HENDRINA CHALWE DOROBA

HENDRINA CHALWE DOROBA – KENYA
Training Teachers to Promote Science & Technology in Girls’ Education

FORUM OF AFRICAN WOMEN EDUCATIONALISTS
www.fawe.org

In Zambia, less than 30 percent of girls who enter the first grade ever complete high school. And the girls who do finish perform very poorly in science, math and technology subjects. Hendrina Doroba, Regional Programme Officer at the Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE), is working to establish a satellite-based gender responsive pedagogical (GRP) center in Serenje, Zambia. Hendrina envisions that the new center will provide teachers the training, materials and resources they need to effectively teach science, mathematics and technology to female students, as well as deliver curriculum materials and training to teachers via satellite and cellular service.

Founded in 1992 in Kenya and now in 35 African countries, FAWE’s mission is to cultivate gender equity and equality in basic and post-primary education for girls across Africa. FAWE influences government policy, builds public awareness, demonstrates best educational practices through effective models and facilitates the adoption of these models by governments and educational institutions. In Zambia to date, FAWE has been building members’ capacities within the Zambia National Education Coalition, enhancing the classroom management skills among over 4,000 secondary school teachers of Mathematics and Training of Trainers in the Southern Province and 45 selected Districts. According to Hendrina, gender responsive learning environments have been proven to help girls perform well and become more interested in these subjects. These learning environments will allow young females to comfortably use science, math, and technology in their daily lives and careers to ultimately uplift the living standards of rural women.

Hendrina manages the quality of eight FAWE chapters in East Africa to ensure that staff and volunteers are promoting gender equity in their respective countries. To successfully launch the new FAWE chapter and GRP training center in Zambia, she will leverage her current responsibilities, plus 25-year career in teaching and development, graduate degree in Education Administration and her personal passion for gender issues.

“My own late mother has shaped my vision that women leadership can make a difference in peoples’ lives. My mother, though not well educated, inspired my seven sisters and me to work hard at school. Her leadership in our household has been my greatest source of inspiration and encouragement.”