Girls Inc. (USA)
Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, providing more than 130,000 girls across the US and Canada with life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges they face.
In 2020/2021, the Eurofins Foundation provided a grant to the Girls Inc. STEM Programme, initially established 30 years ago to create opportunities for girls to develop skills and knowledge of STEM-based topics, thus providing or enhancing career options and improving their future financial opportunities.
Through hands-on activities, girls can explore, ask questions, and solve problems. By interacting with women and men pursuing STEM careers, they come to realise how exciting and achievable these careers can be. The programme also promotes valuable life skills like resilience, risk-taking and critical thinking.
With support from the Eurofins Foundation, Girls Inc. successfully implemented its G3 data analytics programming in virtual environments, working with their network to develop new approaches to virtually sustain and expand current STEM programming.
In 2021, Girls Inc. served over 28,000 girls, and results from the Strong, Smart, and Bold Outcomes Survey demonstrate that their STEM programming is having a clear impact on the mindset of many girls:
- 72% of Girls Inc. girls are curious to learn more about science, computers, or technology;
- 71% get excited about science;
- 42% say that they would like to have a technological or scientific job in the future;
- 85% know what education or training they need for the career they want.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation supported the capstone of Girls Inc. STEM programming, Eureka!, an intensive, long-term programme that brings girls, including first-generation college applicants, onto local college and university campuses for a rigorous, STEM-based summer programme. Girls begin the programme as eighth graders and continue right through to high school graduation. Eureka! takes place throughout the school year, with the cohorts staying intact and sharing opportunities for guided exploration, skill development, and knowledge building.
Eureka! reached 1,687 girls at 26 affiliates in 2021/2022.
Beyond exposing girls to STEM, Girls Inc. wants girls to see the STEM career pipeline as an opportunity for creating an independent future for women. The organisation’s approach is unique in that they do not provide STEM content in isolation: girls are holistically prepared to advocate for themselves, set bold goals, and see themselves as leaders as they move toward higher education and careers. It’s not only the girls who benefit from this programming – their future workplaces are also strengthened by their leadership skills developed at a young age.
This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
