This, according to the Founder of Turning Point Advocacy, Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe Mantey, will increase the dwindling number of women in science related studies in Ghana.

Women are more than men in Ghana. However, the relatively insignificant number of them in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, leaves the tough engineering, technology and other fixes to the men; a situation that worries advocates of gender equality and threatens the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

This phenomenon is attributed to some norms and traditions in Ghana which inherently suppresses women.

It is against this backdrop, that Turning Point Advocacy has been offering career mentorship and empowerment to final year Junior High School girls in the Tarkwa-Nsueam municipality.

Turning Point, apart from seeking to encourage more Junior High School girls to choose and remain in STEM careers, is also helping women correct wrong notions and perceptions surrounding STEM programs, and to assist them overcome gender based stereotype and cultural barriers.

Speaking to Citi News at a STEM For Girls Workshop themed, “unlocking the opportunities in STEM careers”, Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe Mantey, who is also a lecturer at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, explained that women participation in STEM programs can be enhanced when Junior High School final year girls particularly are assisted to take up STEM programs.

She said “JHS Three (3) is a point where young people would have to take very important decisions in their lives. Even though they are not matured enough to fully understand what they are really doing during these times, which decision, in our Ghanaian context, there is no turning back in their career.”

She continued that “if later on they begin to see the relevance of science, by which time they have already taken a decision in humanities, currently in our country, there is no turning back. This is why we chose the JHS 3 girls who are about making this important decision in their lives. We show them the opportunities there is in choosing STEM careers and how they can choose corresponding programs carefully going into this decision of a lifetime”.

Some of the students drawn from the Dadwen Basic School at Nsuta, Jerusalem MA Basic School in Tarkwa, the St. Mary’s Catholic School at Nsuta, and the Methodist Basic School, also at Nsuta, could not hide their excitement after they were taken through a day’s STEM career guidance and mentorship workshop at the Ghana Manganese Company Auditorium in Tarkwa.

They were taken through career opportunities available to STEM students by Dr. Nana Ama Brown Klutse, a senior Research Scientist at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Magaret Mary Nimo, lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University, Mrs. Josephine Akuba Timtey, and a host of other accomplished women in respected fields.

Jessica Kyerewa, a student at the Nsuta Basic School Complex, explained in excitement after the training that “before coming here, I used to think that I wasn’t good in Mathematics and Science so I had already decided I will not do any Mathematics or science related course at the senior high school level. But I have learnt today that Mathematics and Science is not for boys only. There are many women who are medical doctors and some in high positions. I am going home to improve my Mathematics and Science so I can become someone tomorrow.”

Others promised avoiding behaviors at home that consumes useful hours, and channel such energies and time to improve their science studies.

The Tarkwa STEM for Girls Workshop was supported by the Ghana-US Department of State Alumni Association, the Ghana Manganese Company, Western Transport Services, Youth Mappers and So Nice Drinking Water.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Airtel Ghana collaborated with Coderdojo, a global network of free computer programming clubs (Dojos) for young people to commence its first Coding session (Coderdojo) in Ghana. Dojos provide fun, free and social open learning environments where young people can meet others with similar interest, develop 21st century skills and build creative projects of their own using digital technology.

About 30 kids were trained by Samuel Polley, country representative for Coderdojo, volunteers from Airtel Ghana and iSpace, which is a technology hub that brings together the tech community, social entrepreneurs and related folks, like bloggers in Ghana. ISpace volunteers were led by the CEO, Josiah Eyison.

In attendance was the Deputy Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Hon Vincent Odotei Sowah.

He expressed his appreciation to Airtel Ghana and Coderdojo for reaching out to students in his municipality and was optimistic that it will be extended to other communities to benefit students nationwide.

Commenting on this novelty, Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs of Airtel Ghana, Hannah Agbozo said, “The Company’s commitment to ensure that the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is made easy for students remains our topmost priority. This is evidenced by our quest to provide the necessary assistance and support in the form of infrastructure and mentorship sessions to help boost their interest in STEM.”

“Learning the principles of coding and how to code can help these students to become experts in technology and be empowered to use technology to solve societal problems. This is what drives Airtel Ghana’s STEM initiative; to use technology to drive and accelerate the development of Africa,” she concluded.

The Country Representative of Coderdojo, Samuel Polley expressed his optimism that Ghana can become a Technological Hub with initiatives such as Airtel’s Evolve with STEM and Coderdojo which teaches young people coding and programming. He indicated his intentions to extend the initiative to other parts of the country to benefit many more young people.

Airtel Ghana continues to demonstrate commitment towards empowering people through its impactful CSR initiatives such as the School Adoption Programme, Evolve with STEM and Airtel Touching Lives.

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Source: Airtel Ghana

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The award recognized Hephzi for her immense work engaging and educating the public in the various aspects of science.

Key amongst Hephzi’s insightful initiatives, as a science communicator, is the ‘Shaping Healthy Attitudes’ and ‘Protecting the Environment’ project.

The latter initiative connects high school students in Ghana with scientists to investigate the impacts of environmental pollutants on community health and helps design innovative social solutions.

Commenting on Hephzi’s winning project, Dr. Steve Cross, one of the judges of the Science Communication Awards, said, “Hephzi really impressed us by organising projects to meet a specific audience need, and for her ability to put setbacks like a lack of funding behind her and still make fantastic engagement happen.”

Aside her work as an immunologist researching into skin biology in the Institute of Child Health, UK, Hephzi works as a freelance science communicator in the UK and Ghana.

She focuses on reaching underrepresented audiences in Science. She also co-foundered GhScientific, an organization promoting science communication and public engagement in Ghana. GhScientific runs various projects including the Ghana Science Book tour, SHAPEgh, Scibarcamp and an annual science themed writing competition.

Hephzi’s strides in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was recently recognized by Airtel Ghana’s Evolve with STEM initiative as a STEM Champion, amongst other great minds using their knowledge in the field of STEM to solve every day problems.

Airtel Ghana’s Evolve with STEM initiative was developed to inspire and transform the mindset of young people and to empower them to pursue STEM education. The initiative, championed by the company’s CEO, Lucy Quist, has impacted more than 3,000 pupils across 4 regions in the country.

As part of the initiative, Ghanaians who were using STEM to solve local problems were recognised under the ‘STEM Champion of the week’ project. Hephzi was one of those recognised under the project.

The Science Communication Awards by Royal Society of Biology are intended to reward outreach work carried out by young scientists and established researchers to inform, enthuse and engage the public.

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Source: Airtel Ghana

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