Advancing inclusive STEM education and empowering girls to become innovators and problem-solvers

The Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI) participated in the Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) Expo 2026, joining education leaders, industry representatives, innovators and development stakeholders from across the continent to explore solutions accelerating the digital transformation of education in Africa.

The Expo provided a platform for showcasing innovative approaches to education, exchanging knowledge and highlighting how technology, creativity and inclusive learning can expand educational opportunities and equip young people with the skills needed to respond to Africa’s development priorities.

At its exhibition stand, FAWEZI showcased its commitment to advancing equitable, quality education by demonstrating how girls from underserved communities can progress from limited exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to becoming confident innovators capable of developing practical solutions to challenges within their schools and communities.

African Union Commission Commissioner Engages with FAWEZI’s STEM Showcase
FAWEZI was honoured to welcome the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) of the African Union Commission, H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, to its exhibition stand.

During the engagement, the Commissioner explored FAWEZI’s showcase, which highlighted the transformative potential of inclusive STEM education and the role of girls in driving innovation and addressing real-world challenges.

The exhibition demonstrated how creating opportunities for girls to access STEM learning, experiment with ideas and participate in practical innovation can help nurture their confidence, technical abilities and leadership potential.

The engagement also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of ensuring that girls from underserved communities are included in Africa’s education transformation agenda, particularly as countries increasingly embrace digital technologies and innovation-driven approaches to learning and development.

From Limited STEM Exposure to Confident Innovation
Across many communities, girls continue to face barriers that limit their participation in STEM education. These may include limited access to learning resources, inadequate exposure to practical science and technology experiences, gender stereotypes and a lack of opportunities to explore their interests in technical fields.

FAWEZI’s exhibition brought these challenges and opportunities into focus through an immersive presentation tracing the journey of girls from limited STEM exposure to active participation in innovation.

The showcase illustrated the importance of moving beyond theoretical learning towards approaches that allow girls to explore scientific concepts, apply their knowledge and develop solutions to challenges they encounter in their everyday environments.

By creating supportive learning spaces and expanding access to practical STEM experiences, girls can develop the confidence to question, experiment, collaborate and turn their ideas into tangible solutions.

This approach recognises girls not simply as recipients of educational opportunities, but as active contributors to innovation, community development and Africa’s future.

Mobile Laboratories Bringing STEM Learning Closer to Communities
A key feature of FAWEZI’s exhibition was the presentation of stories from its mobile laboratories, highlighting the role of practical learning in expanding girls’ exposure to STEM.

Mobile laboratories offer opportunities to bring science and technology learning experiences closer to schools and communities, helping programme participants engage with scientific concepts through practical activities and experimentation.

For girls who may have limited access to specialised STEM facilities and equipment, these experiences can help make science and technology more accessible, relevant and engaging.

The stories showcased at the Expo demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for girls to interact with STEM in meaningful ways, discover their interests and begin to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, technology specialists and innovators.

By connecting learning with practical application, such initiatives can help challenge perceptions about who can participate in STEM and encourage more girls to pursue educational and career pathways in these fields.

Celebrating Student-Led Innovations and Local Solutions
Alongside the mobile laboratory stories, FAWEZI showcased student-led innovations that highlighted the creativity and problem-solving abilities of girls when they are given opportunities to explore STEM.

These innovations reflected the potential of education to equip young people with skills that extend beyond the classroom. Through practical learning, students can identify challenges in their environments, explore possible solutions and apply their knowledge to improve their schools and communities.

Student-led innovation also provides opportunities to strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and leadership — competencies that are increasingly important in a rapidly changing world.

FAWEZI’s participation in the Expo reinforced the importance of investing in learning environments where girls are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas and develop solutions that respond to local needs.

Such experiences help demonstrate that innovation does not have to begin in highly resourced laboratories or established technology companies. It can also emerge in schools and communities when young people have access to the right tools, encouragement and opportunities to learn by doing.

Advancing Inclusive Education in Africa’s Digital Transformation
As African countries accelerate efforts to transform their education systems through technology and innovation, ensuring that these developments benefit all learners remains essential.

Digital transformation must go hand in hand with equitable access to quality education, appropriate learning resources and opportunities for young people to develop relevant skills. Without deliberate efforts to address existing inequalities, girls and learners from underserved communities risk being excluded from emerging educational and economic opportunities.

FAWEZI’s showcase at the IEA Expo 2026 highlighted the importance of placing girls at the centre of these conversations and ensuring that they have opportunities to participate meaningfully in shaping the continent’s future.

Through its focus on equitable, quality education and practical STEM learning, FAWEZI continues to highlight the importance of creating pathways that enable girls to build their capabilities, explore their potential and contribute to innovation.

The exhibition also reinforced the value of collaboration among education stakeholders, governments, institutions, development partners and the private sector in expanding access to inclusive STEM opportunities and strengthening innovation within education systems.

Investing in Girls Today to Shape Africa’s Tomorrow
FAWEZI’s participation in the Innovating Education in Africa Expo 2026 provided an opportunity to showcase the potential of girls when barriers to STEM education are addressed and practical learning opportunities are expanded.

From mobile laboratories to student-led innovations, the stories presented at the exhibition underscored a central message: girls from underserved communities have the talent, creativity and capacity to contribute to scientific discovery, technological advancement and community development when given the opportunity.

As Africa continues to invest in digital transformation and innovation, expanding girls’ access to STEM education is not only an investment in individual potential but also in the continent’s collective development.

FAWEZI remains committed to championing equitable, quality education and opportunities for all, ensuring that girls are empowered not only to participate in Africa’s future, but to help shape it through knowledge, innovation and leadership.