Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are crucial to the economic and social welfare of countries. Still, women and girls continue to be underrepresented in STEM careers, although there is wide variation among countries and across STEM fields. Beyond the bounds of income disadvantages for women because they have fewer opportunities to access STEM careers, the gender gap in STEM is also a missed opportunity for economies and an inefficient allocation of labor and talent. Giving female equal opportunities to pursue — and thrive in — STEM careers helps narrow the gender pay gap, enhances women’s economic security and ensures a diverse and talented STEM workforce and prevents biases in these fields and the products and services they produce.
YCAB Foundation and Mastercard, together with The Ministry of Communication and Informatics and the Ministry of Education and Culture, has strengthened their commitment to support girls’ STEM education and girls’ empowerment in Indonesia through the revolutionary, Mastercard Girls4Tech program. On its second year, Mastercard Girls4Tech targeted the reach of 24,500 girls until 2022 with an on-going training in Bengkulu, starting in June 2021.
Mastercard Girls4Tech expands the scope of its training participants’ education levels to grade 4 – grade 10 high school (or equivalent), from its predecessor year providing training to participants in grades 5 elementary school – 9 junior high school (or equivalent). Commenced in four regions in its first year, namely East Java, West Java, Banten, and Jakarta, Mastercard Girls4Tech training areas has now broadened to all throughout Indonesia.
Working together with 10 Duta Rumah Belajar (Rumah Belajar Ambassadors) who were appointed by the Center for Information, Communication and Technology of Ministry of Education and Culture Indonesia, Mastercard Girls4Tech will continue spreading its wings in the pursuit of advancing women’s movement in the STEM world. They will further expand Mastercard Girls4Tech’s reach by informing and notifying schools stationed in Bali, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Jambi, Central Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, South Sumatera, North Sumatera, and West Sumatera.
