Girls in STEM Trust
Girls in STEM Trust has revealed that 1974 girls and 221 women in 2022 benefitted through their various programs which promote digital literacy and empower them through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) online education.
This was revealed during International women’s day celebrations which was hosted on the 8th of March2023. The event was hosted by Bulawayo City Council (BCC) under the theme “DigitALL Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
Girls in STEM Trust representative stated that they have empowered adolescent girls and women through STEMinist community series, Africa Code Week and the Women Empowerment program in order to remove the barrier to access to digital literacy.
“Girls in STEM Trust has also partnered with SAP and Africa Code Week Partners which has brought together female teachers. This was to give the teachers a chance to out how other educators are empowering young girl digitally”.
The speaker added that, “through the Women Empowerment Program teachers learn different ways of improving the methods of teaching which promotes digital literacy”.
Empowering Young Girls & Women
Girls in STEM Trust Bulawayo is a non-profit organization based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe that focuses on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education among young girls and women. The organization was founded in 2016 and has since been working to address the gender gap in STEM fields in Zimbabwe.
The Trust is built upon the foundation of values which are diversity, versatility, adaptability, integrity and creativity. It is dedicated to serving our community in Bulawayo by providing a platform to educate, empower and advocate for women and girls to take up STEM careers and business enterprises.
The organization’s mission is to empower girls and women to pursue and excel in STEM careers through education, mentorship, and exposure to STEM opportunities. Girls in STEM Trust Bulawayo aims to achieve this by providing STEM education resources, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for young girls in Bulawayo and beyond.
The organization’s programs include after-school STEM clubs, mentorship programs, career guidance, and training workshops for teachers and parents. They also organize outreach programs in schools and communities to raise awareness about the importance of STEM education for girls.
Girls in STEM Trust Bulawayo has received support from various organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, and the Zimbabwe Science Fair.
Through its various initiatives, Girls in STEM Trust Bulawayo has been successful in encouraging young girls and women to pursue STEM careers and has played a significant role in bridging the gender gap in STEM fields in Zimbabwe.
Girls in STEM Trust has been able to work with over 60 schools in Bulawayo and our list still continues including Bulawayo City Council schools were we have been favourably received.
Girls in STEM Trust also offers free online and physical digital literacy training for female teachers and learners in order to bring technology into the classroom.
Education Officer, Lavinia Moyo who was representing Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Benard Mazambani mentioned a lot of barriers that contribute to scarsity of girls and women in STEM careers in the country.
“Masculinity, cultural beliefs, lack of female role models, gender bias when hiring, teachers and individual egos cause a lot of girls and women not to take up STEM careers and Business enterprises,” said Moyo.
Moyo also said that there is need to do more in raising awareness on effective platforms like internet to empower young girls to learn and take up STEM subjects at a tender age.
