In honour of International Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (8 March), UWC is celebrating stories of courage, equality and unity from around the movement. We’re highlighting the inspiring stories of scholars from the Global Fund for Women-UWC partnership, an initiative designed to expand leadership and education pathways for talented adolescent girls from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Defying gender norms in Eswatini

Mayenziwe Mpila Manzana, WK UWCSA student and GFW scholar, grew up in Eswatini where she was consistently told that education wasn’t for girls. Despite these societal expectations, her unwavering determination brought her to UWC, where she now pursues her passion for aerospace engineering and is becoming a leader in promoting STEM opportunities for girls in her community.

Mayenziwe’s story is a remarkable example of breaking free from the mould of gender norms and being resilient in the face of incredible challenges, proving that new paths can be forged for future generations of girls in education.

To say that Mayenziwe’s path to considering MIT for aerospace engineering has been unlikely or untraditional is an understatement of epic proportions, especially as a young girl from a traditional village nestled in the mountains of Eswatini. “Gender bias is a huge issue in my community,” Mayenziwe explains. Her uncles went abroad to be educated; her aunts did not. The computer in her home could only be used by her brother because, as a boy, he needed it. She—on the other hand—was needed in the kitchen. Mayenziwe’s experience is not uncommon in Eswatini. Intergenerational gender bias is one reason the Global Fund for Women (GFW) works with Waterford Khamlaba UWCSA to help girls from Sub-Saharan Africa receive education, mentorship and support. By empowering Mayenziwe and other students like her with leadership skills, knowledge and opportunities to make a difference in their communities, GFW is shaping a new intergenerational narrative of equity, equality and gender justice. 

Finding a supportive community at WK UWCSA

UWCSA, where GFW is funding Mayenziwe’s education, shares these values, embracing and emboldening its students to realise their potential beyond the confines of their country’s societal norms. “The UWCSA community is very different from where we come from. It has given me an opportunity and a platform that has allowed me to grow,” Mayenziwe reflects. “That growth comes with obstacles, but the challenges are just preparing you for the future, for what you are yet to become. I wouldn’t be who I am without this school.”

School has played a pivotal role throughout Mayenziwe’s life. Following her parents’ divorce, Mayenziwe, her brother and her mother moved to an unserviced home owned by her uncle Pedros in Mbabane. There, he encouraged her mother to let the children grow and take advantage of untraditional opportunities. Often clashing with her mother over her traditional beliefs, Pedros instilled in Mayenziwe the belief that there was no such thing as “you can or can’t because you’re a girl.” From their new home, Mayenziwe attended the local Mission school, an unforeseeably fortuitous circumstance. The school ignited the internal fire stoked by her uncle to push the limits of what people expected of her. “The year I joined the debate club, they decided to compete, which they had never done before. It was my first-ever competition and we got third place. After that, I got involved in Math Olympiads and it was at one of those competitions an adult encouraged me to apply for a scholarship to Waterford Khamlaba UWCSA. I thought it was impossible. No one from my community had ever gotten in. I still couldn’t use a computer.” After earning the top score on her final examinations, Mayenziwe did get in. But deeply ingrained stereotypes aren’t easily shaken loose and her community was in disbelief: “It was so inconceivable that the local paper came to do a story on me but reported that I got into a different school. No one believed me. No one at all.”

Expanding access to STEM for girls

When Mayenziwe arrived at UWCSA in form one, the first thing that struck her about her new school was the diversity.

The second thing that captivated her was the access to STEM. “When my uncle passed in 2022, that's when I started pushing my mission: to do for other people what he did for me. I wanted to break down the gender stereotypes that STEM is for boys, so I got into robotics and became the first female team captain. Going to UWCSA has given me access to mentors, peers and opportunities to be able to do that. While at school, I’m also helping create a platform for girls in Eswatini to access STEM through the Young Women's Empowerment Consortium (YWEC), which I co-founded here at UWCSA.” 

Mayenziwe will tell her story to anyone young girl willing to listen: “Through YWEC and Girl Up, I'm able to make a difference by introducing girls across Eswatini to STEM. I think I've met more than 1000 students since the year started.” 

Mayenziwe also started a robotics activity at UWCSA to further her mission: “On Mandela Day, we had about three schools with 30 or so girls come to campus and we helped them build their own robots. I also plan our outreach to schools outside the usual system, like SOS, which is like an orphanage. When we went there, I noticed that a larger percentage of the girls were interested. That touched something in me because I was seeing my mission come to life.” I have gone from the girl who arrived at UWC not knowing how to use a computer to the girl who helps everyone use their computer, build robots and wants to go to MIT,” she laughs.

This year, Mayenziwe will help lead Next Gen Nexus (NGN), an event that brings students from different schools together to build their own robots and learn about careers in STEM. “In the beginning, they didn’t know what they wanted to do when they were older. But by the end, they want to be mechatronic engineers,” she says, beaming. “We know it changes the girls’ mindset because their teachers have told us they are choosing to study science and math more now. They can see a future in it and learn they can change their story—just like I did. They are learning that stereotypes and their past don't define them and discovering that there are strong, powerful women all over Eswatini, at YWEC, UWCSEA, the Global Fund for Women and NGN who believe in them.” 
 

Written by Samantha Gayfer, Director of Strategic Development at the Discovery Group.