Costa Rican women workforce inclusion

Through collaborative innovation, Ideas en Acción has focused on creating programs aimed at closing the gender gap in STEAM fields. Here’s what we’ve achieved throughout 2024:

MenTe en Acción Program: From February to April, we ran the 23rd edition of our MenTe en Acción program, where 54 young women between the ages of 15 and 19 graduated from various regions of the country.

From May to July, we held the 24th edition, where 55 participants graduated after developing solutions to address problems related to different SDGs over nine weeks. Through technology, these women were empowered and learned the basics of programming, gaining the opportunity to enter the STEAM world and explore what it could mean for their future careers. In this edition, we totaled over 1,250 volunteer hours, including technical mentoring for app programming, Design Thinking for prototype ideation, and photography to capture the experience. Additionally, we were sponsored by Accenture, Procter & Gamble, IBM, and Smiths Group Foundation. Through partnerships with Efecto Boomerang, Universidad CENFOTEC, Lincoln School, and Universidad LCI Veritas, we received further support.

We are currently beginning the 25th edition of the program, which will end in October 2024, and we hope to share more achievements of this new generation of MenTes soon.

Women in Action - Employable Training Program: In July 2024, we began the 3rd edition of the Women in Action program, providing scholarships for 50 women between the ages of 18 and 30 to obtain certifications in Software Development Engineering or Cybersecurity, offered by our sponsor IBM. Additionally, participants are receiving conversational English classes to boost their confidence, employability skills training, and workshops on personal empowerment, leadership, and gender equality; all, while being supported throughout the 16 weeks to track their progress.

This edition is being sponsored by Accenture, Procter & Gamble, IBM, and Smiths Group Foundation.

Red MenTe: We strive to provide monthly activities tailored to the various interests and needs of the young women in our Red MenTe network, most of whom are beginning their professional and academic journeys.

In our virtual activities, volunteers have brough in topics such as Digital Rights and Obligations for the Youth, Girls Coding for Change, Introduction to Agile Methodologies, and Introduction to Git.

We’ve also held in-person workshops on topics like "Professional Branding: Building My Own Success" by journalist Mariana Sáenz, and "Best Practices for Interviews and Resumes" with Equifax. Additionally, our MenTes were invited to screenings of the Costa Rican film "Memorias de un cuerpo que arde" by Substance Films, aimed at fostering intergenerational dialogue among women. Two scholarships were also awarded for the exclusive "Entrepreneurship Program for Innovators and Changemakers," thanks to Lincoln School.

Niñas Hacia el Espacio Program: A program aimed at girls between 7 and 9 years old who want to explore STEAM fields through playful activities and creativity. In 2024, we brought the program to Guanacaste, Heredia, Cartago, and Limón, and we will soon hold a special edition (our 8th) to raise funds for future editions, which we hope to continue expanding across the country.

In Limón, we collaborated with the American Corner Limón for the 7th edition, sponsored by Kyndryl and Smiths Group Foundation. Thanks to these joint efforts, 27 girls discovered the infinite possibilities offered by Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Additionally, we engaged parents and caregivers from their support networks who shared the comman goal of contribuiting to their growth and future. 

After our 8th edition, we hope to complete our goal of bringing the program to all the seven provinces of Costa Rica. Therefore, we plan to bring the last edition of this year to Puntarenas, in December 2024. 

To end this year, we hope to have succesfully concluded 3 MenTe en Acción Editions, 1 Women in Action Edition, 6 Niñas Hacia el Espacio Editions, and to continue bringing more development opportunities for our programs graduates. 

Links:

• Take a look at our projects and activities
• Check our website for more information

English below

Mente en Acción

En lo que llevamos en el 2024 ya hemos finalizado 1 edición de MenTe en Acción (23º) en modalidad híbrida, enfocadas en mujeres con edades entre los 15 y los 19 años. 

La 23ra edición tuvo lugar del 24 de febrero al 20 de abril, se graduaron 54 mujeres, quienes desarrollaron 8 prototipos de aplicación móvil con el apoyo y guía de 22 personas voluntarias que en total realizaron 999 horas de voluntariado. Para esta edición se contó con el patrocinio de Accenture, P&G e IBM y los aliados fueron: Efecto Boomerang, Universidad Veritas, Colegio Lincoln y el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC)

El 18 de mayo dará inicio una nueva edición del programa. 

Women in Action: Employable Training Program

El 31 de enero finalizó la 2da edición del programa en la cual se graduaron 18 mujeres entre 18 y 30 años que fueron becadas para capacitarse en un perfil junior de una de dos áreas: AWS y Cloud o Ciencia de Datos, según su elección.

