February 11, 2025: Youth Day and International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 marks two major events: the Fête de la Jeunesse au Cameroun and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This coincidence highlights a key issue: access for young people, and especially girls, to scientific and technological careers.
A day dedicated to Cameroon's youth
Since 1966, Cameroon has honored its youth every February 11. The day aims to highlight the central role of young people in the country's development. Through speeches, parades and educational activities, youth are encouraged to become actively involved in the country's future.
Each year, the focus is on innovation and education, as well as entrepreneurship. In this context, orienting young girls towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is becoming a major issue.
Women and girls in science: a global challenge
Since 2015, the UN has recognized February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This initiative was launched to highlight the challenges faced by women in scientific and technical fields. Statistics show that girls are still under-represented in STEM fields worldwide.
Several factors explain this situation:
- Persistent stereotypes that discourage girls from entering these careers.
- A lack of visible female role models in science and engineering.
- Limited access to educational resources and training opportunities.
Why is this day so important?
This double celebration highlights a major challenge: Girls' access to STEM remains limited. Despite their potential, there are still few of them pursuing scientific studies.
To get things moving, Girlsday237 takes concrete action. Every year, science competitions are organized between schools. These events enable young girls to manipulate, experiment and demonstrate their know-how in disciplines such as physics, engineering and mathematics. Through these initiatives, self-confidence is boosted and interest in STEM is stimulated.
Outlook for 2025
Reinforced actions will be implemented this year. The objective is clear: to give girls the means to succeed in STEM.
February 11, 2025 will be a reminder that a more inclusive future depends on education and diversity in science.
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