The Rise
Dr. Esther Mwaikambo is a Tanzanian medical doctor and pediatrician born in Mwika, Marangu, Kilimanjaro (1940). In her early life she was a gifted mathematician and her teacher always encouraged her to be a better version of herself everyday. Through his support, that of others around her, and of course her hard work, she was selected among a pool of other gifted little girls to attend Ashira Girls School where she continued her education.
Then, at the age of 12, Mwaikambo lost her mother to a (then)unidentified disease. Driven by her grief, she decided to work hard in school so that she could one day understand what caused her mother’s death. Faced with adversity and “failure” in form IV, she was unable to attend high school and therefore, began her path as a secretary. Her then boss would often summon her by a bell and like any dignified human being she hated it so she quit. Following her departure, she was briefly employed as a flight attendant on East African airways and after a year, made her way to USSR to study journalism.
New Beginnings
By now, you must be thinking she had long strayed from the path of medicine. But one great thing about our STEMinist of the week is that she never lets her current situation define her final destination.
Upon her arrival she noticed that 80% of medical doctors in the USSR were female. Seeing this, she requested to study medicine instead of journalism. This request was approved, provided that she attended and passed high school first and so, she did. Fast-forward to 1969, she became our nation’s first Medical doctor.
Throughout her career, she often faced gender discrimination but her resilience allowed her to succeed. In her, we see a woman who broke barriers. She was able to pave the way for the next generation of women and girls to pursue, not only science, but other fields that always favored men.
For You
Our STEMinist of the week wants you to know that “you should not allow the challenges to put off your vision and goals, but you need to explore better solutions toward the matter.”
Dear Tanzanian STEMinist, when it seems like the world is against you and everything you want seems to be straying further and further, please remember that soon, it will be your turn. Stay true to your mission and remember that we are here and believe in you no matter what.
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