Impact Stories from Economic Impact Policy Area
Fellow and mentor join annual SelectUSA Investment Summit
Fellow(s): Ameni Mansouri, Jeannice Samani
Country: Tunisia, United States
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Growth
Fellow Ameni Mansouri of Tunisia (2018) joined the first ever Tunisian Delegation to the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington DC. SelectUSA is a Department of Commerce program that facilitates and highlights the jobs-creating impact of direct foreign business investment into the United States by providing a platform for international marketing, encouraging localized networking and providing access to essential services and information. Ameni attended the event as CEO and Co-Founder of Dabchy.com, a fashion community that combines social networks with shopping markets to provide users a platform to “buy, sell or exchange new and used fashion items online,” while also interacting with the posts, images and articles of fellow members, or “Dabchouchas” as they call themselves. TechWomen mentor and Managing Director of Fairrer Samani Group, Dr. Jeannice Samani, also participated in the event as a judge of the Middle East & Africa Regional Pitching Session.
The 2022 Select USA Investment Summit was the largest to date with more than 3,600 attendees, panelists, sponsors, moderators, pitchers and exhibitors from over 70 international markets and 51 states and territories. The event included keynote remarks from President Joe Biden and speeches from several US governors and cabinet secretaries among other notable figures.
Report Date...: 6/27/2022
Fellows host roundtable discussion with Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences
Fellow(s): Kanykei Alipova, Tursunai Bektemirova, Ainura Mitalipova, and Nargiza Abdubalieva
Country: Kyrgyzstan, Palestinian Territories
Cohort: 2014, 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship
In early June, 2022 fellow Tursunai Bektemirova, a chairwoman on the Council of Young Scientists in Kyrgyzstan, co-organized a roundtable discussion with the support and participation of fellows Kanykei Alipova 2022, Ainura Mitalipova 2022, and Nargiza Abdubalieva 2014. The event, “Women in Science and Education: Trends and Perspectives”, was hosted by the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic (NAS KR) and served to highlight, elevate, and support the topic of women’s roles and contributions to science and educational development in the region.
Tursunai shares that she conceived of the idea, “after coming back home from the USA TechWomen program [in] 2022. Right away, I had an idea to organize a roundtable for women in STEM.” During the event, Kanykei supported the talk by spotlighting the team’s TechWomen action plan project Kamkor, an online platform devoted to supporting working mothers at each stage of child care, and Ainura joined remotely to present her own related project, Baby Comer. The event, sponsored by the Kumtor Gold Company JSC, was attended by President of the NAS KR, Murat Dzhumatayev, as well as other noteworthy academicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, leaders and humanitarians. Topics of discussion included the socio-economic opportunities of rural young women, quality and levels of education available for women, and socio-psychological portrayals of women in science.
Report Date...: 6/6/2022
Fellow selected as World Bank Youth Summit 2022 Finalist
Fellow(s): Arielle Kitio
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
The World Bank selected 2016 fellow Arielle Kitio as a finalist for its 2022 Youth Summit Competition, representing her organization TechWoman Factory, part of the Cameroon Youth School Tech Incubator (CAYSTI). Arielle was one of six finalists selected from a competitive pool of 1,031 applications representing 107 countries. The 2022 summit theme was “Unlocking the Power of Inclusion for Equitable Growth,” and all finalists were selected for projects that effectively and impactfully spoke to elements of social, environmental and economic inclusion.
TechWoman Factory’s inaugural cohort consists of 179 Cameroonian youth (including 134 women), who receive professional training in one of three fields (data science, web development and digital art) for six months in Yaoundé, followed by a three-month professional mentorship with a partner organization. Additionally, all participants receive a core education in entrepreneurship, financial education, cybersecurity and soft skills such as negotiation, leadership, effective communication and creativity.
Report Date...: 5/31/2022
Fellow awarded funding for assistive technology innovation
Fellow(s): Sylvia Nyaga
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
Syna Consultancy, founded and led by CEO, 2022 fellow from Kenya Sylvia Nyaga, recently won second place at the Assistive Technology Innovation Showcase in Kenya. Sylvia and her organization received $6,000 USD in funding to further their mission of providing equitable and inclusive water and sanitation services. Syna Consultancy’s “top priority is the achievement of access to safe and adequate all-inclusive water and sanitation paying special attention to the needs of marginalized groups” in rural and urban communities in Kenya. The showcase was hosted by Villgro Africa, a Nairobi-based impact investor and incubator whose focus is emerging healthcare businesses in Africa, in partnership with assistive technology accelerator Innovate Now and the Kenyan National Innovation Agency (KeNIA). Applicants were selected for their potential for impact and scalability, team and product strength and awareness of user needs. In addition to funding, Syna Consultancy and other winners gained access to investor networks from Villgro Africa, Innovate Now and KeNIA, as well as mentorship and training to solicit further funding and partnerships.
