News / Local
Female pilot struggles to get aviation job
02 Nov 2013 at 03:12hrs | Views
GROWING up in the dusty streets of Bulawayo's Nkulumane suburb, Elizabeth Vavashe never dreamt of boarding a helicopter, let alone flying one.
Despite all the challenges and the stereotypes, Vavashe (31) is now a proud pilot, who broke new ground and became the first woman in Zimbabwe to acquire a commercial helicopter pilot licence.
"I love flying and it has become a part of me. I still cannot believe that I outdid myself and completed the whole course when most people thought I would eventually give up and quit before I completed.
"I am proudly from Nkulumane suburb and did my secondary education at Nketa Secondary School. I have been staying in the suburb since Grade Five and to me prestigious professions were for the white people and the rich.
"I then proceeded to Founders High School where I did Ndebele, Management of Business and Accounting for A-Level.
"It never dawned on me that I would ever be a pilot and I remember during my early grades ekasi we used to think aircraft were toys and no one had to control them for them to fly," said Vavashe.
She also encouraged women to aim high and never let their backgrounds, financial challenges and socialisation block their way to success.
"The training I went through taught me that women are achievers and they can do anything as long as they put their mind to it. When I told my mother that I was going for flying lessons she cried bitterly saying I would die and I had to go against her wishes.
"I would also like to tell my sisters out there that it does not matter how you start, there is always a chance for you to shine.
"They should take their studies seriously and stay away from sex as this tends to taint their vision as youngsters. It has been eight years and still I am failing to get a job in the aviation industry but I believe that one day I will be employed and get to enjoy flying in the skies. I am an accountant in the meantime and I work for Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in Matopo."
Vavashe was born to a family of five siblings and she is the second child.
She spent her first few years in Hwange where her parents used to work for ZimParks.
She had eye problems and had to endure scolding and teasing from other pupils and teachers because of her red eyes.
When her parents moved to Bulawayo she went to Queen Elizabeth II Primary School where she completed primary education.
Vavashe proceeded to Nketa Secondary for her O-Levels and then went to Founders High School for A-Levels.
She joined ZimParks as a game scout in 2001 soon after school and decided to enrol for Chartered Accounting with ACCA in Britain.
She was appointed to be an accountant in 2004 and during the same year an opportunity arose for people to train as helicopter pilots in South Africa.
Despite all the challenges and the stereotypes, Vavashe (31) is now a proud pilot, who broke new ground and became the first woman in Zimbabwe to acquire a commercial helicopter pilot licence.
"I love flying and it has become a part of me. I still cannot believe that I outdid myself and completed the whole course when most people thought I would eventually give up and quit before I completed.
"I am proudly from Nkulumane suburb and did my secondary education at Nketa Secondary School. I have been staying in the suburb since Grade Five and to me prestigious professions were for the white people and the rich.
"I then proceeded to Founders High School where I did Ndebele, Management of Business and Accounting for A-Level.
"It never dawned on me that I would ever be a pilot and I remember during my early grades ekasi we used to think aircraft were toys and no one had to control them for them to fly," said Vavashe.
She also encouraged women to aim high and never let their backgrounds, financial challenges and socialisation block their way to success.
"The training I went through taught me that women are achievers and they can do anything as long as they put their mind to it. When I told my mother that I was going for flying lessons she cried bitterly saying I would die and I had to go against her wishes.
"I would also like to tell my sisters out there that it does not matter how you start, there is always a chance for you to shine.
"They should take their studies seriously and stay away from sex as this tends to taint their vision as youngsters. It has been eight years and still I am failing to get a job in the aviation industry but I believe that one day I will be employed and get to enjoy flying in the skies. I am an accountant in the meantime and I work for Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in Matopo."
Vavashe was born to a family of five siblings and she is the second child.
She spent her first few years in Hwange where her parents used to work for ZimParks.
She had eye problems and had to endure scolding and teasing from other pupils and teachers because of her red eyes.
When her parents moved to Bulawayo she went to Queen Elizabeth II Primary School where she completed primary education.
Vavashe proceeded to Nketa Secondary for her O-Levels and then went to Founders High School for A-Levels.
She joined ZimParks as a game scout in 2001 soon after school and decided to enrol for Chartered Accounting with ACCA in Britain.
She was appointed to be an accountant in 2004 and during the same year an opportunity arose for people to train as helicopter pilots in South Africa.
Source - chronicle
