A 2-Day workshop by SWE Nairobi aimed at encouraging the girls at pursuing STEM careers in future.
Background
BEADS Tembea Academy is a girls’ high school funded by BEADS for education (a non-profit organization). It is nestled in the heart of Kajiado County, 80 Km south of Nairobi. The school’s focus is sponsoring girls’ education. Most girls are from the Maasai community (the predominant community in Kajiado).
SWE Nairobi was introduced to the team at BEADS Tembea Academy through a group of ladies from the US Army Corps of Engineers (one of the ladies is a SWE member). The ladies were interested in collaborating with SWE Nairobi in mentoring the girls. After several deliberations with the school, it was agreed that registering a SWENext club would be a step in the right direction for the girls. The resources and exposure resulting from the club membership would be quite beneficial to the girls. The club was officially registered in early March last 2022.
The Workshop
The workshop was held at the school on the 28th and 29th of September 2022. Ninety-eight girls participated and they ranged in age from 13 – 18 yrs.
The girls welcoming us to Tembea Academy
Activities:
- Photography
- Photoshop
- Basic elements of an electric circuit
- Mentorship session
Session 1: Photography
This was an Introduction to Photography class. The girls were taken through the following:
- Types and Components of a camera
- Fundamental camera settings
- Lighting
The girls were tasked with taking portrait photos of each other. The images were to be used in the activity that followed.
This was an impactful session as it was the first time many of them got an opportunity to handle a camera. There were quite a number of them who even considered photography as a future career option.
Session 2: Photoshop
The following was covered in this introductory session:
- Use of the software
- Overview of Photoshop interface
- How to make a workspace
- Use and adjustment of layers.
- Utilization of selection tools
- Uploading and touching up of photos
The photos obtained from the photography session were used for this session. The girls were tasked with creating a poster containing the portrait photos and an inspirational message using the skill acquired thus far.
Introduction to Photoshop Session conducted by Beryl Muga
The girls working on their posters.
Session 3: Basic Elements of an Electric Circuit
This part of the program involved the girls being introduced to the world of electrical and electronics engineering. They were given an overview of what this discipline of engineering encompassed, career options and higher education.
There was also a hands-on activity in which the girls put together a basic electric circuit. They were able to learn the elements that make up an electric circuit and appreciate a few laws of physics.
Session 4: Mentorship
This was an interactive session during which the girls were first taken through the benefits and resources available for SWENexters. This was followed by a Q&A session that helped demystify various careers in STEM and the corresponding higher education options.
The girls were also encouraged to have confidence in themselves and believe in their ability to make it in life. Tembea means ‘to walk’ in Kiswahili. The girls are motivated to walk with a purpose to a successful life.
Notes being taken during the Mentorship session
It was a demanding but impactful set of exercises that were in line with SWE Nairobi’s mission of nurturing the next generation of women in STEM.
Group Photo of the Girls
Group Photo of the girls and facilitators
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