Ms. Véronique Gré Douniama-Lonn is a lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Marien Ngouabi University in the Republic of Congo. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Section (Republic of Congo National Chapiter) of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Bootcamp of Scientific Girls 

Véronique's project supported 15 young women nearing the end of their university studies, helping them advance their careers in STEM and build a community of Congolese women scientists. The project enhanced their leadership capacity through a four-day bootcamp that included training in digital sciences (coding, robotics, solar panel manufacturing), and workshops on innovative entrepreneurship, leadership, and fundraising. Participants received hands-on training in powering electric circuits with solar panels, digital sciences with AI and no-code tools, and digital planning strategies. 

They learned to build websites and apply STEM knowledge to meet community needs. They also gained insights into funding opportunities for scientists and established a mentoring program to support their future STEM careers. Some participants created projects like websites to improve healthcare access, blogs offering food health advice, and renewable energy initiatives. Others committed to continuing their education or launching new STEM-based initiatives in their communities. 

The bootcamp had a significant impact on the participants. Véronique shared that two of the fifteen girls, who had considered abandoning STEM due to discouragement, decided to continue their studies and careers in STEM after the bootcamp. One, a Master’s student in mathematics, decided to pursue her thesis, while the other, an engineering student in food science, started a blog on local nutrition and led other students in food engineering. 

 

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Véronique participated in the IVLP Project Empowering Congolese Women in Science Through a U.S. Perspective, organized by the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with Global Ties Akron, Gulf Coast Diplomacy, and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs.

“Two special points of my IVLP experience have inspired my IVLP Impact Award Project. First, I was inspired by a visit to the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola, where we met with Dr. Mohammad Kabou, who spoke to us about the creation of summer camps in STEM for female students, which creates a learning and living community to retain female students educated in STEM. Second, we explored different actions taken by Chris Miller and the Akron Community Foundation to help women lacking access to physical and mental healthcare as well as lacking resources to mitigate societal pressures and sexual assault awareness." - Véronique Gré Douniama-Lonn

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Pensacola, FL; Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH

Country: Republic of Congo

 

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