Debswana prides itself in empowering girls across Botswana
Debswana takes seriously the empowerment of women and girls and through their two Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, the company is doing just that.
e two programmes are Maranyane Bokamoso and GirlEng. GirlEng is implemented in both Orapa and Jwaneng, while Maranyane Bokamoso is only in Jwaneng.
According to Corporate Affairs Manager, Social Impact, Keamogetse Samson, Maranyane Bokamoso targets Senior Secondary Schools’ students, while GirlEng focuses on Junior Secondary School’ students. e intention is to inspire and guide young girls to pursue STEM-related subjects and careers. e long-term objective is to encourage girls to pursue careers in mining to address gender parity in the Mining industry.
“Both programs target girls and capacitate them to develop interest in mining careers,” Samson said, adding that some of the activities covered by the programs include job shadowing,
career fairs, innovation camps and robotics competitions. Samson explains that GirlEng started in 2019, while Jwaneng Mine conceptualised a new program called Maranyane Bokamoso in 2022 in partnership with Dare to Dream to cater for Senior Secondary School girls. The formations were prompted by the gender parity in the STEM sectors of the economy, as initiatives under the building forever
strategy.
Since the establishment of both programmes, a total of 785 girls benefited from the Orapa Letlhakeng Damtshaa Mines (OLDM). While in Jwaneng, a total of 1 066 girls benefited. Debswana’s efforts in ensuring that girls are encouraged to pursue STEM subjects and ultimately absorbed into positions of engineering within the mines does not only end with these two programmes. Samson further adds that training of female dump truck drivers is another initiative that Debswana has successfully implemented, with some of the women already absorbed into the Mine’s workforce.
Debswana in implementing these programmes work with other stakeholders including Convo Lounge. Samson says the partnership with Convo Lounge was on the 'Ambassadors for Good' initiative. “This partnership came as a result of a skills-based employee volunteering programme pioneered by AngloAmerican Foundation, which encourages employees to champion courses they are passion about and give back to their communities.” She adds that this collaborative partnership saw Debswana and Convo Lounge work closely with Ikageng Junior Secondary School, situated in Metsimotlhabe.
e core focus of this collaboration was to impart essential skills through the creative sector, bridging the gap between education and the dynamic job market, providing students with valuable insights into the realms of the creative industry, mining, and digital technology.
For STEM programmes targeting girls, Samson further says Debswana has partnered with Women in Engineering (WomEng), and for Maranyane
Bokamoso Programme with Dare to Dream Foundation as implementing partners. Some of the critical stakeholders for these programmes are Ministry of Education and tertiary institutions.
In their effort to encourage uptake of STEM subjects, Debswana works with nine schools in OLDM and four Junior and five Senior Secondary Schools in Jwaneng AoI. ese include, Matsha College, Seepapitso Senior Secondary School, Lobatse Senior Secondary School, Goodhope Senior Secondary School and Moshupa Senior Secondary School, Morama JSS, Kgosimpe JSS, Mogale JSS and Maiteko JSS.
Currently, Debswana has in its employ a total of 702 staff members in Engineering posts, 54 of which are females who are employed as Artisans (nine), Engineers 12, Operatives 11, and Driver Operators 22. Samson says the response in schools from parents and general communities to Debswana efforts have been positive. “ey do know children come to these activities and appreciate Debswana’s efforts in their children’s education,” she said, adding that as far as Makgadikgadi school has been concerned, all stakeholders have been supportive with parents releasing their children to come for innovation