ACT Martin Phillips Scholars – Three Years On!

Mgala BSc (Chemistry) Tanzania, 2023

“We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists.”

– UN Secretary General, 2023

Gender Gap in STEM

In our globalised world we consistently face worldwide challenges that require increasingly innovative solutions. From global pandemics to global warming, the world requires the best scientific minds to make a difference. However, society is yet to maximise its potential to do so, as to date the scientific fields of research remain dominated mostly by men. There are three times more men working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) than women, and only 12% of national science academy members are women who tend to receive smaller grants for research (United Nations, 2023).

In 2016, the United Nations established 11th February as International Day of Women and Girls in Science, to recognise and appreciate the women working in scientific fields, challenge the under representation of women and girls and encourage their participation.

The Martin Phillips Girls University Education Fund

On the 9th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, ACT is pleased to express our support for this initiative and proud to highlight how through our work we are contributing to bring about progress in Africa through the ACT-Martin Phillips Girls University Education Fund.

The fund was set up on the initiative of ACT supporter and child sponsor, Martin Phillips, who made a donation to finance the cost of university education of a girl in the ACT sponsorship programme in Africa who has been offered a place at a university to study Medicine, Agricultural, Veterinary Medicine, or Science subjects deemed to be beneficial to the development of her country. The fund can be used in any of the countries where ACT is working in Africa. Having lived in Southern Africa for some years, he was aware of the harsh reality of the high costs of tertiary education and how it resulted in fewer girls than boys going on to university. He also noticed how very few of the girls that attended university pursued a scientific subject. Aware of the important role that science and technology contributes to the future of the world, he was eager to change this.

The fund was established in 2020 with a commitment to donate £1,000 a year for at least 4 years and as long as there is a need. It was then launched and opened to receive donations from supporters and the wide public.

Two girls, Mgala and Justina, already in the ACT child sponsorship programme in Tanzania, were the first Martin Phillips Scholars, both going on to study at the University of Dodoma where they graduate in 2023.

Mgala (in cover photo) graduated with a BSc degree in Chemistry. She has a part time job while looking for permanent employment.

“Your unwavering support has given me the confidence to excel academically and has opened doors of opportunity for my future endeavours”.

– Mgala, 2024

Justina BSc (Geography & Environmental Science)

Justina, read Geography and Environmental Science and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2023. She is determined to make a difference and help manage environmental degradation in Tanzania.

“Without forgetting your support, I will be grateful always”.

– Justina Mgayi, 2024

Justina, like Mgala, has returned to Kagera region where she hopes to find a job in the Environmental sector.

Elizabeth

A third scholar, Elizabeth, from the Copperbelt region in Zambia became a scholar in 2022. An ACT sponsored child, since 2010, ACT has supported her to complete primary and secondary school. She went on to study for a diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Copperbelt University, Kitwe which she completed in 2020.

Thereafter, she was admitted to a degree course in Information and Communication Technology and is expected to graduate this year.

Help us to support more girls to study at University

The Martin Phillips Girls University Education Fund has helped some amazing young women unlock their potential through education. At ACT, we appreciate how important it is for children to have the opportunity to learn and thrive in education despite their circumstances.

Martin believes that if other supporters would join him in this project, many more school girls in Africa can be supported each year to study for a degree at university, particularly science and technology subjects.

We need to raise £6,000 to support 2 girls through university education (£750 per year for four years). Please join us on this journey and make a donate today, click here.