On October 6th, students from the Comprehensive School Complex in Węgorzewo met with their Mentor, Agnieszka Kędra, MSc Eng. Agnieszka holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Bialystok University of Technology. She began her professional journey in a design office, and today she successfully manages construction projects. She is also actively involved in promoting the presence of women in technical and engineering fields. One day, our Mentor conducted two meetings for students from different classes. In total, 31 girls participated in the meetings. During the meetings, Agnieszka spoke about her career path — from her first office design projects to supervising large-scale construction investments on-site. She introduced the students to the advantages and challenges of building a career in the construction industry, where women make up just over 8% of the workforce (based on data from the Polish labour market). Agnieszka discussed both the everyday difficulties and the satisfaction that comes with working as an engineer. Her story demonstrated that the feminisation of the construction sector is a lasting change, not a temporary trend.
After the meetings, all the girls reported an increased awareness of career opportunities in technical fields, and 70% of them said that the conversation with the mentor made them feel more confident about pursuing studies and careers in STEM.
The students were surprised by how many career paths in construction are available to women, and breaking down stereotypes about working in this sector turned out to be the most valuable part of the meeting.
Special thanks to our Mentor, Agnieszka Kędra, and to the School Directorate and Teachers Comprehensive School Complex in Węgorzewo.
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.