Women in Science Camp for Girls in South Asia Aims to End Gender Gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Fields

Girl Up, with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships; the United States Embassies of India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka; Caterpillar Foundation; Google; and TE Connectivity Foundation, is hosting an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime camp where girls across South Asia and the United States will gain valuable access to education, mentorship, and resources centered around science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) from experts in the field.

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Girl Up, a global leadership development initiative founded by the United Nations Foundation, is proud to announce the upcoming WiSci South Asia Girls' STEAM Camp in Kochi, Kerala in India this June. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships and dedicated local and corporate partners, this innovative camp will provide a transformative experience for girls from South Asia and the United States, fostering their interest and expertise in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

From June 1-9, 2024, the WiSci South Asia Girls' STEAM Camp will bring together 100 secondary school girls from India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the United States, offering them unique opportunities for skill-building, mentorship, and networking in various STEAM fields. Through interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and engaging discussions with industry experts and peers who share their passion for social change, these youth campers will gain valuable insights and inspiration into the world of STEAM.

"We are thrilled to bring the WiSci Girls' STEAM Camp to India, providing these bold, brilliant girls from South Asia with a new platform to explore their passion in STEAM," said Melissa Kilby, CEO of Girl Up. "This camp embodies our collective commitment to engaging young women in STEAM and equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive in this rapidly evolving era of science and technology."

The camp curriculum will cover a comprehensive range of STEAM topics, including climate science, women's representation in aviation and more. Campers will have the chance to interact with leading entrepreneurs, changemakers, and role models in STEAM, gaining guidance in career pathways and building lasting cross-cultural connections with girls around the region.

"We're excited to support the WiSci South Asia Girls' STEAM Camp and provide women and girls across South Asia and the US access to in-demand science and technology skills," said Karan Bhatia, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google. "Through this program, talented Google employees will lead trainings to inspire and prepare the next generation of female leaders to pursue STEAM careers."

The WiSci Girls' STEAM camp is part of the U.S. government's collaborative efforts to advance gender equality and promote STEAM education worldwide. By providing adolescent girls with transferable leadership tools and training, these camps strive for participants to realize their full potential in becoming leaders in their communities?not just in STEAM but in all disciplines.

"We believe that investing in girls' education and leadership development is key to unlocking their full potential and driving economic empowerment in communities globally," said Dorothy McAuliffe, Special Representative for Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State. "We are proud to partner with Girl Up to support this impactful initiative."

Since 2015, more than 1,100 girls and youth allies from 34 countries have been successfully trained at WiSci STEAM Camps around the world, channeling their week-long experiences into creating lifelong positive impact in the world.

For more information about these global WiSci Girls' STEAM Camps, visit GirlUp.org/WiSci.

About Girl Up
Girl Up is a girl-centered leadership development initiative working to advance gender justice worldwide. We believe that when girls and women are in positions of leadership, they work to create a more just and equitable world for everyone. Founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, Girl Up operates a global network of regional affiliates and serves 270,000 girls and youth leaders in 155 countries.

About Google
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Google Cloud, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

About TE Connectivity Foundation
The TE Connectivity Foundation is the corporate foundation of TE Connectivity and is committed to connecting and strengthening global communities through access to technology and engineering for all, with a focus on women and underserved populations.

Media Contacts

For South Asia Media Inquiries:
Contact Anushka Maheshwary, Communications, Girl Up India at [email protected]

For U.S. Media Inquiries:
Contact Karina Sharma, Communications, Girl Up at [email protected]

Media Contact

Karina Sharma, Girl Up, 202.496.6387, [email protected], girlup.org

SOURCE Girl Up