At a time when science, technology and innovation are rapidly transforming how the world lives, works and solves problems, creating meaningful pathways for young girls to explore and thrive in STEM has become more important than ever.
It is against this backdrop that MOLEX Foundation Africa established SHEROES in STEM, a five-year initiative designed to inspire, equip and support young girls as they explore opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The programme takes a practical, community-focused approach, encouraging girls to see STEM not simply as a school subject, but as a powerful tool for solving real-world problems, creating opportunities, becoming entrepreneurs and contributing to societal development.
For many girls, however, opportunities to gain practical exposure to emerging fields such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Electronics and Programming remain limited. Beyond access to resources and training, there is a need for relatable role models, mentorship and supportive environments that encourage girls to see themselves not only as users of technology, but also as creators, innovators and problem-solvers.
From the classroom to the laboratory
The third cohort of SHEROES in STEM brings together 60 senior high school girls from across Ghana for an intensive two-week residential camp at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Welcomed into the programme on August 15, 2026, the participants are accommodated at Valco Hall and receive practical training at the Embedded Systems Laboratory of the Department of Physics.
Here, learning goes beyond theory. The girls are experimenting, collaborating and transforming ideas into functional technological solutions designed to respond to everyday challenges.
Their training covers key areas of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, including Electronics, Coding and Programming, 3D Modelling and Printing, and System Development.
Among the projects currently being developed are a Delivery Rover, Flood Detector, Smart Water Dispenser, Smart Parking Lot, Child Pick-Up Security System and Digital Timer.
The projects reflect the programme’s emphasis on using STEM to address problems within communities and demonstrate how young people can move from identifying challenges to developing practical solutions.
Building confidence through community
The residential component is an important part of the SHEROES experience.
For two weeks, the participants learn and live alongside other girls who share their curiosity about technology and innovation. Beyond the structured training sessions, the experience promotes independence, teamwork, critical thinking and confidence.
The girls are encouraged to approach everyday challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving and to recognise that innovation is not limited to laboratories or established technology companies.
Mentorship beyond the classroom
SHEROES in STEM also recognises that preparing the next generation of women in STEM requires more than technical knowledge.
The programme therefore incorporates mentorship and engagement sessions with professionals, academics, innovators and leaders from diverse fields. These interactions allow participants to hear first-hand accounts of professional journeys, ask questions and gain a broader understanding of the opportunities available to them.
Among the personalities who have engaged with Cohort 3 are Dr. Akofa Amuzu, a medical doctor at the 37 Military Hospital; Dr. Francis Nkrumah, a lecturer in the Department of Physics at UCC and a board member of MOLEX Foundation Africa; Dr. Hubert Dankwa Nyarko, Head of the Department of Laboratory Science at UCC; Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa of Saginaw Valley State University in the United States; Mr. Daniel Ofori Dankwa, a board member of MOLEX Foundation Africa; and Mr. Mark K. Aggrey, a transformative IT Executive, STEAM Mentor and Technology Leader.
Their messages have reinforced the idea that STEM is not a distant or unfamiliar field, but one in which the girls can belong, excel and make meaningful contributions.
Lessons that go beyond STEM
For Dr. Akofa Amuzu, the girls’ backgrounds should not determine the limits of their ambitions.
“No matter where you come from, you can make it in life.”
Her message highlighted determination and possibility, encouraging participants to believe that their circumstances do not have to define their destinations.
Dr. Francis Nkrumah focused on the changing technological landscape and the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence.
“AI is the key now in this generation.”
His message encouraged the girls to understand emerging technologies and prepare themselves to participate actively in a rapidly changing digital world.
Dr. Hubert Dankwa Nyarko urged the participants to view their academic struggles differently.
“Sell your academic challenges.”
The message challenged the girls to see difficulties in their educational journeys as experiences that can build resilience, strengthen their character and ultimately become part of their stories of success.
Prof. Joseph Ofori Dankwa offered a simple reminder about personal responsibility:
“It’s all about you.”
While mentors, institutions and support systems can provide opportunities, he reminded the participants that the responsibility to develop themselves and pursue excellence ultimately rests with them.
Mr. Mark K. Aggrey, meanwhile, emphasised collaboration as a critical ingredient in innovation.
“Work together, collaborate, work with each other.”
His message aligns closely with the philosophy of SHEROES in STEM: that innovation thrives when people share ideas, listen to different perspectives and build together.
Investing in the next generation
Supported by the Henry Luce Foundation of the United States and Berlin Group of Ghana, SHEROES in STEM represents an investment not only in STEM education, but also in the confidence, creativity and potential of young Ghanaian girls.
The programme is expected to welcome other inspiring personalities in the days ahead, including Dr. Patrick Essien, founder of MOLEX Foundation Africa, as Cohort 3 continues its two-week journey.
As the girls continue designing, coding, experimenting and testing their ideas, the experience is demonstrating that STEM education can be much more than textbooks and examinations.
For these young innovators, it is an opportunity to imagine a problem, design a solution and discover that they have the ability to make it work.
Ultimately, SHEROES in STEM is more than a Robotics Camp. It is a deliberate effort to empower young Ghanaian girls to see themselves as future engineers, innovators, researchers, programmers and leaders—and to give them the skills, confidence and networks to help shape the technologies of tomorrow.
