100 000 Polish Girls go STEM!

Our latest scholarship and mentoring programis aimed at high school students from small towns in Poland. We want to equalize educational opportunities and encourage young women to develop technological competences and work in the video game industry in future..

In October 2021, we started recruiting for our proprietary - and the first in Poland - scholarship and mentoring program for young girls in gamedev. We created this program together with CD PROJEKT RED, the largest studio in Poland producing world-famous video games, such as "The Witcher" or "Cyberpunk".

Our goal was to break the stereotypes that gaming and gamedev were areas of interest only to boys and men. According to the latest IQS research published in the Game Story report, there are 17 million players in Poland, of which 47% - or 8 million - are women! Almost 2.3 million women declare that they play on a console or computer every day, and 22% of female players say that gaming is their passion.

Not only the number of e-sport enthusiasts is growing, but also the number of women in gamedev: in 2021 the percentage of women among game developers increased to 30% worldwide.

We want to encourage young girls to overcome these stereotypes and artificial limitations. Now is the time for more girls to develop their passion and build their careers in the video game industry. On board the Polish video game industry, we need women - programmers, graphic designers, scriptwriters, animation and sound specialists - their great ideas, competences and skills.

The interest in the 1st edition of the scholarship and mentoring program exceeded our wildest expectations! From all over Poland, we received over 1,400 applications from high school students who are passionate not only about gaming and dreaming about a career in gamedev, but above all exceptionally gifted, creative, thirsty for knowledge and development.

From among them-  along with a recruitment committee consisting of experts from gamedev industry - we selected20 winners, who were awarded a 12-month scholarship in the amount of PLN 12,000 to cover the costs of education, development and purchasing computer equipment. The scholarship was accompanied by year-round participation in a series of workshops, lectures, and individual mentoring of the leading experts in the field of programming, storytelling and writing, graphic design, 3D animation, concept art, quest design, cinematic design, etc.

In February 2022, the official inauguration of the "Girls in the game!" Program took place, during which the winners - who came to us from all over Poland - participated in events and workshops for 2 days and met their mentors, with whom they will closely cooperate for the next year, deepening their knowledge, gaining new experiences and skills. Additionally, twice a month they will take part in lectures and workshops devoted to specific areas of the video game industry.

We believe that equalizing girls' opportunities in the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) ) gives them a chance to transform their passions into education, and then into a professional career - contrary to the stereotypes still persisting in Poland.

Links:

• Inauguration of the scholarship and mentoring program
• Program page

In Poland, the technology sector is still dominated by men. The percentage is as high as 86.5%, with the European average being 84%. Without active work - e.g. programs to support and motivate girls and young women - it will be difficult to change this situation.

"Perspektywy" Educational Foundation aims to support and encourages women - from high school girls and students to young professionals - to choose education in the STEM area (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), help them enter the job market and build spectacular careers – in industry, science or by developing their own tech startup. This way we support the emergence of a generation of self-aware women leaders who will change the tech world.

Our mission is to inspire, connect and support women in technologies, science and innovation. We fight the stereotypes about the role of women in society. Thanks to our activities no little girl will ever be thoughtlessly excluded from STEM inspiration. We create platforms and coalitions allowing cooperation between academia and the most innovative high-tech industry. Our activities go beyond the Polish borders, we are becoming more active in the East – all the way to Central Asia. Thanks to women, their competences, the values they bring and the new approach to problem-solving, the world has a chance for a new history. Co-creating this history is our privilege, mission and great pleasure.

Our latest scholarship and mentoring program”Dziewczyny w grze!” is aimed at high school students from small towns in Poland. We want to equalize educational opportunities and encourage young women to develop technological competences and work in the video game industry in future..

Why is gamedev an important opportunity for women’s careers in the tech industry?

The computer games market is one of the fastest and most dynamically developing branches of the IT industry in the world. According to estimates by analysts from the Newzoo platform, by the end of 2021 there will be 2.9 billion players in the world - almost half of which will be women - and the value of the video game market will reach over USD 175 billion, thus several times exceeding revenues from the music and film market together taken. In 2017, the Polish video game market was ranked 19th in terms of size in the world market, but its value in 2024 is already estimated at over PLN 3 billion.

