Young female pilot inspires school girls

A young female pilot, Qhawe Nxumalo, was part of a group of mentors that hosted a workshop for girls.

The squad of mentors warmed up the icy winter weekend with fun, games, a workshop on social media tips for teens and inspirational words from a young pilot and a chef in training.

“Don’t give up on yourself. If you believe you can do it, do it with your whole heart,” Nxumalo, who studied at the Algoa Flying Club, said. “When I was in grade 10 I had no idea what I wanted to be.”

Aviation popped up as a career possibility only in her matric year, but once she started she was hooked. “I started flying and now I’m using my career to inspire other people, and I love that.”

Nxumalo said the mentorship was great and she would have loved to have that kind of opportunity when she was at school. “It’s a really great programme to make women – and girls – realise they are more than who they now think they are. We should have more mentors.”

Vision4Women has been active since 2012, with a break during Covid-19. Volunteers mentor pupils from underresourced schools.

The NPC’s founder and chair, Nosi Ncoyo, said many Vision4 girls had gone on to become professionals in fields such as medicine, law, accountancy and engineering.

However, not every girl would have an academic future and it was important to make them aware of other directions they could take, such as becoming a pilot or chef, for example.

Chef-in-training Jemima Uthandile Kwaza, 21, originally went to the University of Cape Town to study psychology.

She now is studying professional cooking and kitchen management at the International Hotel School in Gqeberha.

Source: https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2023-08-28-reach-for-the-stars-young-pilot-tells-schoolgirls/