A five-day Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Camp hosted by Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Malawi at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School is inspiring a new wave of young women to embrace innovation and lead the country’s technological advancement.
Opening the camp, Deputy Director for Secondary Education in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Samuel Chibwana, said the initiative aligns with Malawi 2063 goal of becoming a self-reliant and innovation-driven nation.
“When we equip girls with STEM skills, we prepare them not only to thrive in their careers but also become key players in solving national and global challenges,” said Chibwana.
CAMFED Malawi Executive Director, Susan Silika said the camp was designed to empower participants with skills that can be applied in diverse fields, from engineering to data science.
“By inspiring innovation and creativity, we are investing in future leaders who will contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
For many of the girls, the experience is already proving transformative. Catherine Gawani, a Form 3 student from Masongola Secondary School, urged her peers to take STEM seriously.
“Science and technology are part of our everyday lives from the phones we use to the clean water we drink. The more girls we have in STEM, the more solutions we can create,” she said.
The camp, themed “Inspire, Innovate and Create,” has brought together 100 girls from Malawi and five from Zimbabwe.
Over the week, they will engage in hands-on projects, mentorship sessions, and problem-solving challenges aimed at building confidence and sparking creativity.
With women still underrepresented in STEM fields, initiatives like this camp, are seen as critical in bridging the gender gap, fostering innovation and preparing a generation of young women ready to harness science and technology.
