STEMpower Inaugurates 100th STEM Center in Sub-Saharan Africa, 60th in Ethiopia

STEMpower, a non-profit organization that promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education across sub-Saharan Africa, has reached a significant milestone with the inauguration of its 100th STEM center in the region and the 60th STEM center in Ethiopia. 

The center, located at Kotebe University of Education in Addis Ababa, was officially inaugurated two weeks ago, on May 4, 2023.   

The new STEM center will provide hands-on training to students in disadvantaged communities, helping them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in science and technology fields.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Edwin Kumfa, the CEO of STEMpower, expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported the organization’s mission and emphasized the importance of STEM education in bridging the gap between developing and developed countries.

STEMpower, a pan-African charity, has been promoting STEM education across Africa for over a decade. The charity’s mission is to provide hands-on STEM programs to secondary and pre-university students, regardless of gender or ethnicity, to prepare them for advanced STEM studies and careers.

With offices in the USA, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Rwanda, STEMpower has established over 100 STEM centers across Sub-Saharan Africa.

STEM centers are specialized learning facilities that provide students with computer laboratories specializing in technological training and modern scientific equipment in a comfortable setting.

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Local students can enroll in age-appropriate programs offered by the centers at no cost, and the centers also serve as venues for local gatherings and regional science fairs.

In partnership with Visa, STEMpower piloted an entrepreneurship program that received interest from over 14,000 entrepreneurs and innovators, with 1,700 receiving entrepreneurship training, coaching, and pitching services. Out of this, over 40 registered startup companies emerged, including eight student-run startup companies.

STEMpower is now in an expansion phase and plans to reach out to more than ten new countries in 2023 while strengthening its operations in countries where STEM Centers are already established.