Además, las participantes recibieron una preparación integral para la empleabilidad, teniendo clases de inglés, sesiones de Checkpoint para acompañar sus avances, y sesiones presenciales de habilidades para la empleabilidad como lo son: Liderazgo de género, Taller de LinkedIn y Aprendizaje Continuo, Empoderamiento de género, Auto-sabotaje y Auto-promoción y Taller de elaboración del currículum. 

Esta edición fue patrocinada por Accenture, IBM y Emerson y contamos con el apoyo de Efecto Boomerang,  Universidad Cenfotec, Data Grow Up y Future Up. 

En el segundo semestre se ejecutará la tercera edición del programa.

Red Mente

Las actividades de la Red Mente siguen siendo en su mayoría virtuales, hemos organizado talleres y charlas como: Herramientas en diseño web, Innovación y proyectos exitosos, cómo usar Linkedin, Simposio STEM, ¡Que tus redes sociales den a conocer tu talento profesional! y ¡Cuentos que INSPIRAN!. 

Adicionalmente hemos realizado algunos evento presenciales como una visita Microsoft y en el marco del día intencional de la mujer el Evento SheInnovates, donde aprendieron sobre diferentes carreras STEAM y liderazgo.

Niñas hacia el espacio

Niñas Hacia el Espacio es un programa gratuito de Ideas en Acción, dirigido a niñas entre 7 y 9 años que quieran explorar las áreas STEAM por medio del juego y actividades vivenciales. En este 2024 hemos llevado el programa a Guanacaste, Heredia y Cartago. 

En Guanacaste fue ejecutado en Creciendo juntos y participaron 30 niñas, en Heredia en el Centro Cívico por la paz y participaron 26 y en Cartago en la Escuela Nuestra Señora Fátima y participaron 31 niñas.

Para Guanacaste y Heredia nuestro aliado fue Iguana Lab y para Cartago Bio MechaX

Estas ediciones se llevaron a cabo gracias al patrocinio de Wings Foundation de The Phoenix Tower International.

Llevaremos el programa en Julio a la provincia de Limón.

-English-

Mente en Acción

So far in 2024, we have already completed one edition of MenTe en Acción (23rd) in a hybrid format, focusing on women aged between 15 and 19 years.

The 23rd edition took place from February 24 to April 20. A total of 54 women graduated, developing 8 mobile application prototypes with the support and guidance of 22 volunteers who contributed a total of 999 hours of volunteer work. This edition was sponsored by Accenture, P&G, and IBM, with partners including Efecto Boomerang, Universidad Veritas, Colegio Lincoln, and the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC).

A new edition of the program will start on May 18.

Women in Action: Employable Training Program

On January 31, the 2nd edition of the program concluded, graduating 18 women aged between 18 and 30, who received scholarships to train in a junior profile in one of two areas: AWS and Cloud or Data Science, according to their choice.

Additionally, the participants received comprehensive employability training, including English classes, Checkpoint sessions to monitor their progress, and in-person sessions on employability skills such as: Gender Leadership, LinkedIn Workshop and Continuous Learning, Gender Empowerment, Self-Sabotage and Self-Promotion, and a Resume Writing Workshop.

This edition was sponsored by Accenture, IBM, and Emerson, with support from Efecto Boomerang, Universidad Cenfotec, Data Grow Up, and Future Up.

The third edition of the program will be held in the second semester.

Red Mente

We now have over 1,200 women from all over the country, aged between 15 and 30. The activities of Red Mente remain mostly virtual. We have organized workshops and talks such as: Web Design Tools, Innovation and Successful Projects, How to Use LinkedIn, STEM Symposium, Showcasing Your Professional Talent on Social Media, and Stories that INSPIRE!.

Additionally, we have held some in-person events such as a visit to Microsoft and, on the occasion of International Women's Day, the SheInnovates Event, where they learned about different STEAM careers and leadership.

Niñas hacia el espacio

Girls Towards Space is a free program by Ideas en Acción, aimed at girls between 7 and 9 years old who want to explore STEAM areas through play and hands-on activities. In 2024, we have brought the program to Guanacaste, Heredia, and Cartago.

In Guanacaste, it was implemented at Creciendo Juntos with 30 participating girls, in Heredia at the Centro Cívico por la Paz with 26 participants, and in Cartago at Nuestra Señora Fátima School with 31 participants.

For Guanacaste and Heredia, our partner was Iguana Lab, and for Cartago, Bio MechaX.

These editions were made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Wings Foundation of The Phoenix Tower International.

We will bring the program to the province of Limón in July.