Originally posted on 2/20/2011
This week Google announced Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) as a recipient of the Google RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) award, which aims to promote and support Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Computer Science (CS) education initiatives.
YTF received this award as part of their efforts to create learning communities in sub-Saharan Africa where the use of technology affords opportunities for marginalized youth and women living in developing countries. One YTF program in particular, the Young Girls Science & Health Tele-Academy, teaches Nigerian girls ages 13 through 18 to use technology to research and disseminate information about breast cancer, which is a principal cause of cancer deaths in African women.
Young women in this YTF program will have a chance to increase their interest in a STEM career and more broadly in multicultural understanding. Tools like collaboration software, digital cameras, computers, smart phones, radio and the Internet will be used to enable girls to collaborate with digital peers, leading educators and health professionals.
“YTF is humbled to receive this award from Google and we look forward to continuing our work to empower young African girls to develop a passion for STEM subject areas that have historically been dominated by their male classmates,” said Njideka Harry, Founding Executive Director of YTF.
The Google RISE awards concur with Google’s belief “that technology will continue to play an important role in shaping our future, and the youth of today will help innovate and drive these technologies for years to come.” Additionally, Google “aspire[s] to help students take one step closer to achieving their potential by offering growth and development opportunities through the Google RISE Awards.”
More information can be found at www.google.com/edu/rise/recipients.html.
