Girls in STEM Career Guidance at Masotsha High School, Bulawayo

The GIRLS IN STEM career guidance event was organized by Elevate Trust Zimbabwe, with a specific focus on empowering young girls. The event took place on the 20th of September 2023 at Masotsha High School in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Elevate Trust primarily concentrates on youth leadership and capacity-building to facilitate youth development in career development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it serves as an inspirational platform for young female scientists, offering mentorship, capacity building, and opportunities to network with women in industrial leadership roles.

SOLTRAIN+ partnered with Elevate Trust to provide an in-depth explanation of how solar thermal technologies can be employed in various applications, including space heating, air conditioning, hot water production, industrial process heat, drying, desalination, and electrical power generation.

During the event, the SOLTRAIN mobile trailer became a focal point of interest for learners, educators, and various business professionals. Notable companies in attendance included Bakers Inn, Kango, Old Mutual, and Ingwebu. The event attracted a diverse audience, including businessmen, school educators, students, and headmasters, who gathered around the mobile trailer to explore the possibilities of harnessing energy through solar thermal technologies. Many girls found inspiration, as evidenced by the insightful questions they posed about the effectiveness of this technology and its role in mitigating global warming.

The SOLTRAIN exhibition at the STEM Career Guidance for girls drew a significant number of young attendees, aligning with the goal of inspiring girls to pursue STEM-related careers. This success is evident from the impressive attendance figures, as illustrated in the graph below.

Furthermore, the SOLTRAIN trailer exhibition at the GIRLS IN STEM CAREER GUIDANCE reached every corner of the country, thanks to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which recorded and broadcasted the SOLTRAIN exhibition on national television.

In summary, the career guidance exhibition at Masotsha High School was a resounding success, drawing a considerable number of young individuals and educators to the SOLTRAIN exhibition stand. The SOLTRAIN team was represented by Eng. A. N. Mnkandla, Destine Mashava, and Samson Mhlanga.