CDF STEM Femme fellowship - Empowering Women in STEM

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about

The STEM Femme Fellowship aims to bridge the digital skills gap among women and non-binary people and unlock economic opportunities. Whether you're a fellow or participant, gain valuable skills and support to advance in the digital world.

 Bringing More Women into the Workforce

<h3>STEM Femme Fellowship</h3>The STEM Femme Fellowship is a transformative 6-month program designed to bridge the digital skills gap for women from underserved backgrounds. Two Fellows drive tangible change by providing targeted digital training to women from marginalised backgrounds, and paving flexible avenues for their participation in the workforce. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain hands-on experience and develop crucial digital skills such as digital marketing, spreadsheets, Canva, website building, storytelling, and financial literacy.This fellowship has already made a significant impact by facilitating the growth of home-based entrepreneurs and opening doors to new employment opportunities. So far, 6 micro-entrepreneurs have been supported to start or scale their ventures, 6 participants have attended job interviews, with one securing full-time employment. Participants have also been assigned 14 digital micro-work projects, and one has been re-employed in a bigger role. Additionally, two one-time projects have enhanced their skill sets, making them more competitive in the digital economy.

Empowering Underserved Women

The program helps participants bridge the digital skills gap to unlock better economic opportunities, including job interviews, employment, and enterprise growth.

Digital marketing

MS Excel

Participants receive hands-on training in essential digital skills like digital marketing, spreadsheets, Canva, website building, storytelling, and financial literacy to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.

Canva

Support is provided to home-based entrepreneurs to start or scale their micro ventures through practical training and project collaboration.

Website building

Building a supportive community of women in STEM and participants fosters collaboration, shared learning, and lasting professional connections.

Storytelling

Participants gain access to part-time, full-time, and flexible digital micro-work projects that fit their schedules and help build real-world experience.

Relaxing on a beach in Lombok with my laptop out.

Financial literacy

What participants learn

Receive guidance to start or scale your micro-venture with the help of experienced STEM fellows.

Entrepreneurial Support

Empower yourself with digital marketing, spreadsheets, Canva, website building, storytelling, and financial literacy through hands-on learning.

Berdiri tahun 2013 dan alumni rata-rata 23940 tiap tahunnya, merupakan hasil nyata memberikan materi pelatihan, pengalaman, sistem belajar, dan pelayanan terbaik pada peserta menjadi alasan puluhan ribu alumni memilih kami, mulai dari perusahaan pemerintah dan swasta, industri kreatif, universitas, sekolah dalam & luar Negeri.

1. Belajar Multimedia: Mempelajari & memahami software multimedia!! mulai dari desain grafis, animasi, hingga editing video
2. Mahir Pemrograman: Mendalami bahasa pemrograman dari tingkat Basic sampai Advanced!! Java, PHP, Python, React, Kotlin, dan masih banyak lagi.
3. Arsitektur & Interior: AutoCAD, 3Ds Max, VRay, dan sketchup merupakan software yang wajib dipelajari untuk mewujudkan 3D visual concept Anda.

Selengkapnya di www.Flashcomindonesia.com

Participant Training

Fellows receive a total stipend of ₹60,000 disbursed across 6 months.

Ashley Bailey-Dumetz, a professional boxer from London, was in training.

Stipend

Capacity-building through targeted skills training.

Capacity-building

Networking opportunities with leaders from industry and the social sector.

Networking opportunities

Certificate of fellowship

What fellows get

Partners and Supporters

Joining the CDF STEM Femme fellowship has been a transformative experience. The guidance from my fellow helped me learn essential digital skills like marketing and website building, which opened new job opportunities for me. The project-based approach made learning practical and enjoyable.

As a fellow, I found this program rewarding both professionally and personally. The stipend was helpful, and the capacity-building sessions enhanced my skills. Seeing participants grow and succeed is incredibly fulfilling. I highly recommend this fellowship to women passionate about making a difference in STEM.

