Impact Stories from Empowering Women and Girls Policy Area
Fellow and mentor collaborate to acquire laptops for students
Fellow(s): Sabine El Kahi, Rebecca Biswas
Country: Lebanon, United States
Cohort: 2014
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement
The relationship built between fellow Sabine El Kahi and her Professional Mentor Rebecca Biswas of Juniper Networks didn’t end after TechWomen 2014. Sabine and Rebecca kept in touch, regularly talking on the phone and sharing professional updates including news about Kids Genius, Sabine’s organization that spreads maker culture to young students through hands-on activities and courses at their two centers in Lebanon.
After training staff at a local NGO on starting a Kids Genius makerspace, Sabine learned they had no working computers. She shared the situation on one of her phone calls with Rebecca, who offered to see if her company could help. A few weeks later, multiple departments at Juniper Networks had become involved, and together the group was able to organize the shipment of 18 laptops to the students in Lebanon. “I didn’t know the level of impact that this project could have,” says Sabine. “Now, the students are learning basic skills on the computer, and soon I will train and help the instructors on teaching them coding. I will never miss a chance to maintain those TechWomen connections and create new impact projects together.”
Report Date...: 2/11/19
Fellow shares perspectives on inclusion in magazine interview
Fellow(s): Zimkhita Buwa
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
2013 fellow Zimkhita Buwa was featured in the inaugural publication of Tribe, a business magazine that features creative thinkers who are shaping the next era of business, innovation and design. In her interview, Zimkhita shares her passion for business, her work in community development and her hopes for impacting the next generation. As the chief operating officer at Britehouse, Zimkhita spoke to the importance of inclusion in the business world: “We have to realize that innovation can come from anywhere, hence the need to make this industry a safe and thriving environment in which women can grow.”
Zimkhita, an advocate for girls seeking careers in technology, is the founder of TechPearls, a blog that shares global opportunities for women in STEM. Last year, she was named to the Inspiring 50 South Africa list for making a meaningful impact in STEM fields. “My focus has never been on winning awards, but rather to follow my purpose to use my experience, skills and talents to upskill and uplift others,” she says. “If the recognition comes with this, then it’s an added bonus—but it’s not what drives me.”
Report Date...: 2/4/19
2018 seed grant winners launch workshop outside of Harare
Fellow(s): Edith Mugehu, Natsai Mutezo, Nothando Ndlovu, Prudence Kadebu and Sandra Chipuka
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This week, 2018 seed grant winners of Zimbabwe Edith Mugehu, Natsai Mutezo, Nothando Ndlovu, Prudence Kadebu and Sandra Chipuka kick-started their impact initiative, Vheneka/Khanyisa, in a farming community outside of Harare. Their project, which translates to “bringing light,” provides access to sustainable, affordable and reusable sanitary pads to women in disadvantaged communities.
After returning from TechWomen 2018, the team independently lab-tested sustainable and safe materials for their sanitary pad prototype. With outreach support from past TechWomen fellows, they held a workshop educating local women and girls on menstrual health and training them on making reusable pads. “We received amazing feedback from the girls,” says Natsai. “We asked if they felt able to make pads with materials from their home, and they all agreed that they could. They said our project was a welcome relief.”
Sixty percent of rural girls in Zimbabwe miss school each month due to their menstrual cycles. Through their workshops, Team Zimbabwe hopes to empower women and girls and remove a barrier to adolescent girls’ access to education. Vheneka/Khanyisa’s next training and workshop will be held on February 26 in Masvingo.
Report Date...: 1/28/19
2018 seed grant winners kick off impact initiative in Rwanda
Fellow(s): Christa Uwamahoro Munezero, Lucie Uwizeye, Noella Nibakuze, Pascale Mugwaneza, Solange Uwera and Vanny Nicole Kayirangwa
Country: Rwanda
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
Team Rwanda, one of five winning groups of a 2018 TechWomen seed grant, has launched implementation of their initiative, Healing Together. Fellows Christa Uwamahoro Munezero, Lucie Uwizeye, Noella Nibakuze, Pascale Mugwaneza, Solange Uwera and Vanny Nicole Kayirangwa conceived of Healing Together as a response to the emotional wounds left by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Their initiative sets up safe and trusted environments where women genocide survivors can access counseling services, talk openly and strengthen each other through their shared experiences.
Since the conclusion of TechWomen, the fellows established a partnership with AVEGA, an association that supports those who lost family members to the genocide, as well as CNLG, Rwanda’s national commission for the fight against the genocide. This month, the fellows and AVEGA organized a training of 40 new counselors from 28 districts in Rwanda, followed by a Q&A session where they gathered feedback on how to maximize the impact of Healing Together. Currently, they are designing a web portal that will connect counselors across districts in order to encourage communication and collaboration.
Report Date...: 1/21/19
Fellow launches virtual community for women in MENA
Fellow(s): Haneen Abu Farha
Country: Palestinian Territories
Cohort: 2015
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
2015 fellow Haneen Abu Farha of the Palestinian Territories recently co-launched Elevated, a virtual community for women in the MENA region. The group, currently on Facebook, connects women to global and regional opportunities, including jobs, fellowships, exchange programs and professional development opportunities. Additionally, Elevated offers resume, cover letter and consulting services to job-seekers as well as candidate matching for job providers.
