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PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
1. General objective (10 lines maximum)
'The limit is not the sky' aims to develop an innovative program that inspires girls to explore STEM careers through activities that connect outer space with bioprocesses, supporting leadership and the creation of a life project in young women, additionally providing services that contribute to integrating vulnerable groups into society and fighting gender or class disparities. Create professional employment opportunities and improve access to sustainable livelihoods. To do this, tools such as "Laboratory Boxes" will be used, which will include all the necessary teaching materials to carry out the activities. In addition, the project seeks to ensure its sustainability over time by training Rotaract members, who will be prepared to inspire and influence other children, thus fostering scientific curiosity and interest in higher education in STEM areas.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: (15 lines maximum)
"The Sky Is Not the Limit" is an innovative project designed to address the lack of motivation of female students to study STEM careers. It combines ancestral knowledge with science and engineering to encourage teamwork, problem solving, and leadership among interested young people. Through a unique connection with outer space, the project employs a playful and educational approach that includes characters such as an analog astronaut, inspired by NASA, to motivate girls to explore the intersection between bioprocesses and space exploration. With innovative resources such as laboratory kits and the opportunity to send projects to space, it seeks to impact young Colombians by promoting STEM education. In addition, it seeks to connect young women with the industrial sector in order to continue promoting the goal of achieving higher education in STEM areas, through the implementation of business scholarships.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT NEEDS YOU IDENTIFIED? HOW WILL THE PROJECT MEET THESE NEEDS? WHO WILL BENEFICIARY OF THIS PROJECT? MENTION AN ESTIMATED NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. (15 lines maximum)
In Colombia, according to figures from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, only one in ten women studies at university and less than 2% choose a STEM career; in addition, only 17% of women participate in STEM professions versus 30% of men. These figures reflect the current need of the industrial sector in the search for young people with the capacity to exercise skills in these areas. Therefore, under the Colombian social context, especially in rural and low-income areas, a lack of access to quality education in STEM areas has been identified. This gap limits the opportunities for young people to access technical and scientific careers, reducing their prospects for professional and economic development. In addition, there is a low level of motivation and interest in these disciplines due to the lack of innovative pedagogical resources.
The project seeks to address these needs in the city of Cali by implementing a social program for scientific dissemination that connects outer space with bioprocesses. These activities will not only spark young girls' curiosity and interest in STEM areas, but will also provide them with the skills necessary to continue their education in these areas.
The main beneficiaries will be students from public schools in Cali, from commune 15. In its initial phase, the project will impact 200 girls between 14 and 18 years old, with the potential to reach many more through the training of Rotaract members, who will replicate the model in other communities. The methodology will be developed over 12 months. The first month will be dedicated to establishing connections and defining alliances with public schools in Cali that have students interested in STEM areas. During the second month, 15 Rotaract partners will be trained in project management and scientific thinking, essential knowledge for the implementation of the practices and to inspire students to become interested in STEM. The remaining 10 months will be devoted to practical sessions, in which 20 students will participate in 4 practical sessions spread over the Saturdays of each month, up to the goal of 200 students. Finally, together with Rotaract partners, the results of the project will be presented to the members of Interact Cali, creating a space that will foster new ties for the dissemination of knowledge and ensuring the sustainability of the program through this new relationship.
SUSTAINABILITY: (explain how the project will continue to operate once the financial support you receive for this project ends)
The project ensures its sustainability by focusing on the training of young Rotaractors, who will receive training to replicate and expand STEM activities beyond the initial group of beneficiaries. These young leaders will be able to implement the project autonomously, transmitting the knowledge acquired to Interact children and other young people outside the scope of Rotary Colombia. This guarantees that the impact of the project will endure and expand, fostering a network of learning and scientific dissemination that will continue to grow over time. To achieve this objective, young Rotaractors will be encouraged through the issuance of a certificate, the possibility of winning global postgraduate and/or research scholarships from the TRF, and being part of future replications of the project that can be done at the national and international level.
IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED? DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTINUITY OF THE PROJECT.
The community will be the main beneficiary. It is expected that young women from public schools in Cali will develop an interest in STEM areas through the theoretical-practical scientific dissemination proposed by the project "The limit is not the sky." As a result, scientific thinking will be instilled in young women, enabling them to reproduce and generate new ideas with great social impact. Additionally, by obtaining undergraduate scholarships from the LFR, a professional in STEM areas who is part of a marginalized family, manages to empower the community, and provides access to services and economic opportunities to it. Just as they were beneficiaries of the project, they will be prepared to become agents of change within their communities, promoting the continuity of the project by guiding and educating other young people. This cycle of training and mentoring will ensure that knowledge and interest in science are perpetuated, creating a sustainable legacy of innovation and continuous learning.
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