According to the United Nations, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women, and only around 30% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. These statistics highlight the urgent need to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). At AIMS Rwanda, we recently celebrated the International Day for Women and Girls in Science with a grand exhibition that showcased the achievements of our students, researchers, and programs like the Teacher Training Program Rwanda and the Pan African Mathematical Olympiad.

It is crucial to view STEM through a gender lens and recognize that women have the potential to make significant contributions to the field. The gender gap in STEM is not only a matter of social justice but also a critical economic issue. Empowering more girls and women to pursue STEM careers will lead to more innovation, economic growth, and better solutions to global challenges.

The highlight of the event was the participation of young girls from schools like FAWE Girls School Gahini and Gashora Girls who wowed us with their skills and projects. The honourable British High Commissioner to Rwanda, H.E. Omar Daair, graced the event. In his address, he praised the efforts of AIMS Rwanda in driving modern thinking and contributing to Africa’s growth. “Africa is becoming a place of solutions, a place of ideas, a place of modern thinking and that’s what AIMS is really driving forward here, that’s what my government really wants to contribute to,” he added.

AIMS Rwanda has been in existence for 20 years and has trained over 2800 graduates from 48 African countries. We are proud to say that over 30% of these graduates are women. However, we recognize that there is still a long way to go in bridging the gender gap in STEM. The CEO of AIMS Rwanda, Hakizimana Lydie, emphasized this in her address, stating that “we need to bring more women into this field.”

The event was a great success, and we are grateful to all those who made it possible. We thank the young students from FAWE Rwanda, Gashora Girls, Lycee de Kigali, GS Notre Dame Lourde Byimana, AIMS staff, our researchers, and students for participating in the exhibition. We also extend our gratitude to H.E. Omar Daair for gracing us with his presence.

 AIMS Rwanda is committed to promoting women in STEM and providing a conducive environment for learning and growth. We believe that it is essential to view STEM through a gender lens and empower more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM. We look forward to more celebrations in the future as we continue to empower women and girls in science and contribute to Africa’s growth and development.