Native Scientists report for 2023/2024 is now ready

The latest annual report highlights collective efforts to build a world where every child’s potential is reached, with 30% of the goal of 100,000 meaningful connections between children and scientists by 2030 already achieved.

Native Scientists' spirit of collaboration allowed us to achieve great advances, both in financial sustainability and strategic impact, strengthening our foundation as a high-performing team and organization. In the last report, we already showed an impressive increase in the number of children reached by our programmes. In the last year, the numbers are even more impressive, with a jump from 1,496 children in 2022/2023 to 2,938 children in 2023/2024.

After 11 years of activities, Native Scientists’ programmes consolidated the diversity of the experiences offered to children. The Same Migrant Community programme, the first to be implemented by Native, is aimed at children aged 6 to 12 and, in the last year, took place in six different countries across Europe, reaching cities such as Belfast, Bradford, Cork, Edinburgh, Grenoble, London, Montpellier, Newcastle, Zurich, and Basel, and connecting scientists and young people from various cultures and contexts, with the languages worked with being Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and Romanian. The Same Home Town programme is focused in Portugal and, in the last year, took place in fourteen districts and eight islands in Madeira and the Azores, bringing science and knowledge to remote and underserved locations.

Thanks to our initiatives, science became accessible within the classroom, where, through direct interaction, children share experiences and expand their horizons. The eyes of a child sees the world as a place full of possibilities. Curiosity can transform them into anything they wish to be, from marine biologists to historians. As highlighted by a teacher whose class participated in the program, the fact that students can see, touch, and handle objects for themselves further sparks their curiosity, encouraging them to explore the world around them and overcome both physical and imaginary boundaries.

In terms of numbers, our 2023/2024 year was extremely positive. We reached 30% of Native’s initial goal to establish over 100,000 meaningful connections between children and scientists by 2030. With 4,343 connections made, 2,938 children impacted, 162 scientists trained, and more than 13,000 followers on social media, we have expanded our ability to provide meaningful educational experiences, ensuring our long-term resilience and ambition. According to Joana Moscoso, Co-founder and Director of Native Scientists, these results are in line with our mission to ensure more children have access to quality scientific education, creating opportunities for future generations.

Nevertheless, the impact of our programmes goes beyond numbers. Antónia Estrela, a linguist expert and professor, returned to her former primary school in Rabo de Peixe, Azores, where she realized the lack of a library and the school’s scarce resources. This inspired her to create a library for the school, collecting over 640 books with the help of university students, teachers, and organizations. Her journey shows how our programmes can not only inspire professional growth but also address community needs, demonstrating how education can awaken dreams and create a deep connection between children and our mission.

If you want to know more about the impact of our work or how to get involved, read our annual report and stay tuned to our social media channels.