By Melissa Rancourt | Founder & Board President
How do you inspire countless others around you to study STEM?
Well, you need a SPARK! And that's exactly who our g4g Ambassadors are and what they do -- these young mentors SPARK curiousity, confidence and encouragement to girls and young women around them.
Some years back, we conducted an IMPACT study with university professors to understand the need to encourage girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects - what should be done, how it can make an impact, and if our organisation, greenlight for girls, may already be on the right path. DRUM ROLL, please... Studies demonstrated that in order to create an impact, you need to instill confidence, create a community of supporters, engage with creative and experiential learning, and provide inspiring connections to professionals in the field. And yep, you guessed it - g4g's work does all of this demonstrating clear impact, and it just keeps on growing!!
--> ENTER our STEM Spark-ling Ambassadors
Here are the stories of just six of our many ambassadors sharing how they spark curiosity from six corners of the world. Starting with Julia, our g4g Ambassdor Coordinator who leads the way as well the stories from these six STEM stars: Afia from India, Chamss from Tunisia, Liz from Spain, Maria Clara from Brazil, Skye from Nigeria, Lilly from the US
Julia, our Ambassador Lead
Why you are leading the ambassadors?:
"I joined the greenlight for girls Ambassador Programme in October 2020, when I was 15 years old. I was passionate about STEM and excited to share that passion with my local community and beyond. In early 2021, I was offered the opportunity to become Ambassador Coordinator, and I have been proud to be part of the g4g team ever since.
While my academic strengths and degree are in STEM, I am also deeply passionate about leadership, mentorship, and giving back to the community. As Ambassador Coordinator, I am able to combine my STEM background with my project management and communication skills to help support and lead the Ambassador Programme.
Serving as g4g Ambassador Coordinator for more than five years has helped shape me into the person and young professional I am today. From learning how to communicate confidently with adults as a young teen, to organizing events, supporting ambassadors, and helping bring projects to life, my work with g4g has prepared me not only to be a confident woman in STEM, but also a well-rounded leader."
Why it is important to encourage girls in STEM:
It is so important to encourage girls in STEM because many young girls already have a spark of curiosity, creativity, and passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. With encouragement, inspiration, and role models, that spark can grow into confidence and possibility. greenlight for girls does such meaningful work by showing girls that Anything is Possible. I am so honored to be part of a team that helps girls see themselves in STEM and believe in their own potential.
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Lily from the US
Why did you become an ambassador?:
"Hello, my name is Lilly. I am passionate about girl's education which inspired me to partner with g4g to gain support for my local projects and get involved globally. With g4g, I received a community grant to perform STEM labs at my local elementary school as well as designed a PET plastic recycler - turns PET plastic water bottles into 3D filament. I recently studied abroad in Morocco and hope to continue my Arabic studies in college through an Arabic minor!
Throughout my life I have had an interest in STEM. It always clicked in my brain and I excelled in STEM subjects. Yet whenever we had group projects I saw everyone turning to the men for answers assuming that their perspective was best. These experiences undermined the confidence in my abilities and skills as an academic. As the years went on I finally had a teacher who believed in me and saw my capabilities. He empowered me to stand up for myself and project my voice. It is hard to be seen as capable as a woman in STEM, but he taught me the first step is putting yourself out there. This is why I want to be a Greenlight for Girls Ambassador because I want to give back what was awarded to me by uplifting women’s voices specifically in STEM. I want to be apart of experiences and programs that create belief in people and action in the community."
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?
Perform STEM labs at local elementary school and designed a PET plastic recycler - turns PET plastic water bottles into 3D filament.
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Afia from India
Why did you become an ambassador?
"I first attended a Greenlight for Girls (g4g) session in Dubai during ninth grade, and it sparked my interest in STEM. Now, as a B.Tech student and an active member of IEEE Women in Engineering (WiE), I want to give back by inspiring more girls to explore STEM and helping create opportunities for the next generation."
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?
Through IEEE Women in Engineering (WiE), I help organize workshops, technical events, and outreach activities that encourage students, especially young girls, to explore STEM. I also mentor students and share my experiences to inspire confidence and curiosity in technology.
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Chamss from Tunisia
Why did you become an ambassador?:
"Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 'Aim for the moon, if you miss, you may hit a star.' Inspired by this profound notion, I am thrilled to apply to be a greenlight for girls' ambassador because I believe it is the launching pad that will propel me towards my goals.
STEM has always held a special place in my heart as I am a passionate individual who aspires to explore the frontiers of its fields. My journey began with a fascination for science, sparked by my father, an electrician, who involved me in his electrical crafts since I was young. Also, with my love for reading, I found joy in exploring my father's scientific magazines, especially 'Science et Vie,' a French magazine. I have always been attracted to scientific experiments and National Geographic documentaries.
