Teen-Turn, an EU wide digital impact organisation of the year, connects girls from underrepresented communities with women who are STEM role models at Ireland’s leading companies for summer work placements called “Teenturnships” in order to tackle the deficit of young women in STEM.
This year, Teen-Turn’s program commenced with 81 girls being introduced to their mentors. These mentors are accomplished women who are STEM professionals, including engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity and AI specialists, and senior managers from prominent companies such as Dell, BNY Mellon, Hostelworld, BD, Aptiv, Bearing Point, and Trane Technologies Thermoking.
The participating girls, from DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), rural, and underserved schools across Ireland, will engage in a two-week immersive experience in August. During this period, they will work on STEM projects under the guidance of their women-in-STEM mentors, gaining firsthand experience.
Teen-Turn believes that more girls, from areas where third level education is uncommon, exploring and gaining an interest in STEM will lead to more women earning STEM qualifications, therefore meeting a demand for skills that is outpacing supply.
Throughout the program, participants will learn from their mentors and engage in various activities each workday. Additionally, they will document and share their experiences through blogging, providing insights into their journey and the impact of the program.