Imagine a world where young girls from public schools are able to code and program efficiently. This project will set up STEM ( Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) resource centers in 3 public schools in under-served areas of Abuja, Nigeria. Each resource center will be equipped with laptops ,arduinos, cameras, internet, micro-controllers, educational robot kits, headsets ,Snapmaker 3 in 1 machine and STEM kits with which the girls will learn how to design, code and create.
Although there has been remarkable improvement in women enrollment in education in Nigeria, gender gap in STEM disciplines has persisted. men out number greatly women as students, educators, researchers and workers in STEM fields. According to National Bureau of Statistics(2014), women constitute as low as 17% in enrollment of STEM-related courses in Nigerian higher institutions. This project will give 100 girls attending public secondary schools an opportunity to acquire practical STEM skills
Odyssey Educational Foundation will adopt three public schools to set up a well equipped STEM resource center in each. ICT experts will come in weekly to teach the girls that would have been selected from across the classes, coding, app and game building using interactive technology(e.g VR), web design, Digital Fabrication,photography, video-editing, and lots more. These girls at the end of each curriculum are challenged to build project prototypes applying the skills which they have acquired.
These one hundred girls while graduating from secondary schools would have mastered significant STEM skills which would enable them become independent. They would also, pursue careers in STEM when they go further to higher institution, thereby significantly adding to the population of women in STEM workforce. they would be volunteers during holidays and ambassadors for the program that would help attract more girls enrollment in STEM , there by ensure a digital economy.
