My Journey to Catch Them Young (2)

I promised to post a follow up on My Journey to Catch Them Young. In my previous post, I mentioned that I will be visiting some primary and secondary schools in Nigeria toestablish STEM clubs.

I went on this visit with an amazing World Pulse sister, Jane. She is the Founder ofGrassroots Women and Girls Empowerment and Gender Equity Initiative, an NGO thatoffers safe haven for children, women and youths experiencing domestic violence, rape, and social exploitation. The organization also empower young girls and women in skills and other vocations that will make them self- reliant.

We visited two primary schools and one secondary school in Abia and Rivers State respectively. We saw firsthand some of the major challenges faced by young girls interested in STEM. Some of these challenges include:

1. Inadequate teaching aids

2. Lack of science laboratories

3.Poorly qualified teachers

Many of the young girls and teachers were excited to see us.The teachers complained bitterly about the major challenges mentioned above. They alsomentioned that they are more interested in being given science kits forpracticals as many of the students were more eager and excited to learn about scienceduring science practicals than when they are being taught in the classroom.

It has been an amazing journey and really an eye opener. I do plan to visit more primary and secondary schools. Also, we do hope that with more support, these schools can havefully equipped science laboratories and more teaching aids.

If you are interested in sending or donating science kits or teaching aids to the primary and secondary schools, please feel free to reach out to me.