Why do we do it?
The importance of mentorship and coaching for girls from marginalized communities cannot be overemphasized. It empowers; a key component of BEADS’ mission for the girls from vulnerable communities. According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), only a third of the world’s researchers is constituted by women (UNESCO, 2017). UNESCO also documents that only a third of all female learners choose STEM subjects in higher education. Teenage is an age of opportunity and it is key for education stakeholders to ensure that learners have the skills for self-discovery and understanding (United Nations Children's Fund, 2011). Our mentorship is geared towards equipping our girls with the right skills and preparing them for successful careers. It is aimed at cultivating and nurturing the love for STEM among our girls who would otherwise be sentenced to a life of poverty. They could be married off at an early age to men who are thrice older than them.
How do we do it?
We match girls to global STEM experts who have virtual sessions with them. We get most of STEM experts from a great pool of our committed sponsors, STEM focused organizations like USA Army Corps of Engineers and Society of Women Engineers as well as mentorship based organizations like Curious Cardinals. We also get random Volunteer mentors from all over the world.