Page 21 - issue 21

Women`s Month 21

Q. What role did your family play in Q. What advice can you give to female students who
influencing your career decision? wish to be pilots so that they can be prepared for the
My mother cried. She said it was too out of the norm challenges that could come in their way after academic
for a Girl Child from very humble beginnings to fly success?
aeroplanes and become a soldier. Nevertheless l left
home for a year long basic military training to follow my
dreams For one to be a good pilot they must;
1. Attention to detail. When it comes to flying, small mistakes can
Q. How about role model and/or peer make a big impact, and there's little room for error in the skies. ...
influence?
Despite the 45 year difference my mother has been 2. Situational awareness. ...
my Number 1 supporter ,my friend and mentor. With
regards to peer influence I always knew where I was 3. Self-confidence. ...
going.
4. Humility. ...
Q. This March we celebrate women from
the Past, Present and Future. Do you have any 5. Clear communication skills. ...
woman/women you look up to
6 . Ability to remain calm under pressure. ...
Captain Sakhile Reiling she is the first female Commercial 7. Desire to learn
Pilot in Botswana. I looked up to her. She is my mentor

Q. Lets talk about Airbus Little Engineers Q.Are there any challenges women in your line of work
and Dare to Dream initiative. What are these come across and how have you ,as an individual manage
organizations about , what do they stand for to overcome them ?
and are they similar or just one initiative ?
The aviation and aerospace industry is a white heavily male dominated
The Airbus Foundation, together with its partners – The industry but this should not deter the upcoming generation nor the
Little Engineer and Dare to Dream – has launched the girl child to consider careers in this exciting diverse field it should
Airbus Little Engineer robotics programme in Botswana. infact be a motivation to pursue a path less travelled

The goal of the initiative is to encourage learners to Q. Do you have anymore career/entrepreneurial
understand and embrace technology, and ignite passion
that could grow into an exciting career in the fields of ambitions other than being a pilot?
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics My dream is to start my own
(STEM).During its first year, the programme aims to airline. KP Aviation will be
reach at least 1,080 ten to sixteen year olds from urban leading airline offering the
and rural areas across the southern African country. best customer experience
with high emphasis on
Botswana-based Dare to Dream is founded by myself safety and delivery of timely
and the organisation has become synonymous with services. eM
advancement of women and girls in STEM, aviation and
I use the power of flight to ignite dreams and help other
young women to follow in my footsteps.
Q On the eve of International Women`s day
2019, you were at Phakalane Secondary School
spearheading the Dare to Dream initiative,
what approach if any are you using to ignite the
STEM Passion in the future generation.
We use robotics and coding with a special focus in
Aviation by inspiring them and igniting passion into
STEM fields

Issue 21 Apr/May- 2019 www.engineermagazine.co.bw www.engineermagazine.co.bw Issue 21 Apr/May - 2019