Impact Stories from Youth Engagement Policy Area

Fellow(s): Faten Khalfallah Hammouda

Country: Tunisia

Cohort: 2015

Policy Area(s): Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow Honored by P.M. for Victories in Global Robotics

Fellow Faten Khalfallah Hammouda (Tunisia, 2015), co-founder of First Skills Club, was honored at the Government Palace in the Kasbah by Tunisian Prime Minister Kamal Maddouri on October 19, 2024. This ceremony celebrated young Tunisian leaders who achieved recent international success in technology, science, and innovation. Faten’s robotics team, the Carthage Eagles, earned two gold medals and one bronze at the prestigious FIRST Global Challenge, the world’s largest annual robotics competition, which was held in Athens, Greece from September 26 to 29 of this year.
Reflecting on the recognition, Faten said, “This honor, along with the support we’ve received, encourages us to move forward in our mission to empower youth to become future tech leaders and inspires us to continue our strategy with great determination.”
Faten is scheduled to join the the first global TechWomen Alumnae Summit in Casablanca, Morocco this December.

Report Date...: 10/28/2024

Fellow(s): Ebenezer Ajah Chris, Rumana Kabir, and Stella Uzochukwu-Denis

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2019, 2023

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellows serve as Every Girl 2.0 Program Mentors in Nigeria

As part of the Every Girl 2.0 Program, supported by the Khalil Suleiman Halilu Foundation in partnership with USAID, fellows Ebenezer Ajah Chris (Nigeria, 2023), Rumana Kabir (Nigeria, 2023) and Stella Uzochukwu-Denis (Nigeria, 2019) recently served in a three-month mentorship program dedicated to guiding young women in tech career development, goal setting and personal growth.
The program provided training in foundational tech skills, internet literacy, and digital careers for young women aged 14-21 from underserved communities across Nigeria. Learning topics included an introduction to internet technology, digital communication tools, cybersecurity Awareness and online safety.
“Special thanks also to the TechWomen community and U.S. Embassy in Nigeria,” Ebenzer recently shared, “for inspiring Techwomen alumnae like myself to lead, give back and empower others.”

Report Date...: 10/28/2024

Fellow featured in BBC Africa article as satellite work pioneer

Fellow(s): Marie Makuate

Country: Cameroon

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development, Public Health, Youth Engagement

Report Date...: 04/15/2024

wins Zuri Award for youth service

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) was recently recognized by Zuri Awards for the work of her organization, CodeYetu, which teaches coding skills to children from underserved communities. Since its inception over five years ago, CodeYetu has grown to include over 6 schools spanning 4 countries, with over 200 school children enrolled, and more than 20 volunteers supporting coding classes five days a week. “This recognition is not just for me but for our students who are ever ready to learn, our amazing volunteers, [the] institutions that host us, our biggest supporters, Alphathesis, and everyone who always cheers us on,” Asha, the founder and program leader, shared in a recent post. “I see how much we all push ourselves and I can never be grateful enough.”

Report Date...: 04/01/2024

Alumnae & Mentors host Tech Community Impact Week in Abuja to honor International Women’s Day

Fellow(s): Binta Moustapha, Fatima Abdulaziz Sule, Flora Asibe, and Rumana Kabir, Kathy Giori, Katy Dickinson

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020-2021, 2022, 2023

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Youth Engagement

Collaborating with a variety of governmental organizations, NGOs, educational institutions, non-profits and startups, Nigerian fellow Binta Moustapha (Nigeria, 2014) led the organization of fellows Rumana Kabir (Nigeria, 2023), Fatima Abdulaziz Sule (Nigeria, 2018), Ebenezer Ajah Chris (Nigeria 2023), Tolulope Erinosho (Nigeria, 2022), Flora Asibe Ohazurike (Nigeria 2021), Stella Uzochukwu (Nigeria, 2019), and Carolyn Seaman (Nigeria 2015), alongside mentors Kathy Giori and Katy Dickinson, to bring Tech Community Impact Week to Nigeria from March 2 to 9, 2024. With the aim of providing activities, discussions and networking opportunities for anyone from novice to established leader in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,the dynamic lineup of events included panel discussions, speed mentoring, physical computing workshops, and courtesy visits to schools, universities, and influential organizations and companies, mainly aimed at uplifting and empowering women and girls in tech. Highlights of the week included an opening event at Baze University Jabi Abuja with akeynote address delivered by Katy and a design-thinking workshop led by Kathy, a local celebrity panel discussion moderated by Kathy at Cosmopolitan University Abuja, a panel discussion featuring Flora, Fatima and Katy, speed mentoring with Katy and Rumana, and several hands-on physical computing workshops and demonstrations at three local schools and the FabLab in Abuja led by Kathy with fellows acting as teaching assistants. Partners and sponsors of Tech Community Impact Week included 100 Women in Tech Nigeria, Bridge 4 Innovation, Climate KIC, Creeds Energy, Developers FabLab, ECOWAS Liaison Lead, FCT College of Education Zuba, Mentoring Standard, MicroBlocks, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria, Office of the Director of ICT Federal Ministry of Education Abuja Nigeria, She&Tech, SheTechAfrica, Wademos Regional Advocacy, and Young Scholars Initiative of the Institute of New Economic Thinking (YSI INET). Events coincided with the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. Mentor Jessica Dickinson Goodman and fellow Eyitayo Alimi (Nigeria, 2019) supported as co-organizers remotely.

