STEM Education in Botswana: Girls Getting Geeky

On October 11th, in celebration of International Day of the Girl Child, an inspiring and multifaceted event unfolded, blending a cleanup campaign, and an artistic initiative into one empowering experience. The day began with a spirited cleanup campaign, with the leadership participants. Armed with gloves and trash bags, they combed through the surrounding area, collecting waste and ensuring their environment was clean and inviting. This initial activity set the tone for a day dedicated to sustainability, creativity, and empowerment. 

However, the cleanup effort was not merely about collecting waste; it was an entry point into a larger discussion on environmental sustainability and innovation. After gathering trash, the participants transitioned into an art session where they explored. The collected waste materials became the foundation for creating artistic landscapes. This hands-on activity emphasized upcycling—transforming discarded materials into something valuable—and provided a visual and tangible representation of the "Go Green" message. By repurposing waste into art, the participants showcased how sustainability can be both practical and beautiful. 

The creative session allowed the girls to express their personal views on environmental protection, combining scientific principles of recycling with the emotional power of art. Each artistic piece was a testament to their creativity and a personal statement of their commitment to a greener future. This approach made the "Go Green" initiative memorable, engagingly reinforcing environmental awareness. 

Following the artistic activity, the focus shifted to personal empowerment. As part of the International Day of the Girl Child celebration, the girls were encouraged to create vision boards, illustrating their dreams, goals, and aspirations for the future. Using images, quotes, and symbols, they depicted their ambitions in education, personal growth, and career development. The vision boards were colorful reflections of the girls’ hopes and potential, offering insight into their individual journeys and collective dreams. 

By blending environmental action, and personal development, the session achieved its goal of inspiring the next generation of leaders. The cleanup campaign reinforced the importance of sustainability, while the art and vision board activities allowed the participants to explore their creativity and envision a better future. More importantly, it provided a platform for them to feel heard, valued, and connected to a larger community of girls striving for change. 

As the event concluded, it was clear that the participants had gained more than just knowledge—they had gained confidence, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. The day served as a powerful reminder that when girls are given the tools to learn, create, and lead, they can drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond. 

In our recent STEM session, in-school participants were introduced to coding, focusing on the fundamentals of coding and its application in real-life scenarios. The session aimed to make coding relatable by exploring how messages can be encrypted and decoded, a technique used in various fields like healthcare and military communication to promote privacy and security. The students were excited to engage with coding in a hands-on, problem-solving environment emphasizing creativity and logic. 

During the session, participants were divided into groups and tasked with decoding encrypted messages. The message was hidden through a simple coding system where numbers represented letters. The groups collaborated to decode and present the message, using critical thinking and collaboration. The group that decoded the message in record time was declared the winner, which added a layer of competition to keep students motivated and engaged. 

This session was not only fun it was also educational, helping participants understand the benefits of learning to code. According to research, coding helps kids break down complex problems into manageable parts, improving their analytical skills. It also enhances creativity, as students must think outside the box to find solutions. Additionally, this session made students persistent, teaching them that problems might not always be solved on the first attempt but require trial and error. 

By the end of the lesson, students gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of coding in the modern world, especially how it can be used for privacy in sensitive areas like medicine and military operations. The hands-on activity not only helped them grasp key coding concepts but also sharpened their problem-solving, teamwork, and analytical abilities. This STEM session proved to be an exciting gateway into the world of coding, leaving participants eager to learn more