International Women in Engineering Day: ExxonMobil empowers 200 young minds for STEM success

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, ExxonMobil Guyana hosted its “Girls in Gear” Engineering Workshop to recognise and honour the contributions of women in the engineering field.
The event aimed to inspire and empower young girls to explore careers in engineering while also highlighting the importance of gender diversity within the industry.

The event was launched on Saturday. ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) marked International Women in Engineering Day by hosting its “Girls in Gear” Engineering Workshop at the Princess Georgetown Ramada Hotel.
The event welcomed over 200 enthusiastic girls from Grades 9 to 11, representing Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
These students, participants in the ExxonMobil Guyana-sponsored Family Awareness Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) and Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) afterschool STEM programmes, engaged in interactive, hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and build technical skills. Highlights included constructing rockets and bridges using everyday household materials.
The workshop was facilitated by experts from the University of Guyana, the UG Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter, Baker Hughes, TechnipFMC, Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR), and Cerulean. Their guidance provided meaningful, real-world engineering insights, offering the aspiring engineers a valuable and inspiring learning experience.
Speaking at the event, ExxonMobil Guyana’s In-Country Project Manager, Rebecca Cvikota, underscored the vital role of STEM education in empowering young women and shaping the future of innovation and industry.
She emphasised that initiatives like the “Girls in Gear” Engineering Workshop are essential to building confidence, encouraging curiosity, and breaking down barriers that have historically limited female participation in science and engineering.
“By investing in STEM education like the programme today, we can help close the gender gap, build more diverse teams, and encourage unique perspectives and ideas, which we need to lead to more innovative solutions,” Cvikota said.
She also noted that ExxonMobil Guyana shares a passion for empowering youth and girls in STEM, recognising the importance of fostering a mindset of confidence and curiosity in young women.
“Programs like these can help equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed,” she added.
Initiatives like this, she noted, help increase interest in STEM at school, provide hands-on learning through workshops and activities, and encourage students to see the endless possibilities and career paths available in these fields.
Cvikota also reaffirmed ExxonMobil’s commitment to investing in educational programmes that create opportunities for the next generation of engineers, leaders, and changemakers.
Also present at the event was ExxonMobil Guyana Fabrication Lead, Eketa Eward, who highlighted the need for more women in STEM while donning full safety gear.
“Whether you’re dreaming of building bridges, apps, or entire cities, your ideas are powerful. Engineering is about creating solutions that change lives — from clean water systems to smart cities, from sustainable energy to space travel. Girls like you are already leading the way. Don’t wait for permission. Start building, trust yourself, follow your passions, and never stop believing in your potential. The future is bright, and it’s yours to create,” Edward said.