When you register for our event, you are asked if you would like to make a contribution to the Project Management Symposium’s Scholarship Fund. Many of you have contributed and we wanted you to know what we have done with your donations.
In 2019 and 2020, your donations were used to support Scholarships for the BeSTEM! Summer Camp. Due to the COVID pandemic, your scholarship donations for the 2020 BeSTEM! Summer Camp will be used this summer (2021). Since we have paid for scholarships for 2021, we have changed the organization that will receive your 2021 donations.
This year your donations will be used to support the WETATi Academy.
We’re Empowered to Achieve the Impossible (WETATi)
WETATI’s main objective is to offer low to middle income K-12 and college students the training, education and empowerment they need to prepare them for the 21st century workforce and to earn a college degree by teaching them the importance of creating their own opportunities through a mindset shift.
WETATi President, CEO, and Executive Director, Dr. Margaret Dureke learned first-hand that getting a classroom education was only part of what was needed to achieve success in life. “If hard work and getting an education is all you need, then we should all be OK, but we’re not.” she said. “We need internships, mentoring, and volunteer experiences. I have dedicated my life to this cause—I want to help students get exposure and connection to people in business, and learn what is expected of them in the workforce. Students leave us prepared to join the workforce or ready to start their own businesses.”
The WETATi Academy trains middle school, high school and college students in the following topics:
- Financial Literacy
- Workforce Development
- Entrepreneurship
- “STEM-preneurship”
Dr. Dureke came to the United States from Nigeria as a 17-year-old and learned that achieving success wasn’t just about getting an education. “It’s not just what you know that gets you there,” she said, “It’s also who cares for you, and who teaches you that empowerment comes from carving a life for yourself in spite of your personal situation. Education alone is not enough.” She believes that a positive mindset is key. “If you’re used to saying you can’t do something, you have to learn to change your narrative,” she said. “At WETATi, we focus on mindset shift by showing students practical experiences in the workplace. We teach them to change their narrative and create their own opportunities. We know we have changed lives because of experiences with our program. People in the community can see the impact of our work, but if we get the support we need, we can expand.”
This year, we invite you to support our chosen cause and donate to WETATi Academy when you register for the 2021 Project Management Symposium.
All of our 2021 donations will be used to help fund this program and make it available to the students that need it.
Visit the WETATi Academy website for more information.
You can visit the main WETATi website for additional information about the organization. On that website, you can also make a personal donation.
