On 11th February, 2023, the world celebrated International Women and Girls in Science Day. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The Nile Explorer Bus Project – an initiative powered by the U.S. Mission Uganda in conjunction with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and implemented by Open Space Center – is proud to be contributing to not only the goal of celebration of this day, but also to Sustainable Development Goal #4 – Quality Education For All. In particular, we are dedicated to providing underserved schools in Uganda with the educational resources and support they need to ensure that their students can reach their full potential, and ultimately reduce the number of school dropouts countrywide.
On the Nile Explorer Bus, we understand that access to quality education is essential for the success of the younger generation and for the development of communities. Education not only provides students with the skills, knowledge, and qualifications necessary to secure employment and achieve greater economic opportunity, but it also helps to create more inclusive societies, promote gender equality, and reduce poverty.
In this regard, we are dedicated to providing underserved schools in Uganda with the educational resources needed to ensure that their students can reach their full potential. Our trainings focus on providing STEM education, accurate health information, and offering career guidance to the students as well.
At the beginning of February 2023, the bus traveled to Western Uganda, starting with the schools of Mubende Army Secondary School and Christ The King Senior Secondary School in Mubende, where a total of 82 students from the classes of senior two and three took part in the bus’ activities, including training on topics of Basic Computing, The Internet and its uses, Practical Physics of Electricity, HIV/AIDS & its prevention, Malaria, School Gender Based Violence to mention but a few. The students also delved into the Virtual Reality Experience, and 3D Printing.
We recognize that gender inequality and discrimination can have a significant impact on educational opportunities, and we advocate for greater access to quality education for everyone. We recognize that to achieve Sustainable Development Goal #4, we need to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender or social class, has access to quality education.
We are proud to be part of the global effort to ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender, is able to access quality education and reach their full potential.