BY: MAMADU SALLIEU BARRIE Freetown, Sierra Leone –
On Thursday, December 12th, the Sierra Leone Women Engineers (SLWE) officially launched the Fearless Girl Campaign at New Brooksfield Hotel, a significant initiative aimed at empowering young women in the field of engineering.
The SLWE, a special interest group under the Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers (SLIE), was established to create opportunities for girls to engage with female professionals. The organization focuses on fostering inspiration, building confidence, and providing practical support to secondary school girls, encouraging them to pursue engineering as a viable career path.
The launch event gathered women engineers from across the nation, alongside passionate professionals from various fields, including law, medicine, accounting, and human resources.
These esteemed guests participated in a panel discussion moderated by Eng. Trudy Morgan, one of the founders of SLWE. The dialogue centered on overcoming fear and navigating challenges in their respective careers, offering valuable insights and encouragement to the attendees.
Eng. Magdalene Peters, President of SLWE, highlighted the organization’s commitment to collaboration with universities nationwide and Imperial College in London. This partnership aims to enhance leadership models and educational opportunities in engineering, addressing systemic and cultural barriers that hinder women’s participation in the field.
Through mentorship, training, and community engagement, SLWE seeks to create a more inclusive environment for aspiring female engineers.The keynote address was delivered by Eng. Ambassador Steven, the first woman to earn a degree in engineering in Sierra Leone.
Her inspiring talk, titled “Turning Challenges into Opportunities,” resonated deeply with the audience. She shared her own journey, emphasizing the critical role of determination, passion, and resilience in achieving one’s goals.
Ambassador Steven’s personal anecdotes of overcoming adversity served as a powerful reminder of the potential within every woman to excel in engineering.Together with Eng. Trudy Morgan and Eng. Magdalene Peters, Ambassador Steven officially launched the Fearless Girl Campaign, urging women to embrace their courage and stand firm in their beliefs, regardless of the obstacles they face.
The event was a resounding success, fostering networking among women from diverse backgrounds and igniting a shared passion for expanding the engineering profession in Sierra Leone.
As the Fearless Girl Campaign takes flight, it promises to inspire a new generation of women engineers ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
