STEMUnity

In Indonesia, as in many countries worldwide, the advancement of technology and automation poses a significant challenge to the future workforce. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that over 60 million jobs in Indonesia, representing approximately 56% of total employment, are susceptible to being replaced by automation. This trend is particularly concerning for women, who disproportionately occupy low-skilled jobs in STEM-related fields. 

Women in Indonesia, like in many parts of the world, are often concentrated in roles that are at a higher risk of automation due to their lower access to advanced STEM education and training. This places them at a 20% higher risk of losing their jobs compared to men. The automation of these low-skilled STEM jobs threatens to exacerbate existing gender disparities in the workforce and perpetuate economic inequalities.

To address this issue, it's imperative to intervene early by promoting STEM education and training among young women. By equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge in STEM fields, we can better prepare them for careers that are less likely to be automated. Moreover, fostering interest and confidence in STEM from a young age can help break down societal barriers and stereotypes that discourage women from pursuing these fields, ultimately leading to a more diverse and resilient workforce. 

Therefore, STEMUnity by Generation Girl play a crucial role in tackling this problem by providing accessible and high-quality STEM education programs tailored specifically for young women and underrepresented communities in Indonesia. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower women to thrive in the rapidly evolving job market and contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable future.

In STEMUnity, we have 5 main programs to cater this solution.

Leaders: This branch program targets local women in various cities across Indonesia, providing them with opportunities to learn and engage with STEM topics. Through interactive workshops and mentorship, participants develop leadership skills while exploring diverse STEM fields.

1. Holiday Club: A bootcamp designed for young women aged 13-18, held nationwide to delve into specific technology topics. Participants engage in hands-on activities, group projects, and discussions to deepen their understanding of STEM concepts.

2. Holiday Club Explorer: Similar to the Holiday Club but tailored for women aged 18 and above. This bootcamp provides older participants with opportunities to explore advanced STEM topics and develop practical skills relevant to their interests and career goals.

3. HackHERthon: A competitive program targeting women aged 16-22 across Indonesia. Participants compete in technology-focused challenges, fostering creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a supportive environment.

4. Electives: Biweekly or monthly workshops open to women of all ages throughout Indonesia. These workshops cover a wide range of STEM topics and provide participants with flexible learning opportunities to further their knowledge and skills.

While each program targets different age groups, they share a common approach centered around a flipped classroom model. This innovative teaching method involves delivering educational content outside the traditional classroom setting, such as through online videos or readings, allowing participants to engage with material at their own pace. In-person sessions then focus on hands-on activities, discussions, and collaborative projects, reinforcing learning and fostering a deeper understanding of STEM concepts.

By offering free access to these programs and ensuring they are inclusive and open to women of all backgrounds and demographics, STEMUnity aims to reach and empower 35,000 women across Indonesia by the end of 2024. Through this holistic approach to STEM education, we seeks to equip women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Our solution, STEMUnity by Generation Girl, serves women of all ages across Indonesia, with a focus on those who are currently underserved in STEM education and opportunities. The target population includes:

1. Young Women: Girls and young women aged 13-22 who have limited access to quality STEM education and resources. Many of them come from marginalized communities or remote areas where educational opportunities are scarce.

2. Adult Women: Women aged 18 and above who may have missed out on STEM education during their formal schooling years or who are seeking to transition into STEM-related careers later in life. These women often face barriers such as lack of access to training and support networks.

3. Local Women Leaders: Women in various cities across Indonesia who have a passion for STEM and leadership but lack opportunities for skill development and networking within their communities.

4. Underrepresented Groups: Women from minority backgrounds, low-income families, or rural areas who face additional barriers to accessing STEM education and opportunities due to systemic inequalities.

STEMUnity addresses the needs of these underserved populations by providing free and accessible STEM education programs tailored to their specific age groups and interests. By offering a range of initiatives, including bootcamps, workshops, competitions, and leadership programs, we cater to diverse learning styles and preferences.

Through our flipped classroom approach, participants have the flexibility to engage with educational content at their own pace and convenience, breaking down barriers to learning imposed by geographical location or socioeconomic status. In-person sessions provide hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and networking opportunities, empowering women to develop practical skills, build confidence, and pursue their passions in STEM fields.

