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The overall objective of the STEM/ICT Camp of Excellence was to inspire high school girls to embrace science subjects with a view to their enhanced participation in STEM/ICT courses and careers. Specifically, the camps aimed to:

• inspire and nurture school girls to see science as part of their lives and to embrace STEM/ICT fields for their future careers.
• Provide the girls with an opportunity to relate and interact with women scientists and engineers for role modelling and mentorship;
• Educate secondary school girls on the admission requirements in engineering, science, ICT related courses in tertiary level institutions and give them a clear view of the possible STEM/ICT ecosystem professions that are available for them;
• Expose the school girls and their science teachers to the beauty, fun and importance of STEM/ICT through introduction to Coding and Robotics and the development of Technological applications

The bootcamp was officially opened by the Kenya National Commission of UNESCO Ag. SG/CEO Dr. James Njogu, demystified the myth that STEM courses were “tough / hard” and a preserve of the male dominated gender; a perception that has resulted to girls less likely than boys to study STEM in higher education. UNESCO represented by Drs. Yoslan Nur and Mary Nyasimi emphasized UNESCO’s commitment to closing the STEM and digital gender gap. In a world where innovation and progress are at the forefront of societal development, it is crucial that Kenya actively encourage and support girls to embrace STEM education and careers. UNESCO aims to provide girls with accessible and inclusive STEM education from an early age through mentorship programs, internships, and scholarships to support their learning and exploration.

Outcomes of the camps were a) Experiential learning through hands-on activities, experiments, and projects for girls and teachers including practical applications of scientific principles, engineering design processes, and technological innovations; b) Collaboration and Teamwork amongst girls to address complex problems, design and build projects, or conduct experiments; c) Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills; d) Exposure to Advanced Technologies that are not readily available in regular school settings e.g. state-of-the-art equipment, such as 3D printers, robotics kits, virtual reality systems, and coding platforms; e) access to inspiring female role models and mentors to share their experiences and provide mentorship.

The STEM Camp ran concurrently with Teacher Training Gender Responsive STEM and Digital Literacy, which attracted over 50 secondary school teachers drawn from all countries in Kenya. Upon completion of the training, the teachers shall be ToTs in their spheres of inference and will amplify the training modules.