Give girls a greenlight in STEM around the world!

The theme of this past few months is most certainly, EMPOWERMENT!!  When girls and young women are encouraged to create & share their unique ideas & solutions, when they have the opportunity to meet peers & mentors to show future paths, and when they learn how to build their skills and confidence in STEM, then ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!  Our g4g events these past few months have been centered around this theme - and it's creating an avalanche of possibilities for these young women and for g4g too!  

Our events and activities these past few months have empowered more than 200 girls across a few countries:

• Young women at the US Embassy developed more than 100 ideas for sustainability, inspired by the UN SDGs and g4g experiments and collaboration exercises.
• Girls and young women in Brazil were invited to university for the day to meet professors and build STEM skills.
• Parents and girls were invited to one of g4g's Parents Adventure in Tech to learn about the future possibilities in computer science. Here's more below to learn more of what this adventure was all about! 

Treasure Troves of Discovery for Parents and their girls

On June 12, 2024, the Google Brussels office became a place of inspiration and possibility for parents and their daughters as they embarked on an unforgettable journey into the future of technology. The event, organized by g4g in partnership with Google, aimed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a love for technology among young girls aged 10 to 15, as well as to educate the parents - all this while having fun! With a focus on inclusivity and empowerment, this unique event highlighted the vast opportunities that technology can offer.  Activities spanned a range of tech fields, including coding, artificial intelligence, and creative tech projects that blended art and science. This hands-on approach allowed the girls to see, touch, and experiment with technology in a supportive and encouraging environment. They were able to visualize the incredible possibilities that tech skills can unlock, sparking dreams of future careers in STEM fields.

Building confidence and community

One of the most significant outcomes of the event was the increase in parents' confidence to discuss computer science studies and careers with their daughters. Confidence levels rose by an impressive 34% from the beginning to the end of the event. This increase underscores the importance of creating spaces where parents can learn alongside their children and feel equipped to support their interests in STEM.

Positive feedback and lasting impact

The feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive. Many highlighted the value of sharing the experience with their daughters, emphasizing how it opened up new conversations about technology and career possibilities. Parents appreciated hearing from senior tech professionals, who served as inspiring role models for the young attendees. Comments such as "It opens up the possibility to talk about this subject with them" and "Having senior tech people share their experiences provides a good role model for young girls" reflected the day's impact.

Encouraging future tech leaders

The event also had a profound effect on the girls themselves. A staggering 92% of the girls expressed a desire to further build their computer science skills after the event. Additionally, their knowledge of computer science increased by 50%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the hands-on learning approach. The girls left with a powerful piece of advice for their peers: "Anything is possible."

Continuing the journey

At the conclusion of the day, participants received a certificate from Google and g4g, along with a treasure trove of resources to continue their tech journey at home. This ensures that the learning and inspiration don't end with the event but continue to grow as they explore the world of technology further.

Links:

• Our events at g4g

Do you know what a LEAP year means to g4g? YES! An extra day of the year to inspire young women around the world to get curious about STEM and their future! The first months have already started out with a huge leap of impact, immense gratitude for all of you, and some fun and amazing adventures to tell you about.

The magic of collaboration – Minecraft meets Biodiversity meets DNA

What do these three topics have in common? Well, it’s all STEM related, of course! With Microsoft leading the way, the Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva, g4g, and Avantor Foundation joined forces to bring science and technology excitement to Lisbon in February. 200 young girls, ages 10-15, excitedly ran between the inspiring Microsoft Lisbon offices and the Science Center labs to try their hands at robotics, 3D printing, bridge building, DNA, biodiversity, mathematical games, Minecraft + Sustainability, Power Apps and more! What was truly uniquely special and magical at this first g4g day of the year? Several things actually: seeing the girls transform their labcoats into science stories, holding an after-lunch wellness break for tips to deal with stress, an invitation from Microsoft to parents to learn about safety & the internet, and working with a very special g4g role model, Mayte Cubino Gonzales, from Microsoft. We always say – the magical spark of any g4g moment begins with one special person. Mayte – thank you! And thank you to all of the incredible team members from Microsoft, the Science Center, Avantor, and the parents & teachers who volunteered to be part of this great day.

Impact of the day: 90% of the girls rated the day as EXCELLENT and 95% would recommend this event to their friends. Our favourite word that they used to describe the day? Whioohoooo.

Our favourite message from one of our volunteers? “I'm writing this with a heart full of joy and gratitude. Participating as a volunteer in the g4g day Lisbon was an immensely rewarding experience. Witnessing the enthusiasm and curiosity of 200 young girls as they explored the vast world of STEM was truly inspiring. It's not every day that you get to see the future of science and technology being so eagerly embraced, and I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of this transformative journey.”

A *NEW* Adventure has begun – the Parent’s Adventure in Tech

Wait? What? Another opportunity for parents to join in the fun?!! Mexico City has been the launch pad for this new adventure in March. Google and g4g created a dedicated to exploring the exciting world of computer science and the diverse career opportunities available for their children. With interactive & hands-on sessions, including topics like AI, virtual reality, coding, and online safety, parents gained insight into the potential of technology and the career paths that could await their daughters in this field.   The parents found this event full of learning and they loved the chance to try their hand at coding and other technology skills. Their understanding of computer science jobs & learning opportunities for their daughters increased by 41%.   Additionally, the parents attending highly recommend this event to other parents - so be on the lookout for the announcement of where we are going next! (Clue: It’s mentioned in this article in El Heraldo De México)

In the meantime, we'll leave you with a touching quote from one of the parents on what they would tell girls to encourage them: "Show them that it’s a world full of learning… Anything is possible if they want it."

We asked our g4g team, Tess and Valentina, about their favourite impact of the day. “KENIA!”, they yelled in unison. Kenia, our amazing 14-year old TECH star, joined the g4g team to inspire parents during the day. Inspiration can happen the other way too, from daughter to parent… in fact, many of you know this already.

Thank you to Google, the STEM-superstars who shared their time and knowledge, and all the parents who attended!

An inflatable globe, an interactive floor map, and circuitry jewelry?

Now, THIS sounds like quite THE adventure. 150 girls in Bridgewater, Massachusetts will tell us all about it soon! In partnership with the Center for Advancement of STEM Education at Bridgewater State University, g4g Day Bridgewater is set to rock your socks off on Saturday, April 6.

Coding robots, soldering circuit jewlery, and jumping into a life-size map – it will be fabulous day of STEM discovery on the campus of BSU.

Can you imagine your 12-year-old self being able to walk university hallways sporting your new labcoat and dreaming of the future? This is what our g4g girls in the US will get the chance to experience soon. Have fun everyone!

Gratitude for the extra day with you

Every day, and especially an extra leap year day, reminds us of why we do what we do… and how we do it. That’s where all of you come in. We appreciate every moment of your time that you give to g4g and to the community that you impact around you. We appreciate everyone who has been a part of g4g’s journey, for any amount of time, and for those that are joining next – THANK YOU!