Rwanda Celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025

On February 11, 2025, Rwanda proudly joined the global community in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) at the Serena Hotel in Kigali. Hosted by the Rwandan Association for Women in Science and Engineering (RAWISE) the event brought together young girls, educators, scientists, and industry leaders to explore career opportunities in STEM and break down barriers that still hinder gender parity in science.

Under the theme “Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science,” the celebration focused on inspiring and equipping young women with the tools to pursue scientific careers. A major highlight was the participation of about 40 girls from 9 schools throughout Rwanda, selected under the UNESCO Global Citizenship Education Program (GCED), to showcase their STEM innovations and projects. The young participants’ outstanding engagement and enthusiasm reflected Rwandan girls’ growing confidence and ambition to take up space in scientific fields.

This event reinforced UNESCO’s dedication to gender equality in science and education, fully aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 4 “Quality Education” and SDG 5 “Gender Equality”. By facilitating support for students and teachers to attend, UNESCO ensured that young women had a platform to share their ideas, interact with role models, and challenge gender stereotypes.

Engaging Discussions: Breaking Barriers and Building Confidence

The panel discussions were among the most impactful moments of the day. Featuring a diverse lineup of accomplished women in STEM, including students, educators, government members, and industry leaders, the panels allowed for open and empowering conversations. The discussions delved into:

• Personal Journeys in Science: Panelists shared their paths into STEM, including the challenges they faced as women in a male-dominated field. From dealing with a lack of female lecturers and role models to overcoming language barriers and limited international exposure, their stories resonated deeply with the young audience.
• The Importance of Mentorship and Networking: RAWISE’s Dr. Chantal Cyulinyana, Rwanda’s first female physicist, underscored the critical role of mentorship in supporting women in science. The panellists encouraged the girls to seek mentors, support one another, and build professional networks that can open doors to opportunities beyond the classroom.
• Resilience in STEM Careers: The panellists emphasized that scientific careers are not always linear, with unexpected challenges and shifts. They reassured the students that even if their journey takes a different direction than expected, continuous learning will lead them to success.
• Inspiration from Rwanda’s Leadership: A particularly moving moment came when a young participant shared how Rwanda’s high number of women in government inspired her to pursue a career in STEM. "Seeing woman lead makes me believe I can do it too", she said, encapsulating the power of representation and role models in shaping young girls’ ambitions.

“Seeing women lead makes me believe I can do it too”

Rwanda’s Commitment to Gender Equality in STEM and Takeaways

Rwanda has made significant progress in promoting gender equality in STEM. With women holding over 61% of parliamentary seats, the country stands as a global leader in female political representation. Policies such as the National Gender Policy and initiatives under the Generation Equality Forum actively promote women’s participation in science, technology, and innovation. Through STEM scholarships, mentorship programs, and digital inclusion efforts, Rwanda is ensuring that young women and girls have equal opportunities to excel in scientific fields.

Still, the need for improvement remains. The most powerful insights of the day came from the active participation of the students themselves. Their curiosity and thought-provoking questions shaped many of the key recommendations that emerged from the discussions.

A strong emphasis was placed on the need for more awareness campaigns to combat the stereotypes that still discourage girls from entering STEM fields. Panelists pointed out, that while Rwanda has made gender equality efforts, there is still work to be done in normalizing the presence of women in science and technology. They highlighted the importance of mentorship beyond formal initiatives, calling for structured support systems within schools and universities.

Another key discussion centred on the visibility of female role models. While there are numerous inspiring women in STEM, their stories and achievements need to be showcased more widely in media, classrooms, and everyday conversations. Seeing women thrive in scientific careers reinforces the message that young girls belong in these spaces. The topic of inclusive opportunities also sparked an important dialogue. Students expressed the need for tailored support and accessibility. Panelists echoed this sentiment, stressing that STEM career paths and programs should be inclusive for all and that disability or expectancy should never be a barrier to success.

A particularly forward-thinking idea emerged from the discussions: the creation of a Pan-African STEM network for women and girls. Participants envisioned a platform that connects young scientists across Africa, fostering knowledge-sharing beyond borders. By leveraging digital tools, young women could break geographical barriers and find opportunities regardless of their location.

At the heart of these discussions was a shared message of encouragement and solidarity. The panellists urged the girls to be confident in their abilities, support one another, and actively seek out opportunities. One of the panellists summed it up best:

“Find people who believe in you and believe in each other. Support is everything.”

Innovative Solutions for Real-World Challenges: The Girls’ STEM Projects

The exhibition of student-led STEM projects was a true highlight of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025. The young innovators displayed creativity and problem-solving skills, presenting solutions to pressing challenges in Rwanda and beyond. What stood out most was their ability to develop practical, marketable ideas using accessible and low-cost technology.

From environmental conservation to sustainable farming and hygiene, the projects were rooted in real-life struggles. One of the most fascinating projects was a coral reef repopulation greenhouse, a model designed to restore ocean reefs on land before reintroducing them to the sea. This concept is particularly groundbreaking for Rwanda, a landlocked country, as it allows young scientists to contribute to marine conservation and research, including potential medicinal applications derived from coral species.

Other projects tackled waste reduction and sustainability, such as decorative paper recycling, a candle recycling system, and a water purification project aimed at improving access to clean drinking water. A group of students developed maggot farming techniques to produce high-protein animal feed, a solution tailored to meet the demands of Rwandan farmers seeking sustainable alternatives. Similarly, other teams presented soap and oils projects, promoting local farmers and natural ingredients, demonstrating how science and business can intersect to create economic opportunities.

Hygiene and health were also key areas of focus, with one group designing reusable sanitary pads and hygiene care solutions, providing an affordable and sustainable option to support women’s health and menstrual equity. Meanwhile, an impressive robotics project for deep-sea exploration showcased how automation and technology can play a role in ocean preservation.

Follow-up Discussions

The follow-up discussion offered valuable feedback from the participating experts. Participants encouraged the girls to incorporate control mechanisms in their projects for better data validation, refine their business models and branding strategies, and improve how they communicate their impact on sustainability and society. While most of the projects already had a strong connection to international challenges, the experts emphasized the importance of thinking globally and aligning innovations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They encouraged the students to clearly focus on the broader impact of their work, highlighting how their solutions contribute to global efforts and long-term change. The projects were so well received that a professor from the University of Rwanda suggested finding funders to support their implementation and expressed excitement about seeing these young innovators continue their work at the university level.

The impression left by these projects was profound—not only did they showcase technical skill and scientific curiosity, but they also proved that Rwanda’s young women are ready to lead in innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.