Today, women in the Philippines still face significant gaps in education, employment and earning potential—despite their country’s high scores on internationally defined measures of gender equity. With help from Salesian Missions, this is about to change, one student at a time.

Working with the United States Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program, Salesian Missions recently secured grant funding to construct, equip and develop the curriculum for a new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) center at the Don Bosco Technical College in Cebu City.

Known as the “SciTech” Center, this state-of-the-art facility will engage the next generation of innovators in advanced, U.S.-influenced science and technology resources and learning. Students will focus on solving local, regional and global challenges using the analytical skills they gain through classroom education and hands-on laboratory work.

Notably, the SciTech Center will intentionally focus on recruiting young women into STEM education and the career opportunities that follow.

“We so appreciate the support of ASHA in funding this important initiative,” says Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions. “This new SciTech Center will enable students to learn advanced STEM skills and become leaders in the industry. It will also work to empower more young women to see STEM as a viable academic and career option.”

Learn more about our work in Philippines.

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