Providing the Platform to Dream

Ankitha is a class 10 student of a government school in Allipur village, Telangana. DEF’s STEM for girls programme was initiated in her school a few years ago. Ankitha was unclear about her career path before the program. She had no idea about the career options in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). The aim of the program is to motivate girls to pursue higher education in the field of STEM. STEM sessions are held twice a week in her school and they have really helped her. She said “earlier I was scared of talking to people, but now my communication skills have improved, I know how to talk to people and my stage fear is also gone now.” She has been made aware about the gender stereotypes that are prevalent in society. Now she has gained clarity about her career path and has taken the Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry stream as she wants to become a software engineer. 

The students of the ZPHS Allipur School (Government School) read their headmaster’s biography as part of a class and Ankitha decided to give a speech about her understanding of the biography. Her teachers, the headmaster and her parents were stunned to see her confidence. They saw immense progress in her attitude and confidence.