(From left) Gonzales, Yeoh, Dr Wan Azizah, Danze and Ong.
GIRL Guides Association Malaysia (GGAM) has partnered with Siemens Malaysia and STEM Academy Malaysia to offer technology and engineering training to young women.
The collaboration, introduced in conjunction with Inter-national Women’s Day 2025, is aimed at empowering women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The initiative was launched by GGAM president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at an event themed “#AccelerateAction”.
Also present were World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts chairperson Candela Gonzales, GGAM chief commissioner Datuk Yeoh Soo Keng, STEM Academy principal Charlene Ong and Siemens Malaysia president and chief executive officer Tindaro Danze.
Under this partnership, Siemens and STEM Academy Malaysia will work with GGAM to provide a comprehensive suite of resources and training to equip young women with the skills, tools and confidence needed to excel and lead in STEM fields.
This initiative includes hands-on experience with industry-relevant technologies, such as coding and AI, 3D printing, and prototype-making using laser cutters.
Emphasising the urgency of accelerating action, Dr Wan Azizah said: “The equality gap remains a challenge that we must confront with courage and determination.
“It starts with our collective openness to possibilities, recognising that the hand that rocks the cradle can rule the world.”
Yeoh said the initiative aligned with the United Nations’ 2025 theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
“STEM plays a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in advancing gender equality and driving economic growth.
“This partnership comes at a pivotal moment, providing a unique opportunity to nurture Malaysia’s future female leaders.
“We are grateful to Siemens and STEM Academy for joining us on this journey, and we look forward to the positive impact of future collaborations,” said Yeoh, a civil engineer and winner of a Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board award.
Danze noted the need for more engineers, scientists and technologists in an era of rapid technological transformation.
“We need to debunk the gender stereotypes around these careers, and this needs to start from early education.
“We hope more women in Malaysia will be inspired by role models like Datuk Yeoh, to pursue a career in STEM,” he said.
