In response to the rising homelessness in their local area, a group of high school girls without prior DIY experience came together to devise a practical solution. Over the course of a year, the team unveiled their innovative creation at a young inventors conference hosted by MIT.
The twelve young women, hailing from San Fernando High School—located around 20 miles from Los Angeles—were motivated by a staggering 36% increase in homelessness in their community over the previous year, as reported by Mashable. Members of the team, Mia Torres and Sofia Martinez, were driven by a desire to make a difference. “Coming from low-income backgrounds, we can’t offer financial support,” noted Torres. “We aimed to provide something meaningful beyond mere money,” added Martinez.
Their solution? A solar-powered tent that conveniently folds into a backpack. The initiative was spearheaded by Evelyn Nguyen, the executive director of DIY Girls and an alum of San Fernando High, who encouraged the girls in their project. The team also benefited from a $10,000 grant from the Lemelson-MIT program.
Founded in 2012, DIY Girls has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 35 elementary school participants in its inaugural year to 650 students across various educational levels in Los Angeles County by 2016. The underrepresentation of women in science and engineering—where only 29% are female and merely 6% are Latina—fuels Nguyen’s passion for empowering girls in these fields. “During my aerospace engineering studies, I often found myself as the only girl or Latina in the classroom, which contributed to feelings of imposter syndrome,” she shared.
Initially reliant on Nguyen for guidance, the girls quickly became self-sufficient, utilizing resources like YouTube and Google to advance their project. One team member, Lisa Chen, even learned the C++ programming language to integrate features such as button-activated lights and USB ports into the tent design.
The project demanded not only creativity and empathy but also extensive dedication. The students committed to working after school six days a week, continuing their efforts through winter and spring breaks. The development of the tent involved a range of skills, including coding, sewing, soldering, and rigorous testing. They produced two prototypes, one of which was rendered unusable during testing, emphasizing the importance of functionality.
Once they were satisfied with their final product, the team faced the challenge of raising an additional $15,000 to present their project at MIT. During this journey, they garnered attention and were featured on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show. Their goal is to inspire other girls to pursue careers in science and engineering. “In our AP Calculus class, we’re the only two junior girls amidst a majority of boys,” remarked Emily Rodriguez, representing her teammate, Kendra Lopez. “But we’re determined to change that.”
This inspiring story highlights how youth imagination and determination can lead to innovative solutions for pressing social issues. For those interested in exploring more about family planning, check out a comprehensive guide on couples’ fertility journey for intracervical insemination. Additionally, for insights into the IVF process, refer to this excellent resource on what the IVF process is really like.
In summary, the story of this all-girl engineering team exemplifies how innovation and dedication can emerge from the desire to make a positive impact, encouraging future generations to engage with science and engineering.
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