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local Saturday 30 July 2022

The STEM Embassy, an organization of young people promoting

the learning of STEM

ORANJESTAD – The Stem Aruba also, more people
Embassy is a new organi- are needed in this area for
zationg established in au- the development of tech-
gust last year, and consists nology. The need for engi-
of seven students: four from neers is becoming bigger,
Aruba and three from Cu- and the amount of young
raçao, who are studying in people who choose to fol-
the Netherlands, Switzer- low a study in the STEM
land and the U.S., and have subjects is not growing fast
the same mission: generate enough. This is why the goal
curiosity and confidence of The STEM Embassy is to
for STEM in an environment make STEM accessible, as
that is accessible for one much as possible, on Aru-
and all on the ABC islands. ba, Bonaire and Curaçao –
the ABC Islands. In order to
STEM stands for learning in achieve this, The STEM Em-
Science, Technology, Engi- bassy organized a two-day
neering and Mathematics. STEM camp, called “Ki ta
bo STEM?” In Papiamento,
LeAnn Tromp, Educational ‘stem’ means voice, so this
Advisor & PR Manager at translates as “What is your
The STEM Embassy explains voice?” The camp was for
that they felt that there children and young people
are some aspects lacking between the ages of 12
in Aruba because a lot of and 21, and took place on
young people don’t follow the 21st and 22nd of July at
a study in STEM and don’t the University of Aruba.
even want to try it. The STEM
Embassy decided that it’s Tromp explained that dur-
time to do something so ing the camp, the kids
that more kids in Aruba can partook in 8 different work-
follow a study in STEM and shops, including robotics,
come back to the island to coding, sustainable tech-
contribute in areas where nology, biology, diversity
Aruba needs people who and more. There were 100 “We never thought that terested in these subjects. “This is so that the children
have completed a study in spots available for this there would be such a This motivates us to contin- won’t just come to work
STEM. camp, and Tromp said that huge interest in this event, ue with these events in the here for two days and then
those were filled in only ten so we are really happy to future on the other islands. go home and forget what
Around the world and in days. see how many kids are in- We are so excited to give they did. This is for them to
the children the opportuni- learn something that they
ty to discover exactly what can continue”, Tromp add-
STEM is and all the possibili- ed.
ties that they can achieve
with a study in STEM.” The group of participants in-
cluded children and young
Tromp commented that the people aged 12 to 21, as
goal of this camp was not mentioned above, and
for every child to choose to they had different levels
complete a study in one of of education. Tromp said
the STEM subjects, but rath- some kids went to various
er, for them to know and levels of secondary educa-
learn what exactly is STEM. tion (MAVO and Colegio
Arubano), young people
This camp finished on Fri- studying in EPI (vocational
day July 22nd with the STEM school), people who fin-
Festival at the University of ished college, among oth-
Aruba, where the partici- ers. The level of education
pants had their friends and did not matter and also the
family over to show off all participants didn’t need to
that they did during the two have previous knowledge.
days of camp. The partici- Tromp emphasized that
pants had their own booth the goal was to make the
to show what they worked camp as inclusive as pos-
on. There was also orga- sibele.
nizations and companies
who work in STEM present, To finalize, The STEM Embas-
in order to give information. sy thanked their sponsors
The event also counted who made this camp pos-
with a discussion panel and sible through donations.
awards for the participants.