Impact Stories

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  Fellow(s): Faten Khalfallah

  Country: Tunisia

  Region: MENA

  Cohort: 2015

  Project/Action: Fellow begins 3D printing masks for Tunisian hospitals

  Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement

  This week, 2015 fellow of Tunisia Faten Khalfallah began designing and 3D printing personal protective equipment for the healthcare workers in Tunisia who are caring for patients affected by COVID-19. Faten is the founder of First Skills Club, a STEM education initiative that introduces Tunisia’s youth to technologies such as mobile apps, robotics, electronics, design and 3D printing. She moved from her home to the First Skills Club headquarters alongside her family in order to make as many face shields as possible.
  After preliminary trials, Faten began printing the shields; each piece takes slightly over an hour to print and five minutes to join. Already, Faten has been contacted by Yes We Breathe, an initiative that is working to create additional equipment for Tunisian hospitals, as well as local doctors requesting supplies. Each day, Faten sends the equipment she creates to a local doctor in Sfax who is distributing them to his medical staff. It is her goal to print over 1,000 pieces.
  Faten has also recruited help from her First Skills Club mentees, who are all working to create mobile apps, awareness videos, and robots that can serve as resources. “It’s my duty toward my country and my community, and I’m so happy to help and inspire young generation,” says Faten. “I will not stop working.”

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  Report Date: 3/23/20

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  Fellow(s): Maral Hudaybergenova, Merjen Saparmyradova

  Country: Turkmenistan

  Region: CSA

  Cohort: 2018, 2019

  Project/Action: Fellows host first Women Techmakers event in Turkmenistan

  Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

  This week, 2018 fellow Maral Hudaybergenova organized Turkmenistan’s first Women Techmakers event, hosted by Ashgabat’s local Google Developer Group (GDG) that she launched this month alongside fellows from multiple cohorts in Turkmenistan. GDG chapters offer local developers a space to learn new skills, network and advance their careers. Women Techmakers, a global program from Google, is dedicated to helping women succeed in tech through resource-sharing and community events.
  Maral and 2019 fellow Merjen Saparmyradova hosted the event in celebration of International Women’s Day, bringing together TechWomen fellows and other local women in tech to discuss Turkmenistan’s technology sector, share best practices and brainstorm projects they can implement in their community. Moving forward, Maral and Merjen hope to use GDG Ashgabat to educate and inspire local women in tech and encourage them to apply for TechWomen.​

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  Report Date: 3/23/20