The Future Leaders STEM and Mentorship Program (FLSMP), a non-profit organization, last Friday empowered female inmates at the Juvenile Correctional Center at Labone in Accra, Ghana.
Being the first of its kind in Africa, FLSMP in collaboration with Innovate Ghana, organized workshops in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as well as leadership to prepare the female inmates for the future.
The juvenile female inmates underwent STEM training in robotics, electronics, and DEXT Science Kits. In addition, they were empowered to cultivate the spirit of individual development, leadership skills, knowledge transfer, succession planning, as well as rewarding integrity and dignity.
Speaking to the media after the event, the Director of FLSMP, Dr. Abigail Wilson, said, “Our purpose is driven by the principle that; we cannot ignore or take for granted the opportunity to invest in those who require guidance and education to succeed; as future leaders.”
Explaining their rationale for selecting female inmates, she added, “our vision is to promote a world in which every young individual has equal opportunity to develop their potential to live a fulfilling adult life, irrespective of their background or past mistakes.” The FLSMP intends to demystify societal stereotypes about STEM not being a friendly field for women by equipping women across diverse socio-economic divides with critical and analytical skills through STEM. The organization intends to replicate the workshop across correctional centers in Africa.
Present at the workshop were Freda Yawson, Founder of Innovate Ghana, and representatives from SeedAfrique. FLSMP comprehends the broader societal context of economic, educational, and social factors historically leading to disproportionate access and outcomes.
Leveraging cross-sector and industry collaborations, FLSMP is dynamically affianced in developing and delivering strategies that remove barriers and ensure more extensive access to FLSMP programs so that all youth can participate.