Isidlo Santambama Sokubungaza Abesifazane Abakwi-STEM

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Isakhiwo sase-Howard College i-UNITE besinenhlokomo yobuhle kanye nobuhlakani ngesikhathi abafundi abahamba phambili abenza izifundo zesayensi, ubuchwepheshe, ezobunjiniyela kanye nezibalo, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) e-UKZN behlangene ukubungazwa ngesidlo santambama.

Lo mcimbi, obuxhaswe abakwa-Johnson & Johnson ngaphansi kwefulegi labesifazane abasemkhakheni weSayensi, Ubuchwepheshe, Ubunjiniyela, Izibalo, Ukukhiqiza kanye nokuHlela, iWomen in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design (WiSTEM2D), ubuhlose ukugqugquzela nokukhuthaza abafundi be-STEM base-UKZN abayizi-100 abahamba phambili ukuthi bahlale futhi baphokpphele phambili emkhakheni abawukhethile wesayensi. Bachithe intambama eyakhayo bengazijabulisi nje kuphela futhi betotoswa, kodwa okubaluleke kunakho konke ukulalela abanye ababukela kubo.

Amukela isizukulwane esisha sase-UKZN sososayensi besifazane abasebancane, uSihlalo wohlelo losihlalo ophikweni lwezokucwaninga, (South African Research Chairs Initiative) SARChI ngemfucuza kanye nokuguquguquka kwesimo sezulu futhi oyingqwele yohlelo lwase-UKNZ iWiSTEM2D, uSolwazi Cristina Trois, ugqugquzele abafundi ukuthi bangesabi uma bengabesifazane bodwa abebekulo mcimbi kodwa kumele baphokuphele phambili futhi baphumelele.

Owethule inkulumo yosuku iPhini likaMqondisi futhi oyiNhloko yokwelapha esikhungweni zokucwaninga ngezinhlelo zengculazi eNingizimu Afrika, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), uSolwazi Kogie Naidoo uxoxe indaba ngohambo lwakhe njengomuntu kanye nolomsebenzi kwi-STEM, kusukela lapho aqala khona kuze kube uhola uhlaka lwamazwe lokwelashwa nokunqanda ukusabalala kwe-HIV ne-TB. UNaidoo ugqugquzele abafundi ukuthi babhekane nezingqinamba, balandele okuvusa intshisekelo kubo futhi bazibophezele ekufundeni bebheke emsebenzini abawuthandayo futhi ozobajabulisa impilo yabo yonke.

Owenza iziqu ze-PhD ohlelweni olubheka okudala iHIV (HIV Pathogenesis) e-UKZN UNksz Zakithi Mkhize ukhulume ngamandla ezinkundla zokuxhumana ukugqugquzela ukubambisana njengodadewabo kososayensi. Isiteshi sakhe se-YouTube, i#BlackGirlScientist iyachuma ezinkundleni zokuxhumana, ibhekana nezidingo zosoyansi besifazane abasebancane ukuthi bakwazi ukuxhumana bebodwa, ikakhulukazi emuva komvalelandlini. UMkhize wabelane ngokuthi usebenzisa kanjani ngenkuthalo ukuxhumana ngesayensi ukulekelela abanye ukuthi bazithole njengabesifazane kwi-STEM.

Owayefunda e-UKZN, ongusaziwayo futhi ongumeluleki wezengqondo uNksz Rakhi Beekrum ukhulume ngokubaluleka kwezempilo zengqondo kanye nokuhlanganisa ubuwena kanye nomsebenzi. Unxuse ososayensi abasebancane ukuthi benze isiqiniseko sokuthi abakuthandayo, amakhono kanye neziphiwo zabo kuyahambisana ngesikhathi belandela izifundo zabo nemisebenzi yabo yangomuso kwi-STEM.

Ongomunye abayi-200 kubantu abasha abahamba phambili eNingizimu Afrika kwi-Mail & Guardian ophinde abe ngomunye owayefunda e-UKZN uSolwazi Nomali Ngobese - manje osenguSolwazi eNyuvesi yaseNorth-West - wabelane ngokuthi ukubekezela kanye nokuzinikela kwaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi uyaphumelela ukukhuphuka yize ebeqhamuka lapho ebengekho khona amathuba aze afinyelele lapho ekwazi ukuthi abuyisele emphakathini ngengogcweti oqinisekisa ukuthi bonke abantu banokudla okwanele okunempilo.

‘Siyakholwa ukuthi abesifazane bangagqugquzela ukwakhiwa kwabantu abanempilo, imiphakathi enempilo kanye nomhlaba onempilo.’ kusho obemele iJohnson & Johnson uNksz Michelle Lang esevala.

Ilinki yevidiyo emfushane ekhombisa obekwenzeka emcimbini wabesifazane abakwi-STEM, i-UKZN Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Women in STEM HighUKZN Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Women in STEM High ingabonakala lapha - HERE.

Amagama: ngu-Sally Frost

Isithombe: Albert Hirasen