AIMS Cameroon, on March 8th 2019, offered science students from four secondary schools the opportunity to hear from female role models as they celebrated 2019’s Women’s Day under the theme ‘Balance for Better’.
AIMS Cameroon students seized this opportunity by positioning themselves as role models capable of inspiring and empowering the next generation of women.
The ceremony took place at the AIMS Cameroon premises where students of Saker Baptist College, Government Bilingual High School, New Horizon International High School and St. Anne High School, Limbe rallied to draw inspiration from AIMS students and successful female role models.
Setting the pace for the event, AIMS Cameroon’s Chief Operating Officer, Mary Bernadette Fultang welcomed all and emphasized the importance of Gender equality and inclusion to the work of AIMS. She equally shared the goal of AIMS to bridge the gap in STEM education while helping the male students realize that, women are just as capable as them.
Justice Vera Nkwate Ngassa, Guest speaker and Lord Justice of the court of Appeals (Vice President), hammered on the importance of gender equality, diversity and inclusion. After stating that gender inequality do exist, she highlighted some gender related issues such as the difficulties faced by women to penetrate key administrative positions and the barriers and discrimination set by culture and society on the female gender. ‘Females need to be involved in important decisions concerning the female gender’ she insists.
Madam Lois Ikome, Deputy Registrar of the Cameroon GCE Board in charge of Examinations, used her life as an example to motivate the young women into STEM. Drawing from her 6 ingredients for greatness, she urged them to be themselves, believe, dream big, be inquisitive, make a plan and Read. ‘What you think is what you become. If you don’t think it, you cannot become it’ she quotes.
Students of AIMS Cameroon (6girls and 2boys) gave motivational talks on topics related to Women and Careers in STEM, Women empowerment, Feminism, coding and programming and general motivations drawn from life experiences.
The Secondary school students equally had the opportunity to interact amongst themselves and with AIMS students through interactive and educative games. All their Science related doubts were cleared as they got the best answers to all their questions. AIMS Academic Director, Professor Marco Garuti closed the event and expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the event. He urged the students of secondary schools to remain committed and hopes to meet them again in the future.