Impact Stories from Education Diplomacy/Mentoring Policy Area
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
"Fellows announces partnership with UpLink at UN Summit"
Fellow(s): Fellows announces partnership with UpLink at UN Summit – Lindiwe Matlali
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
This fall at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development Goals in New York, Fellow Lindiwe Matlali (South Africa, 2017) announced a partnership between her initiative Africa Teen Geeks and UpLink, a division of the World Economic Forum (WEF) tasked with supporting innovation. Together they “hope to build a movement of teen innovators and raise awareness of sustainability issues around the globe,” she noted, with a program designed to arm the next generation of students with the hard and soft skills needed to lead creative STEM-based innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.
Lindiwe became a contributing writer, interviewer, speaker and panelist for the WEF after winning their Social Innovator award in 2020. She also spoke at their Pioneers of Change event in 2020 and interviewed African-American tech-preneur and inventor of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Marian Croak, about whom she is also producing a documentary.
In her involvement with the WEF, Lindiwe is particularly focused on democratizing access to power and influence by bringing in children from disadvantaged communities to participate in the exclusive business network. “How can we take children with skills and talent and put them in front of someone who can make it happen for them?” she asks. “This is really about teaching kids how to innovate for non-consumption and innovate themselves out of poverty. It’s about leveling the playing field and a creating an ecosystem of innovators who can access WEF networkers, the people looking for those innovations,” Lindiwe expanded. “I want every kid to know that they can create global companies by serving the underserved.”
Report Date...: 11/21/2022
"Fellow leads UX workshop for EdTech platform"
Fellow(s): Fellow leads UX workshop for EdTech platform – Wadzanayi Kimberley Bwanya
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow Wadzanayi Kimberley Bwanya (Zimbabwe, Spring 2022) recently led a UX Design workshop for students at Uncommon.org, an EdTech nonprofit. The training session included the topics of soft skills that define great designers, understanding problems before “diving into design” and methods for justifying design decisions.
Wadzanayi, a leader in UX design and development in her community in Bulawayo, is the founder and CEO of Beedesigned Studio, which provides UX services for socially-conscious organizations. She’s also the cofounder of Tea in 60, a platform for women and girls to network, co-mentor and share opportunities and learnings in STEM. Additionally, she recently served on an expert-led panel discussion, “Utilizing Technology for Growth,” an event sponsored by several tech hubs and studios in the Bulawayo region.
Report Date...: 10/31/2022
Fellow(s): Mentor leads Fulbright Specialist mission in Tajikistan – Erin Keeley
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2015, 2016, 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
TechWomen mentor Erin Keeley recently completed a Fulbright Specialist assignment in Tajikistan. Erin provided workshops and mentored entrepreneurs in the National Association of Business Women Tajikistan Business Accelerator and the United States Alumni Network of Tajikistan. She also met with Access, Flex, and Fulbright students in Khujand and Dushanbe. TechWomen Fellows supported Erin throughout her time in Tajikistan, including Mahina Usmonova (2016), Anzurat Kosimiva (2016), Manzura Khurshed (2022), Matriba Akhmedova (2015), and Sumbulmo Nekqadamova (2015). Erin’s visit culminated in a panel of TechWomen and TechGirls in the American Space in Dushanbe discussing career journeys, TechWomen, and other U.S. State Department programs. The accomplished panelists, including Anzurat, Natalya Tyudina (2018), Zevar Bordachyova Davlatmamadova (2018) and Adolat Shabozova (2022), shared inspiring stories of their time in the United States, critical decisions and career advances following the program.
Read More »Report Date...: 10/10/2022
Fellow leads project landing acceptance to accelerator
Fellow(s): Safa Buzgeia
Country: Libya
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Non-profit FabLab Libya has recently been selected into Tadamom Accelerator thanks in great part to the contribution of member and fellow Safa Buzgeia (2022). Safa led the proposal of Libyan STEM Hub, which aims to introduce modern, hands-on STEM teaching methods into Libyan elementary schools. FabLab Libya was selected among 50 organizations out of 345 applications from 28 countries. Tadamon Accelerator is a platform of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in 57 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
“Libyan STEM Hub was greatly inspired by my experiences with Techwomen this spring, specifically with Resource Area For Teaching (raft) non-profit organization and a Micro Blocks workshop by Professional Mentor Kathy Giori,” Safa shared. “Furthermore, I directly applied what I learned from the ‘How to Pitch Your Project’ workshop by mentor Eileen Brewer in preparation of the evaluation interview with the UNDP team.”
