Impact Stories from Youth Engagement Policy Area
Fellow co-facilitates African Girls Can Code Initiative bootcamp
Fellow(s): Emma Mphahlele
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Youth Engagement
Fellow Emma Mphahlele (South Africa, 2022) recently co-facilitated the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) bootcamp, launched on July 4 in Johannesburg. The 10-day event brought together girls from South Africa’s townships and rural areas for hands-on training in app and game development, engineering fundamentals, design thinking and digital entrepreneurship. It was organized by UN Women South Africa in collaboration with the African Union, Siemens and South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Department of Basic Education.
As founder of Kids Innovate Africa and African Youth Ignited 4IR, Emma guided participants through project-based learning that emphasized confidence-building, technical skills and future-focused thinking. “They leave the bootcamp excited about their future, eager to uncover their potential in STEM,” she said.
She also connected the participants virtually with TechWomen mentor Lori Kahn, who riveted the girls with insights into her career working with satellites as a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin.
Report Date...: 07/07/2025
Fellow Strengthens Food Safety Expertise through EU-Funded Training in Germany
Fellow(s): Manal Ben Mahjoub
Country: Morocco
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Youth Engagement
Fellow Manal Ben Mahjoub (Morocco, 2022) was recently selected to participate in the EU-funded Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) course on “Sampling and Analysis of Residues of Plant Protection Products,” held in Stuttgart, Germany. Implemented by NSF under the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), the program convened global experts focused on strengthening food safety systems.
Through technical sessions and practical fieldwork, Manal gained expertise in pesticide residue analysis using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS, method validation, and EU-aligned food control protocols. She also conducted real-time sampling with German inspectors and visited the Ritter Sport EL CACAO project as a case study in sustainable agriculture and pesticide management.
Learning directly from Dr. Michelangelo Anastassiades, developer of the QuEChERS method, and other experts at CVUA Stuttgart, she deepened her understanding of the intersection between science and policy. Manal now aims to apply this knowledge to support Morocco’s alignment with EU and Codex Alimentarius food safety standards.
Report Date...: 07/07/2025
Fellow hosts Innovation Unleashed for Central Asian youth
Fellow(s): Ainur Kuanyshbayeva
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
On May 10, fellow Ainur Kuanyshbayeva (Kazakhstan, 2020–2021), founder of Qabi Tech, co-hosted Innovation Unleashed, an international webinar designed to empower young innovators across Central Asia.
Organized in partnership with TechDev Academy, the event welcomed 82 students live, with over 200 participants engaging online. Timed to accommodate students across multiple time zones—from the U.S. to Mongolia—the event featured five global experts across technology, entrepreneurship, fintech, mental health and biotech. Topics ranged from startup strategy to authentic leadership and navigating the path to funding. It also included a coding challenge and scholarship prizes to support continued learning.
“Innovation Unleashed,” Ainur shared, “was a powerful reminder of what happens when we bring together passionate youth and world-class mentors.”
Report Date...: 05/19/2025
Fellow presents on public admin digitalization for SDGs
Fellow(s): Mahinabonu Bekova
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow Mahinabonu Bekova (Tajikistan, 2023) recently gave a presentation, “Transformation of Public Administration through Digitalization: New Opportunities to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” at Tajik National University. Her talk sparked engaging dialogue with students and faculty about how digital tools are reshaping public management. “It was very interesting to hear the opinions of future specialists and colleagues,” she shared, “on how digital technologies are opening up new horizons for sustainable development.”
The presentation followed Mahinabonu’s recent participation in the ERASMUS+ ESGCA project at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, where she took part in a week of collaborative learning on ESG principles and sustainability. Highlights included site visits to the Slovnaft Refinery and sessions on water treatment innovation and university–industry partnerships.
She also recently served as a Technovation Girls mentor alongside fellow Zevar Davlatmamadova Bordachyova, for team Sigma Girls. Their team won first place in Tajikistan’s national competition for developing a mobile application that offers practical tools to help users navigate emergency situations.
Report Date...: 06/02/2025
Fellow named runner-up in Cambridge Zero Climate Challenge
Fellow(s): Sally Musonye
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow Sally Musonye (Kenya, 2023), founder of AshGold Africa Initiative, was recently recognized as a runner-up in the 2025 Cambridge Zero Climate Challenge. Sally, a Commonwealth Master’s Scholar at the University of Cambridge, collaborated with fellow scholar Kamalha Jockim to pitch a social enterprise addressing energy poverty and educational inequity in rural Kenya.
AshGold Africa Initiative, launched in 2015, focuses on creating sustainable impact through solar energy and mentorship programs. To date, the initiative has mentored more than 11,000 students and educators in 13 schools, trained 20 solar technicians, and completed two solar installations displacing over 3 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Through five weeks of training, Sally and her team refined a scalable model to accelerate climate resilience, drawing on expertise in climate entrepreneurship, voluntary carbon markets and sustainable development.
In a recent blog post, Sally expressed that “the path behind us is lined with lessons, quiet triumphs and progress; beyond the horizon lies a future of promise and possibility.”
Report Date...: 06/09/2025
Fellow Featured in CGTN Video on Use of VR in Classroom
Fellow(s): Linah Anyango
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow Featured in CGTN Video on Use of VR in Classroom
Fellow Linah Anyango (Kenya, 2019), principal of Nexa International School, was featured in a CGTN segment highlighting how the school is using Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance learning.
Under Linah’s leadership, Nexa has integrated VR technology to create immersive, interactive experiences—allowing students to explore space, conduct virtual science experiments, and visit historical sites without leaving the classroom.
