"I evolved in the tech world and then started my career as a researcher teacher,” says Daniella Tchana. “And I realized that there were very few women in engineering schools. On average, it was 3 girls out of 35-40 students. I also noticed that in the national mathematics Olympiads, there weren't many girls on the podiums, even though they are just as good at math as boys.”
So, in 2019, the young woman decided to change the rules by launching the Women's Mathematics Olympiads, under the auspices of her association which she named STEM4All.
The first step is to showcase the attractiveness of salaries in these fields. Next, to highlight the presence of many women, thus providing role models. The third goal is to prove that we do not evolve alone, but in sisterhood, together, as a group, relying on our peers.
It is on this basis that the championship format was designed. Therefore, it is now the only high school competition that awards checks to the winners.
Next, the association identifies women in tech professions, profiles them, and then presents these profiles to young women, precisely to provide these famous role models. “When we talk about profiles, what interests us most for these young girls is the academic journey and then the professional path up to the positions these women hold today.”
The competition takes place in two stages. The first phase is entirely individual, and the second is in groups, where the young girls come together in teams of 3. Without knowing each other beforehand, they have two weeks to tackle and submit a math topic. This approach addresses the issue of sisterhood and mutual support.
“It shows that to succeed in this field, which today does not belong to us and is very male-dominated, we need to support each other as women. Therefore, it is the group that wins the prize, not the individual,” emphasizes Daniella Tchana.
In 7 years, STEM4All has already supported over 5,000 young girls through this championship.
Beyond this initiative, STEM4All offers the Booster Sciences program, which helps girls excel in post-baccalaureate and post-preparatory school competitions, as well as in their integration into preparatory classes when they struggle with math, physics, and chemistry. And it is completely free.
The ROOTS program also addresses the issue at its roots by supporting women, girls, and boys in priority neighborhoods of the city. There is also a mentoring program for higher education students and a scholarship system to encourage enrollment in prestigious schools, which are often private and therefore very expensive.
This audience represents a real opportunity for society. “A diverse, inclusive company is a company that will be more effective,” insists Daniella Tchana. “Working with profiles from different social groups and genders brings innovation. Governing with a team, a college, coming from a variety of territories, profiles, and structures allows us to address most of society's issues.”
“So really, it's a win-win for both companies and our nation,” concludes Daniella Tchana.