Read More »Report Date...: 5/23/2022
Fellows and Mentors present at LocWorldWide46 conference
Fellow(s): Barateng Miya, Binta Moustapha, Sylvia Mukasa, Chepkemoi Magdaline, Mpara Faith Muwar, Josephine Ndambuki, Ouafa Benterki, Mimi Hills, Jannice Campbell and Melissa Biggs
Country: Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, United States
Cohort: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
At Localization World’s LocWorldWide46 conference, TechWomen fellows and mentors organized and delivered three sessions geared toward localization, translation, and global website management and business professionals. Mentor Mimi Hills moderated “Ensuring Your Investment in Africa Is Sustainable,” which went “beyond the cultural stereotypes to understand the current business economy, describe common pitfalls for first-time investors, and make recommendations for prioritizing localization investment.” Its panelists were 2015 fellow from South Africa Barateng Miya, 2014 fellow from Nigeria Binta Moustapha and 2014 fellow from Kenya Sylvia Mukasa. Mentor Janice Campbell moderated “The Path to Entrepreneurship for Women in Africa” in which 2019 fellow from Kenya Chepkemoi Magdaline, 2017 fellow from Cameroon Mpara Faith Muwar and 2013 fellow from Kenya Josephine Ndambuki discussed their own trajectories and successes in entrepreneurship. And finally, mentor Melissa Biggs and 2012 fellow from Algeria Ouafa Benterki collaborated on the session “Out of Africa: The North Africa Translation and Technology Hub Reveled,” which highlighted, “opportunities for enterprises and localizers to engage with a vibrant North African hub that provides both technologies as well as cultural and language support services that reach far beyond the North Africa region.”
Read More »Report Date...: 5/23/2022
Fellow initiatives named BOOST Women Innovators by UNDP
Fellow(s): Elena Chigibaeva, Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova
Country: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2016, 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
Social impact accelerator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative BOOST recently announced its list of champions selected for participation in the Women Innovators program. Among those selected are two initiatives led by TechWomen fellows: Weincrypto DAO, co-founded by Kyrgyz fellow Elena Chigibaeva (2018), and Tech4Impact, founded by 2016 Uzbek fellows Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova. BOOST: Women Innovators will support Tech4Impact and Weincrypto DAO in their work to bridge the gender digital divide alongside 42 other women-led organizations in Europe and Central Asia that work in the realms of data, digital access, digital economy & STEM and tech innovation among women and girls.
Weincrypto is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) founded in 2022. It is dedicated to fostering a crypto community for women, NFT collections, online training modules and support for Web 3.0 startups, stating their mission is “to help women as newbies in crypto to explore and unleash the potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies for financial growth and freedom.” Tech4Impact is an NGO founded in 2019 “to join efforts and carry on the activities in the field of development of innovations, information technologies, startups, human capital, green technologies, youth and women’s entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region.”
Read More »Report Date...: 5/16/2022
Fellow co‐organizes diversity dinner at blockchain conference
Fellow(s): Eman Herawy
Country: Egypt
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
2022 fellow Eman Herawy, the founder of Arabs in Blockchain, co‐organized a diversity dinner for women and BIPOC Web3 Builders, NFT artists, investors, supporters and allies at last month’s Bitcoin 2022 conference in Miami. A self‐described “blockchain geek,” Eman founded Arabs in Blockchain to strengthen
the Arab blockchain community by connecting international experts, increasing Arabic content and supporting entrepreneurs who are building blockchain solutions. She is also a Devcon Scholar alumni at the Ethereum Foundation, and co‐founded Arab Blockchain Week, a community event meant to educate
individuals and businesses passionate about blockchain technology. The event was hosted by BLK@, an initiative that addresses equity in Web3. The dinner featured partner presentations, elevator pitching and networking opportunities. “The best moment was when people start asking me about the Arab community in blockchain,” said Eman. “We started to form potential opportunities that the Arab community can leverage, like how they can support the second version of Arab Blockchain Week.”
