Empowering Young Girls Through STEM Learning: A Look at Nile Explorer Bus’ Alignment to International Women’s Day 2023

The Nile Explorer Bus has been providing unique learning experiences for students allover Uganda since its inception. With its interactive programming and creative activities, the Nile Explorer Bus has been inspiring the next generation of learners and encouraging them to explore and think critically about the world around them. It is quite fortunate, its programming has been geared towards aligning with the theme of International Women’s Day 2023: “DigitALL: Innovation & Technology for Gender Equality” which highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.

This International Women’s Day 2023 finds the Nile Explorer Bus in the field on its Western Route – focusing its programming on empowering students, including young girls, through STEM learning, providing age-appropriate health information, and equipping them with essential life skills required for them to survive. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and is an important way to introduce students to the world of innovation and problem-solving. By teaching students the basics of STEM and introducing them to the possibilities that exist in these fields, we can help to break the gender gap that exists, especially in many STEM-related fields.

The Nile Explorer Bus involves students in a range of activities that focus on hands-on learning and exploration. These activities avail students with the opportunity to explore and engage with different types of STEM-related topics, such as coding, robotics, and more. Additionally, students are encouraged to ask questions and think critically about the topics being discussed.

The programming is also mostly facilitated by a variety of trainers – women who are leaders and experts in STEM and Health fields – to provide students with an opportunity to learn more about the different careers available to them. The trainers include; Allen Nanyonjo — a passionate developer and STEM Coach for children and girls on their journey of becoming professional in any STEM field, and a STEM Trainer on the Nile Explorer Bus; Margaret Nankya — a financial analyst, currently a student of ACCA,  a football player, and the STEM Trainer for liquid soap making on the Nile Explorer Bus; Rehema Nakato — a passionate public health professional, researcher, and writer with over five years of experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health, mental health work, and not-for-profit project planning and management, also a Health Trainer on the Nile Explorer Bus; Konso Recheal — a dedicated change maker with a strong debate and public speaking background committed to serving disadvantaged youths, young women and other special -needs population, also the Health Trainer on menstrual health on the Nile Explorer Bus; and finally Rebecca Nabejja — a fervently impassionate communications practitioner and digital marketing specialist who has worked in the media industry for over six years, gaining experience in journalism, communications, and leadership, also the Communications Officer & Career Guidance Trainer on the Nile Explorer Bus.

In addition to the programming, the Nile Explorer Bus provides students with a safe and inclusive environment where they can feel empowered and accepted. The team behind the Nile Explorer Bus is dedicated to creating an environment that is free of any type of discrimination, so that students of all genders and backgrounds can feel comfortable and welcomed.

At the end of the day, the goal of the Nile Explorer Bus, and its programming that falls relevantly into International Women’s Day 2023, is to provide students with a unique and meaningful learning experience that will inspire them to explore STEM-related topics and to think critically about the world around them. By empowering through STEM learning, we can help to foster a more equitable and inclusive future for everyone.