Through a collaboration with Ukwenza VR, Nexa is making advanced learning tools more accessible, bridging educational gaps, and expanding opportunities for students. “This is the future of learning, and I’m proud to be part of this transformation,” Linah said.
Report Date...: 02/17/2025
Fellow leads on-site STEM training & TechGirls app prep
Fellow(s): Adanna Henri-Ukoha
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2024
Policy Area(s): Youth Engagement
Fellow leads on-site STEM training & TechGirls app prep
Earlier this winter, fellow Adanna Henri-Ukoha (Nigeria, 2024) led an onsite training session at Tendril Montessori School in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and resources to pursue careers in STEM. The event introduced secondary school students to the vast opportunities available in science and technology, encouraging them to explore fields that drive innovation and global progress.
A key component of the session was guiding students through the TechGirls application process. Adanna provided one-on-one mentorship, ensuring they understood the requirements and completed their applications successfully.
“Their journey has just begun, and I am proud to have been part of their first steps,” Adanna shared.
Report Date...: 02/10/2025
Fellow(s): (Fellows) Fatima-Zahra Benyaaquob and Karima Bahmane, and (mentors) Kathy Giori and Rekha Pai
Country: Morocco, United States
Cohort: 2022, 2023
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow leads inaugural Forum of Education 4.0 in Casablanca with alumna and mentor support
Fellow Fatima-Zahra Benyaaquob (Morocco, 2022), founder and director of ed-tech focused La Parenthèse Enchantée school, recently enlisted mentors Kathy Giori and Rekha Pai, and fellow Karima Bahmane (Morocco, 2023), to host the inaugural Forum de l’Éducation STEM (Forum of Education 4.0) on December 7 in Casablanca, Morocco. Organized and led by Fatima, the forum featured workshops and sessions that inspired educators, students, and STEM advocates alike.
Kathy Giori, CEO of TryCyrcle Corp. and global ambassador of Microblocks.fun, spearheaded hands-on workshops on physical computing. Rekha Pai, an investor-in-residence at Capria Ventures, delivered sessions on entrepreneurial skills, emphasizing how technical creativity can translate into real-world impact. Karima, an electrical engineer earning a PhD in AI at Université Ibn Zohr, also spoke at the event and offered essential port.
“What inspires me the most about TechWomen,” Fatima shared in a recent post, “is how this community extends beyond borders to create real, meaningful change—empowering women, shaping young minds, and redefining the future of education.”
“It was an exceptional opportunity to see Morocco’s strong emphasis on STEM education,” Kathy also shared, underscoring the transformative power of collaboration.
Report Date...: 12/30/2024
Fellow(s): Lily Asongfac
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow wins inaugural Young Person of the Year Award for advancement in global space landscape & youth advocacy
On October 30, Fellow Lily Asongfac (Cameroon, 2023) won the inaugural Young Person of the Year distinction by the Cameroon Youth Awards presented at Cameroon International Tech Summit (CITSCM) held at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé. This distinction recognizes her passionate dedication to advancing the global space landscape and advocating for youth empowerment. Lily is an International Account Manager for SpaceVrse and founder of the Aerospace Baby Project, which drives youth interest in aerospace and STEM. She has lent her technical expertise to support significant projects, such as the design of a nanosatellite mission for the Gabonese Space Agency.
Lily has garnered a multitude of prestigious honors and opportunities this year in recognition of her contributions to the aerospace industry this year. The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) recognized Lily as an Emerging Space Leader, which earned her an invitation to the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. She was also announced as a 2024 African Space Leader Award winner by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), which will take her to the upcoming African-Pacific Space Generation Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria November 20 to 21. Additionally, she was named one of the 2024 Women Engineers You Should Know by the Magazine of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
“This recognition is a testament to the power of dreaming big, pushing boundaries, and staying committed to making a difference. The sky is NOT the limit—it’s only the beginning,” Lily shared in a celebratory post.
Lily plans to attend the TechWomen Alumnae Summit in Morocco this December where she hopes to connect with other leading women in aerospace who are pioneering advancements and innovations.
Report Date...: 11/04/2024
Fellow(s): Nezha Larhrissi
Country: Morocco
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
Fellow launches Titrit Girls Collaborative Council with Social Innovation Lab for TechGirls, Technovation & Digigirlz alum
Youth digital skills development initiative eSTEM Morocco, led by fellow Nezha Larhrissi (Morocco, 2013), recently launched the Titrit Girls Collaborative Council at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in partnership with the Social Innovation Lab (SIL) ahead of the International Day of the Girl on October 11, 2024.
Convening 17 girls from diverse regions across Morocco, the council aims to galvanize alumnae from STEM programs including TechGirls, Technovation Girls and Digigirlz to design the structure and objectives of the Titrit Girls Collaborative Council in preparation for an upcoming eSTEAM Festival. Under the mentorship of eSTEMorocco and SIL, invitees took part in a two-day event designed to enhance their leadership skills and establish regional action plans as part of eSTEM Morocco’s “vision of digitally including 50,000 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2025.”
Ideated and established by TechWomen’s seed-grant winning Team Morocco in 2013, eSTEM Morocco, has since earned international recognition and support, including the United Nations Foundation’s Global Citizen Education Award and an Aspen Digital Equity Accelerator placement. During the 2023 TechWomen Delegation to Morocco, eSTEM Morocco launched the Titrit digital platform, which provides training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for girls across Morocco.
Nezha will give a pitch focused on Digital Access to the Titrit App at the Alumnae Summit in Morocco this December.
Report Date...: 11/04/2024
