Girls in Science
In 2020, UNICEF launched the Girls in Science programme to empower girls to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Unfortunately, women are still scarce in science. According to UNESCO, only about a third of the world’s researchers are women. Since Marie Curie in 1903, only 17 women have won the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry or medicine, compared to 572 men.
For girls it is hard to dream about what they do not see around them. They find it harder to plan their studies and careers when there is no supportive environment at home, school or university.
The Girls in Science programme supports girls who want to excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which are known in English by the acronym STEM.
The first phase of the programme (2020-2022) involved 652 schoolgirls from more than 80 schools in Bishkek, Osh and Kara-Suu (Osh oblast). Having undergone special training on STEM and leadership, they trained their peers, inspiring them to become active and effective agents of change. In total, the programme has trained more than 48,000 girls and boys.
Here are a few more results of the programme:
- 652 peer trainers trained more than 48,000 peers on topics such as STEM education, digital literacy, and increasing leadership potential. Post-training surveys showed that nearly all the participants improved their knowledge of STEM. More than a third of teens decided to choose a career in STEM fields.
- 643 teachers took a gender-sensitive training course in five subjects: mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics and computer science. The course was part of the mandatory training programme for teachers of these subjects. In addition, 40 video lessons were made publicly available on the platform of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic for all teachers interested in taking the course.
- 2,700 girls participated in a mentoring programme with 217 female mentors from STEM fields. Successful women from various fields related to science, engineering, maths, technology, and leadership (management) led meetings and tours for their mentee girls. The main objective was to showcase new successful female leader role models for the girls, to inspire them and broaden their understanding of women's careers in today's world.
- The programme provided more than 400 girls with additional preparation classes to universities through the republican test. Almost all of them successfully enrolled in higher education and 61 per cent of them in STEM majors.
- Together with the Girls in Science Ambassador Asel Sartbaeva, chemistry master classes were held to show girls that STEM disciplines, including chemistry, are a great career choice for the next generation. These experiments in chemistry, biology and engineering were conducted in an interactive way, so that the girls could conduct experiments on their own in their areas of interest.
- As part of the UniSat programme 150 girls from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan launched three nanosatellites into the stratosphere to analyse air pollution. Fourteen girls from Kyrgyzstan were selected from the Girls in Science programme to participate in the project. The Kyrgyz participants’ nanosatellite – j named “IlimSat” –successfully flew into the stratosphere and was able to collect information on pollution levels. The girls then worked on their projects, such as a Mars rover, automatic light and motion sensors, and a prosthetic arm, which were presented at the university’s exhibition in Bishkek.
- In April 2023, the first “ECOkyzdar” hackathon was held. The hackathon was organized in partnership with the University of Central Asia, and brought together 49 girls from various educational institutions in Bishkek and Naryn. They improved their understanding of climate change and developed projects to address environmental issues. Of ten teams, three winning teams were recognized and received cash prizes to promote their projects.
- To create a supportive environment at home, the programme also worked with the parents and family members of programme participants. Sessions aimed at introduction to new professions, how to choose a profession, and elimination of gender stereotypes in bringing up daughters and sons were attended by 6,000 parents.
- As part of the programme, UNICEF the supports the introduction of a mechanism for gender and anti-discrimination analysis of teaching and learning materials. At the request of the Ministry of Education and Science, policies for preschool, school and out-of-school education were analysed, and with the participation of girls STEM-oriented adaptation plans were developed. The experts’ recommendations were taken into account when developing the Education Development Strategy until 2040.
The second phase of the programme
Surveys showed that as a result of the first phase of the programme, participants’ awareness of STEM subjects increased more than 10-fold. Almost all parents who did not support girls’ vocational education at the beginning of the programme changed their opinion after participating in the programme activities.
Therefore, UNICEF launched the second phase of the Girls in Science programme in 2023. It will cover more than 10,000 students from 50 schools in Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken, Naryn and Chui provinces.
Training about STEM, the professions of the future, gender equality, effective communication, internet safety, leadership will be organized for them. They will also take part in various mentorship programmes.
UNICEF’s Girls in Science programme is being implemented in partnership with the International Public Foundation “Roza Otunbaeva Initiative”, the NGO “Centre for Protection of the Children”, the Public Association “Enactas Kyrgyzstan” and the Technical School of Innovation of the American University in Central Asia. The initiative is funded by Shiseido company through its Clé de Peau Beauté brand.
