ExxonMobil Guyana marked International Women in Engineering Day on June 20, with its BuildHer initiative in Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). It brought together more than 100 students from Grades six to 11, enrolled in the company’s Family Awareness Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) after-school program for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The program featured a Women in STEM panel, interactive experiments, and career development sessions aimed at exposing students to engineering pathways and real-world applications of science.
Students participated in a compressed air car experiment, where they explored Newton’s Third Law, friction, motion and stored energy. According to Exxon, the young girls named their models, presented their findings and demonstrated teamwork and problem-solving skills during the exercise.
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The initiative underscored the importance of gender inclusion in STEM, while reinforcing Exxon’s role in developing future technical talent in Guyana’s expanding energy sector.
Program Director of FACT, Annette Jandoo, highlighted the impact of the company’s partnership in expanding opportunities for young learners in STEM.
“Today, we have so many opportunities in STEM. I’m really grateful that we have partnered with ExxonMobil to do the after-school STEM program because out of that program, we have many successes; children moving on to STEM careers and going to the University of Guyana,” she said.
Exxon’s Operations and Logistics Superintendent, Natina Singh, urged participants to broaden their ambitions as opportunities continue to expand across Guyana’s STEM landscape.
“STEM is not just about jobs. It is about building things, designing solutions, improving lives, and shaping the future of our country,” she said.
ExxonMobil Guyana has been spearheading STEM education initiatives, as it is viewed as a critical foundation for developing the next generation of skilled professionals in the country’s energy sector. Through partnerships with schools and training programs, the company has helped provide scholarships, technical training and early exposure.
Initiatives such as BuildHER and FACT encourage student participation in STEM fields while offering hands-on learning opportunities. The programs are designed to help young Guyanese understand that there is a place for them in the oil and gas sector.
