Riley Orton Foundation Wins 2024 Global E-STEM Award

The Riley Orton Foundation (ROF) has been selected by Pratt & Whitney and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as a winner of the 2024 Global E-STEM Awards. The E-STEM Awards bestowed grants totaling $250,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations in 11 countries, demonstrating remarkable commitment to advancing environmental, science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) education programs for underrepresented students ages 11–22. Learn more about the Global E-STEM Awards: http://naaee.org/e-stem-awards 

Through the Global E-STEM Awards. The Riley Orton Foundation's Climate Solutions project will train 500 students in rural Kenya to design solar-powered water purifiers, using STEM workshops to teach renewable energy and promote sustainability. This initiative is especially important as these students live in an area that struggles with access to clean water, and by teaching them about renewable energy and water purification technologies, the organization hopes to equip them with the knowledge and skills to address this critical issue and foster a deeper understanding of environmental sustainability. Our intended audience come from underrepresented and marginalized communities with limited access to quality education and resources. By focusing on these groups, we aim to provide often inaccessible opportunities, thereby promoting equity in education and career pathways. The STEM field is largely underrepresented in rural areas, and this project aims to bridge that gap by offering hands-on, practical experiences that align with real-world challenges.

The project will also engage girls, typically underrepresented in Kenya's STEM fields. We will empower these young girls to explore and pursue STEM and environmental sciences careers, addressing the gender gap in these fields. Additionally, by engaging students in this critical age range, 12-20 years, we aim to influence their educational and career choices at a formative stage, promoting a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals. It will also engage 20 teachers and volunteers who will assist in training and potentially continue with the project beyond its duration.

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By Monica Adhiambo