The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is thrilled to announce an exciting global education initiative in collaboration with the Bahini Education Project, a non-profit focused on enhancing the education of girls in rural Nepal.
Bahini means “younger sister” in Nepali. The Bahini Education Project (BEP) provides social, economic, and academic support from secondary school through college and fosters consistent, long-term relationships with the bahinis and their families. They aim to educate and empower all of the young women they work with to become confident leaders, inspire others, have a greater role in society, and transform their communities. By investing in girls’ education, the BEP aims to create lasting positive change for individuals, families, and communities.
The founder of BEP, Anisha Lamsal, was born and raised in Nepal and moved to the US when she was ten-years-old. Currently, she works at the Bureau of Reclamation as an Environmental Engineer to bring quality water to people in need in the US. She founded Bahini Education Project in 2022 to empower young girls through education and provide them with tools to be powerful leaders in their communities. Being from the region of Parbat, she knows the community and the needs of the girls firsthand. This ignited her desire to build the Bahini Education Project.
Meet Our Team: The CHBE Student Teachers
Under the guidance of Dr. Pranav Chintalapati, four talented student teachers from UBC CHBE have joined the Bahini Education Project. These students are bringing their engineering expertise, innovative ideas, and passion for teaching to the forefront of BEP’s initiatives. Let’s get to know them:
- Heidi Snow
- Third year CHBE Student
- Bithiah Darkoa Darko
- Recent CHBE Graduate
- Neha Bal
- Fourth Year CHBE Student
- Nomuna Orgil
- Third Year CHBE Student
The Vision Behind the Collaboration
This partnership aims to merge the technical expertise of UBC CHBE students with the mission of the Bahini Education Project, by having CHBE students provide a variety of lessons for the bahinis to support their educational growth. By integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education into our curriculum, we hope to inspire and equip our students with the skills necessary for a brighter future.
Dr. Chintalapati’s Leadership
Dr. Chintalapati, an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC CHBE, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this collaboration. Drawing on his experience in global development and engineering education, he provides instructional guidance to the student teachers in their journey to create impactful educational experiences.
What to Expect
- Remote Interactive Sessions: The student teachers conduct workshops focusing on STEM topics, encouraging curiosity and collaboration through a combination of pre-recorded lessons and live virtual meetings.
- Curriculum Development: Lead student teacher, Heidi Snow, has developed a curriculum that integrates high school math, science, and English concepts in an accessible and engaging manner that will be covered this summer as the bahinis transition from Grade 10 to Grade 11 (the first year of Higher Secondary school in Nepal).
- Educational Videos and Worksheets: The student teachers will record weekly lessons for the bahinis to be accompanied by a worksheet on the same topic. Bahinis complete and submit their worksheets for feedback, with difficult topics reviewed.
- Community Engagement: Both the Bahini Education Project and UBC CHBE aim to foster a sense of community, promoting educational growth beyond the classroom. Our goal is to not only provide an educational experience for the bahinis, but also create connections and inspiration through our student teachers.
Join Us on This Journey
We are incredibly excited about the possibilities this collaboration holds and look forward to sharing our progress and achievements. Stay tuned for updates on our initiatives, success stories, and the wonderful contributions of our student teachers, Dr. Chintalapati and the Bahini Education Project.
For more information on the Bahini Education Project, please visit their website: Bahini Education Project
Together, we can make a difference!