STEAM POWER: Empowering a New Generation of Girl Leaders as Changemakers
Summary
In 2022, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships committed to work in collaboration with the U.N. Foundation’s Girl Up initiative to expand their WiSci partnership which provides once-in-a-lifetime, all expenses paid opportunities for secondary school girls to explore how they can address global sustainability issues through STEAM. Globally, women represent only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study, and only 26% of STEM jobs worldwide are held by women. Through this expansion, the commitment partners will bring in new voices, sectors, locations, and curriculum to this dynamic partnership over the next three years. As a result of this commitment, the partners will implement at least six new camps in new geographic locations from Central America to South Asia and will train 700 new girl leaders through WiSci camps.
Approach
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships will work in collaboration with the seat of the WiSci secretariat, which is the U.N. Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, to expand the WiSci partnership, bringing in new voices, sectors, locations, and curriculum to this dynamic partnership. Through the WiSci expansion, the camps aim to train the next generation of nearly 700 girl leaders through WiSci camps. Over the next three years, the expansion aims to implement at least six new camps in new geographic locations from Central America to South Asia, including girls from regions and countries where WiSci can increase its impact and expand its network of girl leaders.
Through a combination of State Department and private sector funding, the WiSci secretariat (powered by Girl Up) will continue to work in close collaboration with U.S. embassies and new and existing public and private sector partners to curate partnerships and cultivate a broader network that benefits both the girls and the partners. The aim of the expansion is to provide these young girl leaders with a more holistic lens on global sustainability issues and with access to a more diverse mentorship network and partner curriculum taught at the camps, driving more potential for change.
New partners can engage through financial support, the donation and teaching of dynamic curriculum at the camps, supplying essential in-kind equipment such as tablets and drones, and volunteering human talent who act as volunteer mentors, teachers, and counselors.
Action Plan
For each year, planning for summer camps typically begin in the autumn.
Year 1 (2022-23) : Two new camps in new locations planned.
Q1 (Oct-Dec 2022) : Two camp locations scouted and chosen.
Q2/Q2 (Jan-June 2023) : Camper applications are collected and processed, logistics are finalized, campers and counselors are prepped for camp.
Q4 (July-Sept 2023) : Two camps in two new locations implemented.
Year 2 (2023-24) : Two new camps in new locations planned.
Q1 (Oct-Dec 2023) : Two camp locations scouted and chosen.
Q2/Q2 (Jan-June 2024) : Camper applications are collected and processed, logistics are finalized, campers and counselors are prepped for camp.
Q4 (July-Sept 2024) : Two camps in two new locations implemented.
Year 3 (2024-25) : Two new camps in new locations planned.
Q1 (Oct-Dec 2025) : Two camp locations scouted and chosen.
Q2/Q2 (Jan-June 2025) : Camper applications are collected and processed, logistics are finalized, campers and counselors are prepped for camp.
Q4 (July-Sept 2025) : Two camps in two new locations implemented.
For each camp, the camp implementer provides regular quarterly reports that outline budget details, personnel specifics and changes, and detailed updates on camp planning, engagements, camp implementation, and other updates.
Background
Globally, women represent only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study. Only 26% of STEM jobs worldwide are held by women in the STEM fields. And in this era when global sustainability problems – such as climate change or food security – are also local problems, inclusive and innovative solutions require a collaborative and inclusive approach: bringing the public and private sectors together to work towards a shared goal of bridging this gap, ensuring that women’s voices and actions shape these solutions, and training young girl leaders to make their mark as changemakers in addressing these issues at home and beyond.
WiSci (Women In Science) is a public-private partnership that aims to help bridge that gap through access to education, mentorship opportunities, and transformational leadership training that uses science and innovation to empower young women to become changemakers and leaders in their families, schools, and communities.
WiSci Girls’ STEAM (STEM + Art & Design) Camps are once-in-a-lifetime, all expenses paid opportunities for secondary school girls (ages 15-18) where they learn and explore how they can directly address global sustainability issues through STEAM. Each WiSci Camp is a safe, supportive, and girl-centered cross-cultural environment, bringing together approximately 100 teen girl leaders from three or more countries, to live together for up to two weeks while exploring their interests in STEAM. Camps include expert facilitators in STEAM and in girls’ leadership who provide a first-class classroom curriculum, mentorship opportunities, and skills training. Campers learn to value taking risks and to bounce back after failing, in a fun, supportive, and collaborative camp environment.
Since 2015, the camps are made possible through a private-public partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships and the U.N. Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, along with U.S. embassies and leading U.S. institutions such as Google, Intel, Caterpillar Foundation, and other partners who are committed to closing the gender gap in STEAM.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
The WiSci public-private partnership seeks sustainable and multi-year commitments to the partnership, including (but not limited to) financial resources, dynamic curriculum that directly addresses global sustainability issues, year-round volunteer mentors, and in-kind donations that enhance, encourage and enable STEAM learning and connectivity for the campers
U.S. Department of State is committed to the expansion of the WiSci partnership through Congressionally-approved financial resources, while leveraging its global reach and network of embassies and private sector actors, as well as its convening power to bring together likely and unlikely partners to the table.