The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that the TechWomen initiative – an international exchange that uses technology as a means to empower women and girls worldwide – is now accepting online applications from women in selected countries for 2012. Candidates may apply at www.techwomen.org between December 15, 2011 and February 15, 2012.
The 42 selectees from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen will participate in a five-week mentorship with their American counterparts at U.S.-based technology companies in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Following the U.S. portion of the exchange, U.S. mentors will travel to Jordan and Tunisia to conduct workshops and follow-on training for women in the technology sector and young girls who have expressed an interest in pursuing a tech-based career.
Launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, TechWomen builds on her vision of “smart power” diplomacy. It embraces the full range of diplomatic tools, in this case technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and empower women and girls worldwide.
TechWomen partners with the Institute of International Education and the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. It is a public-private partnership in which more than 20 leading U.S. companies participated by hosting international mentees during the 2011 inaugural program. For more information, go to www.techwomen.org.
Media contact:
Talley Sergent, SergentRT@state.gov