Report Date...: 3/04/24

Fellow(s): Aseel Honein

Country: Lebanon

Cohort: 2013

Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow Aseel Honein (Lebanon, 2013) recently attended PCA’s “Tomorrow’s Technology from Lebanon to Qatar” delegation in Doha on January 28 to 29, and the Step Conference in Dubai Internet City, UAE on February 21 to 22, to showcase her educational tech creation, Architecture in a Box. A development of professional training and innovation center Parallel Studio, which she founded in 2010, Architecture in a Box sparks curiosity and creativity in children by providing enlivening STEAM-focused programs and educational games that teach them to build smart cities. “As a Design Thinking Trainer,” Aseel shared in a recent post, “I’ve learned that before we can innovate, we must first master the essentials — communication, team building and negotiations. These are the pillars of radical collaboration, the fertile ground where innovation takes root.

Report Date...: 3/4/24

Fellow launches e-waste-to-STEM kits at university in Algeria

Fellow(s): Ahlem Benazzouz

Country: Algeria

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow launches e-waste-to-STEM kits at university in Algeria 

Inspired by her TechWomen program mentors and learnings, fellow Ahlem Benazzouz (Algeria, 2022) has introduced, EcoBioMedTechMakers, an electronic waste upcycling innovation project to her students and colleagues at the University of Science and Technology Mohamed Boudiaf in Oran, Algeria, where she works as a research assistant professor while earning her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering.

The project emerged from a dual commitment to sustainable technology development and the promotion of women in STEM, Ahlem shares. She integrates physical computing into her curriculum using micro:bit technology introduced by mentors Kathy Giori and Meg Gordon. Components are salvaged from e-waste, such as circuit boards, resistors, capacitors and LEDs to create STEM education kits. The kits are instrumental in designing experiments that teach electronics and coding concepts. Moreover, she is actively encouraging students to embark on sustainable projects and startups, considering both environmental and socioeconomic impacts to generate lasting positive outcomes.

“The results have been promising, with increased enthusiasm and participation from our female students,” Ahlem shared in recent communications. “The real-world applications of physical computing and coding have bridged the gap between theory and practice, fostering creativity, critical thinking and practical skills development.” Ahlem further shares that she is collaborating with a team of research professors to elevate the project to the next level. “Techwomen is really the beginning of a new journey.”

Report Date...: 02/12/2024

Fellow organizes international hackathon with IMSA

Fellow(s): Ejiroghene John

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2023

Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow organizes international hackathon with IMSA

On January 24, MayCreatorz STEAM Initiative (MCS Initiative), founded by fellow Ejiroghene John (Nigeria, 2023), hosted a bi-national hackathon, “A Cross-Cultural Exchange Network Event.” Held on the International Day of Education, the program was anchored by the students of the SWENext Club at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), hosts of the 2023 Pitch Day in Chicago, for the students of the Community Secondary School (CSS) Olanada in Nigeria.

Training participants to solve real world problems with AI, coding, HTML and CS, the event drew 50 students and 7 teachers from CSS Olanada, as well as virtual participants from other schools in Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and other parts of the world.

The second series of the hackathon will take place in late February. MCS Initiative hopes to secure 5 to 10 laptops by then for participant use in hands-on skills training.

Report Date...: 01/29/2024

Fellow leads Youths Without Borders entrepreneur camp

Fellow(s): Nesrine Ben Yahia

Country: Tunisia

Cohort: 2023

Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow leads Youths Without Borders entrepreneur camp

Inspired by her TechWomen experience, fellow Nesrine Ben Yahia (Tunisia, 2023) recently spearheaded, ‘Entrepreneurial Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities & Challenges,’ a two-day training session and entrepreneurship competition in collaboration with Jeunes Sans Frontières (JSF, Youths Without Borders) of Matouia.

Nesrine served as a mentor, introducing the basics of artificial intelligence and its potential uses to boost entrepreneurship. She then provided design thinking and pitch coaching to prepare the youths for the entrepreneurship competition, which took place before a jury of judges. The training concluded with awards and certificates of participation.

“TechWomen helped me build skills that have made me stronger and more community-minded,” shares Nesrine, a professor of computer science at the National School of Information Sciences (ENSI). She also serves as the head of the Information and Decision Systems department and a senior research at the RIADI Laboratory.

Report Date...: 01/08/2024

"Fellow leads two sessions at Ololo STEAM Camp for Girls "

Fellow(s): Kseniia Tsyganova

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow Kseniia Tsyganova (Kyrgyzstan, 2022) recently led two sessions at the Ololo STEAM Camp for Girls in Bishkek last month. Organized by Ololo Creative Hubs with support from the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, the event hosted school-aged girls seeking to learn to develop websites and digital projects.
Kseniia’s first session offered an introduction to STEAM, defining the terms and illustrating how technologies can support arts. She later delivered a session on how to create a website without coding expertise. “Not everything has to be code,” she reiterated in a recent post. “Coding is a tool and shouldn’t be an obstacle to learning or creation!”
Kseniia is a community manager for software company Turbine Kreuzberg. She also has experience as a front end developer and media relations professional.

Report Date...: 12/04/2023

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