What our participants say

Frequently Asked Questions

Gallery

Code review @ NESA by Makers || Victor x Temilola

Plus size woman at work in bright, open office workplace with computer

Two CDF STEM Femme Fellows drive tangible change by providing targeted digital training to women from marginalised backgrounds, and paving flexible avenues for their participation in the workforce.The objective of CDF STEM Femme Fellowship was to select women technologists, mid-management professionals, social sector workers and students as STEM Femme Fellows, who would work over 6 months to enable women (participants) from underserved backgrounds to bridge the digital skills gap through targeted training, enabling them to enter the workforce or scale their small enterprises.The STEM Femme fellows identified and onboarded women (participants) who possess basic computer literacy, and are motivated to pursue fractional employment or entrepreneurship, while navigating the restraints of various social barriers. The fellows facilitated targeted digital training to enhance the participants’ economic opportunities through project-based work, gainful part-time/full-time/flexible employment, digital microwork*, or advancing their own enterprises.<h3>Why STEM Femme?</h3><ul><li>India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047.</li><li>Women could contribute $14 trillion if India onboards 400 million women into the paid workforce through fractional employment.</li><li>The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) 2024 stands at 37% . Targeted Women FLFPR for 2047 is 70% or 400 million women.</li><li>200 million women in India do not step out of their homes even once.</li><li>Nearly 30% women who reside in urban and peri-urban areas struggle with finding jobs&nbsp;that match their education levels, higher perceived value of domestic work compared to entry-level market jobs, and persistent wage disparities.</li><li>In&nbsp;2022-23, Kerala’s female LFPR was&nbsp;31.3%.</li></ul>Sources: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-07/WP_Viksit_Bharat_2024-July-19.pdf">Niti Aayog Viksit Bharat paper&nbsp; (July 24) </a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dge.gov.in/dge/sites/default/files/2023-05/Female_Labour_Utilization_in_India_April_2023_final__1_-pages-1-2-merged__1_.pdf">DGE FLUI report (April 23) </a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.magicbus.org/assets/flfpr_report/Magic-bus-and-bain-&amp;-Company-FLFPR-Report.pdf">Women in Workforce report </a>by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.magicbus.org/flfpr_report.php">Magic Bus India Foundation </a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spb.kerala.gov.in/economic-review/ER2023/">Kerala State Planning Board Economic Review, 2023</a><h3>What fellows get</h3>The fellowship presents a valuable opportunity for working professionals and young changemakers to drive measured change in bridging the gendered digital divide and facilitating gainful employment for women. By undertaking this 6-month part-time engagement , the fellows would also be enhancing their profiles with a skills palette ranging from complex problem-solving to creative tools and thus giving them a distinct edge in their careers. The STEM Femme fellows can also expect to gain the following benefits from the program:<ul><li>A total stipend of Rs. 60,000/- per fellow. Disbursed across 6 months.</li></ul><ul><li>The opportunity to present the report and case studies to key stakeholders at the culmination of the fellowship.</li></ul><ul><li>Capacity-building through targeted skills training.</li></ul><ul><li>Networking opportunities with leaders from industry and the social sector.</li></ul><ul><li>Certificate of fellowship.</li></ul><h3>Selection of STEM Femmes</h3>The selection process for the STEM Femme Fellowship 2025 kicked off with CDF accepting applications from 15th November 2024 until 31st December 2024, drawing over 100 applicants from across Kerala and outside.First round : 10 finalists were shortlisted by 10th January 2025 following a detailed review of the Statements of Purpose and phone interviews.Second round : 2 Fellows were announced following a strategy presentation and personal interview. The interview panel comprised representatives from Citizen Digital Foundation, Women Inclusive in Technology, and aikyam fellows, evaluating the finalists on communication, attitude, social motivation, and resourcefulness.The panel selected <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ar-sharon-c-36a631330/">Ms. Sharon C </a>and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fathima-hiba-tv-626baa321/">Ms. Fathima Hiba </a>as the fellowship winners.<h4>Skills training for fellows</h4><ul><li>Communication session by Ms. Jazna Rafeek on 12th February 2025</li></ul><ul><li>Project management session by Ms. Rashmi Mohandas on 20th February 2025</li></ul><ul><li>Storytelling workshop residency by aikyam fellows on 25th-26th February 2025</li></ul><ul><li>Fundraising and mobilisation session by Ms. Labby George on 25th February 2025</li></ul><h4>Skills training for participants</h4><ul><li>First training session for Calicut participants on 27th March 2025</li></ul><ul><li>First training session for Trivandrum participants on 28th March 2025</li></ul><ul><li>In-person training day for Trivandrum cohort on 25th April 2025</li></ul><ul><li>In-person training day for Calicut cohort on 30th April 2025</li></ul>