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US State Dept and Girl Up host camp for South Asian girls in STEAM in Kerala
Nearly 100 schoolgirls from India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the United States participated in the event.
U.S. Consul General Chennai Chris Hodges clicks a selfie with camp counselors at the opening of WiSci (Women in Science) South Asia STEAM Camp at Rajagiri Business School in Kochi, June 2, 2024 / Image- US Embassy & Consulates in India
United Nations Foundation’s Global leadership development initiative, Girl Up, along with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships, hosted the Women in Science (WiSci) South Asia STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and design, and mathematics) camp in Kochi, Kerala.
Held from June 2-8 in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, and Rajagiri Business School in Kochi, the camp aimed to foster leadership, skills-building, mentorship, and networking among young women in STEAM. 100 schoolgirls from India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the United States participated in the event.
“The U.S. government has invested in Women in Science initiatives whole-heartedly and we have already seen the change happening,” U.S. Consul General in Chennai Chris Hodges said during the inauguration. “We are working with partners to create this empowering safe space for girl students to excel as future expert champions in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics career fields. These girls, the next generation of STEMinists, will succeed,” he added.
The camp featured interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and discussions with industry experts. The curriculum covered climate science, women’s representation in aviation, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies. The participants engaged with entrepreneurs, officials, and policy makers, gaining career insights and forming cross-cultural connections.
Dorothy McAuliffe, U.S. State Department Special Representative for Global Partnerships, emphasized the camp's impact at the closing ceremony. “We believe investing in girls’ education and leadership development is key to unlocking their full potential and driving economic empowerment in communities globally.”
Girl Up CEO Melissa Kilby expressed enthusiasm for the camp's success. “This camp embodies our collective commitment to engaging young women in STEAM and equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive in this rapidly evolving era of science and technology” Kilby said.
Since its inception in 2015, WiSci STEAM Camps have trained over 1,100 girls and youth allies from 34 countries, fostering a lifelong positive impact in their communities and beyond. Key sponsors for the event included the Caterpillar Foundation, Google, TE Connectivity Foundation, and United Airlines.
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