Reaching out to school-age kids in inner-city
WISE (Women in Science & Engineering) Kid-Netic Energy, is a University of Manitoba initiative that has grown to reach nearly 30,000 Manitoba children each year.
The program, partially funded by the Faculty of Engineering and reliant on private donations, strives to build a stronger Science, Technology and Engineering workforce in our province. During the school year they provide hands-on
Science and Engineering workshops in classrooms for kids from Grades K-12 in the Winnipeg area. During the summer
months, they provide week-long day camps throughout the province, with a focus on the inner-city and northern communities.
Recently WISE provided programming at the Helping Hands Immigrant Resource Centre located at Knox United Church in Winnipeg`s core area. They held an open house that was attended by the media as well as the provincial Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Christine Melnick. Minister Melnick was so impressed with the efforts of WISE that she personally donated books for the kids, which were picked up by WISE Director, Nusraat Masood the next day.
It is important to note that WISE works hard to raise the money required to offer their camps in northern communities, so that children can participate for free.
To see the story that recently ran on CBC, please click here.