Youth for Diversity Agder (Kristiansand, Norway)

A.R.I.S.E.

Empowering Women in STEM and Leadership
By Morrigan from the YDA incubator

Project Description

“A.R.I.S.E.” stands for Advancing Rights and Inspiring Social Equality, a project dedicated to inspiring young girls to enter science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and positions of leadership, contributing to a more inclusive society. The project was initiated by Morrigan, a high school student who was passionate about sciences and engineering. She said to have noticed gender disparities in STEM education and workplaces, leading her to create a project empowering women to embrace STEM and leadership roles.

Objectives

The primary goal was to encourage girls aged 12 to 18 to pursue STEM careers for higher education by providing them with information, opportunities and role models. The project also aimed to educate boys, young men, and men in STEM on supporting and being allies to women in these fields. Additionally, it sought to create a platform for women to share their experiences, combat societal pressures and discrimination, and build a more inclusive society.

Project activities

Under the A.R.I.S.E project, several events were organised to achieve its objectives, including:

A presentation and discussion at a local high school, featuring a guest speaker and informative sessions on women in STEM.
A themed evening at the Samsen Cultural Centre focused on women in STEM and leadership, including panel discussions on gender bias in STEM, featuring STEM leaders and students. The project also featured speeches and presentations from women in STEM positions and leaders in STEM initiatives.

Project results

A.R.I.S.E. successfully encouraged attendees to pursue STEM careers, promoted equality and women’s rights, and offered opportunities for self-reflection and improvement. It facilitated connections between TekFem, Node Eyde Women, and the local library, fostering networking and the potential for future projects. Moreover, it raised awareness among local youth about these initiatives.

Dissemination activities

Throughout the project, the organiser gained valuable skills in project management, event planning, and time management. These skills were shared through various channels, including an Instagram Takeover on YDA’s account, video vlogs on the I.D.E.A. YouTube channel and website, and the I.D.E.A. conference. The event contents were also disseminated for several high school classes and at the I.D.E.A conference.