STEM MentHER Programme - Cultivating SA’s Next Generation of Female Scientists and Innovators

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Aiming to promote STEM careers among young women, UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science hosted the third annual STEM MentHER programme induction at the Science Centre.

The programme selects high-achieving Grade 12 female students from schools across KwaZulu-Natal, offering them mentorship and guidance as they prepare for their future careers.

The event opened with a warm welcome from UKZN’s Dean of Research, Professor Neil Koorbanally, who emphasised the importance of empowering young women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. This was followed by an introduction about the programme from the founder, Dr Cerene Rathilal, who is a Mathematics Senior Lecturer at UKZN.

Rathilal highlighted the programme’s mission to bridge the gender gap in STEM by providing mentorship, exposure and support to young women with a passion for these fields.

The keynote speaker, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, an internationally renowned infectious diseases epidemiologist and co-founder of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), delivered an inspiring address. She took the audience through her 20-year research journey on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), detailing how persistence and resilience transformed initial failures into ground-breaking advancements in HIV prevention.

Abdool Karim’s story resonated deeply with the young folk attending, demonstrating that success in STEM is not without challenges, but determination and hard work can lead to extraordinary achievements. Her journey served as a powerful reminder that women can - and do - excel in scientific research and innovation.

Following the keynote address, participants were officially inaugurated onto the programme, receiving their STEM MentHER badges and meeting their mentors - professionals in their fields of interest.

In the coming months, these young women will engage in a structured mentorship programme filled with educational workshops, career guidance and hands-on experiences designed to nurture their potential and prepare them for success in STEM disciplines.

The STEM MentHER Programme is a crucial initiative in addressing the under-representation of women in STEM careers. By providing role models, mentorship and real-world exposure, UKZN is paving the way for a new generation of female scientists, engineers and mathematicians who will contribute to innovation and development in South Africa and beyond.

As these young women embark on their year-long mentorship, they carry with them not only the knowledge gained but also the inspiration to break barriers and redefine what is possible in STEM.

Words and photographs: Siphesihle Shezi