Girls In STEM

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

While both girls and boys have similar levels of interest and competence in digital technologies, fewer girls go on to develop this interest in their studies or for their career. Girls and young women require positive examples, role models and support to overcome stereotypes and realise that they too can embark on a fulfilling and successful career in ICT and STEM.

The aim of this project is to empower girls to pursue their interests in Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths subjects (STEM). The target group we addressed are girls between 14 and 25 years of age.

Our aim was achieved through a two-fold action:
a) Setting up a network consisting of NGOs working with youth, professionals of the tech sector, and makerspaces. This network endured even
after the end of the project and served as a platform to exchange good practices, to provide female youth with opportunities to experience tech
occupations, to support the advancement of girls in STEM education and careers
b) organization of STEM camps free of charge for 14 to 25 years old girls. These served to introduce female youth to a broad range of STEM
subjects, in particular robotics, programming, electronics.

The project consortium produced educational content relating to digital arts, reverse engineering, and wearable technology and electronic textiles.
Choice of these topics was motivated by research illustrating that these disciplines are promising trojan horses to bring female youth closer to STEM.
Youth who participated in the project activities was also invited to get involved in a mentoring program. Mentors affiliated to the participating organizations accompany female youth in deepening their knowledge for one specific STEM area. The mentoring program was implemented in partnership with local NGOs, enterprises, instructional environments, etc. based in the participating organization countries. These partners offered volunteering opportunities for young people involved in our project, related to the project topics.