STEM Summer Camp
Thimphu, Bhutan | STEM Summer Camp - RAYWA | 2025
Kuzuzangpo la!
We are Raywa, which translates to "hope" in Dzongkha, a collective of five college-going STEM girls determined to empower the next generation of female STEM leaders in Bhutan. In 2025, we launched the STEM Summer Camp to shift mindsets, and navigate real-world STEM applications through hands-on experiences, role modeling, and design-thinking workshops.
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21 to 23 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
Limited access to real-world STEM career exposure in Paro leaves girls curious about science but lacking clear direction or awareness of specific career paths. Without mentorship from women already working in STEM fields and without opportunities to see how classroom learning connects to actual careers, girls struggle to envision themselves as pilots, biomedical engineers, or software developers. This knowledge gap means talented young minds never discover their potential.
Our Brighter Future
We imagine every young girl cultivated with interest in STEM and empowered to become leaders. In this future, girls don't just learn about science in textbooks—they fly drones, map forests with technology, identify plant species with apps, and meet women who've turned STEM degrees into meaningful careers. They return to their schools as peer leaders and STEM club founders, creating ripples of inspiration that reach far beyond our five-day camp.
What We Did
We created an immersive five-day experience where 26 students could see, touch, and experience STEM careers firsthand.
Offline Impact
Hands-On Technology Workshops: Taught participants to operate drones, use SW Map application for field mapping, and identify plant species using PlantNet, making abstract STEM concepts tangible and exciting
Female STEM Role Model Networking: Five female STEM mentors led all facilitation, showing participants that women can and do succeed in technical fields, breaking stereotypes through their presence and expertise.
Paro International Airport Field Visit: Took students behind the scenes at the airport, where they saw aviation technology in action and met professionals working in aerospace careers.
Online & Media Impact
Social Media Community Building: Gained 188 new followers on Instagram and Facebook, creating a digital community where participants can continue learning and connecting beyond the camp.
Campaign Impact
26 young people participated in the intensive five-day camp
5 female STEM mentors led all sessions, providing role model representation
188 new social media followers joined the growing STEM community
Specific career clarity achieved, with many participants identifying careers like pilot, biomedical engineer, and software developer
4 school-based projects implemented by participants after returning to their schools
Pre-camp surveys revealed general curiosity about STEM but lack of clear direction. Post-camp responses showed a marked increase in enthusiasm and specific career aspirations. One participant captured the transformation: "At first, I didn't know what to do, but now I want to become a pilot." Participants gained valuable technical and soft skills, reporting: "Now I understand how drones and aircraft work, and I can use mapping and identification tools like SW Map and PlantNet."
Most importantly, several participants expressed intent to apply their learning in school settings, mentioning plans to use new skills during group projects, initiate peer awareness campaigns on emotional health and safety, and lead school-based STEM clubs.
"Engaging with the children and learning about them was really fun and educational, and moreover seeing young girls sharing their STEM ambitions after the campaign felt that we as a group can really encourage STEM to young girls and in a way contribute in national girls enrollment in STEM subjects."
~ Pema Choezom, a core Raywa member
Follow our journey:
📍 Instagram: @raywa_raywa
📍 LinkedIn: RAYWA
📍 TikTok: @raywa.raywa
This story was lovingly curated by the SHIFT team with the help of Claude (Anthropic) based on submitted source materials from our Fun Adults and Shifters.
