STEAM for girls at EPAL Ymittou

One of our EITIC-EU partners, EPAL Ymittou, has started to carry out the project in their school. This article was written by EITIC-EU’s representative in the school. 

As IT instructors at EPAL Ymittou, a technical high school located in the heart of the Athens city center, we are committed to nurturing the skills of tomorrow’s leaders, primarily in the very important fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). In a global society that’s increasingly dependent upon technological advancement, it isn’t just a desire, but a requirement, to ensure that girls are not simply invited to the table, but empowered to lead the way in these fields. Our vocational culture has a unique hands-on STEAM learning approach, and we are just astounded at the results our work has had to foster passion and remove perceived obstacles for our female students.

One of our cornerstone activities, leveraging the HTML programming skills taught in IT classes, involved second-year students in the creation of a dedicated web platform: «STEAM for Girls.» Over the course of a month, our students meticulously designed and populated a comprehensive website featuring sections about Women Role Models, News in STEAM for girls, FAQ, Blog and Contact Form. This wasn’t merely an academic exercise; it was an act of creation driven by purpose. They not only learned to program, they built a web sanctuary where young girls could discover role models, solutions, and peers who have their backs. The «Role Models» section, in particular, became an inspiring tribute to the diverse trailblazers who have enriched the STEAM community, often breaking stereotypes along the way.

To further reinforce the message of diversity and representation, we had our students create PowerPoint presentations on famous women in STEAM. This assignment exceeded a simple listing of achievements; it invited true delving into the lives and achievements of women from varied backgrounds – encouraging religious diversity, multiethnic approach, focusing on the lives of women who overcame unprecedented societal barriers. The challenge was to create a richly layered tapestry of contributions, demonstrating that genius and creativity have no geographical, cultural, or gender boundaries. Witnessing our students connect with these lives, feeling reverberations of their own potential, was incredibly gratifying.

Recognizing the critical role peer mentoring plays, especially when it impacts critical academic choices, we launched a robust program for our freshman students. A second-year female student studying Technology volunteered to provide a poignant speech. She shared her own story, telling us what motivated her to take the Technology course of study and candidly detailing the challenges she encountered and overcame. Her honest testimony was a personal inspiration to the young girls, offering them a tangible image of achievement and proof that passion, along with persistence, can overcome any barrier. This open, one-on-one contact is invaluable in eliminating vocational myths and encouraging bold choices.

Beyond our school grounds, we have also taken advantage of the moment to reach out to the broader community. We actively informed middle school students from three nearby schools of the many benefits of pursuing studies in high school, specifically vocational high schools focusing on STEAM fields. Through these presentations, we highlighted the importance of a STEAM education for women, providing specific information about the Technology specialty – our area of specialization. It’s about planting seeds early, pointing to the exciting possibilities, and assuring these young brains that vocational STEAM pathways are solid building blocks for fulfilling and meaningful professional lives.

These programs, from hands-on web development to empowering personal narratives and active civic engagement, are the first steps of an integrated strategy for empowering girls in STEAM. They are not so much about acquiring technical skills; they are about confidence building, building community, and challenging the status quo. At EPAL Ymittou, we are convinced that by actively encouraging STEAM for girls, especially within vocational environments, we are not just enhancing their personal futures but contributing to the more balanced and innovative Europe we envision. We look forward to future cooperation within European programs committed to this important endeavor.