Guest post by Katie Penn, TechWomen Professional Mentor Why Sierra Leone? Why STEM? These were questions I was repeatedly asked during my journey to Sierra Leone as part of the TechWomen delegation trip last month. Delegation trips are an opportunity to raise the profile of fellows’ efforts to … [READ MORE...]
Uzbekistan Day 6: mentoring in Samarkand
The last day of the delegation trip began in Samarkand, a city known for being a crossroads of the Great Silk Road. The day began at Youth Union Center, where the group met with local schoolgirls aged 10-18, as well as Technovation Uzbekistan teams working on refining their pitches. During … [READ MORE...]
Uzbekistan Day 5: inspiring young students
Mentors and fellows visited three schools throughout Tashkent on day five, meeting with young students to talk about entrepreneurship, finding their passion, robotics and more. At School #31, mentors spoke to a classroom of girls from sixth to eighth grade, sharing about their diverse careers … [READ MORE...]
Uzbekistan Day 4: STEM career day with students
On day four, mentors and fellows were hosted at Westminster International University for a day of mentorship with students planning for STEM careers of their own. The morning began with lightning talks featuring mentors Laura Messerschmitt and Beth Steinberg, who spoke about how their careers have … [READ MORE...]
Uzbekistan Day 3: uniting women and girls in STEM
Women in Tech and Science Week On day three, the delegation joined Central Asia Women in Tech and Science Week for their formal launch at Inha University. The day kicked off a week that would bring together STEM leaders, country officials, entrepreneurs and students for panels, sessions and … [READ MORE...]
TechWomen travels to Uzbekistan
The TechWomen delegation has returned from an incredible week in Sierra Leone, where fellows and mentors came together to educate and inspire the next generation of women in STEM. As we reflect on the week, we are also setting our sights to our next delegation trip: Uzbekistan! Like in Sierra … [READ MORE...]
Sierra Leone Day 6: a new generation of leaders
“What I’m here to tell you is there’s a place for you. There is a problem that your mind can help solve.” The final day of the delegation trip began at St. Edwards Primary School, where fellows and mentors saw the work of the 2016 seed grant-winning initiative Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Kids Can … [READ MORE...]
Sierra Leone Day 5: women and girls in techpreneurship
"We know that society and culture benefit when we empower women and girls" A group of mentors and fellows began day five in media interviews, appearing on African Young Voices Television and Radio Democracy to share their TechWomen experiences. On the radio, mentor Tina Shakour and 2015 … [READ MORE...]
Sierra Leone Day 4: a growing community of women
"As leaders, we have the opportunity to lift up other women." Day four of the delegation trip began with the Women in Leadership Forum, an event dedicated to discussing challenges and opportunities for women's leadership and career development in STEM fields. Together with local entrepreneurs, … [READ MORE...]
Sierra Leone Day 3: meeting and inspiring young leaders
"Our responsibility today is not to tell you why but to ask you, why not?” On day three, fellows and mentors came together with secondary school girls from across Freetown to talk about diverse career opportunities in STEM fields. Fellows opened the day remembering inspiring women in history - … [READ MORE...]