“The idea came from us three co-founders who have been working together on helping connect women to opportunities in the U.S.,” says Haneen. “We thought we needed to create a community that connects women to opportunities all over the world in an engaging way.” The group recently published a live video featuring the program She Entrepreneurs and soon will launch their “Star of the Month” series, where female professionals share their personal and professional journeys with the community. In the coming year, Elevated hopes to share and amplify TechWomen fellows’ experiences and recruit women throughout the MENA region to apply for TechWomen 2020.
Report Date...: 1/21/19
Fellow plans digital empowerment center in Cameroon
Fellow(s): Sophie Ngassa
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2014
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2014 fellow of Cameroon Sophie Ngassa has broken ground in Douala to launch her new inititiave, a digital empowerment center for women and girls. The initiative, currently called #GiftFromMum, began after Sophie’s mother gifted her land to pursue her passion project. The center will serve as a space where women and girls can acquire digital skills training, participate in STEM-based workshops and learn skills to generate income.
Construction for the digital empowerment center is in progress and will eventually house a workshop, kitchen and offices. Speaking about her vision, Sophie says, “Two years ago it was a conversation, last year it became a plan and this year it is work in progress. We make little steps every day.”
Sophie, a digital rights activist and high school teacher, founded a youth vocational technical training organization, Center for Youth Education and Economic Development, in 2010. She has also served as a mentor for Technovation Cameroon since 2014.
Report Date...: 1/14/19
Fellow named finalist for Women in Tech Awards
Fellow(s): Majd Hemiemat
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2014
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
Majd Hemiemat, 2014 fellow of Jordan, was recently named a finalist for Mentor of the Year at this year’s Women in Tech Awards Middle East. The awards aim to increase visibility of women leaders in STEM fields in in the Middle East, where less than 10% of the tech workforce is female.
The award ceremony, held in Dubai this March, will gather business and technology leaders from the region and feature keynote speakers who will inspire women to pursue careers in STEM fields and encourage diversity and representation in tech. Majd, a product manager at Intrasoft Middle East, is also an APMP certified consultant who provides training on proposal management, business writing and contract management to women entrepreneurs, local businesses and students.
Report Date...: 1/7/19
Fellow to launch tech curriculum in South African schools
Fellow(s): Lindiwe Matlali
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2017 fellow of South Africa Lindiwe Matlali, founder of Africa Teen Geeks, has announced a partnership with the South African Department of Basic Education to develop and implement a digital skills curriculum in South African schools. Lindiwe, a recipient of numerous accolades for her work, will develop a robotics and coding framework that will scale throughout the country over the next five years.
Lindiwe is partnering with City University of New York to develop a curriculum that is not dependent on computer and internet infrastructure, allowing it to be implemented in a greater number of schools across the country. She will also be supported by the network she built during TechWomen, including a connection from Autodesk’s Impact Design Workshop who will focus on developing a curriculum based on innovation.
Lindiwe will also build an online platform that trains South African teachers and provides interactive resources about the coursework. Moving forward, Lindiwe hopes to bring her coding and robotics curriculum to the greater African continent: “We want to inspire the next generation of Africa’s innovators and entrepreneurs,” she says. “We have to teach our children how to innovate as early as possible.”
Report Date...: 12/31/18
Mentor(s): Shakhina Pulatova (mentor)
Company: LinkedIn
Mentor Type: Professional
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
TechWomen mentor Shakhina Pulatova recently returned from her travels to Uzbekistan, where she delivered lectures and presentations to university students and women in tech fields. Shakhina collaborated with TechWomen fellows who invited her to speak at various venues throughout Tashkent during her sabbatical from work at LinkedIn. At an event coordinated by Women TechMakers Tashkent, Shakhina spoke to students about entering tech fields and the importance of developing core skills in the rapidly changing job market.
Shakhina also delivered guest lectures at Westminster International University and Inha University about online identity, reputation and product management for students majoring in business information systems, computer science and computer engineering. “I was truly impressed with the enthusiasm, curiosity and eagerness of the next generation to learn and contribute,” she says. “This gives me hope for the tech future in Uzbekistan.”
Report Date...: 12/31/18
Fellow hosts Africa Science Week in Cameroon
Fellow(s): Arielle Kitio
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2016 fellow of Cameroon Arielle Kitio recently organized a week of lectures, panels and hands-on activities during Next Einstein Forum’s Africa Science Week Cameroon. Arielle, a Next Einstein Forum ambassador, is responsible for driving NEF’s public engagement activities in Cameroon.
Africa Science Week, a weeklong celebration of science and technology, is held in 13 countries throughout the African continent. In Yaoundé, Arielle organized a week of activities meant to inspire the next generation through coding workshops, panels on artificial intelligence, solar energy seminars, hackathons and more. She partnered with local educators, entrepreneurs and makers to deliver programming to both primary schools as well as local universities.
Report Date...: 12/31/18