The STEM DRC Initiative is an example of an organization dedicated to lifting the economic future of an entire country by moving minds forward in the arena of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).  This is done by providing STEM Education Scholarships to students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (DRC) in Africa.  

The primary goal of the STEM DRC Initiative is to provide technical education and empowerment to support bright young students and to support future economic development for the benefit of the entire country as a whole. 

The organization is pleased to annouce that it has secured the approval of the first lady of DRC Denise Tshisekedi, wife of President Felix Tshisekedi.  In addition, Mrs. Tshisekedi has graciously agreed to be the Ambassador of STEM DRC Initiative.

Last year the 501c3 Non Profit Foundation offered 6 scholarships, and this year thanks to our sponsors in the DRC they are offering 55 scholarships. The organization is especially excited to share that 70 percent of these scholarships are for women in STEM.

The organization and scholarship effort is supported by a network of STEM professionals, students, researchers, institutions, and entrepreneurs who operate in the DRC. Please see www.StemDRC.com for more information.  

The STEM DRC Initiative was founded in part by Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, PhD, PE who was born in the city of Kinshasa in the DRC. After suffering a potentially lethal medical emergency as a young lady, because a hospital in Kinshasa, DRC had no electricity and no gas for the generator, Dr. Mubenga decided to dedicate her life to bringing electricity to her native country.

Dr. Mubenga completed her Masters and Doctoral work at the University of Toledo in the USA.  During this time she invented a hybrid hydrogen/electric car, and a hydrogen generating station that creates hydrogen fuel from sunlight and air.  She also helped invent the Bi-level Battery Equalizer for improved management of large scale battery banks such as are used in Automotive, Aerospace, and Solar Utility Power Stations.  This invention reduces battery bank size by 30% and increases service life by 30% making products smaller, lighter, and more durable.

As Founder and CEO of SMIN Power Group LLC, Dr. Mubenga is working as an electrical engineer with experience in utility scale Solar PV  electrification projects up to and including projects serving entire communities.  She is also professor of electrical engineering at the University of Toledo.  
 
The STEM DRC Initiative is seeking partnerships with others of like mind and spirit to offer:
 

1. STEM based online classes and tutorial that have plenty of DIY video  for traditional students.

2. STEM based online classes for those who dropped out of school but are interested in STEM. Specially girls.

3. Virtual (Remote Online) classes where professor can be in one location e.g. USA, and teach a class located in the DRC.

Further, The STEM DRC Initiativve would like to create STEM DRC centers in DRC where:

1. Children’s  (students) and adults (teachers) can experiment with hands on activities, STEM classes.

2. Testing will take place for the STEM scholarship

3. Entrepreneurs in the STEM field can find the resources, mentorship and facilities to start their business with support of an incubator providing facilities for 3-4 small business startups.  

4. Top notch lab spaces based on international standards can be created for collaborative research such as those sponsored by the NSF.

The mission of the STEM DRC Initiative can be summed up as follows.  "Our main concern is to find ways to foster that desire to engage in the STEM, to find ways to maintain it in students and teachers, to encourage collaborative research in STEM, and to foster entrepreneurship in STEM. 

We believe that the STEM fields will empower Congolese to find solutions to problems faced in DRC, Africa and the world. 

Interested readers, media, or potential partners are invited to investigate www.stemdrc.com, www.drmubenga.com, and www.sminpowergroup.com