Despite challenges presented by Covid-19, more than 2,200 students were reached by the end of 2021 through a GirlEng programme for school girls and a Fellowship programme for women studying engineering and technology degrees at university.
The three-year extension will see programmes expanded beyond southern Africa to reach students in Canada and the UK, as well as beyond university courses to include vocational and skilled trades. There will also be a greater emphasis on future-focused sustainable development topics, such as renewable energies and climate solutions.
De Beers will also roll-out WomEng’s Emerging Leader Programme within its own business to help support, retain and promote women in technical roles as it works towards achieving gender parity across its global workforce as part of its UN Women HeForShe Alliance commitment.
In addition, De Beers will work with WomEng to support women-founded engineering and technology businesses in the company’s host countries that are focused on addressing critical sustainability challenges.
