We spoke to Lalah Rukh, Falling Walls Engage Winner 2021, about her project and how the Falling Walls Engage Pitches helped to increase the visibility of Science Fuse and to get future collaborations.
What is your project about?
Science Fuse is a social enterprise that works to improve the quality of STEM education for children in Pakistan, especially for those who’re marginalised from good quality Science Engagement and education. We work closely with schools, communities and families to offer all-year-round STEM education programs where children learn through a curriculum that makes science hands-on, relevant and inspiring. We also produce educational resources such as books, podcasts and posters that allow children to engage with science beyond the classroom.
In the last 3,5 years, we’ve engaged 47.000 children aged 3 – 14 years and provided training to almost 670 teachers across Pakistan. We have also nurtured a community of 200 fellows who come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and geographies.
More recently we have partnered with the Federal Directorate of Education in Pakistan to provide technical assistance to the government on how it can improve the quality of science and maths education for children enrolled in 13.000 public schools, with a special focus on making quality STEAM education accessible for girls. This project is supported by the Malala Fund. It has allowed us to dive deeper into understanding how the science capital of marginalised communities (especially girls) is shaped in our country and how we can make science more accessible for those who feel alienated from it.