NairoBits Trust is a youth based organization that uses ICT multimedia creatively to improve the lives of less privileged children and youth from the non-formal settlement in Nairobi.
NairoBits target youths normally coming from low-income families who struggle to finish secondary school.
Even if they make it beyond secondary school, they are dawned down by the reality of the overcrowded realm of unemployment that has characterized the Kenyan scene.
This leads many youths from non-formal settlements frustrated and poor, turning to desperation, which often leads to substance abuse, crime, and other vices.
When to cultivate interest in STEM
Interest in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers should be cultivated from an early age to curb the issues of wrong attitude and drop off at higher learning of the subjects.
Preparing today’s young men and women for tomorrow’s related careers requires not just a cutting-edge curricula, but also demands an effort for the young people to cultivate their interest and confidence at an early stage.
Affirmative Action
NairoBits has taken affirmative action by promoting more women in STEM at an early age through their programs.
They have achieved this through training in ICT multimedia where youths are introduced to computers up to specialization in ICT web design and development.
Through the micro-entrepreneurship program, the youth have been enlightened with entrepreneurship and business skills required to identify opportunities, start, run and grow businesses.
By the end of the training, the students acquire useful skills to run their own businesses.
In addition, NairoBits facilitates training in soft skills, which are important for the youths to leg up new job opportunities in formal and informal STEM sectors.
Other programs such as the provision of information centers called ‘Vijana Tufahamike Resource Centers’ have empowered the youth with a change to store, share, consume and disseminate information in an effort to improve their lives.
Most importantly, contribute directly to Millennium Development Goals MDG’s 1, 6 and 8.
During our visit, it was interesting to hear from the young female students that the programs at NairoBits have been useful and encouraging In an interview with Anne Kamau, a student at NairoBits, echoed that,
“NairoBits programs have changed my attitude towards Sciences and I see myself continuing to purse sciences beyond the classroom”
The same lady also added that it would be important for initiatives like WMIAfrica to target more female students in secondary schools because it is at this stage in their lives that attitudes and interests on Science and Technical subjects are molded.
It was also interesting to observe that majority of the female students were actively participating in class by asking questions.
The role of mentors and influencers
During the interviews with the ladies, it was evident that the students needed access to information relevant to the STEM-related industries both at a local and global level.
The young women also pointed out the need to access positive role models and mentors to provide the much-needed support, act as a point of reference and inspiration for the upcoming designers and developers
More so solve the issues of fewer women in STEM arising from social influences when they begin to worry about fear of being perceived as geeky or weird.
We need to start early and provide positive influences and mentors throughout the primary and secondary school in order to counteract long-standing cultural norms.
This will give young women the confidence and desire to pursue STEM degrees and careers as we work toward gender equality.
Initially published on Feb 13, 2013, on www.wmiafrica.org
Leave a Reply