03 Jun 2019
Blog, Fundraising, Girls in STEM, Summer Camps
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The #STEM Summer Programs for Underserved Youth crowdfunding campaign has launched!

Here we are! This year we decided to dabble into crowdfunding campaign again to help us support our efforts in bringing FREE STEM education to over 150 young minds this year.  We can’t do it alone, we need your help!

As you already know, hEr VOLUTION has assisted about 3000 young bright minds since our incorporation back in 2013. We delivered workshops, camps, and seminars from Scarborough to Milton. We facilitated over 10 camps (March Break and Summer Camps) so far and we were able to serve over 300 young minds so far in these programs alone.  

This year we want to do more. Typically we can only serve about 30 – 50 young people through our programs per year and there is a demand for more, however, we need funds to be able to do this. As you know, we aim high and we push the boundary for more each year. Our goal is to include 150 young minds in our STEM Summer Programs this year. We know that more than 25% of participants who attend our programs will come from underserved communities. We also know that we want to make it affordable for everyone and all of our participants will be accepted in the programs through a subsidized spot.    More

21 Sep 2018
#STEM4Every1, Blog, CanWomenSTEM150, Engineering, LGBTQA+, Math, Mathematics, Science, Space, STEM Spark, Success, Technology, Women In STEM Conference
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Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

Now that school started and you are becoming accommodated with the new teachers, making new friends and learning new things, you may not think about the start of your career yet. Why would you?

Depending on what you want to become, or even if you don’t know yet what that is, it is very important to start thinking about your network. Sometimes is who knows you that can give you that big break in your career.

Some speakers at our conference last year (see videos here)  have stated that they did not know what they wanted to be when they grew up and that’s ok because they eventually found their calling and have succeeded anyways. Some of them did not even pursue a STEM education yet ended up working in STEM and encouraged everyone to think about that because STEM is such an important skill to have! One particular speaker is also a rock band lead singer (how cool is that!!!!).

This year, for the 2nd annual Candian Women in STEM conference, we are bringing diverse speakers again to discuss important topics such as Innovation in Technology, LGBTQA+ in STEM, STEM Communication, Financial Literacy (one of my favourite topics) and, best of all, there will be 2 Speed Networking sessions where you will have the opportunity to meet professionals who can become your mentors and guide you in the direction where you need to be.

Did you know: having a mentor will give you a 130% more chances of holding a leadership position later on in life?   More

25 Aug 2018
#STEMingUPSpotlight, #STEMingUPWeeklyWriteUp, Blog, Uncategorized
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An Interview with the Founder of hEr VOLUTION: Doina Oncel- STEMing UP Weekly Write Up 13

Hello, readers, and welcome to STEMing UP Spotlight! As promised, this week we will learn more about the founder of STEMing UP and hEr VOLUTION itself- Doina Oncel!

Doina is a social entrepreneur and the founder of hEr VOLUTION, through which she has launched initiatives such as STEM summer camps, the GO!STEM program, and long-term programs such as STEMing UP. Doina loves dancing, food, learning new things, and spending time with her daughters, as she is a mother of two! Fun fact: Doina watches too much Netflix (but don’t we all?!). She likes spending time on her own but also loves being around other people who are fun.

Now that you’ve learnt a bit about Doina, let’s learn more by getting into the interview!

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18 Aug 2018
#STEMingUPSpotlight, #STEMingUPWeeklyWriteUp, Blog, Engineering
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STEMing UP Spotlight (Interview with Hailee Vassell) – STEMing UP Weekly Write Up 12

Hi, and welcome back to another STEMing UP Spotlight! Last week’s Spotlight was Dhwani Vaishnav, and this week we will be featuring Hailee Vassell. This series, spanning over the duration of Phase III of the STEMing UP program will showcase the girls in the program, one each Saturday! Check back here every weekend to learn more about the incredible girls in the STEMing UP program and what they are working on.

Hailee is an incoming first year student at Ryerson University . She is passionate about technology and entrepreneurship. She hopes to one day combine these passions and be a trailblazer for the next generation of girls. Hailee enjoys reading, travelling and meeting new people.

Onwards with this interview!

 

1. Why did you join the STEMing UP program?

I joined STEMing UP because I wanted to join something that could challenge me as well as build my portfolio. STEMing UP is perfect as it does both of these things for me. I also really like the idea of working with other girls who are interested in STEM and being able to meet industry professionals.

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12 Aug 2018
#STEMingUPSpotlight, #STEMingUPWeeklyWriteUp, Blog, Engineering, Math, Mathematics, Science, Space, STEMingUPSpotlight, Technology, Uncategorized
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STEMing UP Spotlight (Interview with Dhwani Vaishnav) – STEMing UP Weekly Write Up 11

Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed last week’s Spotlight with Naomi Thomas. This week, we will be featuring Dhwani Vaishnav. This series, spanning over the duration of Phase III of the STEMing UP program will showcase the girls in the program, one each Saturday! Check back here every weekend to learn more about the incredible girls in the STEMing UP program and what they are working on.

Dhwani will be in grade 11 this September at J Clarke Richardson Collegiate and she enjoys reading, Bharatanatyam dance, and playing the violin. Fun fact: Dhwani loves to travel and has visited five countries so far!

Let’s get into the interview!

  1. Why did you join the STEMing UP program?

I joined the STEMing UP program because although I have always been interested in STEM, I had not received the opportunity to learn about content that would help me in the future other than soft skills. I received an email from the Girls-E-Mentorship (GEM) program, where I was a mentee, and immediately applied. After all, a chance to learn skills such as financial metrics, marketing, how to pitch, and coding skills such as Python and coding with the Django framework are irreplaceable skills! More

18 Jul 2018
#STEM4Every1, Engineering, Math, Mathematics, Science, STEM Spark, Success, Summer Camps, Technology
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Who’s behind the #STEMCamp2018? Jane, Helen & Sophia Young Women in STEM Fields

Jane Huynh: Currently working in the healthcare profession at a research hospital. Interested in the world of science and new discoveries.

Helen Chen: Helen Chen is a high school student in a specialized STEM program called “TOPS”. She is extremely passionate about chemistry, public health, and the intersections between business and STEAM. She has been part of the Foundation for Student Science and Technology for three years now, first as an ambassador, then as a GTA coordinator, and now as the conference director. Through this, she is also working on her own research on Zika and cancer with Dr. Brad Bass.

Sophia Fan: I am a second-year student at U of T pursuing a double major in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity & Conservation Biology, with a minor in Mathematics. I am working in Dr. Bass’ lab on the Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland project as a research-opportunity student in the fall, but I am currently helping out in the lab for the summer as well.

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