STEMPath 🌍

Empowering the next generation of African women in STEM through mentorship, education, and community.

A full-stack STEM mentorship and learning platform with a React frontend and Node.js + Express + PostgreSQL backend.

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🌐 Live Demo

Experience STEMPath in action:
🔗 https://stempath-1.onrender.com

🚀 Quick Start

Option A — Docker (recommended, one command)

docker compose up --build

Then open:

• Frontend: http://localhost:5173
• API: http://localhost:5000/api/health

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Option B — Manual Setup

1. PostgreSQL

Create a database named stempath:

CREATE DATABASE stempath;

2. Backend

cd backend
npm install
npm run db:init
npm run dev

3. Frontend

npm install
npm run dev

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🔑 Demo Accounts

All demo passwords: password123

Role	Email	Dashboard
Admin	admin@stempath.io	/admin
Mentor	amara@stempath.io	/mentor
Mentor	fatima@stempath.io	/mentor
Student	amina@gmail.com	/student
Student	grace@gmail.com	/student

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📁 Project Structure

STEMPATH/
│
├── backend/                     # Backend server (Node.js + Express API)
│   ├── src/                     # Main backend source code
│   │   ├── controllers/         # Handle requests & responses (business logic)
│   │   ├── database/            # Database initialization logic
│   │   ├── db/                  # Database helpers (queries wrapper)
│   │   ├── middleware/          # Auth, roles, and validation middleware
│   │   ├── repositories/        # All database operations (data access layer)
│   │   ├── routes/              # API routes definitions
│   │   ├── utils/               # Helper functions (JWT, hashing, uploads)
│   │   └── app.js               # Express app configuration
│   │
│   ├── uploads/                 # Stores uploaded files (CVs, images, etc.)
│   ├── .env                     # Environment variables (secrets, configs)
│   ├── Dockerfile               # Backend Docker setup
│   ├── server.js                # Backend entry point
│   ├── package.json             # Backend dependencies
│   └── package-lock.json        # Backend dependency lock file
│
├── database/                    # Database layer (PostgreSQL)
│   ├── migrations/              # Database migrations (future changes)
│   ├── schema.sql               # Database schema definition
│   └── seedData.sql             # Sample/demo data
│
├── frontend/                    # Frontend application (React)
│   ├── src/                     # Main frontend source code
│   │   ├── assets/              # Images, icons, static assets
│   │   ├── components/          # Reusable UI components
│   │   ├── context/             # Global state management (Auth, App state)
│   │   ├── pages/               # Application pages (dashboards, landing)
│   │   ├── services/            # API communication layer
│   │   ├── App.jsx              # Main React component (routing)
│   │   ├── main.jsx             # React entry point
│   │   └── index.css            # Global styles
│   │
│   ├── public/                  # Static public files
│   ├── index.html               # HTML template
│   ├── Dockerfile.frontend      # Frontend Docker setup
│   ├── docker-compose.yml       # Multi-container setup (frontend + backend + DB)
│   ├── package.json             # Frontend dependencies
│   ├── package-lock.json        # Frontend lock file
│   └── README.md                # Frontend documentation

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🔌 API Overview

All endpoints are prefixed with /api.

Key Features:

• Authentication & user management
• Mentorship system (requests, approvals)
• Courses and learning progress
• Chat system between users
• Community forum
• Notifications system
• Admin dashboard & analytics

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🗄️ Database Overview

Core structure:

users → students / mentors
mentorship_requests → mentorships
categories → courses → lessons
progress → certificates
messages → notifications
forum_posts → forum_replies

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🎨 Design System

• Clean modern UI
• Accessible color palette
• Responsive design for all devices

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🔐 Security

• JWT Authentication
• Password hashing (bcrypt)
• Role-based authorization
• Input validation
• Secure file uploads

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❤️ Mission

STEMPath is built to empower girls and women in Africa by providing access to STEM education, mentorship, and opportunities to grow and succeed in technology fields.

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Built with ❤️ for African women in STEM.