Tunisia Mentoring Council launches to support, mentor women in STEM

In Tunisia, the breadth of TechWomen’s impact is far reaching, from fellows supporting the Technovation Challenge and educational initiatives, as well as community engagement and beyond. In 2016, 12 Tunisian TechWomen fellows launched Women Leaders in Technology (WoLTech) to empower Tunisian women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and help them achieve their goals. WoLTech members have organized events to introduce the concept of mentoring, as well as exchange program opportunities.

Now in its second year, WoLTech has launched Tunisia Mentoring Council (TMC), a six-month mentoring program for women in STEM working on projects or startups in the STEM fields. “TMC will be an exchange platform and an opportunity for Tunisian women in STEM to brainstorm, inspire, challenge and achieve,” Ameni Channoufi, 2014 fellow and president of WoLTech, explained. “Experts and leaders will accompany the mentor and the mentee through workshops, trainings, meet-up sessions and cultural gatherings.”

WoLTech is accepting applications for mentors to participate in TMC. Male and female mentors must:

•  Be of Tunisian nationality.
•  Have significant professional experience.
•  Be a leader in their profession.
•  Have a large professional network.
•  Be engaged and have a desire to support the leaders of tomorrow.

WoLTech is specifically seeking mentors who have the following:

• Technical skills in information and communication technology (ICT), health and biology, renewable energies, environmental development, education, e-learning, e-commerce, engineering, mathematics or e-health.
• Non-technical skills in ICT administration (business planning, launching a startup, law, etc.), finance (raising funds and investment), marketing (media and marketing strategies) or communication (pitching techniques, public speeches, etc.).

Applications must be submitted by April 29, 2017.

“Our efforts to reach out to the female community in Tunisia has finally paid off, and we are expecting great feedback and impact from this program,” members of WoLTech said. “This program is a reflection of our TechWomen experience, which shook us to the core.”