We’re so proud for D4DSTEM to be one of the featured #DialMovers brought to you by TD Bank Group and #movethedial. If you’re attending @ElevateTechFest this week, please come and check out the #DialMovers Photo Exhibit and Lounge on Sept 24 & 25. To read more, visit: movethedial.com/stories.
Congratulations to all the wonderful companies and people that share the #DialMovers feature. You are an inspiration!
Here’s the wonderful feature that #movethedial wrote about D4DSTEM:
The first few times Darryl Silva tried to find a show for his daughter to watch or a toy for her to play with, he was struck by the gender divide. The shows and toys aimed at boys were all focused on building things and mechanics while the options for girls were almost always about crafting or fashion. Now combine that knowledge with the realization that STEM jobs are the fastest growing and best paying yet employ less than 25 percent women? Dads for Daughters in STEM was born.
“If men who represent 80% of current STEM jobs, play a more active and nurturing role with their daughters and female colleagues, STEM curiosity and confidence will increase and make a profound difference.”
Along with his colleague and co-founder Baanu, Darryl started D4Ds to ensure Canadian kids – particularly girls in lower socio-economic areas – are given equal opportunity to build our future through curiosity, confidence and critical skills in STEM. They do this by engaging an untapped resource – parents and caregivers.
“It isn’t about whether daughters become an engineer or computer scientist—it’s simply about parents and caregivers encouraging curiosity and confidence and exposing their daughters and sons to the subject matter that allows them to participate and compete equally.”
They focus on children as young as three years old. And for good reason – girls are opting out of STEM by the time they turn 7 because of biases, media, gender-focused toys and stereotypes.
By focusing on early pipeline engagement, they ensure the widest funnel.
“The challenge to foster female interest in STEM begins in childhood and building curiosity and confidence, including perseverance – not perfection – is critical.”
If you want to get involved, it’s easy. Just be curious, be confident, be contagious (We’re not talking about colds and flu here… We mean to share your STEM activities with kids and online) and finally, be a change agent. You can make a difference in the lives of your daughters, grand-daughters and nieces.