1 of 19

Making Secondary School-Level Science Engaging and Accessible with Local STEM Camps

Margaret Koulen

STEM Education Volunteer

23 July 2025

DESIGN TIP:

Do you want to change this image?

The background image on this slide is located on the Slide Master Page.

​

The Peace Corps has provided a selection of Title Slide images to choose from.

​

Select “Slide Master” from the “View” tab menu at the top of your screen and choose from one of the options provided.

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

2 of 19

Agenda

  • Introduction to Peace Corps
  • The Community-Driven Approach
  • Case Study: School Holiday STEM Camps
  • Summary
  • Q&A

2

DESIGN TIP:

Do you want to change this image?

Click the photo and push delete. A photo placeholder will appear. Click the icon in the middle and select a photo from your files. Your photo will fill the space.

​

If you need to adjust the photo, click the photo and select crop picture. Move the photo side to side, but make sure it still fills the rounded rectangle shape.

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

3 of 19

The Peace Corps Network

  • Peace Corps is an international aid agency under direction from the United States government
  • There are more than 3,000 current Volunteers in over 60 countries
  • Peace Corps Kenya has programs in Health, Education for the Deaf and STEM Education

3

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

4 of 19

Life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya

Primary Job Function

  • Teach math and science according to the Kenyan national curriculum
  • Build capacity for STEM educators

​

Secondary Job Function

  • Use a community-based approach to develop secondary projects in the community

​

​

​

4

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

5 of 19

Deliver

5

Design

Develop Relationships

Dream

Discover

Participatory Analysis for Community Action (PACA)

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

6 of 19

Case Study: Term Break STEM Camps in Nyangajo Village

6

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

7 of 19

Community �Goals

Improve exam performance in STEM subjects among secondary school students

Decrease the prevalence of STIs and teenage pregnancy by providing alternative behaviours

Lessen financial stress on families who are paying school fees

7

1.

2.

3.

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

8 of 19

The Takeaway:

Nyangajo village does not have a problem to solve, but an opportunity to meet their goals.

8

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

9 of 19

November 2024 STEM Camp

  • Half-day for one week
  • 40-min lessons from 9am to 12pm
  • Science and guidance and counseling activities
  • Small class sizes to improve teacher to student ratio
  • Student-centered learning

9

Daily Timetable

Teaching Style

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

10 of 19

Our Teaching Principles

  • Educate the whole student – academic, social and health education
  • Discussions preferred to lectures
  • Example problems provided for calculations – practice makes perfect
  • Science activities do not replace laboratory time, but help connect lessons to the real world

10

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

11 of 19

November 2024 STEM Camp

  • Students like the teaching style
  • Large student turnout
  • Camp duration and individual lessons too short
  • Half day not enough time to teach

11

Successes

Failures

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

12 of 19

Changes for April 2025

  • Full-day camp
  • 50-minute lessons
  • Provide lunch

12

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

13 of 19

Example Timetable

13

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

14 of 19

Monitoring and Evaluation

of students attending the camp reported at least partial letter grade increases in STEM subjects

  • STEM camp gave students motivation to study during the school holiday
  • Parents report decreases in risky behaviour
  • Economic goal not achieved

14

80%

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

15 of 19

August 2025…

  • Mostly community-run
  • Grant money sought for school supplies
    • Builds grant-writing capacity among community members
    • Pays for pens, mathematical sets, exercise books and lunch
  • Similar turnout expected (around 100 students)

15

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

16 of 19

In Summary

  • By using a community-based approach, these STEM camps are low-cost and sustainable after my service
  • STEM learning can happen anywhere – sometimes incremental improvements mean the world to individual students

16

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

17 of 19

Thank you!

17

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

18 of 19

Problem-Based vs. Participatory Analysis

Instead of a problem-based approach,

  • Enter a community to lead new activities
  • Look for problems to solve or needs to address
  • Lecture and instruct
  • Dictate an agenda
  • Rely on outside expertise

​

18

assume a participatory, strengths-based approach.

  • Become part of a community by learning
  • Help identify existing strengths, assets and achievements to leverage and build upon
  • Facilitate spaces for increased community dialogue
  • Facilitate group decision making
  • Leverage and build upon local skills and language

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors

19 of 19

Participatory Analysis for Community Action

Develop Relationships

Build trust and relationships, integrate into the community and bring different community members together.

​

Discover

Gather information and gain key insights by observing, learning from and engaging community members

​

19

Dream

Make sense of observations, insights and discoveries to generate or improve project ideas

​

Design

Prototype, test, refine and continue to improve project ideas

​

Deliver

Implement, continue to refine and build lasting sustainability.

​

Peace

Corps

Colors

Peace

Corps

Colors