Empowering Young Women and Refugees Worldwide through STEM & Sustainability
PR97345
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Women and girls who seek to advance their STEM education have long faced
incredible challenges in a field traditionally dominated by men. At the same
time, recent events have highlighted the soaring population of 89.3 million
refugees, displaced and stateless people around the world(
) - almost 27% of whom are women and girls under 18. International education,
and especially virtual exchange, is rarely used to address such issues, even
though it can be a powerful way to broaden opportunities for marginalized
groups.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1809272/AFS_Logo.jpg
Helping Young Women Enter the World of STEM & Sustainability
AFS Intercultural Programs, a global non-profit renowned for its intercultural
exchanges has run programs funded by bp since 2011 for young people in STEM. In
2021, the two organizations launched an ambitious 5-year initiative aimed at
giving 5,000 young people scholarships, with an emphasis on diversity and
inclusion, and a particular focus on supporting young women. The AFS Global
STEM Accelerator(
) program, which launched in June 2022, is a full-scholarship, virtual
exchange program designed to provide 180 young women worldwide with access to
education in sustainability, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math),
and positive social impact.
Giving Refugees Equal Access to Education
The refugee crisis affects more than 89.3 million people globally, including
the millions of displaced people from Syria, Venezuela, Sudan, and Myanmar.
Since February 2022, the world has seen millions of Ukrainians being forced to
flee their homes.
The immediate public response to refugee crises is often focused on meeting
urgent humanitarian needs. However, education is a basic human right(
) that is often denied to refugee youth. This is especially true of young
refugee women. It's also, according to the UNHCR(
), a critical part of any international refugee response.
With this in mind, AFS, with support from bp, increased the number of
scholarships to ensure that young refugee women were included in the AFS Global
STEM Accelerator Program(
). Recognizing the need to execute outreach thoughtfully, AFS partnered with
SPARK, an international non-governmental development organization active in 14
regions throughout the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. For over 28
years, SPARK has created pathways for young people to rebuild their futures,
and provide opportunities for youth, particularly women and refugees, to study,
work and grow their own businesses in fragile communities.
"Global citizenship education has to be accessible to everyone. We are so
excited that we could work with bp and SPARK to make this program accessible to
young people that are often excluded from these opportunities, but in reality
need them the most," says Daniel Obst, AFS President and CEO.
Over 1,000 applicants from 71 Countries
The AFS Global STEM Accelerators(
) program received 1,083 applications from 71 countries worldwide, including
applicants from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Nigeria, and Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Applications were open to young women (ages 15-17.5) globally, with a keen
interest in becoming changemakers in their communities. AFS allocated 20% of
scholarships specifically for refugees and girls from displaced populations,
whether from war, violence, or natural disaster.
The 180 scholarships awarded to young women from 61 countries reflect the
diversity and inclusion the program seeks to achieve:
--20% of recipients identify as refugees or from displaced communities
--82% of recipients identify as People of Color
--51% of recipients come from low-income households
--10% will be the first in their families on track to graduate from
high school
AFS and bp recognize that access to technology and internet connectivity is
inequitable globally and are prepared to support these needs.
"It is exciting to see such strong interest from these brilliant young women,"
says Kerry Dryburgh, EVP people & culture, bp. "With their passion to make a
difference and the skills they will learn, they are future changemakers,
leaders and innovators – we wish them the very best for their journey."
The words of the scholarship recipients further support the claim that virtual
exchange is a powerful tool for expanding access to educational opportunities.
"I am from a traditional Pashtun society, where in my province girls don't even
have the right to go to school. In each corner of my country, gender inequality
is vivid. All these challenges give me the strength to create my own identity
and to be different from my surroundings. Participating in this program will be
my first step toward achieving my goal to explore the world and become someone
influential in improving sustainable societies." - Harira, from Afghanistan
What's Next for These Young Women
The AFS Global STEM Accelerators(
) program culminates with scholars developing social impact capstone projects
and presentations that offer potential solutions to real-world challenges, with
an emphasis on sustainability. Participants receive the Advanced Certificate on
Global Competence for Social Impact, awarded by AFS and the University of
Pennsylvania, along with official validation on their capstone projects from
the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy. Students'
learning and capstone development is guided by a diverse facilitation team
representing twelve qualified facilitators (all women) from nine countries.
Upon program completion, scholars will be invited to join the alumni community
offering diverse mentoring opportunities, skills development sessions, panel
discussions and further development opportunities. Scholars will also be
invited to participate in the AFS Youth Assembly(
), a global gathering of young people actively tackling the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals.
SOURCE: AFS Intercultural Programs
CONTACT: Milena Miladinovic, m.miladinovic@afs.org
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