Review TechWomen program information regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).

TechWomenTechWomen

TechWomen is an Initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

  • Home
  • Program
    • Overview
    • 2019 Action Plans
    • Professional Development
    • Cultural Exchange
    • Delegation Trips
    • Impact
    • TechWomen Covid-19 Program Information
  • Participants
    • Eligibility and Application
    • The Experience
    • Award Details
    • 2022 Emerging Leader Profiles
  • Mentors
    • Why Mentor With TechWomen?
    • Professional Mentor Overview
    • Cultural Mentor Overview
    • Impact Coach Overview
    • TechWomen Mentor Application
  • Get Involved
    • Host an Emerging Leader
    • Host an Event
    • Other Ways to Get Involved
    • Host companies and partners
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Program Countries
    • Connect
  • FAQ
    • General
    • Participants
    • Mentors
  • Blog
  • Log In

Sierra Leone Day 1: a week of #twimpact begins

March 11, 2019 By TechWomen Leave a Comment

After weeks of preparation and much anticipation, 16 TechWomen mentors and four visiting fellows landed in Sierra Leone, eager to begin a week dedicated to inspiring women and girls.

Delegation trips serve a vital role in the TechWomen program, sustaining and growing a global network of women in STEM fields. The week’s programming was varied, taking the delegation from local secondary schools to the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone and interacting with both young students and established local entrepreneurs. From day one, mentors and fellows were ready to inspire and to be inspired, to teach and to learn, and to unite in a shared mission to invest in their communities.

Fellows and mentors kicked off day one with a program briefing, discussing the week’s schedule and outlining delegation trip goals. The group was then welcomed by Emily Royse Green, public affairs officer at U.S. Embassy Freetown, who spoke about the local culture and customs and how to best prepare for the busy week ahead. After the briefing, it was time to head out for a day of cultural activities, starting with a boat ride to Bunce Island.


Visitors travel from all over the world to trace their roots to Bunce Island, once among the largest slave trade operations on the West African coast. Founded around 1670, the island exported tens of thousands of African captives to North America and the West Indies until it was closed down in 1808. Now uninhabited, the island is a powerful reminder of the slave trade’s painful history. In 1948, Bunce Island was declared a National Monument, becoming Sierra Leone’s first officially protected historic site. Today, restoration efforts are underway, preserving the island’s ruins and planning for a museum in Freetown devoted to the island’s history.

Next, the group traveled to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a conservation organization that cares for nearly 100 chimpanzees on site. The group toured the grounds, watching chimpanzee’s interacting with each other and learning about Tacugama’s community outreach, field research and conservation education efforts.


The delegation celebrated an exciting and educational first day at a welcome dinner, where TechWomen director Jillian Scott reminded the delegation what the week was all about: building connections, supporting one another and inspiring women and girls to be a force of positive change in their communities. Sierra Leonean fellows had the opportunity to speak with the group, sharing about initiatives they began, companies they founded and post-program achievements. After learning more about the fellows’ impact – their mentorship programs, environmental initiatives and dedication to educating the next generation of leaders – it was clear that the delegation was in for an unforgettable week.


Follow the hashtag #twsl on Twitter for more content from the TechWomen delegation trip to Sierra Leone!

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Filed Under: 2018 Program, 2019 Program, Alumnae, Delegation Trips, Girls Education, Impact, Mentorship, STEM, Sub-Saharan Africa, Technology, Uncategorized

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 859 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • TechWomen 2020-2021 fellows create impact through Professional Development Funds
  • #techwomen22 comes to a close: Pitch Day, Community Celebration and seed grant winners announced
  • Week four: pitch planning, inclusive leadership and giving back at Volunteer Day
  • Week three: the power of mentorship
  • #techwomen22 week two: mentorship, action planning and cultural exchange in the Bay Area

Categories

  • 2012 Program
  • 2013 Program
  • 2014 Program
  • 2015 Program
  • 2016 Program
  • 2017 Program
  • 2018 Program
  • 2019 Program
  • 2020 Program
  • 2022 (Fall) Program
  • 2022 program
  • Alumnae
  • Announcements
  • Application Tips
  • Central Asia
  • Conferences
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Delegation Trips
  • Emerging Leader Voices
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Girls Education
  • IIE
  • Impact
  • Lean In
  • Mentor Application
  • Mentoring Girls
  • Mentorship
  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Partnerships
  • Professional Development
  • Scholarship
  • Seed Grant
  • Solar Power
  • STEM
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Washington, D.C.

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Tags

2013 program 2014 program 2015 program Africa Alumnae application careers central asia Community cultural exchange Cultural Mentor delegation trips Education Egypt emerging leaders emerging women leaders Empowerment Entrepreneurship grace hopper celebration guest post impact Jordan kazakhstan Leadership MENA Mentor Mentors mentorship Middle East Morocco nigeria Rwanda San Francisco Silicon Valley south africa State Department STEM technology TechWomen TechWomen Alumni Tunisia U.S. Department of State Women women in tech womenintech

Blogroll

  • DipNote
  • E-Mediat
  • Fulbright mtvU Fellows
  • Fulbright Student Program
  • Gilman Program
  • Ibrahim Leadership and Dialogue Project Blog
  • IIE Opening Minds
  • Parallel Earth
  • TechGirls
  • Women’s Enterprise for Sustainability

CONTACT US | MEDIA | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Sitemap
Copyright © 2022 TechWomen | Site by MIGHTYminnow

   

Copyright © 2022 · TechWomen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.