Report Date...: 10/3/2022
Fellow solar-training initiative forms U.S. partnership
Fellow(s): Gisele Beatrice Sonfack
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
A fellow-founded initiative, Women in Engineering and Technology (WENTECH), created by Fellow Gisele Beatrice Sonfack (Cameroon, 2016) has recently launched its first solar energy training with a new U.S. based partner, Remote Energy. Since September 12th, 14 young women have started training to become instructors with partner Remote Energy, who has provided training and materials for WENTECH with the objective of developing at least one instructor in each major city in Cameroon to facilitate trainings and impact in local schools. Gisele created WENTECH in 2017 to attract and empower women in Cameroon to STEM fields, following her participation in Techwomen in 2016. Since its founding, WENTECH has trained and empowered over 2,000 girls in Cameroon in solar power with the support of local partners Douala Advanced Vocational Training Center and Limbé Advanced Vocational Training Center. That support system has since expanded to include international partnership with Remote Energy.
Report Date...: 9/26/2022
Fellow leads Technovation teams to world semi-finals
Fellow(s): Maral Khudaibergenova
Country: Turkmenistan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Under the leadership of regional coordinator and Fellow Maral Khudaibergenova (2018) two teams from Turkmenistan reached the world semi-finals of the international Technovation Girls competition for the first time ever.
Technovation Girls is a volunteer-led social entrepreneurship competition for young women. With the guidance of mentors, participants develop and present mobile applications designed to address a local issue. This summer, 150 girls took part with the help of mentors and volunteers serving from Turkmenistan and abroad.
“The program is unique in that it encourages children to notice existing problems and develop solutions,” Maral explained. “Participation helps girls develop skills such as design thinking, project management, time management, marketing, business planning, and programming.”
Report Date...: 9/19/2022
Seed grant initiative earns spot with digital accelerator
Fellow(s): “Nezha Larhrissi, Salima Kaissi”
Country:
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
A seed grant-winning Techwomen impact initiative, eSTEM Morocco, was recently selected among seven global organizations for the Aspen Digital Equity Accelerator. Founded in 2014 by Moroccan Fellows Nezha Larhrissi (2013) and Salima Kaissi (2013), eSTEM Morocco provides access and introductions to STEM disciplines for girls and women in Morocco. They host camps, conferences and challenges, and conduct official ambassadorship of Technovation Girls in Morocco. “As part of the grant, we are working on a digital app which will provide 50,000 Moroccan girls with advice, support and effective orientation,” Nezha explained.
The Aspen Digital Accelerator is a four-month mentorship and training program designed to help select international nonprofits scale their efforts. eSTEM Morocco was selected out of 170 applications. In addition to mentorship, winners will receive a cash grant of more than $100,000 USD.
Report Date...: 9/12/2022
"Fellow speaks at Global Shapers event "
Fellow(s): Asha Panyako
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow Asha Panyako (Kenya, 2022) led a talk on “Creating a Powerful Hub Vision” at the Global Shapers Annual Summit 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland held September 2-4, 2022. She has recently assumed the role of curator of Global Shapers in Nairobi, Kenya. She has been working to expand its reach, recently partnering the organization with eMentoring Africa to enroll girls from Samburu Girls Foundation into Technovation, a global education technology nonprofit that teaches teams of mentors, parents and girls to address real-world problems by coding mobile apps.
The Global Shapers Community is a network of young under-30 changemakers developed out of the World Economic Forum to inspire dialogue, action and change surrounding world challenges.
Report Date...: 9/12/2022
Tajik fellows provide light-bearing backpacks for students
Fellow(s): Hamida Rahmikhudoeva, Dilafruz Mamadjonova, Manizha Khayolbekova, Gulnoza Burkhanova and Rukhshona Saratbekova
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Environmental Sustainability, Youth Engagement
This fall more than 60 primary school children from a rural village in Tajikistan are starting the school year with solar charging backpacks, thanks to TechWomen’s 2020-2021 Team Tajikistan, composed of fellows Hamida Rahmikhudoeva, Dilafruz Mamadjonova, Manizha Khayolbekova, Gulnoza Burkhanova and Rukhshona Saratbekova. “Enhancing Education Through Light” is Team Tajikistan’s seed grant initiative designed to address the need for school children to have a reliable and safe light source for completing homework after sunset. “Despite significant progress in the field of energy, electricity is still lacking in many regions of Tajikistan,” teammate Rukhshona shared, “especially in rural areas where children are forced to do their homework by candlelight or with dangerous, polluting kerosene lamps. [This] negatively affects both their health and academic progress.”
Each pack features a solar-charging panel on the front pocket that banks energy from the sun during the day in order to power a compact lamp on a flexible metal arm for visibility at night. “We hope that through our project,” Rukhshona added, “we can attract the attention of investors to think about providing this remote area with the clean and reliable electricity.”
Report Date...: 8/29/2022
