STEM BEYOND BORDERS

IMMERSIVE BOOTCAMPS EMPOWERING GIRLS IN MARGINALIZED AFRICAN COMMUNITIES

Presented by:

Lucy Wanjiku Mwaniki

AI Community Trainer, Young Scientists Kenya

STEMtastic Adventures! Africa Symposium | 23 July 2025

About Young

Scientists Kenya

Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education across Kenya’s 47 counties. By creating inclusive platforms such as exhibitions, code clubs, outreach programs, and teacher training, YSK empowers young learners - particularly those in underserved and marginalized communities - to innovate and thrive.

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We prioritize access for girls, students with disabilities, refugee learners, and schools in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), ensuring that no student is left behind in the journey toward a STEM-enabled future.

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Why YSK?

Why Now?

Kenya’s education landscape is shifting with the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum. This reform opens up new spaces to introduce creativity, innovation, and digital thinking into early education—particularly in Junior Secondary. YSK has obtained national-level approvals to support this rollout and is uniquely positioned with a strong presence in marginalized communities. We’ve already impacted over 200,000 students from over 800 schools and counting, providing students with the tools to solve real problems, not just pass exams. This is a critical moment—and YSK is ready.

The Gender

The Problem We're Tackling� Across Africa, girls remain underrepresented in STEM. They face layered challenges limited resources, poor connectivity, and social norms that discourage them from exploring science.

In Kenya’s ASAL regions, over 70 percent of girls in Grade 9 choose not to pursue STEM. This is a pivotal moment in their academic journey, yet many don't see STEM as relevant or achievable.

Without direct support through mentorship, hands-on learning, and locally meaningful content, we risk losing a generation of brilliant minds.

Our bootcamp model changes that by making STEM real, relatable, and exciting for girls.

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Gap in STEM

The Immersive

STEM Bootcamp Model

A 10-Day Immersive Bootcamp Concept

• Target: Grade 8–9 girls at CBC pathway stage.
• Tools: Offline-first—Arduino,Raspberry Pi, Scratch, Micro:bit.
• Content: AgriTech, EdTech, FinTech challenges from their own communities.
• Mentorship: African women in STEM sharing real journeys.
• Community Co-Design: Parents, teachers, elders involved from the start.

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Empower, Educate & Equip girls with future-ready skills

Hands-on Training

Interdisciplinary Modules

Mentorship

Community Co-design

Core Experiences

for Girls

Implementation

Strategies

• Designed for impact in ASAL regions with offline-first tools like Raspberry Pi and local language content
• Modular, adaptable curriculum fits both urban schools and remote areas with low digital access
• Projects focus on local challenges such as drought farming sensors and offline learning apps
• Strong community engagement: parents, teachers, and local leaders involved as partners
• Partnerships with local governments, NGOs, and private sector to embed bootcamps within existing education systems
• Mentorship built in to provide ongoing support and inspiration beyond the bootcamp
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The bootcamp will be anchored on four key pillars: mentorship, technical skills, real-world context, and entrepreneurial thinking. Participants will build offline coding and hardware skills using Raspberry Pi, Scratch, and Micro:bit, with guides in local languages. They’ll work on community-based challenges like drought farming sensors (AgriTech), offline learning apps (EdTech), and savings tools (FinTech). Mentorship will be provided by African women in STEM through virtual or in-person Q&A sessions. Throughout the program, girls will be supported to ideate, prototype, and pitch solutions that directly impact their communities.

Our Pillars

Building the Foundation for Girls in STEM

Monitoring &

Evaluation

Measuring Impact

• Use quantitative and qualitative tools: enrollment tracking, pre- and post-assessments
• Gather feedback through focus groups, interviews, and surveys to refine the program
• Track how girls apply skills in entrepreneurship, mentoring, local problem-solving, and choosing diverse STEM pathways
• Aim for real impact: community-level transformation

From Potential

to Impact

We hope to spark a shift from “I can’t do STEM” to “I built this for my community.” These bootcamps go beyond teaching skills—they aim to rewrite what’s possible for girls in ASAL counties by increasing uptake of the CBC STEM track and empowering girls to lead local problem-solving and innovation.

At the same time, we’re building strong networks of teachers and mentors to support and sustain this progress over the long term. This creates a foundation for ongoing growth beyond the bootcamp itself.

Ultimately, our goal is to inspire ripple effects that reach families and communities, changing perceptions and planting the seeds for a more inclusive, innovative future.

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let’s

co-create

We want to design this program with you, not for you. Teachers and trainers will help co-create modules that fit the CBC curriculum. County officers will advise on local needs and realities. NGOs and community groups will shape delivery and outreach. Most importantly, girls themselves will lead the design with their voices and ideas.

To take this impact further, we need partners. Support is needed to expand into new counties, bring in more mentors, and improve access to technology. Corporate sponsors, academic collaborators, and government agencies all have important roles to play in scaling this model and embedding it into the national education system.

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In

conclusion

STEM is more than just a subject it has the potential to unlock economic growth, gender equity, and stronger communities. Immersive bootcamps offer a promising and scalable way to close the gender gap and empower future innovators.

The opportunity is clear, and the model is ready to be tested and refined. Now, we need to rally partners and the wider ecosystem to help bring it to life. Together, we can transform classrooms, communities, and careers one empowered girl at a time.

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Contact Us

+254 708 013 709 | +254 713 681 551

Lucy Mwaniki | Young Scientists Kenya

wanjiku96lucy@gmail.com | experienceai@ysk.co.ke

Let’s Build a Future Where Every Girl Sees Herself in STEM

Thank You

WWW.YSK.CO.KE