who were selected for GFPA were free to come back and volunteer as well as seek counsel and mentorship from their organisation

Ms Bubani further implored support from corporate entities to help them reach their ultimate goal of reaching as many young girls as possible especially girls in rural areas as they need awareness, motivation and to be inspired for them to consider aviation as a possible career. ENDS