Before the Covid pandemic, in conjunction with members of SI Weybridge and SI Woking, we regularly organised a competition specifically aimed at girls aged 12-14, to encourage them to consider a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The teams were challenged to find potential solutions to a problem, select the best, work through the detail and present their results in writing and orally to an imposing panel of judges. The competition ran over six months with a grand final held at a local university to find the winning team.
In 2019 there were 15 teams in years 8 and 9 from Hoe Valley School, Tomlinscote School, Guildford County School, Ashcombe School and Thamesmead School. Projects ranged from sustainable water filters to high energy food bars.
Every girl who took part received a Soroptimist International certificate of achievement. The winning schools each received £250 and each girl in the winning teams £30.
Our support for this project links into Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industralisation and foster innovation. It also corresponds to the overall Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating poverty.