What is the project's problem statement?

In Colombia, women represent less than 38% of the scientific. In Cali, in districts 3 and 9 (area of high risk and vulnerability due to its levels of violence, crime and drug consumption) there are more than 200 girls and young women from low-income backgrounds who are experiencing low academic performance in STEM areas. Some of them may even drop out of school, creating significant obstacles to pursue higher education in science and technology, making the gender gap worse.

What is the project's target group?

Girls aged 11 to 16, from low-income families in districts 3 and 9 in Cali, who traditionally have not had opportunities to develop their potential in science and technology.

What is the project's proposed solution?

Launching an extracurricular program focused on creating innovative and inspirational STEM learning environments through hands-on workshops, where girls will not only develop new skills in science and technology and will be empowered as agents of change, but also build their life projects, with the aim of closing gender gaps in access to higher education in the scientific field.

What are the hub activities for this project?

• Project planning and kickoff with the core team: 100%


• Project risk analysis and legal aspects: 100%


• Opening session with the on-site community and stakeholders: 100%


• Co-creation of the 4-month program with partners: 100%


• Defining KPIs and resources needed for execution (transportation, materials, equipment, food, souvenirs, insurance): 100%


• Identifying and connecting girls and families: 100%


• Population characterization and baseline creation: 60%


• Recruiting and training volunteers and workshop leaders: 100%


• Conducting bi-weekly STEM workshops at the university LABS: 50%


• Conducting gender and life project workshops: 100%


• Activity monitoring and adjustments: 100%


• Systematization and communication of experiences: 50%


• Establish a STEM library for the children and community in the project's target area: 30%


• Impact measurement and program closure: 0%

What are the project's short and long-term goals?

OUTPUTS (Activities):

• Creation of learning spaces.
  
  
  • KPI: # of libraries created.
  
  
  • Goal=1
  
  
  
  


• STEM/Gender/Project Life workshops.
  
  
  • KPI: # of workshops delivered in 4 months.
  
  
  • Goal = 8
  
  
  
  


• Performance monitoring.
  
  
  • KPI: # of baseline characterizations.
  
  
  • Goal: 17
  
  
  
  

SHORT-TERM:

• Interest in the program.
  
  
  • KPI: % of active program participants.
  
  
  • Goal: >80%
  
  
  
  


• New skills acquired.
  
  
  • KPI: % final test performance vs initial baseline.
  
  
  • Goal > 70%
  
  
  
  


• Interest in studying STEM careers:
  
  
  • KPI: % of girls interested in STEM careers
  
  
  • Goal: >50%
  
  
  
  

MID-TERM:

• Performance in STEM at national standardized tests.
  
  
  • KPI: % of scores above their class average.
  
  
  • Goal: 30%
  
  
  
  


• Participation in national STEM challenges.
  
  
  • KPI: # of participants in STEM challenges in 2025.
  
  
  • Goal: 10
  
  
  
  


• Apply in their community what they have learned.
  
  
  • KPI: # of female mentors for other girls in 2024.
  
  
  • Goal: >10
  
  
  
  

LONG-TERM:

• Graduated from the university.
  • KPI: % of graduates in STEM careers
  
  


• Break cycles of poverty.
  • KPI: % of reduction in poverty
  
  

IMPACT

• Colombia scientific and technological leader.
  • KPI: % of increase in the country's competitiveness indices
  
  


• Women in high positions in science and technology.
  • KPI: % of reduction in the gender gap.
  
  

What are the project's available metrics?

• Girls engaged in the program: 17


• Total workshops conducted Sep – Oct 2023: 5
  
  
  • STEM workshops conducted Sep – Oct 2023: 3
  
  
  • Gender/Project Life workshops conducted Sep – Oct 2023: 2
  
  
  
  


• Average attendance: 82%


• Hours of education/training: 23 h


• Volunteers mobilized: 24


• Baseline surveys conducted: 14


• Books collected for the library: 536


• Participants' socioeconomic classification:
  
  
  • Level 1-2: 71%.
  
  
  • Level: 3: 18%.
  
  
  • Level 4: 11%.
  
  
  
  

Who are the project collaborators, if any?

ICESI University. Antonio José Camacho school. Red Cross Colombia. Educreando, NGO. Community Action Board, Sucre. Oromo, Bookstore.

More information: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PlV94E-vIsY_dFiBzEUsOMXid901BJfR?usp=sharing