IN efforts to motivate and raise the number of women taking part in mining activities, Geita Gold Mine Limited (GGML) female staff conducted a two-day training to girl-students in Geita Region, recently.
The seminar that was run at Nyankumbu Girls Secondary School in the areas was particularly held at the Dormitory that was also built by GGML in its plough back to the community programme.
Through the company’s Union of Women Workers and speaking as GGML Senior Manager – Communications and Relations, Manace Ndoroma said the two-day seminar would motivate and provide the students with a base of fronting women to fully participate in mining activities, just like their male counterparts.
He further said their personal experience shows that women can actively be engaged in the mining activities and deliver, hence, no point of leaving the girl-child behind in dreams to succeed in the mining sector.
Elaborating, he noted that through the union, they have also been providing material aid, including funds and various equipment to special groups within the community to ensure that surrounding villages benefit from the mine’s close location to them.
“We have been at the forefront of collaborating with the government in promoting gender equality issues. You will remember that August 26th this year, when we had the Women’s Equality Day, we showed our support and GGML provided great education not only through the social media, but in general it was about the important role of women in the society.
“We have been doing that even in other events to celebrate similar International Women’s Day every March 8 and in particular, this seminar is a reminder of the challenges female students face and be acquainted with skills to address them.” He said there have been some challenge girls face, especially in the studies with the notion of opting to join the mining sector after school life, which require professional advice to them that they can, but they fail to be groomed from the grassroots.
Mr Ndoroma added: “We, the management of GGML, thought it would be good to organise this seminar so that even those who would like to choose various career fields and become miners or senior leaders in gold mining companies including GGML, can achieve their dreams, especially after seeing their peers managing and succeeding.”
Speaking on the government side, Geita Town Council Director, Zahara Michuzi said the company organising the seminar was paramount in motivating the girl-child to believe in herself, adding that success of an individual in any sector comes from merit not biological sex.
“Personally, even myself I could not have attained this position on my own, but first I put God in my prayers, then groomed by my peers including Professor Peter Msofe, who taught me at the University of Dodoma. I was encouraged in my academic pursuit until this time as the Geita Town Council Director and I am a woman,” she pointed out.
On his part, the area Regional Administrative Secretary for Geita, Prof Godius Kahyarara asked various stakeholders in the country to contribute to the development of education in the country, especially for the girl-child, instead of leaving the responsibility solely to the government.
“I really congratulate GGM for showing a good example as stakeholders who contribute to the development of education. Fortunately, our country has continued to have a good education system compared to other countries. GGM have a great contribution to the economy of our country through the taxes they pay.
“The great effort they are showing in the community has brought positive results, including building the infrastructure of education and training like this that brings great productivity in the community. Fortunately, this training is given to young girls, something that is not easy to forget.”
In its Corporate Social Responsibility, the mining company since its establishment in 2000 in the region has been focusing on assisting the local communities in the fields of health, education, water, roads, and income development projects to ensure that the host communities’ residents’ lives are improved.
These have included building seven Primary and five Secondary Schools over the past four years and in recognizing its work, earlier this year, it emerged as the overall winner in companies, which perform well in the mining sector in Tanzania to the extent that it grabbed awards in the aspects of corporate responsibility to society, environment, safety, best tax payer and indigenous development for the year 2020/2021.