Report Date...: 5/9/2022
Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support
Fellow(s): Ines Umuhoza, Emma Marie Ndoringoma, Solange Tuyisenge, Marie Claire Murekatete, Christa Uwamahoro, Nadine Uwizeyimana and Felicie Nyinawabali
Country: Rwanda
Cohort: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support
Before the start of TechWomen 2022, fellow Ines Umuhoza set a goal to leverage her TechWomen mentorship to inspire and mentor young girls in Rwanda. During the program, Ines collaborated with her mentor, Tawish Naqvi of Microsoft, to build out Girls in STEM Mentorship, a project she created of before TechWomen. Shortly after she returned from the U.S., Ines held her first session for 120 girls from Maranyundo Girls School, hosting them for an introductory session about mentorship and how they can benefit from the six‐month Girls in STEM Mentorship project. Ines is the director of programs for Girls in ICT Rwanda/Rwanda Women in Tech, an initiative whose mission is to inspire women and girls to pursue STEM careers. Rwandan fellows Emma Marie Ndoringoma (2013), Solange Tuyisenge (2015), Marie Claire Murekatete (2014),Christa Uwamahoro(2018), Nadine Uwizeyimana (2022) and Felicie Nyinawabali (2022) have joined the mentorship program, serving as advisors and co‐organizers; the program will also receive support from Girls in ICT Rwanda. Solange and Ines are collaborating to create career fair sessions, invite guest speakers and deliver training on soft skills and career guidance. At the Maranyundo Girls School introductory session, the girls were encouraged to ask questions about STEM careers and learn about their choices within STEM fields. “We designed this program to create awareness of different STEM careers by conducting STEM Career Fair days with different women in STEM professions to inspire the girls,” said Ines. “Not only are we inspiring more girls to be part of the women in STEM movement, but we are also going to be providing career guidance, self‐confidence and other soft skills needed to succeed in their future.”
Report Date...: 5/9/2022
Fellows debut STEM empowerment project Heya Caravan
Fellow(s): Salma Bekkouche, Amel Djenidi, Fatima Zohra Benhamida, Amina Salesse
Country: Algeria
Cohort: 2017, 2018, 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
After TechWomen 2018, fellows Salma Bekkouche and Amel Djenidi began working with 2017 fellow Fatima Zohra Benhamida to create Heya Caravan, a project that empowers girls and women through STEM education. After securing a grant from the U.S. Embassy Algiers’ Alumni Small Grant Competition in 2019 – and after delays caused by the pandemic – the fellows, with 2020-2021 fellow Amina Salesse as a new team member, launched Heya Caravan in Hassi Messaoud last month, bringing a day of workshops, talks and networking opportunities to women in the region. Heya (Arabic for “She”) Caravan collaborated with local STEM leaders, inviting them to share their career paths in STEM, host Q&A’s and deliver workshops meant to educate and empower the professionals and students in attendance. In Fatima’s session, “Which hat would you like to wear?” she spoke about her journey in higher education as an assistant professor at the National School of Computer Science, her diverse work experience and her mission to combat stereotypes of women in technical fields. In a leadership workshop, participants learned about different leadership styles and their respective strengths and weaknesses. The day concluded with Q&A session themed on mental health challenges and work-life balance during the pandemic. “From preparation to the event itself to the post-event parts…every single task we made with love, and enjoyed it to the extreme,” said Amina. The Heya Caravan team hopes to replicate the programming in other Algerian cities as well as create online content for community members. “I’m proud to see the project become a reality after almost three years full of challenges,” said Salma.
Report Date...: 5/2/2022
BBC News Kyrgyz features fellows’ TechWomen 2022 project
Fellow(s): Kanykei Alipova, Azem Bakasova, Tursunai Bektemirova, Elvira Kyshtobaeva, Ainura Mitalipova, Jyldyz Moldosanova, Fatima Turgunbaeva, Gulzada Urgunalieva
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
The 2022 fellows of Kyrgyzstan were featured in a video spotlight from BBC News Kyrgyz that highlighted their seed-grant winning action plan project created during the TechWome program. During the action planning process of TechWomen, fellows Kanykei Alipova, Azem Bakasova, Tursunai Bektemirova, Elvira Kyshtobaeva, Ainura Mitalipova, Jyldyz Moldosanova, Fatima Turgunbaeva and Gulzada Urgunalieva created Kamkor, a portal that will support working mothers by connecting them to childcare. Through Kamkor, the fellows hope to provide resources to the 57% of educated women in Kyrgyzstan who cannot work because of the lack of childcare in the country. “Many educated women in Kyrgyzstan are forced to leave the labor market, they said. “Mothers will be able to find a nanny for themselves at their request for an hour, for a day, for a month. With easy access to childcare, mothers can go back to work and create conditions for gender equality.”
Read More »Report Date...: 5/2/2022