The DREAMS project is implemented by Project HOPE Namibia as the prime recipient, together with Star for Life, LifeLine/ChildLine, NUST IntraHealth and Project HOPE US. DREAMS aims to avert new HIV infections amongst Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) between the ages of 10 -24.
NUST supports DREAMS AGYW with Mathematics, Biology, Physical Science and Life Skills teachers, in selected schools in the Khomas, Tsumeb, Onandjokwe, Omuthiya and Zambezi Health Districts.
This is done by making use of 27 tutors as capacity development drivers. Of note is that all tutors are Honours graduates in the various STEM subjects from NUST, which is an additional example of capacity building results and an encouragement to the AGYW.
To date, 108 schools have benefitted from this initiative across the indicated districts. Dr Edosa Omoregie, Senior Lecturer, Biology, FHAS, is leading the NUST team of four core members. He said: “Empowering disadvantaged women and girls in science means developing the community at large which aligns to the NUST vision of remaining relevant at national level”.
Thus far, a double-layer impact approach of educational empowerment of the AGYW has been implemented, which includes: assessing the needs around STEM education at the participating schools; building capacity by training teachers in their identified areas; providing additional tutoring; and creating STEM e-learning studying hubs/safe spaces to enable further learning experiences.