Impact Stories from Education Diplomacy/Mentoring Policy Area
Fellow wins Zero Project Award for EdTech platform
Fellow(s): Angele Messa
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This month, 2019 fellow of Cameroon Angele Messa won the Zero Project Award for her initiative, EduClick. This year’s awards were given to practices and policies that support people with disabilities within education. Angele will be presented with the award next month at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.
Angele founded the EdTech platform to offer alternative learning methods for those who don’t have access to formal education in Cameroon. With both offline and online educational methods, EduClick supports students, recent graduates and young professionals who are looking to gain marketable skills. They also offer an after-school program that includes STEM Labs and workshops, introducing students to VR, game development, puzzles and more. EduClick also recently debuted an extracurricular STEM Saturdays program designed to make STEM exciting and fun for young children. In the future, Angele hopes to build education telecenters for refugees and displaced people.
Report Date...: 1/20/20
Alumnae host Technovation kickoff event in Nablus
Fellow(s): Ayah Soufan, Yamama Shaka’a, Ruba Awayes, Waed Jabareen, Hiba Ghannam, Sondos Ibrahim, Mai Abuthraa
Country: Palestinian Territories
Cohort: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This weekend, TechWomen fellows came together to organize
a Technovation challenge kickoff event Nablus that was
attended by over 100 girls and mentors. 2015 fellow Ayah
Soufan, who organized the event hosted by her employer,
Paltel, has been a Technovation Regional Ambassador since
2016.
Ayah was joined by 2016 fellow Yamama Shakaa, 2017 fellow
Ruba Awayes, 2018 fellow Waed Jabareen, and 2019 fellows
Hiba Ghannam, Sondos Ibrahim and Mai Abuthraa. The
fellows, who were also supported by two TechGirls alumnae,
spoke to the group of young girls and mentors about using
technology to spark social change. Technovation Girls
Palestine will be participating in the new season of the
Technovation Challenge, where groups of young girls come together to solve leading issues in their communities through technology.
Report Date...: 1/13/20
Fellows collaborate to support TechGirl’s professional journey
Fellow(s): Zainab Saleen, Maya Itani Shourbaji, Lara Chikhani, Rasha Sukkarieh
Country: Lebanon, Pakistan
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement
Recently, TechWomen fellows joined forces to support a TechGirls alumna in pursuing her professional goals. Earlier this year, 2014 TechGirls alumna Greta Nehme met 2017 TechWomen fellows of Lebanon Maya Itani Shourbaji, Lara Chikhani and Rasha Sukkarieh at a TechWomen/TechGirls networking event organized by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Greta, a newly graduated mechanical and aeronautical engineer, spoke to the fellows about her challenge finding work in her field within Lebanon.
After their conversation, the fellows connected Greta to 2017 fellow of Pakistan Zainab Saleem, who holds a master’s in aerospace and aeronautical engineering and works at Finland’s ICEYE as an attitude and orbit control system engineer. Zainab asked Greta to submit her resume and, after Zainab submitted a recommendation, Greta interviewed with ICEYE’s mechanical team and was offered an internship.
Greta traveled to Finland and began her internship at ICEYE this past October, working as an intern through the end of 2019. At the conclusion of her internship, she was offered a one-year job contract to continue working at ICEYE. “We often eat lunch together, and keep discussing where she can apply for a master’s. She will also work with me in other STEM outreach activities,” says Zainab. “The world is huge! But impactful programs like these make the world so small and so beautiful.”
Report Date...: 1/6/20
Fellow is first African to win Digital Female Leader Award
Fellow(s): Lindiwe Matlali
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This past November, 2017 fellow of South Africa Lindiwe Matlali won the Education Award at the Digital Female Leader Awards, becoming the first African to win at the ceremony. The annual awards are held by Global Digital Women and seek to amplify the work and stories of women leaders and changemakers. This year’s event, themed on “This is What Digital Female Leadership Looks Like,” considered 740 nominations from 19 countries spanning categories such as innovation, entrepreneurship and diversity.
Lindiwe was recognized for her work as the founder and CEO of Africa Teen Geeks, a computer science academy dedicated to teaching underserved communities within South Africa. “I am humbled, proud and honored that I have an opportunity to keep inspiring African girls to pursue STEM careers, work hard, dream big and serve others, because they don’t know where pursuing their passion with excellence and commitment could lead them,” said Lindiwe.
Report Date...: 1/6/20
Mentor(s): Sepideh Nasiri (mentor)
Company: Persian Women in Tech
Mentor Type: Impact
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
TechWomen Impact Coach Sepideh Nasiri was a featured panelist at the Womxn of Color Leadership Forum, held recently in Silicon Valley. Sepideh is the founder of Persian Women in Tech, a non-profit that mentors and empowers Persian, Middle Eastern and North African women in technology. She also serves as an advisor to early-stage startups and inclusion initiatives, providing best practices for closing the gender gap in tech.
The event was organized by Breaking Glass Forums, an initiative that creates customized diversity and inclusion programs for tech companies. In her panel, “Realize your Worth,” Sepideh discussed the path to self-worth, battling impostor syndrome and defining your values. She also shared her own career path, providing tips on translating your experience into your worth and celebrating your unique career journey. “Not everyone takes the same path,” says Sepideh. “People often look only at the end goal, but should celebrate the smaller successes and milestones along the way.”
