Impact Stories from Economic Impact Policy Area
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0501-Mentors-in-Kyrgyzstan-1-150x150.png)
Kyrgyz Fellows host U.S. mentors for week of collaborative events in advance of Kazakhstan delegation
Fellow(s): Fellows: Kseniia Tysganova, Dinara Moldosheva, Darika Aldasheva and Kyzzhibek Batyrkanova
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2018, 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Kyrgyz Fellows host U.S. mentors for week of collaborative events in advance of Kazakhstan delegation
In the week before the TechWomen delegation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz fellow Kseniia Tysganova (2022), with the robust support of Dinara Moldosheva (2022), Darika Aldasheva (2022), Tursunai Bektemirova (2022), Nuraiym Azygalieva (2022), Bermet Dosmambetova (2022), Ainura Mitalipova (2022) and Kyzzhibek Batyrkanova (2019), independently collaborated with U.S. mentors Cora Lam, Kathy Giori, Jayme Farrell-Ranker, Meg Gordon, Debbie Whaley and Nancy Hendrickson, to initiate a self-directed agenda of workshops, panels and cultural events in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The several-day itinerary included workshops for schoolchildren and university students, master classes on leadership and technology trends and panel discussions. Highlights included visits with students, scientists and leaders of the Kyrgyz State Technical University, the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences, Billimkana American School and Ala-Too International Medical University. Workshops included Mentoring for Impact, led by Cora, and Physical Computing with MicroBlocks, led by Kathy. For the main event, the collaborators gathered with an audience at Ololo Planet, a creative hub and co-working venue in Bishkek, where mentors presented an overview of the TechWomen program and took part in a panel discussion moderated by Kyzzhibek. The Kyrgyz fellows also hosted a cultural send-off party for the mentors, who continued on to Kazakhstan, along with several Kyrgyz fellows, for the TechWomen delegation.
Report Date...: 05/01/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0501-Eman-150x150.png)
Fellow(s): Eman Herawy (Egypt, 2022)
Country: Egypt
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow innovation, Geni, wins prizes at web 3.0 event
Fellow Eman Herawy (Egypt, 2022), co-founder of NoonDAO (decentralized autonomous organization) and Arab Blockchain Week, recently won three prizes at ETHDenver’s BUIDLathon for her co-creation Geni, an AI-based tool that generates requirements for smart contract security tools. Geni won Best Developer Tooling Solution for Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM), Best Developer Infrastructure/Tooling on Mantle and the Open Aurora Bounty. #BUIDLathon is a conference held in Denver, Colorado that brings together developers and advocates of distributed computing on the Ethereum blockchain. There weren’t many bounties for security-related items,” Eman wrote in a recent post, “but we wanted to hack for security-related products and WE DID IT!” Eman co-founded NoonDAO, an Arab women-led DAO, to advocate for Arab women’s empowerment. In 2021, she was featured by Fintech Reviews on International Women’s Day as one of the top 21 blockchain leaders.
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Report Date...: 05/01/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0501-Fortunate-150x150.png)
Fellow energy co. hosts children’s solar training academy
Fellow(s): Fortunate Farirai (Zimbabwe, 2022)
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow energy co. hosts children’s solar training academy
Sustenergy, of which fellow Fortunate Farirai (Zimbabwe, 2022) is Founder, Managing Director and CEO, conducted its two-day Solar for Kids program this spring. Under its training division, Sustenergy Training Academy, the company trained 26 kids from over 15 primary schools and high schools on how the solar power system works. “Our most [sic] gratitude goes to our kids,” Fortunate wrote in a recent post, “who were engaging and interactive in making the program successful.” Sustenergy is an energy company centered on developing renewable energy technologies that can deliver affordable, modern, safe and environmentally friendly energy on a global scale.
