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Programs
STEM Centers
STEM Centers are dedicated facilities providing hands-on engineering lab experiences for local students, who enroll voluntarily and free of charge. Guided by lab mentors, students gain access to modern scientific equipment in a supportive environment. Additionally, these Centers host local gatherings and regional Science Fairs. Most are situated near or on university campuses, promoting strong bonds between academia and the community, while ensuring academic oversight and sustainability. Our first STEM Center was established in 2009 in Ethiopia; now 162 Centers operate in 49 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to international discourse, peace and development. Through its STEM Center family expansion, STEMpower is among the first African charities to create educational infrastructure outside of Africa, bringing practical hands-on engineering curricula offering robotics, electronics, 3D printing, chemical engineering, and agro-tech, to overlooked countries around the world.
Smart Classes
The Smart Classes design includes over 30 student workstations utilizing a single computer. Each workstation, equipped with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, connects to a “thin client” microcomputer. This setup allows approximately 30 thin clients to interface with one powerful PC, effectively making each workstation function like an independent computer while minimizing energy consumption and resource footprint. The smart class system reduces electricity use, simplifies wiring, generates less heat, and mitigates computer virus risks, making it an environmentally friendly solution. Training for local implementers ensures the knowledge for installation and operation is adequately shared, leading to a shift from the traditional model of one computer per student in Ethiopia. Currently, there are 162 successful implementations of smart classes throughout the continent, benefiting millions of students in various sectors, including government, education, and research.
STEM-TV
STEMpower aims to connect with every student in Ethiopia, particularly those in remote areas. The initiative features a biweekly STEM-TV show designed for students who lack internet access but have community or home satellite TV. To maximize reach, the show is produced in Amharic by local talent, including student-age actors, who inspire youth to engage with STEM concepts. According to satellite broadcaster Walta, approximately 5 million viewers tune in for the Saturday evening broadcasts, and English-language captions are added for online uploads.
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Science Shared Campus
The "Shared Science Campus" (SSC) initiative has established a high-quality secondary school education comparable to that of top developed nations. This program attracts the most talented public school students from urban areas to dedicated science-focused schools, offering superior teaching staff and an enhanced classroom environment, especially compared to traditional schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, 60% of the SSC students are female, highlighting a commitment to gender inclusivity. SSC facilities are equipped with top-tier laboratories and computer resources, and the science curriculum emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application through experiments, research materials, and university engagement. Currently, there are four operational SSCs in Ethiopia—Axum, BahirDar, Hawassa, and Kotebe. This initiative aims to elevate the quality of STEM education across all public high schools in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating a positive ripple effect for educational standards nationwide.
University STEM Outreach
University STEM Outreach effectively leverages the summer break to implement a program utilizing existing university resources such as labs, dormitories, and cafeterias, along with guidance from professors and college students. This initiative serves hundreds of talented local students and showcases a convincing cost-benefit ratio. After two years, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education adopted the program, expanding it to approximately 45 public universities, thereby establishing it as a permanent government-run initiative. Each summer, public university facilities transform into extensive STEM centers, benefiting over 10,000 students annually.
Science Fairs
Locally-run Science Fairs provide students a platform to cultivate their creativity and compete among peers. Winners of these fairs advance to larger competitions, ultimately leading to the National Science and Engineering Fair. The Ethiopian Science Fair model is notably more engineering-focused compared to traditional formats, emphasizing the design of practical solutions to national and regional challenges rather than adhering to the conventional hypothesis-experiment-conclusion structure. These community-level competitions cater to students in grades 7-12, where participants collaborate with local mentors provided through STEM Centers. With the growing momentum in STEM education, an increasing number of private and public schools are hosting local Science Fairs, collectively involving around 1,000 students annually.
Fab Labs
Fab Labs bridge the transition from hands-on STEM education to product manufacturing. Inside our Fab Labs, innovative students design commercially-viable sophisticated products. Then the students implement their design, by machining raw materials, designing custom electronics, and ultimately producing attractive products. Creativity and entrepreneurship are equally nurtured. Our Fab Labs create jobs and sustainable industries. Read More...
STEM for Trees
Annual flooding inundates vast areas of SouthSudan. STEMpower is attempting to reduce the flooding by planting water-absorbing trees alongside roadways, which facilitates tree nursery facilities and calculations.
Entrepreneurship and
Incubation Program
STEMpower partnered with VISA International in 2020 to promote financial inclusion and job creation in Ethiopia, focusing on innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs. The partnership involves STEMpower conducting specialized national training sessions covering the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Entrepreneurial Skillset, and Basics of Financial Education. Selected trainees, who have already made notable engineering projects in STEM Centers and national Science competitions, benefit from these programs. Read More...
STEMpower-Finland Embassy-IBM SkillsBuild Digital Skills Training
The Finland Embassy in Ethiopia, in collaboration with STEMpower Ethiopia and IBM SkillsBuild, launched an online training program named "Diligence" (or "ትጋት" in Amharic) aimed at equipping women with digital skills. The initial target was to graduate 1,000 women, but the program exceeded expectations with 3,160 women earning their graduation certificates. At least 40 of these graduates have secured jobs through the program's networking and support. Furthermore, many participants expressed newfound confidence, enabling them to start their own businesses for sustainable income. STEMpower seeks to expand this program in Ethiopia and replicate it in other Sub-Saharan African countries, recognizing a significant unmet demand for such initiatives. Read More...