Impact Stories from Empowering Women and Girls Policy Area

Fellow initiatives named BOOST Women Innovators by UNDP

Fellow(s): Elena Chigibaeva, Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova

Country: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

Cohort: 2016, 2018

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

Social impact accelerator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative BOOST recently announced its list of champions selected for participation in the Women Innovators program. Among those selected are two initiatives led by TechWomen fellows: Weincrypto DAO, co-founded by Kyrgyz fellow Elena Chigibaeva (2018), and Tech4Impact, founded by 2016 Uzbek fellows Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova. BOOST: Women Innovators will support Tech4Impact and Weincrypto DAO in their work to bridge the gender digital divide alongside 42 other women-led organizations in Europe and Central Asia that work in the realms of data, digital access, digital economy & STEM and tech innovation among women and girls.

Weincrypto is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) founded in 2022. It is dedicated to fostering a crypto community for women, NFT collections, online training modules and support for Web 3.0 startups, stating their mission is “to help women as newbies in crypto to explore and unleash the potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies for financial growth and freedom.” Tech4Impact is an NGO founded in 2019 “to join efforts and carry on the activities in the field of development of innovations, information technologies, startups, human capital, green technologies, youth and women’s entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region.”

Report Date...: 5/16/2022

Fellow co‐organizes diversity dinner at blockchain conference

Fellow(s): Eman Herawy

Country: Egypt

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

2022 fellow Eman Herawy, the founder of Arabs in Blockchain, co‐organized a diversity dinner for women and BIPOC Web3 Builders, NFT artists, investors, supporters and allies at last month’s Bitcoin 2022 conference in Miami. A self‐described “blockchain geek,” Eman founded Arabs in Blockchain to strengthen
the Arab blockchain community by connecting international experts, increasing Arabic content and supporting entrepreneurs who are building blockchain solutions. She is also a Devcon Scholar alumni at the Ethereum Foundation, and co‐founded Arab Blockchain Week, a community event meant to educate
individuals and businesses passionate about blockchain technology. The event was hosted by BLK@, an initiative that addresses equity in Web3. The dinner featured partner presentations, elevator pitching and networking opportunities. “The best moment was when people start asking me about the Arab community in blockchain,” said Eman. “We started to form potential opportunities that the Arab community can leverage, like how they can support the second version of Arab Blockchain Week.”

Report Date...: 5/9/2022

Mentor(s): Teresa Williams

Company: Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

Mentor Type: Professional

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

Mentor Dr. Teresa Williams was recently invited to speak on a panel at Google’s 2022 She’s So STEM virtual event, sharing her experience as a woman in STEM with San Francisco Bay Area high school students. She’s So STEM, now in its sixth year, hosts high school girls at the San Francisco Bay Area to Google’s headquarters in Mountain View to learn about the diverse opportunities in STEM careers. This year’s event featured a coding session, a game design workshop and an opportunity for students to use Google’s virtual reality system. Teresa, a scientific researcher, shared about her career path and the role models who guided and mentored her along the way. She also spoke about the challenges she has faced as a woman in her field, having often been mistaken for an intern or an executive assistant at work. “We need to redefine what a scientist looks like,” she said. The panelists also answered student questions, giving advice on impostor syndrome and encouraging them to avoid comparison: “I told them that we are all on our own individual paths,” Teresa said. “Rather than comparing ourselves to each other, we should really be celebrating each other.”

Report Date...: 5/9/2022

Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support

Fellow(s): Ines Umuhoza, Emma Marie Ndoringoma, Solange Tuyisenge, Marie Claire Murekatete, Christa Uwamahoro, Nadine Uwizeyimana and Felicie Nyinawabali

Country: Rwanda

Cohort: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement

Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support

Before the start of TechWomen 2022, fellow Ines Umuhoza set a goal to leverage her TechWomen mentorship to inspire and mentor young girls in Rwanda. During the program, Ines collaborated with her mentor, Tawish Naqvi of Microsoft, to build out Girls in STEM Mentorship, a project she created of before TechWomen. Shortly after she returned from the U.S., Ines held her first session for 120 girls from Maranyundo Girls School, hosting them for an introductory session about mentorship and how they can benefit from the six‐month Girls in STEM Mentorship project. Ines is the director of programs for Girls in ICT Rwanda/Rwanda Women in Tech, an initiative whose mission is to inspire women and girls to pursue STEM careers. Rwandan fellows Emma Marie Ndoringoma (2013), Solange Tuyisenge (2015), Marie Claire Murekatete (2014),Christa Uwamahoro(2018), Nadine Uwizeyimana (2022) and Felicie Nyinawabali (2022) have joined the mentorship program, serving as advisors and co‐organizers; the program will also receive support from Girls in ICT Rwanda. Solange and Ines are collaborating to create career fair sessions, invite guest speakers and deliver training on soft skills and career guidance. At the Maranyundo Girls School introductory session, the girls were encouraged to ask questions about STEM careers and learn about their choices within STEM fields. “We designed this program to create awareness of different STEM careers by conducting STEM Career Fair days with different women in STEM professions to inspire the girls,” said Ines. “Not only are we inspiring more girls to be part of the women in STEM movement, but we are also going to be providing career guidance, self‐confidence and other soft skills needed to succeed in their future.”