It used to be believed that gaming and e-sport are typically male entertainment. However, the statistics leave no doubt! According to the latest IQS research published in the Game Story report, there are 17 million players in Poland, of which 47% - or 8 million - are women! Almost 2.3 million women declare that they play on a console or computer every day, and 22% of female players say that gaming is their passion.

Not only the number of e-sport enthusiasts is growing, but also the number of women in gamedev: in 2021 the percentage of women among game developers increased to 30% worldwide.

Are we on the verge of a women's revolution in the technology industry?

There is no need to convince anyone that women are doing great in the gaming world. However, it is worth realizing that the future of gamedev may belong to them. That is why we want to encourage girls to professional development in the IT industry, and thus enrich the gaming world with their talent and creativity.

We want to encourage young girls to overcome these stereotypes and artificial limitations. Now is the time for more girls to develop their passion and build their careers in the video game industry. On board the Polish video game industry, we need women - programmers, graphic designers, scriptwriters, animation and sound specialists - their great ideas, competences and skills.

Scholarship and mentoring program “Dziewczyny w grze!”

Polish universities are slowly recognizing the need to create new fields of study adapted to the needs of the video game market. Therefore, it is worth starting the search for a future specialists for gamedev at an earlier stage of education - among students of high schools and technical schools, interested in gaming and new technologies. Now we focus on girls - they have the chance to change the rules of this game!

Scholarship and mentoring program “Dziewczyny w grze!”is created to enable students of high schools and technical schools - from small townsin Polasnd (up to 50 thousand inhabitants) interested in gaming and new technologies, to gain unique experiences in this industry.  This scholarship and mentoring program for high school students is an introduction to a career in polish and international gamedev.

So far, we have received over 1,400 applications from high school girls from all over Poland. From among them, we will select 20 winners, who will be awarded a 12-month scholarship in the amount of PLN 12,000 to cover the costs of education, development and purchasing computer equipment.

In addition to the scholarship, the winners will take part in a series of trainings and workshops on various aspects of video game development, as well as undertake a year-long individual cooperation with a mentor of their choice from CD PROJEKT RED - the largest studio in Poland creating world-famous video games (e.g. The Witcher).

We are convinced that substantive knowledge and mentoring gives them opportunity to learn about many practical aspects of working in the gaming industry, as well as a chance to gain valuable experience.

- In Perspektywy Educational Foundation, we strongly believe in girls and their power to change the world. In the "Dziewczyny w grze!" program, we will encourage them to spread their wings in an extremely exciting area - gaming. It is one of the most developing industries, a showcase of Poland in the world. It's time the women's voice was heard strongly in her. We want to reach out to talented girls, provide them with knowledge, tools and what is less tangible and crucial - a dose of courage that will help them look at their lives in a wider perspective and plan the future with boldness. This program is like the warrior princess Ciri from The Witcher. Together we will fight to make the girls really in the game! - says Dr. Bianka Siwinska, head of Perspektywy Women in Tech.

More info on:https://dziewczynywgrze.pl/

Shesnnovation Academy

We are currently preparing the next edition the new edition of the “Shesnnovation” Academy – an incubation and acceleration program for female-founded start-ups in the STEM area – was focused on the late Y/millennial generation.

The idea of the program was to encourage talented female students, PhD students and young female scientists to implement innovative ideas for technological and scientific solutions and to launch them successfully as a new, promising company. Only 26% of startup CEOs are women, even though there are many more of those, who have great business ideas and potential. Our mission is to support them and help them realise these ideas.

The program gathered 35 participants who were taking part in seminars and training about startup building and professional growth, together with mentoring sessions with mentors from tech startups. Each of the participants went through a half year mentoring program to maximise their potential.

Thanks to the support of experienced and successful business women – Mentors, highly qualified experts and a comprehensive system of training 12 high tech female start-ups were founded.

We are very glad that the percentage of female startup CEOs is growing. It shows that women have a huge potential in technological business building!

More info on:http://shesnnovation.pl/