At Lottie Dolls, we believe in empowering kids – regardless of gender, ability, ethnicity or interests – to pursue their passions.

“You can’t be what you can’t see.”

We’re in wholehearted agreement with American activist for children's rights, Marian Wright Edelman. And so we were delighted to be asked to get involved with the first ever STEM Build Malawi in May 2019.  It sounded like a great project for us to share with Lottie fans, allowing them to observe life-skills like collaboration, teamwork, vision and – of course – STEM in glorious practice.

As part of the expedition, 25 women working in STEM roles spent two weeks building a brand-new STEM classroom block for Rainbow Hope Secondary School. Rainbow Hope Secondary School educates 124 girls and boys and was established to complement the efforts of the Community Initiative for Self-Reliance through which it offers scholarly support to orphans and vulnerable children. During the expedition on the shores of Lake Malawi, the women also spent time with students, hoping to inspire them to consider a future in STEM.

Before the expedition, the team undertook a series of fundraising activities to complete the construction of the classroom and to purchase STEM equipment to kit it out. They secured funding to purchase eco-friendly interlocking blocks and arranged for a film crew to join them - from the Institution of Engineering and Technology – to document the trip.

We were asked to supply a range of STEM learning toys - including dolls and doll clothes - to support the expedition’s activities. Doll clothes versions of lab coats, high vis vests, hard hats, goggles and boots were supplied for site-work. For STEM workshops, we supplied dolls dressed in lab coats. And the expedition team - who were planning a safari during the project – were keen to take along our Fossil Hunter doll, too!

Fossil Hunter – One of our top STEM toys for kids

At Lottie Dolls, we have a selection of STEM toys for girls and boys with an interest in activities like stargazing and space exploration. Our special-edition Fossil Hunter doll was created in collaboration with TrowelBlazers, an Anglo-American group of women archaeologists, palaeontologists and geologists. Since her launch, Fossil Hunter Lottie has consistently topped the best STEM toys for kids’ lists, included on the top STEM toys and games’ lists from outlets as varied as Today.com to Geek Ireland to Forbes. 

As with all Lottie Dolls, our Fossil Hunter doll has been created paying close attention to the small details that make our toys special. Included with these cute dolls:

• Doll clothes: khaki gilet, ammonite design t-shirt, shorts, socks, boots and cap
• Accessories: rucksack packed with fossils and fossil hunting tools (magnifying glass, trowel and geology hammer)
• Collector cards about the British female fossil hunter, Mary Anning
• An additional info-sheet about notable female palaeontologists