School girls in Kenya gain confidence in science and technology through Estonia–Kenya STEM Initiative

The ESTDEV-funded project “Adapting and Piloting the HK Unicorn Squad Model in Kenya” focuses on girls aged 9–11 and has equipped three schools in the Kisumu metro region with STEM clubs, teaching materials and teacher training to make science learning engaging, practical and accessible. Kisumu is located near Lake Victoria and is Kenya’s third-largest city. The metro region has a population of about 1.1 million people. 

More than 300 girls have taken part in weekly STEM clubs at St Christopher’s Kolunga Comprehensive School, Lake Comprehensive School and Orinde Comprehensive School, where they’ve been introduced to robotics, electronics, engineering principles and coding through a discovery-driven approach. Educators received training in Unicorn Squad’s teaching methodology during a workshop in July 2025, providing them with the opportunity to embed these new skills into their everyday teaching practice. 

“As teachers, we have seen a real change in how girls approach science,” said Hadah Ageyo, a STEM-club teacher at Orinde Primary School, during the conference. “They are more curious, more confident and willing to take on challenges. The Unicorn Squad method has helped us move from theory-based teaching to practical, learner-centred lessons. It also strengthens teachers’ professional development, equipping us with new skills and knowledge to apply in our everyday classroom practice.” 

A group of 30 outstanding girls from the three schools were selected for a three-day STEM Bootcamp, where they collaborated across schools, built prototypes and strengthened their skills before presenting their projects at the STEM Bootcamp Finale Conference held on 6 December in Ahero, Kisumu County. The event brought together learners, teachers, county education officials, Kenyan foundations, STEM organisations and representatives from Estonia. At the conference, STEM Club and Bootcamp participants showcased projects, including robotic models, simple circuits and engineering structures. Teachers also shared how they had integrated the Unicorn Squad methodology into their classrooms. 

“The experience in Kenya demonstrates just how great the potential of girls in STEM truly is,” said Kristi Kulu, ESTDEV’s programme manager for Education. “This pilot project has become part of a local education programme that brings practical, inclusive, and future-skills-oriented learning closer to every girl. STEM improves technical knowledge while building creativity, problem-solving skills and confidence in working with technology. When girls are given the opportunity to experiment and learn by doing, entirely new pathways for development and future career choices open up.” 

This project builds on Estonia’s long-standing commitment to supporting inclusive digital development globally. Estonia’s own transformation into a world-leading digital society began with investments in children’s digital literacy, teacher training and nationwide access to technology. Sharing this experience is a core part of Estonia’s development cooperation mandate, especially in countries where digital skills can significantly expand opportunities for young people. 

“When we look at the path Kenya is on today, it reminds us very much of the journey Estonia began in the 1990s, starting with almost nothing and building something remarkable from the ground up. The potential here in Kenya is enormous, and it gives us the chance to create something just as meaningful,” said Taavi Kotka, co-founder of HK Unicorn Squad. “What impressed me most was that when the first attempt to build a model didn’t work, the girls simply went back to their table and tried again. The appetite for technology and innovation is truly there.”