Watts Up Magazine wattsup magazine online | Page 25

‘‘
WOMEN IN ENERGY AWARDS
Mekatilili program
founded by Marian
Muthui holds
Workshops in various
secondary schools in
Kenya using a
‘‘
progressive
curriculum
It all started from a newspaper article Marian
read in 2016. She was disappointed that
manufacturing accounts for only 10 percent
of Kenya’s GDP yet for an industrialising
economy, manufacturing should be a driving
force. Marian got interested to find out why
manufacturing was lagging behind.
On researching she realised that there was a
need for local sustainable energy technology
solutions. She then came up with the Mekatilili
Program to bridge the gap.
The aim of the program is to spur research,
expose young girls to the world of science
and foster human-centered design and
engineering in an attempt to increase the
representation of women in the field.
Marian encourages the girls to come up
with prototypes to create viable solutions.
Currently the program has worked with close
to 100 girls and has plans to reach out to more
than 500 by end of 2017.
She has also partnered with another winner,
Martha Wakoli, to publish a magazine called
Queengineers that will showcase success
stories of women making it in engineering
from across the world.
Their first issue of the magazine was launched
in December 2016 and the two partners are
looking forward to reaching out to more ladies
through the publication
WATTS UP MAGAZINE APR - MAY 2017
25