University of the Fraser Valley biology instructor Carin Bondar hosted a program called Celebrate STEM for girls between the ages of 11 to 14 interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
The program ran monthly on Friday’s at UFV Chilliwack campus for girls within the Chilliwack School District. The program series is now complete, with more sessions coming in the future.
Bondar describes the program as having a “chill environment.” It mixes STEM topics with life skills, helping the girls not only talk about a passion of theirs but work on conversing with peers and presenting in front of a group.
“They have all the powers that they need, they just need the confidence to access them and the pragmatics of how to access things,” Bondar said.
The girls are asked to come up with an animal, plant or fungus to focus their curiosity on. They develop questions about the topic and then present to the group. It was not Bondar who came up with the idea of presenting, it was actually the girls themselves.
There are healthy snacks provided and the group sits on the floor of the Gathering Place on campus. There is no technology involved in order to embody the programs aim to spark collaborative discussion while facilitating critical thinking.
Bondar formed a non-profit five years ago, with the goal to help women in STEM who were not supported achieve high academia. However, Bondar became a Chilliwack school trustee in 2021 and sits on the Indigenous education committee, so she became directly involved with the school district and its students.
With a newfound purpose in the community, she created Celebrate STEM.
Bondar did a trial run of the program last year after receiving a community grant from United Way, which eventually led to its official launch.
She credits Chilliwack school trustee and United Way British Columbia community builder Margaret Reid for her support. Skwah First Nation council member Elia Lockhart has also been a crucial figure in the project. She says she learned a lot from the two women, which in turn has created a successful program.
Another layer of the program will be added this month when Bondar goes to Skwah First Nation to Celebrate STEM with Indigenous communities in Chilliwack.
“I am so excited. Sometimes your life comes together in these click-together moments,” Bondar said.
This program is something Bondar would have benefitted from when she was young, considering her passion was not always encouraged.
“Because I was such a strong artist and performer I was steered right out of science. I was basically pointed with a neon sign towards performing,” Bondar said. “But I really loved biology, and I wish I had not been steered out of it.”
Now, Bondar is taking control and steering girls into STEM. She anticipates that the program will expand into the Fraser Valley, and potentially someday offered to the rest of the province.
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