Report Date...: 5/9/2022

Fellows debut STEM empowerment project Heya Caravan

Fellow(s): Salma Bekkouche, Amel Djenidi, Fatima Zohra Benhamida, Amina Salesse

Country: Algeria

Cohort: 2017, 2018, 2020-2021

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth

After TechWomen 2018, fellows Salma Bekkouche and Amel Djenidi began working with 2017 fellow Fatima Zohra Benhamida to create Heya Caravan, a project that empowers girls and women through STEM education. After securing a grant from the U.S. Embassy Algiers’ Alumni Small Grant Competition in 2019 – and after delays caused by the pandemic – the fellows, with 2020-2021 fellow Amina Salesse as a new team member, launched Heya Caravan in Hassi Messaoud last month, bringing a day of workshops, talks and networking opportunities to women in the region. Heya (Arabic for “She”) Caravan collaborated with local STEM leaders, inviting them to share their career paths in STEM, host Q&A’s and deliver workshops meant to educate and empower the professionals and students in attendance. In Fatima’s session, “Which hat would you like to wear?” she spoke about her journey in higher education as an assistant professor at the National School of Computer Science, her diverse work experience and her mission to combat stereotypes of women in technical fields. In a leadership workshop, participants learned about different leadership styles and their respective strengths and weaknesses. The day concluded with Q&A session themed on mental health challenges and work-life balance during the pandemic. “From preparation to the event itself to the post-event parts…every single task we made with love, and enjoyed it to the extreme,” said Amina. The Heya Caravan team hopes to replicate the programming in other Algerian cities as well as create online content for community members. “I’m proud to see the project become a reality after almost three years full of challenges,” said Salma.

Report Date...: 5/2/2022

Fellow brings STEM training to girls in Ethiopia and Tanzania

Fellow(s): Amanda Obidike

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2022

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

2022 fellow Amanda Obidike recently launched STEMNovation, a STEM initiative that trains girls in mobile app development, 3D modeling, 3D printing and basic computer skills. Amanda is a data scientist, general manager for the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation and founder of STEMi Makers Africa, an organization that trains young Africans with 21st century skills. She was recently named to the Most Distinguished African Women Changemakers list by Humanitarian Awards Global. Last month, STEMi Makers launched STEMNovation’s first bootcamp in Tanzania and Ethiopia, bringing young female students through training courses that will prepare them for STEM careers. At the Ethiopia bootcamp, supported by Addis Ababa University and Abugida Robotics Technology Center, girls ages 10-16 learned about computer software, coding and 3D modeling. At the bootcamp’s conclusion, trainees demonstrated their work for other students, parents and community supporters. In Tanzania, STEMi Makers partnered with the Timizandoto Initiative and dLab to support 40 girls in Dar es Salaam with training on AI, drone technologies and data analytics. “We understand that the increasing demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are vital to the development and economic growth of a nation,” said STEMi Makers. “As such, women and girls should not be left behind.”

Report Date...: 5/2/2022

BBC News Kyrgyz features fellows’ TechWomen 2022 project

Fellow(s): Kanykei Alipova, Azem Bakasova, Tursunai Bektemirova, Elvira Kyshtobaeva, Ainura Mitalipova, Jyldyz Moldosanova, Fatima Turgunbaeva, Gulzada Urgunalieva

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth

The 2022 fellows of Kyrgyzstan were featured in a video spotlight from BBC News Kyrgyz that highlighted their seed-grant winning action plan project created during the TechWome program. During the action planning process of TechWomen, fellows Kanykei Alipova, Azem Bakasova, Tursunai Bektemirova, Elvira Kyshtobaeva, Ainura Mitalipova, Jyldyz Moldosanova, Fatima Turgunbaeva and Gulzada Urgunalieva created Kamkor, a portal that will support working mothers by connecting them to childcare. Through Kamkor, the fellows hope to provide resources to the 57% of educated women in Kyrgyzstan who cannot work because of the lack of childcare in the country. “Many educated women in Kyrgyzstan are forced to leave the labor market, they said. “Mothers will be able to find a nanny for themselves at their request for an hour, for a day, for a month. With easy access to childcare, mothers can go back to work and create conditions for gender equality.”

