On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women who are challenging societal norms and shaping the future of STEM. In Ivory Coast, young women are stepping into fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented, such as research laboratories, tech startups, and engineering, proving that STEM is not limited to a select few but is open to everyone.
At Impactful Education, we recognize that digital literacy is no longer a luxury but a necessity for success in today’s world. As technology continues to revolutionize education and the workforce, our mission is to ensure that young girls, especially those in rural areas of Ivory Coast, gain the digital skills needed to thrive. Through our partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Code Club initiative, we have launched the Technology Club, laying the foundation for a new generation of digital innovators. Participants engage in coding, foundational digital skills, graphic design using Canva and GIMP, and Microsoft applications, empowering them to shape the future of technology.
The Challenges and the Need for Change
Africa has one of the highest proportions of STEM graduates globally, with over 30% of university graduates in sub-Saharan Africa specializing in STEM fields according to UNESCO. Notably, 47 % of these STEM graduates are women, the highest proportion worldwide. This underscores the strong participation of African women in STEM education, surpassing many other regions. However, despite this progress, their representation in leadership roles, high-paying STEM careers, and research remains disproportionately low.
These statistics highlight both the progress made and the challenges that persist:
- While nearly 47 %of STEM graduates in Africa are women, they remain significantly underrepresented in leadership and technical roles.
- Women constitute only 30 % of researchers in science and technology across sub-Saharan Africa, limiting their influence in innovation and decision-making.
- The digital gender divide continues, as women in sub-Saharan Africa are 32% less likely than men to have access to mobile internet, restricting opportunities for online education and careers in digital fields.
While Africa is producing an unprecedented number of female STEM graduates, more work is needed to bridge the gender gap and ensure that women are not only present but actively involved in decision-making and innovation. Ivory Coast is no exception to the global challenges posed by the digital divide. Despite growing access to mobile phones and the internet, many women and children, particularly in rural areas, still struggle to access digital tools. In Ivory Coast, there is a 15 % gender gap in mobile phone ownership, which widens to 23 % in rural areas.
How Impactful Education is Advancing STEM Learning in Its Educational Hub
Through our Closing the Gaps program, we are working with both young girls and boys, while placing a special emphasis on encouraging more girls to participate in our Technology Club. Traditionally, we have observed higher attendance from boys, and we aim to change that by building confidence, fostering STEM education, and creating opportunities that prepare girls for successful careers in STEM.
We want them to see themselves not just as learners but as future leaders in the field.
- Code Club: More than 20 girls regularly attend each session, where they create their own coding projects, develop computational thinking, and gain hands-on experience with technology.
- Newsletter Club: Participants apply their graphic design skills learned through Canva and GIMP to produce a digital newsletter. This platform allows them to share stories about their school, community, and experiences with Impactful Education.
- Basic Technology Training: Since many of our students are first-time computer users, we focus on foundational digital literacy, ensuring that they gain the essential skills to navigate technology confidently
A Future Where No Girl in STEM is Left Behind
Women in STEM are not only shaping the future but also paving the way for young girls to dream big and know they too have a space in science and technology. By empowering young people, especially those in rural areas, with digital literacy, we are not just equipping them to navigate today’s world but also giving them the opportunity to create tomorrow’s innovators, define their own futures, and build a more inclusive digital society.
On this International Day of Women in Science, we celebrate the trailblazing women leading in STEM today and the young girls who, with the right opportunities and resources, will become the innovators and leaders of the future. As we continue to expand our programs, our focus remains on closing the digital divide and ensuring that young girls are at the core of our Technology Club. Every girl with a passion for science and technology deserves the chance to pursue it, harness the power of technology, and shape the world through innovation.