A national STEM project that inspires youth 10 to 17 years of age with the wonder and vast possibilities of science and technology.

Education Through Media's DIDDI Project uses research, awareness-raising activities, workshops, entrepreneurship training, mentorship and subject-specific ‘challenges’ to encourage all youth along with a special focus on youth from racialized communities, newcomers and young women to consider careers in STEM based industries, while developing their understanding, curiosity, perseverance and scientific literacy so that they are ready to take on the challenge of learning more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We work with a range of partners and we constantly seek to instill flexibility, innovation, curiosity and perseverance in young participants as an appropriate set of attitudes and skills for such a quickly-changing, multi-faceted and exciting area of study and work.

Learn more about The DIDDI Challenge

Digital

The word Digital comes from the same source as the word digit and digitus (the Latin word for finger), as fingers are used for discrete counting. It is most commonly used in computing and electronics, especially where real-world information is converted to binary numeric form as in digital audio and digital photography.

Interactive

Interactive refers to software which accepts and responds to input from humans—for example, data or commands. Interactive software includes most popular programs, such as word processors or spreadsheet applications.

Design

Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system (as in architectural blueprints, engineering drawing, business process, circuit diagrams and sewing patterns) one can also design by directly constructing an object (as in pottery, engineering, management, cowboy coding and graphic design).

Development

Development is vast! Green development, a concept that includes consideration of community-wide or regional environmental implications. Artificial development, an area of computer science and engineering. Developmental biology, the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Energy development, the effort to provide sufficient primary energy sources.

Innovation

Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society. Innovation differs from invention in that innovation refers to the use of a new idea or method, whereas invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method itself.

Why did we develop The DIDDI Project?

Although science and technology underlie the most exciting new and innovative fields of work and play, all too often digital-savvy, entrepreneurial and resourceful young people, especially youth from racialized communities, young women and newcomers to Canada, don’t see themselves represented in the workforce of researchers, scientists, computer scientists and engineers. That has got to change, because these youth have the skills and talents to make incredible things happen, and Canada needs what we have to offer.

That’s why we developed DIDDI. It’s a national STEM project that inspires our fellow youth, between 10 and 17 years of age, with the wonder and vast possibilities of science and technology. Through hands-on workshops led by professionals and innovators in their fields, we introduce youth to the world of STEM accompanied by Robotics, Game Development, 3D Animation, Media Arts and Mobile Application Development. Complementary, interactive and lecture-based workshops give young participants further insight into fundamental science and into the many directions their interests could take them–everything from nanotechnology to medical digital imaging to biodiversity informatics using mobile apps.

Visit the DIDDI Blog

Collectively, technology workers earned wages that were almost twice the 2007 national average of $40,690.

4% of African Canadian youth enter the fields of STEM. 1% of those are young women.