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🎧Stories of Giving & Receiving 🎧
Sarah Chapman: Paving the Way for Girls in STEM
In Stories of Giving & Receiving, host Emilia Kefford, granddaughter of VFFF's founder, Sir Vincent Fairfax, speaks directly to changemakers supported through VFFF’s Backing Young People strategy. These conversations shine a light on their challenges, achievements, and what it takes to truly effect change.
In this episode, we speak with Sarah Chapman, founder of STEM Changemakers, who shares how receiving a Backing the Future grant allowed her to dedicate a year to creating life-changing programs for young girls in rural and regional areas.
Passionate about increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, Sarah explains how the grant enabled her to create a program that empowers girls to pursue STEM careers. With an emphasis on student voice and industry involvement, STEM Changemakers is reshaping perceptions of engineering and other STEM pathways.
Sarah also highlights the program’s impact, from empowering girls to explore STEM careers through cadetships and internships, to creating greater community awareness.
Learn more about Sarah's work here.
About Backing the Future
Backing the Future grants, delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), provide $50,000 to support early-stage projects led by individuals or groups that are not typically eligible for traditional philanthropic funding. These grants focus on projects benefiting young people in regional New South Wales and Queensland, with an emphasis on fostering innovation and empowering changemakers to create lasting, positive impacts in their communities.
The next round of Backing the Future is now open for applicants in QLD. This round will close on 17 March 2025.
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