GIRLSinSTEM Erasmus Project

Project Title

GIRLSinSTEM

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

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 are addressing are girls between 14 and 25 years of age.

Our aim is going to be 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 will perdure even after the end of the project and will serve 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 will serve to introduce female youth to a broad range of STEM subjects, in particular robotics, programming, electronics.

The project consortium will produce educational content relating to digital arts, reverse engineering, and wearable technology and electronic textiles. Choice of these topics is motivated by research illustrating that these disciplines are promising trojan horses to bring female youth closer to STEM.

Youth who will participate in the project activities will also be invited to get involved in a mentoring program. Mentors affiliated to the participating organizations will accompany female youth in deepening their knowledge for one specific STEM area. The mentoring program will be implemented in partnership with local NGOs, enterprises, instructional environments, etc. based in the participating organization countries. These partners will be offering volunteering opportunities for young people involved in our project, related to the project topics.

The project aims to produce an impact on youth people, participating organizations and multiple stakeholders.

Female youth shall be empowered to pursue their interest in STEM, and shall be encouraged to combat inequalities in STEM areas. In the long run, we expect them to act as STEM ambassadors among their peers.

Young people from different nationalities and backgrounds will be able to connect with one another, notably during the Camps and the multiplier events.

All participating organizations will integrate the outputs developed through the life of the project, and enable girls inclusive workshops across the areas where they operate. The network of youth NGO, makerspace and educational institutions that participate in this project is expected to evolve over time and include other agents active in youth work and education, who will be promoting STEM among girls.

The project will generate an impact on multiple stakeholders, including instructional environments, educational institutions and the non formal education sector in the participating countries

Stakeholders will be encouraged to deploy resources in order to contribute to narrowing the gap in terms of stem level of interest between boys and girls. They are also expected to contribute with resources to launch girl inclusive STEM and maker workshops across the participating countries.

We are also aiming to network with with other consortia operating at EU level on similar topic, to exchange good practices, share success stories, and ultimately to upscale initiatives targeting girls in STEM.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 172102 Eur

Project Coordinator

De Creatieve STEM & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Fundacja Ad Meritum
• FUNDACION INTRAS
• iDROPS
• DIGIJEUNES