Delegations visit schools, universities to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers
NAIROBI and BISHKEK, February 14, 2017—TechWomen mentors from the United States will reunite with TechWomen alumnae in Kenya and Kyrgyzstan to strengthen partnerships and encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The U.S. Department of State’s TechWomen program brings emerging women leaders in STEM from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East to the San Francisco Bay Area to connect with their counterparts for project-based mentoring, action planning, leadership workshops and cultural exchange.
During the week-long programs, the delegations will visit non-governmental organizations, private and public enterprises, universities, incubators, and innovation hubs to expand networks of women in STEM around the world. Together with the alumnae, the mentors from the United States learn about the STEM ecosystem in-country, explore the status of women and girls, and connect with prospective TechWomen applicants.
“The opportunity to share the work we do, not only leads to a better understanding from our mentors, but also allows us to gain new insights and support to enhance our programs,” Josephine Ndambuki, a 2013 TechWomen alumna of Kenya, said. “The delegation provides a renewed energy to keep going and offers new avenues to collaborate.”
Kenya is hosting mentors from the United States representing Advent Software, Autodesk, Fitbit, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Mensch Ventures, Mozilla, Qualcomm, Symantec, Twitter and Veritas.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting mentors from the United States representing the Anita Borg Institute, HGST, Juniper Networks, Lawrence Hall of Science, LinkedIn, Mentoring Standard, NASA, Positive Impact Partner, Silicon Valley Link, Singularity University, Sunrun, Symantec and Twitter.
Launched in 2011 by the State Department, TechWomen is implemented by the Institute of International Education. Follow TechWomen on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Contact:
Joanne Liou, jliou@iie.org, (415) 362-6520 x 227
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, ECA-Press@state.gov, (202) 632-6452
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the leader in providing international education strategies and program services. Our international approach to education—diverse, borderless, impactful—is a proven way for governments and companies to invest in global talent and solidify overseas relationships. We work with policymakers, educators and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,300 member institutions.
Through its Center for Women’s Leadership Initiatives, IIE provides opportunities for women worldwide to participate in cutting-edge training, professional development and exchange programs and pursue higher education. Our programs help women to develop and join networks of peers, mentors and experts and serve as effective leaders in the public and private sectors around the world.
Contacts
Public Affairs