Nokia and UN Women Empower Women in Madhya Pradesh with Tech Skills
UN Women and Nokia have partnered with the Madhya Pradesh government to launch the "Mentoring Women, Empowering Futures (MWEF)" program.
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UN Women and Nokia have partnered with the Madhya Pradesh government to launch the "Mentoring Women, Empowering Futures (MWEF)" program. This initiative aims to provide young women and students with essential vocational skills, enabling them to build successful careers in the technology industry.
Through workshops and mentorship programs, the MWEF program seeks to empower women to become financially independent and contribute to India's development. In 2024, the program was launched in 12 tribal-dominated districts of Madhya Pradesh as part of the "WeSTEM" initiative.
The program focuses on providing mentorship and guidance to young women who are already pursuing higher education or vocational STEM courses in selected tribal-dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh. The goal is to help these women secure and retain employment in the STEM field.
Through group mentorship sessions, participants will receive training in resume building, interview preparation, career development, digital skills, workplace dynamics, personal branding, leadership, and other soft skills. Over the next three months, 100 female students will participate in group mentorship sessions. Twenty female leaders from Nokia have volunteered to mentor these talented students. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions will ensure that the mentorship program benefits the students to the fullest extent.
The Secretary of Technical Education, Skill Development, and Employment, Shri Raghuraj Madhav Rajendran, expressed his pride in being part of this mentorship program, which is a joint effort by UN Women and Nokia to empower young women in STEM fields and provide them with essential skills. He highlighted that the program will provide valuable guidance to 100 female students through 20 experienced Nokia women leaders, helping them develop the necessary technical skills and soft skills for their careers.
The Director of Skill Development, Smt. Harshika Singh, emphasized that building confidence in our young women is not just about teaching skills; it's about instilling belief in their limitless potential and creating a supportive environment for their skill development in the STEM field. "Hunar," the mascot of the Skill Development and Employment Department, is actively promoting women's participation in skill development, and the department is committed to creating a supportive environment where every young woman can succeed and achieve excellence.
The partnership between UN Women and Nokia aims to increase women's participation in the online world, aligning with the country's context and priorities. In 2024, the program is being implemented in Argentina, India, Jordan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Turkey.
It's worth noting that UN Women is a United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. It works with governments and civil society to develop laws, policies, and programs.
