Taungana seeks to create a supportive ecosystem that encourages sustained female student engagement in STEM
We started Taungana to meet a few key challenges.
Why STEM?
Africa remains a developing continent with an urgent need for growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domains.
UNESCO’s recent reports indicate that sub-Saharan Africa now requires an estimated 3 million additional engineers and technicians, particularly as the demand for digital and ICT skills accelerates due to the continent’s digitization efforts. This growing demand underscores the ongoing shortage of skilled professionals.
This shortfall is why our mission remains essential.
Why Girls?
Females continue to be vastly underrepresented in STEM fields across Africa. Globally, women hold about 28% of STEM jobs, while in sub-Saharan Africa, this figure is only around 17%. To drive innovation and economic progress in African countries, it is crucial to bring women to the STEM problem-solving table.
The UN has underscored that increasing the participation of women and girls in STEM careers is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Why Rural Communities?
Sixty percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is still classified as rural. Access to information and exposure to STEM-related career opportunities remain significantly limited for students living outside major cities.
These realities continue to shape our focus on empowering rural communities through STEM education.