YHP Costa Rica

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Location

Cartago, Costa Rica

Timing

2023 – 2025

The local context

In Costa Rica, gender disparity in science persists despite advancements in education and policy. According to UNESCO, women account for only 28% of researchers in the country, highlighting a significant under-representation in scientific fields1. Moreover, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) reveals that women constitute only 32% of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates at the tertiary level2.

This imbalance not only hinders the full utilization of our nation's intellectual capital but also perpetuates inequalities in decision-making and resource allocation within scientific institutions. Addressing these disparities is essential not only for ensuring fairness and equal opportunities but also for maximizing Costa Rica's scientific potential and driving innovation across all sectors of our economy.

Promoting gender equality in STEM fields contributes to economic growth by bridging the gender gap in high-demand industries and narrowing the wage disparity. Ultimately, investing in girls' education, and health education not only benefits the girls and their communities but also propels Costa Rica towards a more equitable and prosperous future.

 

Our objectives

To strengthen educational communities to promote interest and access to science to adolescent girls, empowering them to pursue science as a life path and supporting a more inclusive landscape.

Our focus

The ESTRELLAZ Project is designed to enhance the prospects of young girls between 14-17 years old facing socio-economic challenges, aiming to ignite their interest in science while equipping them with the necessary tools to thrive in careers within STEM.


By addressing the unique barriers these girls encounter, such as limited access to quality education and resources, the initiative seeks to narrow the gender gap in STEM fields. Moreover, through targeted health education and mentorship, the program aims to empower girls with the resilience and tools they need to overcome obstacles and pursue successful careers in science.


By fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment, we not only strive for greater gender equality in STEM but also harness the diverse talents and perspectives of all individuals to drive innovation and progress in Costa Rica's scientific landscape.

Our program

The program uses four components of intervention:

  1. Communication for social change: Awareness-raising about the power we have to make a sociocultural change on the factors that legitimate and sustain inequalities in the interest and access to science in the life trajectories of adolescent women.

  2. Capacities strengthening: Theoretical and practical training processes with participatory, playful, and experiential methodologies and the creation of adjusted virtual and face-to-face tools.

  3. Employee volunteering: Employees to engage in training and practical experiences for beneficiaries that allows learning, and contribution to the community.

  4. Systematization: learning from experience, improving processes, and obtaining inputs to strengthen corporate volunteering, the approach to teenage girls, and their educational environments (family, academic community) in incorporating interest and access to science in their life trajectories.

Our partners

The PANIAMOR Foundation has a vision for a Costa Rica that ensures optimal conditions for girls, boys, adolescents, and young people to build lives full of light and value, free from all violence and all exclusion.

Their mission is to catalyse the rights of children and adolescents in the political and social action of the Costa Rican nation, through the development of transformative alliances that produce innovation.

The program is further strengthened by its collaboration with the Costa Rican Government's Public Health Education, the primary institution responsible for educational initiatives. This partnership ensures alignment with broader educational goals and enhances the program's reach and impact. By leveraging the expertise and resources of the Public Health Education of Costa Rica Government, the program can effectively integrate health education components, equipping young girls with essential knowledge and skills for both their personal well-being and their future careers in science.

References

1.UNESCO. (2018). UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030. Paris: UNESCO. (Regional Report for Latinamerica).

2. National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Sistema de Indicadores Estadísticos de Género (SIEG).