The Power of Mentorship: Building Connections to Fuel Change

Larissa (right) is a Project Manager at Internet Systems Consortium. In 2011, Larissa served as a Mentor to 2011 TechWomen Mentee, Sanae (left) from Morocco.

When Larissa Shapiro first heard about the TechWomen program, the Arab Spring had already begun to rock the MENA region. A firm believer in the power of technology to change the world and peoples’ lives in positive ways, and inspired by the dynamic role of courageous women in these uprisings, Larissa saw TechWomen as a unique opportunity to contribute to the movement. “I feel such a strong draw toward using technology as a tool for promotion of democratic and open societies,” she explains, adding, “I think that’s what TechWomen is all about.”

Why Invest in Women?

Source: 50.USAID.Gov

We saw this infographic posted on the USAID website and just had to share. Why invest in women? The answer is quite simple: A woman multiplies the impact of an investment made in her future by extending benefits to the world around her, creating a better life for her family and building a strong community.

Meet USAID: The Social Exhibit. http://50.usaid.gov/infographic-why-invest-in-women/

Souvenirs Marocaines

Guest post by Heather Ramsey

TechWomen Delegation at the Women in Technology Conference at Technopark, Casablanca

Just about a week ago was our Morocco Delegation’s Farewell Celebration and Henna Party at the Association Solidarité Féminine (ASF), a social enterprise in Casablanca that provides unwed mothers with job skills, employment opportunities in its spa and restaurant, and childcare while they are working. It was a perfect ending to a week of visits to organizations dedicated to the social and economic advancement of underserved women, including one supporting widows, Mouassat in Mohammedia, and several handicraft cooperatives.