The European Union funded Skills and Technical Education Programme (STEP) has partnered with Girl Effect (Zathu) to promote vocational training opportunities through Zathu Pa Wailesi and special events.

Season 5 of Zathu Pa Wailesi on radio is underway, and is following a story of a female character who wants to do technical education.

One of the characters in the radio drama is Agogo, who answers questions from young people and in season 5, the focus is on technical education and vocational training.

Apart from being given an opportunity to ask questions, young people can also enter Zathu Pa Wailesi’s competition about skills training to win prizes.

STEP Team Leader Arthur Shears says one objective of the partnership with Girl Effect (Zathu) is to challenge gender stereotypes relating to TEVET training.

He says increased uptake of technical education is key to women’s empowerment.

Shears recommends girls and women to consider technical education as one way of becoming self-reliant.

“Technical education is for anyone who chooses it and should not be guided by your gender but by your passion and interest. I strongly encourage girls and women to look beyond social and cultural norms and to identify what they would like to do, building on their strengths and opportunities.  Girls need to seek a career that will allow them to be themselves.  This may be a career as a scientist, electrician, politician, activist, or construction contractor,” explains Shears.

STEP is funded by the European Union and partially implemented by UNESCO.