Women in Mining Ghana (WIM Ghana) took its International Women’s Day celebrations directly into the classroom on Monday, March 9, hosting a mentorship event at Harvest Christian Academy in Baatsona, Accra.

The occasion, themed “Give to Gain", drew teachers and students together in a programme designed to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The highlight of the morning was a keynote address by Rosemary Okla, First Vice President of WIM Ghana and a geoscience specialist, who drew on her own career journey to challenge students to silence self-doubt and embrace their potential.

“Your voice matters, even when you feel different or unsure. Confidence grows when we are brave enough to share what we know.”

She admonished that self-doubt is not a reason to stay silent. Okla argued that the instinct to hold back, especially when a person feels outnumbered or out of place, is precisely when speaking up matters the most. "Confidence", she said, “is not a prerequisite for contribution. It is the result of it.”

She also challenged a narrow definition of leadership, stating that expertise and individual achievement are only part of the picture. According to her, the deeper measure of a leader is what they build in others, whether they share knowledge, offer encouragement, and create space for those still finding their footing.

Breaking Ground, Building Confidence

The school visit is part of a broader WIM Ghana initiative to dismantle the perception that mining, engineering, and STEM careers are exclusively the domain of men. By meeting students at Harvest Christian Academy, the organisation aims to spark interest in these fields at an early age, before social pressures and stereotypes can take hold.

The programme also connects students with female professionals willing to serve as mentors, offering guidance and lived experience to girls charting uncertain career paths. For WIM Ghana, the goal is to ensure that young girls see opportunities, not limitations.

Okla closed her address with a message of collective responsibility, framing the event’s theme, “Give to Gain", as both personal and societal.

“When we give knowledge, we gain stronger teams. When we give encouragement, we gain confident leaders. When we support others, we gain a better future for everyone,” she said, before leaving students with a quote from Baden Powell de Aquino: “The real way to gain happiness is to give it to others.”

The event was well-received by staff and students alike, reflecting the growing momentum behind WIM Ghana’s campaign to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in the country’s extractive industries. The organisation continues to expand its school outreach calendar ahead of further engagements planned for the year.