Johannesburg - In all aspects of society, there are phenomenal women who are making a difference in the lives of those around them while also striving to new heights.
This Women’s Month, Saturday Star will be profiling some of the nation’s leading ladies.
Taylor Kwong is passionate about assisting the nation’s young girls who are keen to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
As the corporate social investment manager at Vuma, a leading South African fibre provider, Kwong wants youngsters to have a career that they love while also making a meaningful impact on society.
“Because we can, we must” is the guiding ethos behind everything we do,” she said.
“This is what I get to do every day, and it brings me boundless joy and fulfilment knowing that my work is purpose-led and makes a difference.”
Kwong says the overall goal of her team is to ensure that “no one gets left behind on this journey towards a better, connected future for all South Africans.”
“And, as we celebrate Women’s Month in SA, I am reminded of the importance of my experiences and existence as a woman, and the important part I must play in ensuring girls and women are empowered and uplifted through the projects I oversee.”
Kwong believes that female representation in the technology industry is on the rise, but there is still a long way to go.
“This is not just in bringing more female perspectives and voices into the space, but in ensuring that they are empowered with the skills and experiences to sustain fulfilling careers within the industry.”
Kwong explained that according to recent studies, women represent just 28% of all people pursuing STEM careers.
“It’s clear that there’s still a great deal of work to be done to boost female participation and representation in tech and business spaces.”
But she said that initiatives like GirlCode, which has set out to empower 10 million girls and women with tech skills by 2030, are actively working toward remedying this challenge and it gives me great pride to be able to help expand their reach.
GirlCode is a non-profit organisation that has been creating nationwide networks of coding clubs since 2014 and has been bridging this gender gap in STEM fields by sparking an interest in coding among South Africa’s young women through its annual all-female #GirlCodeHack hackathon.
The organisation has named Vuma as this year's gold sponsor of the upcoming #GirlCodeHack, under the theme: #GenerationEquality: Realising women's rights for an equal future, in celebration of Women’s Day.
The first GirlCode hackathon, which took place in March last under the theme: Break the Bias, saw 70 participants enter the event to develop solutions to counter common biases toward women in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Kwong noted that as nearly four million South African children are being raised by their grandmothers and there is a need for support for senior women in communities.
“Gogos with Vuma in partnership with goGOGOgo is another great initiative that was recently launched to teach grandmothers in underserved communities much needed ICT skills – from learning to order their own Uber rides to teaching their grandchildren vital digital skills that will prepare them for a successful schooling career,” Kwong said.
“As a woman living in South Africa, I’ve navigated my own sets of challenges and experiences, and this fuels my desire to see change in the country and communities I love so much.”
“So, I appeal to my fellow female compatriots: advocate for other women and be their support and stepping stone wherever possible,” she added.
“Celebrate one another and ululate just as loudly for the small wins as you do for the big ones.”