Pathways to STEM for Racialized Immigrant Girls

Language barriers, having to navigate the Canadian school system, family responsibilities, and a lack of confidence are just some of the reasons that racialized immigrant girls are often overlooked when it comes to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program opportunities. WISEST partnered with Action for Healthy Communities (AHC), a local community-based agency that specializes in working with immigrant and refugee populations, between 2021-2024, to better understand and address the systemic barriers that prevent racialized immigrant girls from succeeding in STEM fields. 

We connected with various groups about their experiences in STEM spaces and some of the challenges that come with being in a STEM field which ultimately informed the development of the Gender Equality Leadership Lab (GELL) program. This program is specifically designed to engage racialized immigrant girls from grades 7-12 through hands-on STEM activities, communication skill-building, confidence-building activities and more. 

We thank all participants who have either participated in our pilot program or have contributed their feedback during our environmental scan process. You have made this project possible!

The program package is now being disseminated to any interested organization that works with racialized immigrant girls here in Canada. The package includes a facilitator manual, student workbook, program slides and orientation videos. If you are interested in accessing these resources, please connect with Kevwe Dabor at AHC (kevwe.dabor@a4hc.ca).