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PowHERful Summit 2026 inspires nearly 400 students and parents to explore STEM

date_range2026-07-15

“Is STEM the right path for me?” “What careers can I pursue if I study STEM?” “Can girls succeed in STEM?”

These were some of the questions many secondary school students brought with them to the PowHERful Summit 2026: Empowering STEM Dreams. Driven by these questions, nearly 400 students and parents embarked on a journey to discover STEM through meaningful conversations, hands-on experiences and inspiring stories.

As the final phase of the PowHERful 2026 campaign, the Summit was organised by saigonchildren at the end of June to make STEM more accessible and relatable for students, particularly girls.

Real stories that inspire confidence

The day began with a series of small-group discussions, where students had the opportunity to meet university students currently pursuing STEM degrees (who had also completed an advanced STEM model training workshop), as well as volunteers from MiTek Vietnam. The friendly setting encouraged students to ask questions about choosing a university major, student life, study strategies and the uncertainties they face when thinking about their future.

Another highlight of the event was the panel discussion, Empowering Confidence in STEM, featuring Ms Trần Thị Ngọc Thủy, Founder and CEO of SiF Career and a career guidance specialist; Ms Huỳnh Phương Uyên Thoa, HR Manager, Engagement & Culture at MiTek Vietnam; and Đỗ Ngọc Phương Trinh, a Biotechnology student at the University of Science, Vietnam National University in HCMC, and a U-GO Scholarship Ambassador.

Bringing together the perspectives of a career guidance expert, an industry representative and a university student studying STEM, the panel shared honest insights into choosing a field of study, the opportunities and challenges within STEM, and the skills young people need to confidently prepare for the future.

Discovering STEM through hands-on experiences

The STEM Model Exhibition was another major attractions. The models on display were among the standout projects developed during the STEM School Tours held earlier this year at lower secondary schools. Before the Summit, each team further refined its project, giving students the opportunity not only to showcase their work to guests and STEM professionals, but also to inspire their peers through creativity and innovation. The teams whose projects were selected for exhibition were also recognised on stage in celebration of their curiosity, creativity and passion for STEM.

Alongside the exhibition, a series of interactive activity stations created a lively environment where learning and play went hand in hand. Through challenges involving scientific thinking, engineering, problem-solving and teamwork, students explored STEM in ways that were engaging, practical and enjoyable.

Meanwhile, parents attended a dedicated sharing session focusing on how families can support children in discovering their interests, strengths and future career aspirations. The session also encouraged parents to reflect on the important role they play in supporting and inspiring their children to explore new opportunities, including those in STEM.

As the PowHERful 2026: Empowering STEM Dreams journey comes to a close, saigonchildren hopes that the Summit will serve as a starting point for more students to discover the possibilities within STEM, gain confidence in their own abilities and feel empowered to pursue the paths that are right for them.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to MiTek for supporting PowHERful 2026 as our project sponsor; British International School (BIS) HCMC for generously providing the venue; and our guest speakers, volunteers, teachers, parents and students, whose enthusiasm and contributions made the Summit such an inspiring event.

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