BURLINGTON, Ky. — In northern Kentucky, the nonprofit Oh She Built That is inspiring young girls and unlocking the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the craft of woodworking.

What You Need To Know

  • Oh She Built That encourages youth to explore science, techology, engineering and math (STEM) careers through woodworking education

  • Oh She Built That launched its first in-person program in spring 2023

  • Founder, Hope Lysaught teaches girls woodworking and self-reliance

  • Between 2011 and 2021, the number of women in the STEM workforce increased from 9.4 million to 12.3 million

A little drilling, hammering, sanding and teamwork is all it takes to build something new. And it’s all because of Hope Lysaght. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope began experimenting with woodwork, using her husband’s tools in the basement. She would leave her corporate job and developed “Oh, She Built That,” a nonprofit organization encouraging girls to explore STEM careers and hobbies through woodworking education and workshops. She officially launched programming in the spring of 2023.

“I was becoming more confident, just like felt like my creative juices flowing. So just like a little lighter, too. And I really wanted to find a way to give that to girls,” Lysaght said.

In 2023, she hosted eight programs in schools, libraries and camps across northern Kentucky. The program is about building useful items and learning self-reliance.

“Part of our mission is to really teach about self-confidence, and part of that is involving encouraging them to take risks…So, you really have to teach both how to handle the risks and how to handle failure,” she explained.

The girls work on their projects and find time to bond along the way. Fifth grader Lily Borchers shared about her favorite part of the program, saying, “You have the creativity to make whatever you want to make instead of having to follow strict rules. And there’s no boys in here because boys are icky!”

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, between 2011 and 2021, the number of women in the STEM workforce increased 31%, from 9.4 million to 12.3 million.

Lysaght says the programming teaches the importance of risk taking and working together.

“A lot of these pieces could be completed by one person, but we like to make it so that they have to work with their partners at certain steps. So just for the power of collaboration,” she shared.

The goal is to empower the next generation of female leaders in STEM, one project at a time.

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