AIF to implement Mastercard Girls4Tech in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The American India Foundation (AIF) on Monday announced the implementation of the Mastercard Girls4Tech, signature STEM education program, in Karnataka. It is an award-winning education program aimed at creating future problem solvers incorporating the payments technology company's deep expertise in technology and innovation. The program's aim is to enable kids to discover a range of STEM careers, such as fraud detective, data scientist and software engineer. AIF will implement the program in Karnataka to reach 5500 girls in 80 government schools across two districts of Bengaluru and Shivamogga. Across India, AIF will implement the program in several states with the aim of impacting 100,000 girl students.

Through its education interventions, AIF works with children studying in class 6 to 10 and strives to create an effective & integrated STEM learning environment. Students will receive exposure to technology, STEM, cyber security as well as career pathways in STEM. Encouraging cooperation and collaboration among students, the intervention also builds the capacity of government school teachers on STEM, use technology and Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) for enhancing learning outcomes of children.

The Mastercard Girls4Tech curriculum will serve as an enrichment to AIF's existing projects in Karnataka.

Through this, AIF will provide virtual and online training to girls, as well as make relevant teaching-learning materials available to teachers and schools. Through its website, teachers and parents can also download lessons to help students learn about STEM topics including encryption, fraud detection, data analysis and digital convergence, from the comfort of their homes or anywhere around the world.

India Country Director, Mathew Joseph said: "We are delighted to partner with Mastercard on their signature STEM education program Girls4Tech and with the Government of Karnataka. A STEM mindset with digital fluency and critical thinking ability will enable girls to build well-rounded futures and increase their chances of occupational and income mobility. During the pandemic, where it is a well-known fact that girls are bearing the worst brunt of school closures, this program takes on a meaningful outcome of unlocking gender equity goals."

Alison Eskesen, Vice President, Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth said, "Despite growing opportunities, women in India continue to be under-represented in the STEM fields. This gap is not due to skill inadequacy, but the result of a stereotypical perception about the ability and appropriate careers for girls and women. At Mastercard, we hope to move the needle for girls in STEM through Girls4Tech, a curriculum based on global science and math standards created in conjunction with our top engineers and technologists. Our goal is to inspire these young minds, encourage them to take up STEM education and prepare for jobs of the future."

The Program will be implemented under the supervision of Hanumatharaya, Block Education Officer Bengaluru South4 (BEO) in Bengaluru, and Mr M N Ramesh Deputy Director Public Instruction (DDPI) in Shivamogga.