Telecel Ghana Foundation has trained 50 young girls from multiple schools in Cape Coast on foundational skills in coding, robotics, and programming as part of its Grow Girls in STEM initiative.

The beneficiary pupils were from local schools including OLA Catholic Girls’ Basic School, Wesley Girls’ Basic School, Jacob Wilson Sey Basic School, St Mary’s Catholic Girls, and Philip Quaye Girls Basic School.

The training, organised in partnership with Asustem Robotics Academy at the Cape Coast Regional Library, forms a key pillar of the Foundation’s Connected Learning programme, which provides robust Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and training for young girls across the country.

By giving young girls STEM exposure through practical experience in artificial intelligence, data science, and robotics, the Foundation aims to inspire and equip them with the tools and skills they need to thrive in today's digital world and bridge the existing gender gap in the field.

Through practical training and engaging experiences, the programme seeks to explain STEM careers, making them accessible and attractive to young girls.

Guided by trainers, the girls were introduced to core concepts of coding, robotics, and programming. 

They had the opportunity to apply their newfound knowledge in breakout teams, bolstering their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

"The Grow Girls in STEM initiative is directly addressing gender disparity and bridging the digital gap by providing these young girls with the tools and education they need to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving world,” said Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability, and External Communications at Telecel Ghana.

"Empowering these girls in STEM fields is not just a matter of equity, but a necessity for harnessing their untapped potential and driving innovation."

Faizatu Mohammed is a second-year junior high school student at the Philip Quarcoe Girls’ Basic School.

After receiving training in building auto robotics and using Scratch – a programming language used to create games and virtual experiences, Faizatu was excited about building robots that she had only seen on television.

“I only used to see these kinds of robots on television. But today, with the help of the trainers, I was able to build a smart door that required no physical touch to operate. I believe this can help so many people in Ghana, especially the physically challenged.”

Francis Harold Tsegah, Assistant Head and Integrated Science teacher at the Wesley Girls’ Basic School said the Grow Girls in STEM initiative was insightful and eye-opening.

He said the initiative exposed the young ladies to career paths that would take them far in this digitalised world.

“We would want to encourage organisations to introduce more of these programs to empower young girls out there to pick up these areas in STEM as careers in the future.”

The Grow Girls in STEM training in Cape Coast is a testament to the Telecel Ghana Foundation's dedication to empowering young girls to explore and excel in STEM fields to compete in a world increasingly driven by technology and innovation.