Page 4 - July21T

“It was my first time at an airport and the first time I got
in a plane...I want to be a pilot.”
– Phemo from the village of Dikgonnye, Botswana
One of my greatest pleasures as editor is witnessing the number of humanitarian and charitable organizations rooted in business and general
aviation. I am constantly inspired by the generous hearts of pilots and professionals within this industry and strive to share some of that good news with you all reading.
The following is a recent example of a powerful story sent to me by G650 captain and activist Kimberly Perkins, written by Jordan Watson. The article immediately struck me as it combines several inspirational elements into one story – educating youth, inspiring future pilots, spreading awareness of general aviation, and paving the way for more women in aviation. Maybe it will inspire you, too.
rebecca@twinandturbine.com
Dare to Dream
Editor’s Briefing
by Rebecca Groom Jacobs
In celebration of this year’s UN World Creativity and Innovation Day, Aviation for Humanity and Dare to Dream partnered to bring Phemo and 29 other schoolgirls
from rural Botswana to the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport for a day of education and empowerment.
Having never been to an airport or seen an aircraft up close, the girls had a day full of firsts. They were taken on a tour of four models of aircraft – the Beechcraft Baron 58, Beechcraft Hawker 800, Cessna Grand Caravan, and Cessna 172 – and spoke directly to pilots and other aviation professionals. They also engaged with the Airbus Little Engineer program, which allows students to explore STEAME-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship) learning, such as aerospace mission planning, robotics and 3D modeling.
The girls are students in the Artesia Junior Secondary School in the Kgatleng district of Botswana. They live in rural settlements surrounding the village of Artesia. The culture in this region is such that many girls are not aware that they are able to pursue any career, let alone a career in a STEAME field. Following the Creativity and Innovation Day event, 15-year-old Kelebogile shared, “I learnt that whilst still at my age, I have to have a dream, work hard, and achieve it. The motivation I had from the captain inspired me and gave me confidence to work on myself.”
It is the mission of Dare to Dream to advance African youth, women and girls by nurturing their curiosity for and opportunities in STEAME fields, specifically aviation and aerospace. The organization was founded by Captain Kgomotso Phatsima, one of the first female military pilots in Botswana. Inspired to create an event that would show Botswanan girls that careers in STEAME are available to them, Captain Phatsima and Captain Trudy
2 • TWIN & TURBINE / July 2021