STEM in the clouds!

The project “STEM in the clouds” will bring together five civil society organizations engaged in nonformal education for children and youth in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). The project aims to enhance the capacities of employees, volunteers, and organizations for working in an online environment by acquiring equipment and software and introducing new work methods.

According to an infographic by the Government Office for NGOs of the Republic of Croatia, the civil sector grew in all aspects from 2017 to 2019. However, challenges faced by civil society organizations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis and earthquakes placed these organizations, their employees, members, volunteers, and beneficiaries (often the most vulnerable members of society) in a disadvantaged position. The civil sector must become more flexible and open to the possibilities offered by the online environment and technology, particularly because children and youth from smaller communities—who already have fewer opportunities to explore STEM fields due to the absence of relevant organizations in their areas—were further deprived of activities that foster STEM interest as a result of the pandemic.

To strengthen capacities for delivering online STEM educational content to children and youth in smaller communities, we submitted the “STEM in the Clouds” project to the public call “Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organizations to Respond to the Needs of the Local Community” (UP.04.2.1.11) under the European Social Fund, Operational Programme “Effective Human Resources” 2014-2020. On June 17, 2022, the Government Office for NGOs of the Republic of Croatia approved a funding decision granting the project 464,562.46 HRK, with 100% of the funds provided as grants (85% from the European Social Fund and 15% from the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia).

As part of capacity-building efforts, project partners will implement several activities from September 15, 2022, to September 15, 2023, including:

• Three training sessions for representatives of civil society organizations on financial management, fundraising, and the legal framework for NGO operations.
• Three multi-day workshops, an education session, and a workshop focused on strengthening employee and volunteer capacities for direct work in employment, social inclusion, and education, including adapting operations through ICT.
• Development and piloting of an online volunteer program as part of efforts to promote community volunteering.
• Five workshop cycles covering five STEM topics and the creation of five video-animated educational materials for online learning.
• The development of an online educational board game as part of initiatives to create digital handbooks, games, simulations, and other self-help and support tools for vulnerable groups.

These planned activities aim to popularize STEM by introducing new work methods (synchronous and asynchronous online education, course creation, etc.) and strengthening organizational capacities for developing online educational content tailored for children and youth. The “STEM in the Clouds” project will help civil society organizations become more agile in responding to future crises while offering high-quality programs in an online setting. Additionally, the project will ensure the continuous implementation of programs that serve the public interest and contribute to overcoming the broader crisis in which we all find ourselves.

The “STEM in the Clouds” project is led by the Center for Technical Culture Rijeka, with the project consortium including the Višnjan Astronomical Society, Bioteka – Association for the Promotion of Biology and Related Sciences, Carpe Diem – Association for the Encouragement and Development of the Creative and Social Potential of Children, Youth, and Adults, and FabLab – Association for the Promotion of Digital Fabrication.

For more information on EU funds: www.strukturnifondovi.hr and www.esf.hr.

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