By directly engaging with and empowering women across Indonesia, STEMUnity aims to uplift individuals and communities, ultimately leading to greater gender equality, economic empowerment, and social inclusion. Through increased representation and participation in STEM, women can access higher-paying jobs, contribute to innovation and economic growth, and become leaders and role models within their communities.

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver the STEMUnity solution to the target population in Indonesia due to our diverse background, shared passion, and extensive network. With members hailing from various fields and industries, we bring a wealth of perspectives and experiences to the table, allowing us to approach and introduce our initiatives from multiple angles. What unites us is our common goal and commitment to empowering women and producing future female leaders through STEM education. Importantly, many of our team members are women in STEM themselves, bringing firsthand understanding and insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by our beneficiaries. Leveraging our professional backgrounds, we have cultivated strong connections with key industry leaders, enabling us to scale our program effectively and maximize its impact.

Our STEMUnity initiatives have made significant progress in empowering women in STEM across Indonesia. Through rigorous development and testing, we've refined our programs to meet the diverse needs of our target audience. To date, we've served more than 60000 young women through our programs. Feedback and evaluation efforts from our impact evaluation framework have helped us improve program effectiveness, and we've seen positive outcomes, including increased confidence and pursuit of STEM careers. Our accomplishments underscore the impact and viability of STEMUnity in driving positive change in STEM education.

We are applying to MIT Solve because we recognize persistent gaps in learning and educational opportunities that need to be addressed. Technology plays a crucial role in bridging these gaps, making education more accessible and effective. However, we understand that technology education should encompass not only hard skills but also foundational skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, confidence, and compassion. By partnering with industry leaders like MIT Solve, we aim to leverage their expertise and resources to further develop and scale our programs. We believe that with the support of MIT Solve and other key stakeholders, we can make a meaningful impact in empowering individuals through STEM education and creating a more equitable future.

Our solution stands out for its innovative approach to addressing the challenges in STEM education and empowering women in Indonesia. Here's how:

1. Tailored Curriculum Development: Unlike traditional approaches, we have developed our curriculum in collaboration with industry experts within Indonesia. This ensures that our programs are not only relevant but also aligned with the specific needs and opportunities within the local context. By integrating industry insights and expertise into our curriculum, we prepare participants with the skills and knowledge directly applicable to the Indonesian STEM landscape.

2. Flipped Classroom Model: We have implemented a flipped classroom model, a departure from conventional teaching methods. This approach empowers participants to engage with educational content independently before in-person sessions. By flipping the traditional learning model, we maximize classroom time for hands-on activities, discussions, and collaborative projects, fostering deeper learning and understanding among participants.

3. Community Support and Empowerment: Beyond program participation, we prioritize building a supportive community that offers resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to our members. This holistic approach ensures that participants not only gain technical skills but also develop the confidence, communication, and leadership abilities necessary for success in STEM fields. By fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment, we catalyze broader positive impacts by creating a ripple effect of support and encouragement within the STEM community.

4. Free Accessibility: One of the most innovative aspects of our solution is its accessibility. All our programs are offered free of charge, eliminating financial barriers and ensuring that our resources can be accessed by individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds. This democratization of STEM education not only expands access to opportunities but also fosters a more inclusive and diverse talent pool, ultimately driving positive change in the market and landscape of STEM education in Indonesia.

In summary, our innovative approach to curriculum development, teaching methodology, community engagement, and accessibility has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts within the STEM education space in Indonesia. By empowering women with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to succeed in STEM fields, we aim to not only change individual lives but also contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive, and competitive STEM ecosystem in Indonesia.

Our solution, STEMUnity, aims to make a big difference by helping more women in Indonesia get involved in STEM. One is we are making STEM learning fun and accessible. We offer free programs like bootcamps and workshops where women can learn about technology and engineering in a fun and engaging way. By making these opportunities free, we're ensuring that anyone who wants to learn can join in, no matter where they're from or how they background is.

Two is that we are building skills for the future. In our programs, women not only learn technical skills like coding or robotics, but also important life skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, confidence and compassion. These skills are super valuable for any job, but especially in STEM fields where they're in high demand.

Three, we are connecting women in STEM. We're creating a supportive community where women can learn from each other, share experiences, and support one another's growth. By connecting women in STEM, we're helping to break down barriers and build a stronger, more inclusive STEM community in Indonesia.

Four, preparing for the future. With technology changing so fast, it's important for women to be ready for the jobs of tomorrow. By empowering women with STEM education and skills, we're helping them to be more competitive and successful in the future job market, while also helping to close the gender gap in STEM fields.

