On Saturday, June 21, 2025, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) celebrated International Women in Engineering Day by hosting the Girls in Gear Engineering Workshop at the Princess Georgetown Ramada Hotel.
The event brought together over 200 enthusiastic girls from grades 9-11, hailing from Regions 3, 4, and 6. These young women, participants in the ExxonMobil Guyana-sponsored Family Awareness Consciousness Togetherness (FACT) and Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) afterschool STEM programs participated in hands-on activities like building a rocket and constructing a bridge out of household items. These activities, led by experts from University of Guyana, UG Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter, Baker Hughes, TechnipFMC, Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR), and Cerulean, provided invaluable learning experiences for the budding engineers.
Rebecca Cvikota, EMGL’s In-Country Project Manager, addressed the young women, emphasizing the importance of STEM education. “By investing in STEM education like this program today, we can help close the gender gap, build more diverse teams, and encourage unique perspectives and ideas, which we need to lead more innovative solutions and address complex global challenges. But Exxon doesn’t just say all those words, they put those words into action; 53% of our Guyanese workforce is women,” Cvikota stated.
She was joined by Eketa Ewards, Fabrication Lead at EMGL, who highlighted the need for women in STEM while donning full safety gear. “Whether you’re dreaming of building bridges, apps, or entire cities, your ideas are powerful. Engineering is about creating solutions that change lives—from clean water systems to smart cities, from sustainable energy to space travel. Girls like you are already leading the way. Don’t ask for permission. Start building trust in yourself. Follow your passions and never stop believing in your potential,” Ewards encouraged.
This initiative underscores ExxonMobil Guyana’s commitment to empowering women in the workforce. The Girls in Gear Engineering Workshop not only inspired the next generation of female engineers but also created a platform for them to envision and work towards a future where they can thrive in STEM careers.
