At least 120 high school girls from across Africa and the United States will on Saturday converge at Gashora Girls’ Academy in Bugesera District, for a three-week Women in Science (WiSci) camp, which is taking place for the first time globally.

The camp that is hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the US State Department among other partners, will provide an opportunity for the young women to learn valuable skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Design and Math (STEAM) fields, while enjoying a rich cross-cultural experience.

According to a statement from organisers, WiSci Camp will bring together talented girls from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States.

"The girls were selected among a competitive pool of applicants from the networks of Girl Up and the African Leadership Academy, and were chosen for their demonstrated interest in the STEAM fields and record of leadership in their community,” reads part of a statement.

The participants will be able to share their experience to inspire other girls in their community upon return to their high schools in the fall, it says.

The camp is part of the ‘Let Girls Learn’ initiative, promoted by the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, to ensure adolescent girls get the education to build brighter futures and stronger communities.

"The State Department is thrilled to support the WiSci Camp this summer. Through this new and exciting public-private partnership, we hope to increase opportunities for women and girls to pursue the necessary knowledge and skill sets to better take advantage of future career opportunities in STEAM-related fields and ultimately participate in the global economy,” Thomas Debass, the Deputy Special Representative for Global Partnerships at the State Department is quoted in the statement as saying.

A strong gender imbalance exists internationally in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the WiSci Camp aims to help bridge that gap through access to education, mentorship opportunities and leadership training.

Girls will have access to mentors from participating partners, engage in leadership development and skills-based workshops organised by Girl Up, and take field trips within Rwanda.

The programme will feature hands-on experiential learning and a wide array of opportunities in the STEAM fields for the participants.

The formal curriculum will be led by Microsoft and Intel employees and will include a week each on Computer Science, Robotics and Design, Art and Culture, with time during the third week to work on small group projects.

The girls will hear from inspiring guest speakers and mentors, while participating in sessions on design-thinking, marketing, writing, online advocacy and leadership development curated and facilitated by Girl Up, a global initiative agitating for the empowerment of the girl child.

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