The first group of mentees and mentors of the STEM MentHER programme has successfully completed the year-long programme at the University of the Western Cape. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is celebrating a major milestone: the inaugural cohort of mentees and mentors in its year-long STEM MentHER programme has successfully completed the first cycle of this transformative initiative. Designed to support young women aspiring to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the programme is already shaping confident future leaders in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Launched at UWC as part of a growing national movement to bridge the gender gap in STEM, the STEM MentHER programme pairs promising female high school learners with experienced women mentors, ranging from academics to industry professionals. The initiative supports learners not only through academic challenges, but also through the critical transition from school to tertiary study.

The programme’s first cohort, which began early last year, included ten young women carefully matched with mentors from UWC’s Faculty of Natural Sciences. These mentors brought expertise across mathematics, computer science, environmental science, biosciences and related fields, offering personalised guidance, encouragement and exposure to the realities of higher education and STEM careers.

Nineteen-year-old Kaitlin Ernstzen and 18-year-old Imaan Ajam participated in the year-long programme. Both matriculated with several distinctions in 2025. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

At the outset, UWC’s Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof David Holgate, highlighted the importance of mentorship in helping learners navigate the often-daunting transition from Grade 12 to university life.

He emphasised that a central aim of the programme is to ensure young women enter higher education with confidence, knowing they have a strong support system around them.

Throughout the year, mentees participated in regular one-on-one mentoring sessions, workshops and career development activities aimed at strengthening both academic readiness and professional confidence.

By connecting learners with women who have successfully navigated STEM pathways, the programme helped turn abstract ambitions into tangible goals, empowering participants to see themselves as scientists, engineers, technologists and innovators.

For 19-year-old Kaitlin Ernstzen, now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a focus on Conservation Ecology, the programme reshaped her view of both work and her future in science.

“Seeing my mentor love her job and be so passionate about what she does really encouraged me,” Ernstzen said. “It made me realise that work isn’t this boring place people make it out to be. I can love my job, and I should pursue it wholeheartedly.”

Beyond academic guidance, witnessing women thriving in scientific spaces had a powerful impact on her confidence and sense of belonging. “I became more confident and more sure of what I wanted to do,” she said. “Seeing other girls in science, women in science, being so powerful and passionate, made me feel like this is where I want to go. I can be a super-powerful boss lady in science.”

Similarly, 18-year-old Imaan Ajam highlighted the programme’s emphasis on empowerment as one of its most transformative aspects, particularly in helping her find her voice. “The way they empower women is what makes it so important,” Ajam said. “It’s uplifting in such a good manner. It really helped me with confidence. Even being able to get the words out in an interview is already saying something.”

She added that the mentorship experience encouraged her to step beyond her comfort zone. “It helped me to put myself out there,” she said.

Mentor Coordinator, Dr Rechelle Jacobs, noted that her decision to participate in the programme was deeply personal. “I often reflect on how valuable it would have been to have had a mentor when I was navigating my own path in science. Mentorship plays a critical role in supporting young women entering STEM, particularly in helping them build confidence and a sense of belonging. Enabling more women to pursue science-related careers is not only empowering for them individually, but essential for the future development and innovation capacity of our country.,” Jacobs said.

The successful completion of this first cohort marks an important achievement for UWC and the broader STEM MentHER network, which now spans several South African universities. As the programme continues to grow, its impact is expected to reach even more young women across the country, contributing to more inclusive, equitable and accessible STEM pathways.

STEM MentHER UWC nominations for 2026 are now open. From 2026, the programme will induct Grade 11 learners, providing support earlier in their academic journey to further enhance the mentorship experience. Nominations close on 31 March 2026, and more information is available at www.stemmenther.co.za.