Tech Girls

  • P Project/Program

A Active

Key Information

TechGirls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young women from around the world to pursue careers in science and technology. In 2024, the program will support 111 young women from 37 eligible countries/territories and 13+ U.S. peers in a dynamic four week U.S.- based experience with a 7-month mentoring program (including pre- and post-exchange). Since 2012, TechGirls has trained and mentored 653 teenage girls (ages 15-17). Initially the TechGirls program focused on countries of the Middle East and North Africa. In the summer of  2022, the TechGirls program expanded globally engaging a talented cadre of technology-minded young women from the United States and select countries in all six regions of world (Western Hemisphere, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South and Central Asia). The core of theTechGirls program is a 24-day experience in the United States in partnership with Virginia Tech University. Participants will engage in an interactive technology and computer camp, then travel to one of the following cities (Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, or Seattle) for community and career exploration. The TechGirls programming yields a multiplier effect as participants return home to conduct community based projects with 7 months of mentorship.


Lead Implementing Government(s)

United States of America

Location(s)

Global

Government Affiliation

Government-affiliated program

Years

2012 -

Partner(s)

Not applicable or unknown

Ministry Affiliation

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

Global / regional

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Skills

  • STEM

Cross-cutting areas

  • Digital literacy
  • Gender equality
  • Mentorship
  • Social and gender norms and beliefs

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls in school, Youth

Age

15 - 17

School Enrolment Status

All in school

School Level

  • Upper secondary

Other populations reached

  • None

Participants include

  • N/A

Program Approaches Back to Top

Educational Technology

  • Digital skills/literacy (including coding)

Life skills education

  • Gender, rights and power

Mentoring/psychosocial support

  • Adult (non-teacher) mentors

Tutoring/strengthening academic skills

  • STEM - outside the classroom

Women's empowerment programs

  • Leadership training

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Improved academic skills (literacy and numeracy)
  • Improved critical thinking

Cross-cutting goals

  • Changed social norms
  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Increased employment/job-related skills
  • More equitable gender attitudes and norms