As I progressed to high school, my love for science and technology blossomed, and I eagerly embarked on projects like an automated door sensor with my teacher. Simultaneously, my interest in biology grew, and I became curious about its connection to living beings and our world. I actively participated in scientific events with my high school science club, enriching my knowledge in this field. I was also among the founding members of my school's radio club, which allowed us to share scientific news and deliver speeches during breaks.
During my university years, where I am currently studying industrial biology engineering, I actively sought opportunities to broaden my horizons. I joined SYMBIO, a club primarily focusing on biology and chemistry. We organize workshops on both soft skills and hard skills, as well as industrial visits to factories and companies in our field of study. These experiences allowed me to witness the fundamentals of work firsthand and expand my network by engaging with professionals, directors, CEOs, engineers, and workers who generously shared valuable advice and lessons. Among them were female engineers and managers who inspired us to hold high positions in STEM. These events significantly strengthened my love for biology and STEM.
Furthermore, studying in a large university with diverse fields of study has allowed me to befriend students from other majors like software engineering and telecommunications. I enthusiastically attend their lectures to gain interdisciplinary insights. Encouraged by one of my teachers, who recognized my passion for both biology and computer science, I delved deeper into machine learning and enrolled in recommended classes. As a curious person passionate about STEM, I always seize every possible chance to learn more about other scientific fields and discover their connection to biology."
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?
Blending science with art through writing, painting, and design. Committed to empowering girls and promoting environmental awareness.
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Liz from Spain
Why did you become an ambassador?
"Hey!! I’m Liz, and I am from Spain and the US. I am studying an MChem in Chemistry! I have a fond interest in Chemistry and would love to become a researcher in the future. After attending two STEM exploratorium events run by G4G, I was interested in helping other young girls find their tribe like I did, so I became a G4G ambassador in 2024.
From a young age I was always drawn to science, I realized that the only way to get more people to become drawn to science is by initiatives like greenlight for girls, therefore the most logical thing I could do was join the amazing community that g4g has to get other young girls to be as passionate about science as I was when I was young!"
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?
Follow my Instagram account @sciencegirldiaries to see my journey in becoming a scientist.
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Maria Clara from Brazil
Why did you become an ambassador?:
"Hi, I'm Maria! Brazilian living in Canada, studying biochemistry and fueled by endless curiosity about the world. Outside of STEM I enjoy travelling, meeting new people, watching films and spending time with my friends and family. I am very excited to be part of G4G and hopefully help young girls chase their wildest dreams!
I have always been passionate about science and curious to understand the world around me. As I progressed through my academic journey, this curiosity only deepened, ultimately guiding me to pursue a career in the field. Next year, I will begin my studies majoring in Biological Sciences.
g4g holds a very special place in my heart, as it supported me during my final two years of high school. I first discovered the organization in 11th grade while organizing a project at my school to promote young women in STEM. From the very beginning, I was inspired by the values and mission of g4g, and I was eager to take part in its vision.
I strongly believe in a future where women are equitably represented across scientific fields; a future where young girls feel encouraged, empowered, and never held back from pursuing their dreams. By becoming a g4g ambassador, I am confident that I can contribute to this mission and help create opportunities for the next generation of women in STEM."
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?:
I'm a brand new ambassador and I'm so excited to see what the future will bring!
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Skye from Nigeria
Why did you become an ambassador?:
"I'm a 15-year-old Nigerian-American high school student and I am enthusiastic about biostatistics and epidemiology. I am passionate about using abstract mathematical theorems to solve real world problems and hope to have a career in medicine and public health in the future.
I am passionate about STEM, particularly biology and chemistry, and believe that more girls should have opportunities in the field. I would like to support STEM initiatives in my community and work with other girls from around the world who are passionate about STEM as I am. I enjoy hearing and learning from the perspectives of others, and I believe that collaboration is a great way to support other young girls in STEM. As a Nigerian-American high school student, I want to see a reflection of myself in the STEM field, and I want the same for other girls like me. Situations without role models are self perpetuating: people avoid fields where they don't see anyone like them, keeping the cycle of lack of diversity alive. Growing up, I never saw many women in STEM, and that was the same for a lot of girls in my classes. When the love of STEM is instilled in young girls early on, it often will follow them throughout life. Participating in STEM events as a younger girl was got me very excited about science, and the activities I learned from still inspire me to this day. I would like to contribute to encouraging other girls to go into STEM by becoming a g4g Ambassador. Furthermore, I would like to improve my communication skills, and work with other girls who are just as enthusiastic about STEM as I am. I see that, if selected, I would have the opportunity to volunteer and promote events, and create events in my community to support girls in STEM, the prospect of which excites me.
I believe that STEM holds a place for all girls, and I am very much inspired by the work of g4g."
What are you doing to promote STEM to those around you?
I'm excited to support g4g's mission to encourage girls to go into STEM!
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Thank you to all our Ambassadors from every global corner - and to you, our STEM supporters, who make all of this happen.
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