October 2025 marked the very first FabConnectHer STEAM Challenge. Students, teachers and STEAM mentors from Iceland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland gathered in Dundalk for three days of making, learning and collaboration. The theme of the week – Weaving Ancient Wisdom with Future Innovation – quickly proved itself, especially once the prototypes began to take shape. Read on to discover how the teams got there, and what they created!
After arriving on Monday evening, the groups were welcomed with a hands-on piece of Irish heritage: crafting a traditional Crios Belt with facilitator Una Curley.
Phase 1: From ideas to first sketches
The first full day began at Creative Spark HQ with a tour of the space, some energisers, and an activity using Pokémon cards featuring inspiring women in STEAM. It was a playful starting point – each team created a card for their chosen role model, sparking early discussions about women’s contributions to STEAM.
After this opening, the groups learned more about their challenge for the week: creating a prototype inspired by cultural symbols, ancient wisdom and their own heritage. Soon, the tables were covered in sketches, patterns, stories and moodboards. Because each team brought together students from different countries, ideas quickly moved toward a shared question: How can we blend our cultures and histories into something new?
As FabConnectHer, we take a multi-faceted approach to empowering girls and women in STEAM by combining hands-on learning, inspiration and mentoring. The STEAM Challenge reflected this approach throughout the week. Each day ended with a guided reflection session led by mentors, focusing on topics linked to collaboration, confidence and personal development. Day one’s focus was on building trust in the group, defining roles, and reflecting on how to collaborate well in an international team. Using the FabConnectHer mentoring materials to dive deeper in the topic, and start up open conversations.
One mentor later reflected on this dynamic:
“The all-female group created a safe space where everyone felt comfortable to ask questions and share openly. The international setting, bringing together different cultures and skills, added even more value.”
Phase 2: From sketches to prototyping
On Wednesday, the group visited Newgrange and the Battle of the Boyne site to experience Irish history up close. Standing in front of structures older than the pyramids sparked new ideas and helped teams rethink their earlier sketches.
By the afternoon, laser cutters were running, 3D printers were humming and teams were shaping their ideas into real prototypes.
That day’s mentoring reflections went deeper. The focus turned to the challenges girls face in STEAM, sharing experiences and finding ways to build confidence and lift each other up. These conversations created space for honesty and gave mentors the chance to inspire through their own stories.
One student captured it well:
“We could all relate to each other about common experiences as females…. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 — 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
Phase 3: Prototyping sprint & Pitching
The final day was dedicated to finishing prototypes and preparing pitches. Teams added the last details, rehearsed their stories and got ready to present.
Judges Deirdre Maccormack and Joan McCann – two award-winning leaders in STEAM, entrepreneurship and business – were impressed. They highlighted the creativity of the ideas, the thoughtful use of cultural elements and the way each team translated heritage into something modern and meaningful.
After the pitches, the groups gathered for one final mentoring session, this time focused on future goals. Using the STEAM Skills Tree, students mapped the skills they already have and identified the areas they want to grow in next. The template is available on the FabConnectHer online platform for anyone who wants to try it.
A mentor summed up the week beautifully:
“Working in teams with different nationalities encouraged the students to find common ground, which led to great teamwork. Some didn’t realise they had certain STEAM skills until they used them, and that discovery boosted their confidence. One student even learned Rhino for the first time and is now motivated to continue exploring 3D modelling. It was an activity worth repeating.”
The success of the week came from its mix of hands-on making, strong mentoring, inspiring role models and the unique dynamic of bringing together young women from across Europe. Students learned to find bridges between cultures, embrace diversity in their teamwork, and give space to each other’s ideas.
A powerful reminder of why FabConnectHer exists – and why the STEAM Challenge will not be the last. And to finish: here are the prototypes the students proudly presented at the end of the week. Each one tells its own story of collaboration, culture and creativity.
Watch the prototypes come to life below.
