A Kenyan school initiative is empowering over 2,000 girls to break industry preconceptions by allowing them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
Caroline Nyaga, a former biology and chemistry teacher, launched the Women in STEM Initiative after noticing that girls in her classes frequently underperformed boys in science.
Nyaga said that informal mentoring sessions resulted in a significant boost in the girls' confidence, interest, and academic achievement, motivating her to expand the approach beyond her classroom.
“What started as mentoring a few girls revealed a much bigger, systemic issue,” Nyaga said. “Girls were not failing because of lack of ability, but because they lacked confidence, exposure and encouragement.”
The initiative currently operates STEM clubs in predominantly rural and underprivileged schools across Kenya, focusing on communities with limited access to technology and science-based learning.
These clubs teach girls robotics, coding, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills, typically using locally accessible materials to build projects that address problems in their communities.
According to the organisation, the hands-on approach has helped participants develop creativity, cooperation, and critical thinking abilities, as well as improve their performance in science disciplines.
Nyaga, said girls participating in the programme are becoming more capable of envisioning themselves in STEM fields.
Mentorship is a central pillar of the initiative. Female students are paired with young women working in various STEM fields, who engage with them through one-on-one sessions conducted both virtually and in person.
The mentors provide guidance on career pathways and serve as role models in fields where women remain underrepresented.
Looking ahead, Women in STEAM Initiative plans to scale its impact beyond Kenya. An Africa-wide STEM storytelling competition is set to launch, following strong interest from educators across the continent.
Share
