According to H&M, the programme aims to inspire young women and provide sustainable learning and development opportunities.

This is the second programme that the H&M Group will initiate towards the mission of levelling the STEAM playing field.

Due to the rapid technological advancements, the STEAM fields are taking a bigger role in society and businesses, says the group. To ensure that future innovations and technologies are inclusive, representation and diversity become even more important.

According to H&M, bridging the gender gap in the STEAM fields is a crucial way for girls and women to expand their employment opportunities and businesses can take equitable actions and measures to contribute to positive change. As a fashion and tech company with global visibility and influence, the group says that it can make an impact and amplify the need for diversity in STEAM fields.

H&M, together with Scifest Africa, will share knowledge and information through this initiative with communities to empower underrepresented youth to pursue education and careers in STEAM.

The two-day initiative aims to be a fun programme for these young students to learn about the possibilities within STEAM and fashion, as well as to get hands-on experience in solving real-life problems.

"The STEAM programme is an initiative we are proud to present in partnership with Scifest Africa. One of our core missions as a brand is to always drive local representation and diversity while uplifting the communities that we operate in," says Caroline Nelson, country manager at H&M South Africa.

"As a company that operates with data, science and technology daily, this is a perfect opportunity for us to empower our future leaders," adds Nelson.  

Scifest Africa, South Africa's National Science Festival, was established in 1996 to promote public awareness, appreciation and understanding of science, technology and innovation.

For the last 26 years, Scifest Africa has been striving to educate and enlighten its audiences by offering a doorway into the world of STEAM for young people from across the country. Scifest Africa says that it continues to contribute to South Africa's ongoing efforts to create a science-literate society.

"We are honoured to have partnered with H&M on this journey to launch their first STEAM programme in the country," says Monica Newton from the National Arts Festival and Grahamstown Foundation.

"We have a long-standing history of providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops in the country and addressing the skill gap that we are currently facing in the country. With the partnership with H&M, we can add art into the programme and open the possibilities of what is possible in those fields," concludes Newton.

In addition to the STEAM initiative, a three-month mentoring programme will foster the professional and personal development of selected mentees. It will seek to inspire participants while developing a range of skills including:
  • soft skills
  • insight into industry trends, and
  • continuous exposure to 'future skills'.

The mentoring programme will include one-on-one sessions on key topics with mentors from H&M South Africa selected for their expertise or experience in each field.

For more information, visit www.hm.com. You can also follow H&M South Africa on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.