Report Date...: 1/6/20
Fellows host Tajikistan’s first Hour of Code for girls
Fellow(s): Mutriba Akhmedova, Anzurat Kosimova, Mahina Usmonova
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2015, 2016
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This month, 2015 fellow Mutriba Akhmedova and 2016 fellows Anzurat Kosimova and Mahina Usmonova held the inaugural Hour of Code in Tajikistan, traveling to five regions of the country to teach over 200 girls coding and computer science. The global Hour of Code program, now implemented in more than 180 countries, introduces youth to the fundamentals of programming and computer science.
The fellows implemented their project through a grant from the Alumni Small Grants Program offered by the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan’s Public Affairs section. From December 7 to 23, they traveled throughout Tajikistan with a mission to bridge the gender gap in STEM, holding coding classes that familiarized girls with programming basics and instilled in them a curiosity to pursue STEM fields.
In Dushanbe, Khujand, Dj.Rasulov, Kulob and Bokhtar, the fellows met with over 200 girls ages 10-18 to teach a one-day course on coding. During the day of skill-building, the girls were encouraged to creatively solve problems, develop their design thinking abilities and understand the basics of IT and STEM. “This is just the beginning,” says Anzurat. “Children are the future of Tajik society. They have to gain good skills and knowledge, and we are here to support them. We have many fresh ideas to implement in the near future. TechWomen makes us social-oriented and we are ready to make a difference in our lovely country!”
Report Date...: 12/30/19
Fellow wins Women in Energy Award
Fellow(s): Lilian Motongori
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
2019 fellow Lilian Motongori won the Professional Technical Award at the Women in Energy East Africa Awards, held this month in Nairobi. Lilian is the country representative for ElectraTherm, a Nevada-based company that generates fuel and emission-free power from low temperature waste heat. She is also the co-founder of Women in Energy Africa, an unaffiliated initiative that offers a platform for women in energy and offers consulting, career development and energy solutions to empower women and girls in the green tech fields.
The Professional Technical Award recognizes women who have both excelled in the energy sector and served as advocates for advancing and mentoring women and girls in green tech. The award ceremony is the culminating event of Women in Energy’s annual conference that focuses on innovations in energy and womens’ role in shaping the future of the field. “I am grateful to every person who contributed in giving me an opportunity in my career and professional journey, and my family for the support,” Lilian said. “This is for all their efforts, support and belief in me.”
Report Date...: 12/30/19
TechWomen and TechGirls launch alumnae platform
Fellow(s): Nisreen Deeb,Ghana Bteich, Lara Chikhani, Rasha Sukkarieh
Country: Lebanon
Cohort: 2013, 2015, 2017
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This week, alumnae from the TechWomen and TechGirls programs unveiled USALTech, a club and online platform that connects Lebanese exchange program alumnae, promotes opportunities for women and girls in STEM and encourages its members to share their skills and expertise.
In partnership with Legacy International and two TechGirls alumnae, fellows Nisreen Deeb (2013), Ghana Bteich (2015) and 2017 fellows Lara Chikhani and Rasha Sukkarieh hope to create monthly meetings and programming that nurture the ecosystem of local women and girls in STEM fields. The group’s first event, “Introduction to the TechGirls and TechWomen Programs,” will invite local girls and women in STEM to learn more about the TechGirls and TechWomen programs as well as network with peers in their fields.
Report Date...: 12/30/19
Mentor(s): Ritu Ganguly (mentor)
Company: Salesforce
Mentor Type: Professional
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
This week, TechWomen Professional Mentor Ritu Ganguly wrote a guest post for the TechWomen blog, sharing her perspective on mentorship and her most meaningful TechWomen memories. Ritu is a senior director for systems engineering at host company Salesforce.
In her post, “The TechWomen Program is Food for your Soul,” Ritu reflects on her role as mentor since 2013 and shares stories of perseverance and the meaning of cultural exchange. In one story, she recalls a dinner she hosted during TechWomen 2019 that brought four Emerging Leaders to her home. Over the course of the evening they shared a meal, laughed, danced and learned about commonalities that transcended countries and cultures. “While the program is contoured to benefit the Emerging Leaders and the countries they come from, I think it greatly enriches the lives of each and every person participating — however small their part may be,” she writes. “I have grown as a mentor and a leader, but even more so as a person.”
Report Date...: 12/23/19
Fellow interviewed about her work in computer science
Fellow(s): Fatima Zohra Benhamida
Country: Algeria
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2017 fellow of Algeria Fatima Zohra Benhamida was recently highlighted in the Nsesa Foundation’s STEM Wow series, a recurring feature that shines a light on women in STEM making an impact globally.
Fatima is an assistant professor of computer science as well as a board member of the TechWomen/TechGirls Club in Algeria. In her interview, Fatima speaks about her decade of experience in both research and education and shares her advice for women entering STEM fields. When asked about her greatest achievements, Fatima names completing her PhD in computer science as well as her selection for the TechWomen program. “I particularly feel a sense of achievement when I brought back all the skills from the Silicon Valley and made many volunteering projects which help the community in general, and enable technology access for girls in rural areas in particular,” she said.
Report Date...: 12/23/19
