The Girls in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), a community-based mentorship programme, implemented by the Markham Public Library (MPL) as part of its Digital Literacy Strategy, increases interest in STEM education and careers among young women in Markham.
Markham is a community of approximately 365,000 people, adjacent to Toronto, Ontario. This growing municipality has a robust STEM sector and a strong community focus on education. Approximately 1,500 ICT and related companies have their headquarters in Markham, and the creation of social infrastructure to enhance the economic development of this sector is a significant priority for the City of Markham.
The MPL’s Digital Literacy Strategy has been a key driver of community engagement, creating opportunities for community members to develop design, fabrication and critical making skills that align with the employment needs of the local community.
The need for developing local talent and a potential workforce for the local sector has been discussed with the community partners who confirmed that gender inclusion and equity is a serious concern. By all partners, the Girls in STEAM is seen as a valuable opportunity to focus on the importance of encouraging underrepresented communities to pursue STEM work.
Launched in 2024, the Girls in STEM programme created a socially supportive learning environment to reinforce an interest in STEAM and to empower young women. The programme is targeted at adolescent girls (grade 9, age 14) before social barriers negatively influenced their interest in STEAM careers.
Twelve girls participated in a 6-week pilot programme of workshops where they were exposed to micro-lessons of related curricula, including training on MPL’s makerspace technologies. This learning was applied to group projects to address community-based issues using STEAM-based solutions. These projects included a digital mobile library, a distribution system to reduce food waste, cybernetic prosthetic “pants” to assist with rehab for individuals with spinal cord injuries, and a tool to help practice musical instruments without making sound.
Twelve women established in STEAM careers acted as mentors for the participants. They shared experiences and advice with participants, and were paired with participants to have a 1:1 mentoring session to provide role modelling and social support.
The participants showcased their finished projects to family and friends as well as senior staff from the City of Markham, the Mayor and Members of council, and the mentors in a “graduation ceremony” at City Hall.
Participants reported that as a result of the programme, they experienced increases of up to 30% in confidence in their STEM skills and interest in pursuing STEM careers. They also indicated that they were more likely to see themselves reflected in STEM fields. The participants all saw the importance of STEM in improving their community.
Mentors highlighted the value of the programme brought to them – they spoke of the impact of participants’ enthusiasm and creativity had in reigniting their passion for STEM. One mentor offered the following feedback:
“As the weeks progressed, the participants became more involved, more social, more confident. [MPL] created a unique platform, that was inclusive, supportive and safe, that allowed the girls to grow and display their STEAM skills with confidence and creativity.”
Digital Literacy is also a key strategic priority for both the MPL and the City of Markham. The programme helped to showcase the connection between the importance of this work and the potential economic development impact to the community. The programme was deliberately envisioned as an opportunity to engage young people in issues relevant to their community so it would have a tangential impact of encouraging community participation.