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Report Date...: 05/01/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0410-Azhar-2-150x150.png)
Fellow launches fintech product development course
Fellow(s): Azhar Mambetova (Kyrgyzstan, 2019)
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow talks equity in tech in interview for The Ouut
Fellow Azhar Mambetova (Kyrgyzstan, 2019) recently launched a proprietary course entitled “Product Management – Launching Digital Financial Services.” The certificate-bearing course consists of five components targeted at financial services professionals seeking to create digital products. The course will instruct on identifying client needs, developing a minimum viable product, managing a development team, building a development process and analyzing product metrics. It also features several guest lecturers, including fellow Darika Aldasheva (Kyrgyzstan, 2022). Azhar believes her course will help “drive innovation and create remarkable products.” With over ten years of experience in fintech, she currently works as a managing director for Kompanion bank and a Digital Financial Services Consultant for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Bishkek.
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Report Date...: 04/10/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0410-Tamadhur-1-150x150.png)
Fellow talks equity in tech in interview for The Ouut
Fellow(s): Tamadur Almahdi Abukhamadah (Libya, 2022)
Country: Libya
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development
Fellow talks equity in tech in interview for The Ouut
Fellow Tamadur Almahdi Abukhamadah (Libya, 2022) was recently interviewed by online emerging market news platform The Ouut for an article entitled “African Women In Tech; Tamadur Almahdi Discusses, Tech, Empowerment [and] Participation.” “Women are more likely to do the work that is behind the scenes…and end up unrecognized,” Tamadur explained, sharing her thoughts on the gendered digital divide. “The continuous unrecognition of women’s impact in various organizational projects can leave them feeling unappreciated…and ultimately mean they leave the job they are really good at and really love.” Tamadur is the Chief of Staff at Speetar, a health tech startup that has brought accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to over two million patients in conflict-affected communities since its launch in 2020. “At Speetar, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment and promoting women in leadership roles,” the company shared in a post on Tamadur’s interview.
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Report Date...: 04/10/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0410-Janatu-1-150x150.jpg)
Fellow initiative hosts U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission to raise awareness of State exchange programs
Fellow(s): Janatu Veronica Sesay (Sierra Leone, 2022)
Country: Sierra Leone
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow initiative hosts U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission to raise awareness of State exchange programs
STEM Girls Initiative Sierra Leone, a program of which fellow Janatu Veronica Sesay (Sierra Leone, 2022) is founder and CEO, recently hosted U.S. Embassy Freetown Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie A. Bunce during an event held to raise awareness of exchange programs offered by the U.S. Department of State. Held at Njala University, the STEM Girls Initiative event was attended by hundreds of staff and students, to whom the U.S Embassy representatives provided insights and encouragement on eligibility and application for these programs and how to become part of a community of impact. Fellows from these programs, including TechWomen, Fulbright and YALI, also contributed to the program, sharing their exchange experiences and the positive impacts they’ve since been able to effect on their communities upon returning home. “TechWomen has helped me connect with changemakers across the globe and build lifelong relationships that will lead to collaboration,” and U.S. Public Relations Officer Sarah Van Horne, who was also in attendance at the event. STEM Girls Initiative Sierra Leone was born out of Janatu’s experience as a TechWomen Emerging Leader. It aims to raise awareness among junior and secondary school girls on how to find career paths in STEM, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal three (SDG3).
Report Date...: 04/10/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0403-Reshma-150x150.png)
Mentor publication calls for wide-scale net zero construction
Fellow(s): Mentor Reshma Singh
Country:
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Mentor publication calls for wide-scale net zero construction
Mentor Reshma Singh recently guest authored the article “Buildings Belong at the Heart of Climate Action” for Environment+Energy Leader, a woman-owned online media publisher. In her article, Reshma discusses the central importance of green and SMART building design in the race to cut global greenhouse emissions, citing the Biden administration’s recent call for all new and substantially renovated buildings to attain carbon neutrality by 2030. With approximately 90% of the average human lifetime being spent indoors, Reshma explains, a serious impact on emissions can only occur through significant movement towards a net zero built environment. She goes on to discuss the growing, positive dialogue around net zero construction that is happening among business executives, academics and governments, pointing to the fruitful sentiments shared during a recent roundtable discussion she organized at this year’s Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh. “From where I stand,” she concludes, “the future is clear: first buildings, then neighborhoods, and then the whole world, running on clean energy that drives prosperity and benefits people and the planet.” Reshma is a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office. She works at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a program lead implementing two DOE initiatives: IMPEL, a tech-to-market program focused on building technologies, and Cradle to Commerce, an equity-centered climate tech entrepreneurship accelerator.
