Unity in Africa Foundation

05/06/2026

We know that our learners are going to love this series, where we are re-introducing the iGEMS team. We hope that you will all love it 💚

Meet Karen Taylor, Programme Support Officer at iGEMS.

Karen describes herself with a beautiful phrase: “Be like dandelion” — gentle, resilient, and able to spread hope wherever she goes.

As part of the iGEMS team, Karen loves the people she gets to meet and is inspired by witnessing growth in others. For her, iGEMS is more than a programme; it is a privilege to be part of something that gives participants the opportunity to change their lives.

Karen sees life as a giant puzzle, with each person playing a unique and important role. Through her work, she hopes to be the best “puzzle piece” she can be, helping the bigger picture of the iGEMS Programme and its participants come together.

And something you may not know about Karen? She played the bagpipes in high school!

Her life motto says it all: “Blessed to be a blessing.”

28/05/2026

South Africa needs more than qualified graduates — it needs young people who are work-ready, confident and equipped to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Through academic support, mentorship, workplace exposure, internships and industry partnerships, iGEMS is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment for future engineering professionals.

Our latest news article looks at how iGEMS is responding to the national call for work-ready engineering graduates, and why education-to-employment pathways are so important for South Africa’s skills pipeline.

As South Africa’s higher education sector faces growing pressure to produce graduates who are not only qualified, but employable, Unity in Africa’s iGEMS programme is demonstrating the kind of education-to-employment model the country urgently needs. The recently released BDO South Africa Higher...

27/05/2026

Behind every successful programme is a village of people who believe in its purpose.

On International Human Resources Day, iGEMS had the privilege of hosting an HR Appreciation Event for our member companies and partners who continue to support our programme and the young engineering minds we are working to incubate.

The event was an opportunity to honour those who have travelled this path with us and to express our sincere appreciation for the support, guidance and commitment that make the iGEMS journey possible.

Guests were also treated to an insightful presentation by Colleen Ivings and Donna McFarlane of Ivings McFarlane Attorneys on the recent changes and amendments to the employment bill, with five Acts having changed, offering valuable information for HR professionals and business leaders.

Kathy Balshaw shared a meaningful message about the importance of “the village” and reminded us that wellbeing matters. In a place of flourishing, we are called to focus on what is strong rather than what is wrong, and to nurture the five pillars of wellbeing: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.

Her message was a powerful reminder that when we add value to people’s lives, we create environments where both individuals and organisations can thrive.

Berenice Rose closed the event by highlighting that collaboration is key. It truly takes a village to incubate great engineering minds, and we are deeply grateful to this village for walking alongside iGEMS.

We look forward to making this an annual event as we continue to celebrate, connect and collaborate with the partners who help make our programme possible.

27/05/2026

We recently said a heartfelt goodbye to one of our Phase 1 iGEMS learners, Grace Mapulisa.

Grace recently visited us to share that she and her brother will be moving to Canada to live with their dad. After losing her mom a few years ago, this marks the beginning of a significant new chapter for Grace and her family.

A learner from Alexander Road High School, Grace has always stood out as a bright, determined, and capable young woman with so much promise. While we are truly going to miss her, we are equally excited for all that lies ahead.

Grace, your iGEMS family is incredibly proud of you. We know you have a bright future ahead, and we cannot wait to see all that you achieve.

Wishing you courage, joy, and success as you begin this new adventure. You will always be part of the iGEMS story. 💙

19/05/2026

From engineering learnerships to global financial markets.

Mandilakhe Nathan Gqolana’s journey is a powerful reminder that circumstances do not define potential.

After matriculating from Paterson High School in 2019, Mandilakhe began his career journey through a Production Technology learnership at Schaeffler LuK Africa. He later pursued advanced studies at the University of Cape Town, completing degrees in Physics, Applied Mathematics, and Financial Engineering.

Today, he is a Quant-Trainee at FirstRand Bank, working within Global Markets alongside traders in a highly specialised field.

Mandilakhe credits iGEMS with helping him expand his vision for what was possible and teaching him the importance of communication, networking, and self-belief.

“The only limitations I had to transcend were those I had set for myself.”



INCUBATING GREAT ENGINEERING MINDS

19/05/2026

Saturday morning learning in action! 📚

iGEMS recently implemented a series of online Maths workshops for our Phase 3 learners, who are currently studying engineering at universities across South Africa.

This past Saturday’s Phase 3 Maths Assistance class included a valuable touch of Physics for students who were writing assessments later that day. The session was engaging, interactive, and well received — with Prof Booth especially pleased by the learners’ participation and enthusiasm.

We are proud to continue supporting our students as they navigate the demands of engineering studies and build confidence in key subjects.

Well done to all our Phase 3 learners for showing up, engaging, and making the most of the opportunity! 👏

13/05/2026

Empowering Our Future Engineers Beyond the Classroom 📚💡

A big thank you to Ansie van der Westhuizen of Yes Indeed Facilitators for recently spending time with our iGEMS learners and presenting an insightful workshop focused on financial literacy and personal money management.

During the session, learners gained valuable knowledge on:

✔️ How to manage their finances responsibly
✔️ The importance of budgeting
✔️ Building healthy financial habits
✔️ Developing good financial skills for the future

At iGEMS, we believe that preparing young people for the future goes beyond technical and engineering skills — it also means equipping them with the life skills needed to succeed personally and professionally.

Thank you, Ansie, for investing in the growth and future success of our learners! 🌟

13/05/2026

Haslop & Mason recently spent time with our students to conduct a workshop session designed to encourage them to step back and reflect on how they approach challenges in an ever-evolving world.

Learn more about the session and key takeaways here:

Helping our talented young engineers to think critically in the age of AI is, for us, more important than ever. So that’s why we recently conducted a practical session focused on critical thinking with a group of talented youngsters who are part of the phenomenal iGEMS programme in Gqeberha.

13/05/2026