Girl Up’s Science Camp: Closing the Gender Gap in STEAM

Imagine a world where the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) no longer exists and where women and girls are equally represented. Such a world would be richer in innovation, inclusion and solutions to global challenges. The Caterpillar Foundation and Girl Up are committed to empowering them with the tools, opportunities, and support needed to fulfill their dreams and drive meaningful change.

Asha Varghese, President of the Caterpillar Foundation, recently visited the global non-profit Girl Up in Kochi, Kerala, India. The trip centered around the organization’s Women in Science (WiSci) Girls’ STEAM Camp focused on bridging the gender gap in the field through education, mentorship, and leadership training.

An initiative of the United Nations Foundation, Girl Up was created in 2010 to give secondary school girls the opportunity to immerse themselves in STEAM subjects. Programs like these are essential tools working to close the STEAM gender gap, as women only hold 26% of related jobs and represent only 35% of students worldwide.

Girl Up, with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships; the United States Embassies of India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka; Caterpillar Foundation; Google; and TE Connectivity Foundation, hosted an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime camp where girls across South Asia and the United States gained valuable access to education, mentorship, and resources centered around STEAM from experts in the field. These WiSci Camps are a supportive and girl-centered environment, bringing together 100 teen girls from three or more countries to live and learn together for up to two weeks while exploring their interests in STEAM. 

The Caterpillar Foundation has collaborated with Girl Up since 2015, working on expanding its initiatives and inspiring more girls to pursue STEAM careers by connecting them to a global network of experts and peers, providing interactive resources, and translating learned skills into actionable and sustainable progress within their communities. 

For Asha, this trip was particularly meaningful. Born in Kerala and emigrating to the U.S. at 12, she knew firsthand how a lack of access to opportunity can limit one's growth. With a background in engineering, extensive experience, and a passion for social impact, her personal stories exemplify the principles that Girl Up strives to instill in young women – bridging the gap between technical skills and societal betterment. 

This visit and ongoing collaboration between the Caterpillar Foundation and Girl Up highlight the transformative power of programs designed in partnership with the communities they serve to bring hope for the future of STEAM. "I have been fortunate to have a robust support system that encouraged a girl from Kerala to become a computer engineer and a career in corporate America," said Asha Varghese. "I want all young girls and women to have a robust support network to close the STEAM gap and was energized by experiencing the WiSci camp and seeing the future leaders of STEAM fields in action."