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Report Date...: 04/03/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VertSTEM-2.0-with-teachers-150x150.jpg)
Fellow collabs with IEEE STEM on digital outreach
Fellow(s): Mistura Muibi-Tijani (Nigeria, 2022)
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow collabs with IEEE STEM on digital outreach
VertSTEM, founded by fellow Mistura Muibi-Tijani (Nigeria, 2022), recently collaborated with IEEE STEM to organize, “Bridging the Digital and the Economic Divide 2.0,” a well-received event designed to increase awareness of STEM opportunities and careers among students in rural communities. Hosted by Ibarapa central local government of Oyo state, the event engaged students, teachers, parents and community leaders from three local governments of Oyo, providing “practical knowledge on how to generate electricity from the sun and the roles technology can play in mitigating the effects of climate change,” Mistura explained in a recent post. Mistura founded VertSTEM in 2021 to develop and educate the next generation of tech-savvy scholars, with an emphasis on first generation rural college students. She also serves as an IEEE Young Professionals chair in Nigeria and works as a full-time research engineer.
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Report Date...: 04/23/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0403-Reema-1-150x150.jpg)
Fellow named AI Global Ambassador by SwissCognitive
Fellow(s): Reema Diab (Jordan, 2019)
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow named AI Global Ambassador by SwissCognitive
Fellow Reema Diab (Jordan, 2019) has recently been named an AI Global Ambassador 2023 by SwissCognitive, a world-leading artificial intelligence network that sources experts in the field of AI to facilitate the successful integration of the technology into the modern world. Reema is the founder and CEO of Galaxy Organization For Technology and a senior consultant for Tesla. She recently gave a speech on STEM skills for the job market at Al Hussein Technical University in Jordan, joined a panel for Swiss Cognitive entitled, “Redefining Business Performance with Generative AI,” and next week will deliver a keynote address for Women in AI USA focused on Generative AI Strategy for Boards and C Suites. Her recent TedX PSUT Talk on the future of jobs will soon be available for viewing.
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Report Date...: 4/3/2023
![](https://www.techwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0327-Merjen-3-150x150.jpg)
Fellow launches DigiWomen Camp with USAID Future Growth Initiative
Fellow(s): Merjen Saparmyradova (Turkmenistan, 2019)
Country: Turkmenistan
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow launches DigiWomen Camp with USAID Future Growth Initiative
Fellow Merjen Saparmyradova (Turkmenistan, 2019), founder and director of Sanly Bilim Educational Center in Turkmenistan, has recently launched DigiWomen Camp in partnership with USAID’s Future Growth Initiative. This four-month program provides access to spaces and training in IT and software development for women and girls over the age of 16. The nearly 100 participants to-date, upon successful fulfillment of the program, will earn a completion certificate and have developed a portfolio and/or finished product to kick-start their own IT business. DigWomen Camp is the first program of its kind in Turkmenistan. It aims to augment the qualifications of women and girls as a pipeline towards heightening their presence in the virtual and in-person IT job market in the country. “The first step towards increasing women’s and girls’ access to technology and digital spaces,” Merjen explained in a recent post, “is to promote digital education and actively support and encourage girls’ participation in related subjects.” Sanly Bilim Educational Center first began working with USAID projects in November of 2022, and in December partnered with the USAID Youth Development Project to host their six-month TechYouth Bootcamp, which provides tech training for youths aged 18 to 25 in the areas of web and mobile application development, user interface and experience (UI/UX), graphic design, and IT and system administration. In that same month, Merjen won the Alumni of the Year in Women’s Empowerment Award during the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat’s first ever New Year’s Alumni Gala.
Read More »Report Date...: 3/27/2023