Report Date...: 5/2/2022

Fellow selected as youth speaker at UN event

Fellow(s): Tala Qawasmi

Country: Palestinian Territories

Cohort: 2022

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

2022 fellow Tala Qawasmi was a featured speaker at the 2022 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, joining the Arab States Region breakout session to discuss supporting youth in developing their skills and finding job opportunities. ECOSOC is focused on advancing economic, social and environmental sustainable development. Their 2022 Youth Forum, “COVID-19 recovery: Youth taking action for a sustainable future,” brought together youth to contribute their ideas and innovations to create sustainable change. Tala is a Geographic Information System (GIS) expert at Preventative Security, an intelligence service of the Palestinian Territories. She previously collaborated with the UNDP to create Get That Job, an initiative that addressed youth unemployment in her community by connecting new graduates with consultants to support with training and job services. At the Youth Forum, Tala shared her story, the challenges she has overcome and how she has made an impact in youth unemployment. Although Get That Job did not officially launch, Tala will soon merge the platform with Josour, the social impact initiative she created alongside her country team during TechWomen 2022. Josour, which means “bridge,” will support women and youth with soft skills training and provide resources on local and international opportunities. “When I worked with my team during TechWomen, I thought it would be better to have this platform in-person and focus on all soft skills that not only fresh graduates need but also students in colleges and schools,” said Tala. “These two initiatives have the same goal. UNDP and Sharek Youth Forum are our partners now and will cooperate with us to make this project a success.”

Report Date...: 4/25/2022

Fellows recognized for their LinkedIn leadership

Fellow(s): Zeenat Anjum, Asna Javed

Country: Pakistan

Cohort: 2019

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth

2019 fellows Zeenat Anjum and Asna Javed were named to the 2022 Top 20 Most Influential Pakistani Women on LinkedIn list, recognized for their leadership and LinkedIn writings that share their experiences as women in technology. The list was created by Connected Women Pakistan, a women’s empowerment social enterprise. Zeenat is the founder of Digiwrite, a community where freelancers can share their experiences and best practices in their industries. Recently, Digiwrite has branched out to include job creation and training services. “The vision further extends to Digiwrite facilitating women who want to enter the freelancing or entrepreneurship domain and do not have the direction to earn active or passive income,” said Zeenat in her feature. Asna, a data and AI technical sales specialist at IBM Pakistan, speaks about her TechWomen 2019 mentorship at LinkedIn in her spotlight: “I was taught a number of things but one of the key takeaways for me was ‘If you have done/achieved something, talk about it. You are not showing off, you are only stating the facts.’ This has helped me tremendously in my career and personal branding. I started sharing things that I learned and achieved on LinkedIn which did not just give me visibility but also inspired many other men and women in the IT sector.”

Report Date...: 4/25/2022

2020-2021 fellows create campaign for social impact initiative

Fellow(s): Ainur Kuanyshbayeva, Kymbat Yeltayeva, Moldir Kussainova, Raushan Nurdillayeva

Country: Kazakhstan

Cohort: 2020-2021

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

During TechWomen 2020-2021 action planning, fellows Ainur Kuanyshbayeva, Kymbat Yeltayeva, Moldir Kussainova and Raushan Nurdillayeva created an initiative with a mission to raise awareness about domestic violence in Kazakhstan, a country where over two million women report suffering from domestic abuse. In memory of friend lost to domestic violence, the fellows conceived of a project that aimed to educate, inform and empower both men and women to create change.
Collaborating with an illustrator, the fellows recently debuted a visual campaign meant to reframe societal views on violence. Through a series of illustrated cards, the fellows dispel myths about gender dynamics in romantic relationships, encouraging people to reconsider harmful gender stereotypes. “The topic is quite difficult, so we decided to approach it creatively,” said the fellows. “We created such cards so that we all reconsider the stereotypes created in society regarding women and romantic relationships.” The campaign was released on Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu, a Kazakh national holiday known as the Day of Love. One card shows the common phrase “She asked for it” crossed out, replaced by “The abuser is at fault.” Another reads, “Endure it, and you will grow to love it,” crossed out and replaced by ““Don’t endure it, love will not come.” In the coming weeks, the fellows will release an animated video of a “modern fairytale” that will educate viewers on the signs of domestic violence.

Report Date...: 4/18/2022

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