STEM Education at Sunflower Trust
At Sunflower Trust, we believe that every girl deserves the chance to dream, explore, and create a future filled with possibility. Our STEM Education program is designed for vulnerable and marginalised girls aged 12–18 living in Kibera, Kenya – young learners whose education has been disrupted by poverty, displacement, or persistent socio-economic barriers. Many of these girls are at risk of being left behind, not because of a lack of ability, but because they have not been given the opportunity or support they deserve. Our work focuses on restoring that opportunity, helping them reclaim their education, rebuild their confidence, and rediscover the joy of learning.
The programme is built around two vibrant and complementary components. The first, STEM Spark, offers an immersive, student-centred experience where learning becomes hands-on, exciting, and deeply relevant. Here, students explore everything from space science and composite materials to aerodynamics, hydrogen creation, mathematics, coding, and scientific investigation. The approach blends practical experiments with engaging theory, encouraging girls to question, test, and think critically.
Beyond the subject knowledge, the lessons are crafted to build collaboration, problem-solving abilities, and a sense of curiosity that many students may have lost after difficult schooling experiences. Most importantly, STEM Spark creates a safe, supportive environment where girls can begin to believe in themselves again.
The second component, Teaching Machines, introduces learners to the world of artificial intelligence using creative, space-themed missions. Students gain hands-on experience training machine vision models, cleaning and augmenting datasets, and assessing the accuracy of algorithms. While the activities unfold within imaginative scenarios, the skills are firmly rooted in real-world applications. Through these sessions, students discover how AI can support climate resilience—whether through land-use monitoring, precision agriculture, wildlife conservation, or other environmental solutions. Teaching Machines blends core STEM knowledge with essential digital literacy and opens a window into careers in the fast-growing green and digital economy.
Both components are delivered in person by Sunflower’s expert facilitators, creating a holistic model for AI-enhanced STEM education. Through inquiry-based and collaborative learning, the girls develop 21st-century skills that extend far beyond the classroom: computational thinking, creativity, resilience, teamwork, and the confidence to take on complex challenges. By positioning them as problem solvers and decision-makers, we aim to demystify STEM and AI – fields that often feel distant or intimidating for young girls in underserved communities.
Our vision is to nurture a generation of girls who not only understand technology but feel empowered to shape it. We want them to see themselves as scientists, engineers, innovators, and changemakers who can use STEM and AI to improve their lives and uplift their communities. Through this programme, Sunflower Trust is helping girls step into their potential and build futures they once thought were out of reach.
