It’s full STEAMM ahead

Wellington E2E (Education to Employment) Centre successfully piloted a free student initiative teaching employment preparation and life skills. The trial was undertaken with a small group of year 9 Wellington East Girls’ College students. 

The overarching goal is to help prepare them for their futures. Content focuses on work in STEAMM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, maths and manufacturing). “It’s about helping young people to develop positive attitudes and practices for obtaining the knowledge, life skills and career perspectives they need to achieve goals,” says E2E founder Carey Teng. 

Career aspirations form at a young age, explains Carey. They can be predictive of later study and employment-related choices. This is why E2E supports schools in empowering girls. It aims to help them believe in and achieve their educational and career prospects within STEAMM-related fields. 

The pilot programme is now a permanent fixture and has expanded to a further three schools. The current group of girls meet fortnightly through a mix of online and interactive sessions. They focus on turning negatives into positives and problems into opportunities. 

Carey gives the example of a snapped pencil. They asked the girls how they would rectify the problem. Some said they would tape the pencil. “The answer is to sharpen the snapped part, so you have two pencils. It’s learning to see that problems can become opportunities,” says Carey. 

The long-term goal is that by the time these girls are in year 13 they are ready for work and study. “We want them not to drop out of school early, to go on to tertiary study rather than become jobseekers, and then go into the workforce,” says Carey. 

The E2E team has noticed a huge boost in confidence and a change in the mindset of the girls currently involved in the programme. Pepe, of Samoan descent, and Katana, (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi/Ngati Kahungunu), took up the opportunity after it was offered through Wellington East. 

Supported by their whānau, the 14-year-olds have enjoyed the interactive activities. They cover everything from social anxiety to nutrition, the importance of sleep, resilience, can-do attitudes, and community-mindedness. “It’s interesting and a great opportunity to learn about stuff like how the brain develops, how important sleep is, and things mentally strong people don’t do,” says Pepe. “Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. It’s a life skill that has changed my own mindset.” 

The STEAMM aspect caught the attention of Pepe’s mum, Eleanor Laban, when she saw Pepe losing interest in maths and science at school. She saw it as an opportunity to try a different way of learning. “This is a tricky age. There’s so much going on, there’s so many dynamics, yet the resources and fundamental life skills they’re learning are tailored for this age. Some of it is challenging but it sets the students up for confidence, success and resilience.” 

Katana, though, would have preferred to stay home and watch TV. Her mum encouraged her to join the programme. She’s glad she did. “I’ve picked up things I now use in day-to-day life, like it’s okay to be alone sometimes and to not worry about what others think. It’s also helped with school, my spelling and pronunciation.” 

Carey is eager to help more school-age wāhine like Katana and Pepe. Through additional funding, she hopes to expand the programme into the greater Wellington region. “Life doesn’t always go smoothly, but through this work, I hope we can show these young people the possibilities and equip them with the skills and knowledge to turn difficulties into opportunities.”