Humber’s Community Outreach and Workforce Development’s (COWD) local contribution takes a global approach as part of the STEM Education for Empowerment Project (STEEP). Funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and The Barrett Family Foundation, STEEP will enhance gender equality and empowerment of adolescent girls (aged 14-18) in and out of school from marginalized communities in Kenya and Ethiopia through knowledge, skills, and support systems they need to pursue education and employment in the STEM sectors.

From April 18 to May 2, 2024, COWD's Nabeel Rahman, Manager of Community and Partnership Development, travelled to Kenya with Clarisse Estebar, Project Lead of STEEP, to meet with implementing Kenyan partner, CAP Youth Empowerment Institute Kenya and other community partners to discuss programs for adolescent girls in school, the stigma of girls in STEM, limited resources at secondary schools, and opportunities for engagement to increase girls in STEM.

This visit allowed Rahman to understand the local context to collect data for a needs assessment and determine how COWD can support adolescent girls in and out of school and contribute to the project's success.

Learn more about STEEP at idi.humber.ca.