BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MANZINI- The STEM Career Pathway Mentorship Programme was officially kickstarted Thursday January 28,2026 at the Manzini National Library, setting a clear roadmap to develop the next generation of innovators.
The programme has 40 pioneering students who began their journey, 20 at the Mbabane American Corner and 20 at the Manzini American Corner, where they will participate in hands-on workshops, mentorship, and skill-building sessions.
Dr. Rejoice Maseko, Director of the Department of Research, Science, Technology, and Innovation (RSTI), welcomed the students and outlined the programme’s vision: a structured path combining mentorship, technical STEM training, and community-based problem-solving.
“This is more than a workshop; it is a gateway to the future,” Dr. Maseko said, emphasizing the strategic roadmap designed to plug the Leaky STEM Pipeline, particularly for young women who often leave STEM pathways due to societal stereotypes and a lack of role models.
Highlighting the Ministry of ICT’s commitment, Dr. Maseko announced the mentorship of 300 girls across the country. “By focusing on these girls, we are ensuring that the talent, brilliance, and perspective of half our population are not lost to history,” she said. “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
The programme ensures that both boys and girls benefit equally, with access to Robotics kits, AI simulators, and 3D printing labs. Mentees will learn to collaborate and innovate, growing as “Allies in Innovation” prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Over the coming months, students will engage in weekly technical workshops and weekend mentorship sessions at the American Corners. Thursdays will focus on technical workshops, including Arduino programming, Robotics, AI simulations, 3D printing, FinTech, and AgriTech, while weekends will focus on personalized mentorship, project guidance, and community problem-solving.
The programme culminates in The Great Problem, where students identify community challenges and develop technological solutions using the skills they have learned.
“Empowerment is not just about giving someone a tool; it’s about making sure they know they have the right to use it,” Dr. Maseko said, quoting Michelle Obama. “Today, we give these students the tools and the permission to dream big, fail fast, and innovate boldly.”
Dr. Maseko called on students, mentors, and the community to actively participate in the programme: “We call on every young innovator to embrace this journey, every mentor to share knowledge generously, and every stakeholder to support the growth of STEM in Eswatini. The future of innovation is in your hands—dream big, act boldly, and build solutions that make a difference.”
With this roadmap now in motion, Eswatini is taking deliberate steps to cultivate a future-ready STEM generation, ensuring that today’s students become tomorrow’s innovators.
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