According to UNESCO data, it is estimated that only 30% of the world’s scientists are women. This reality can be changed if, since the school year, young girls are encouraged to have more knowledge about exact sciences, engineering and computing.
In partnership with the Integrated Center for Sustainable Development Studies and Programs (CIEDS), the Toyota Foundation takes the STEAM methodology (in English – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) to young women in Ceará’s municipal school system.
In addition to encouraging students’ interest in these areas, the Jovens Mulheres nas STEAM Program seeks to break paradigms that women would be better suited to careers focused on the humanities, through the promotion of gender equality strategies and encouragement of female representation in the technology job market.
The “A” added to the original acronym comes from “Art”, since the program also works on the artistic side of the students, from the reuse of materials that would be discarded to complement the construction of systems, automation, robotics, among others.
The action, which will start on April 5, 2022 and is expected to end in July of the same year, will benefit 50 students (cis and trans) from the municipal education network of Vale do Caju, which is located in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza (CE).
At the end of the course, which will be in person, the students will participate in a “tech marathon”, with exhibition of prototypes produced by the group, conversation circles, lectures and didactic and interactive games.
The Jovens Mulheres nas STEAM Program is also connected to SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reducing Inequalities) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).