Overall, we expect our solution to have a big impact by giving more women in Indonesia the opportunity to learn and succeed in STEM, creating a brighter future for everyone.

Our impact goals for STEMUnity are ambitious and measurable, aiming to create significant positive changes in female involvement in STEM, community reach, and geographical expansion. Over the next five years, our primary goal is to increase female involvement in STEM by 10%, both at the university and career levels. To measure progress towards this goal, we are tracking the percentage of women enrolled in STEM programs and employed in STEM fields, comparing it against a baseline of a 3% increase observed in Indonesia between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, we aim to reach 500,000 community members within this timeframe, benchmarking against Girls Who Code, which reached the same milestone in 10 years. Furthermore, we seek to establish active chapters or ambassadors in all 38 provinces of Indonesia and internationally. Our baseline for this objective is our organization's existing infrastructure, with Leaders running six active chapters in 2023. By monitoring these key indicators, we can assess our progress towards achieving our impact goals and ensure that STEMUnity continues to drive meaningful transformation in the lives of women in STEM across Indonesia and beyond.

While our solution, STEMUnity, leverages a variety of modern technologies, the core technology that powers our initiative is an innovative online learning platform. This platform serves as the backbone of our programs, facilitating the delivery of high-quality STEM education and resources to women across Indonesia. Key features of our online learning platform include:

1. Virtual Labs and Simulations: To provide hands-on learning experiences, our platform integrates virtual labs and simulations, allowing participants to conduct experiments, solve problems, and explore STEM concepts in a virtual environment. These tools offer practical, immersive learning opportunities, particularly in areas where access to physical lab equipment may be limited.

2. Collaboration and Networking Tools: Our platform includes features for collaboration and networking, such as discussion forums, group projects, and mentorship opportunities. These tools enable participants to connect with peers, mentors, and industry professionals, fostering a supportive learning community and facilitating knowledge sharing and networking.

3. Data Analytics and Assessment: To track participant progress and measure program outcomes, our platform incorporates data analytics and assessment tools. These tools provide insights into participant engagement, performance, and learning outcomes, enabling continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.

By harnessing the power of technology, particularly through our online learning platform, STEMUnity is able to deliver scalable, accessible, and effective STEM education initiatives that empower women in Indonesia to thrive in STEM fields and contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond.

17 full time staff, 7 part time staff

We have been working our initiatives in creating more female leaders in the future since 2018. But our new concept for this STEMUnity is starting from the end of 2023.

We have been working on our solution for five years since our organization's inception in 2018, but we implemented specific strategies to ensure diversity, minimize barriers to opportunity, and foster inclusivity within our team in late 2023. Operating with a flat hierarchy organizational structure, we prioritize creating an environment where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute. This approach has resulted in a low turnover rate, with nearly 70-80 percent of our team members having worked with us for more than two years. Additionally, we have cultivated a culture of open communication and collaboration, exemplified by monthly strategy meetings where everyone is encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas freely. By promoting diversity, minimizing barriers to opportunity, and fostering inclusivity, we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where every team member can thrive and contribute to our shared mission.

Our business model revolves around being a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free training and resources to teachers across Indonesia, particularly in rural areas. We operate primarily through funding provided by our donors, including Peak XV, Temasek, and prominent industry leaders in Indonesia such as Gojek. By leveraging these financial resources, we are able to offer our programs and initiatives at no cost to participants, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for individuals from all backgrounds and geographical locations. This model allows us to focus on our mission of empowering educators and promoting STEM education without the constraints of traditional profit-driven structures.

Our plan for achieving financial sustainability revolves around fostering long-term partnerships with our founding sponsors while seeking guidance to ensure effective financial management. By cultivating enduring relationships with sponsors such as Peak XV, Temasek, and industry leaders like Gojek, we aim to secure ongoing funding support to sustain our operations and programs. These partnerships provide stability and allow us to continue offering free training and resources to educators across Indonesia. Additionally, we recognize the importance of seeking guidance and expertise in financial sustainability practices. Through mentorship, consulting, and capacity-building initiatives, we are actively working to enhance our financial management strategies and optimize our resources for long-term viability. While our journey towards financial sustainability is ongoing, we can provide evidence of our successful progress through the continued support of our founding sponsors and the positive impact of our programs on the communities we serve.