WTM Newsletter: International Women’s Day 2024
In the spirit of Her: A salute to the unstoppable resilience and strength that define women globally
Embracing the spirit of International Women’s Day, the Women TechMakers domain of GDSC VIT Bhopal University proudly presents our radiant and inspiring tribute to the incredible impact and influence of women across the globe.
About GDSC And WTM
Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC) is a dynamic community fostering peer-to-peer learning, innovation, and collaboration. We are about cultivating a learning environment that propels students toward excellence in developer technologies through engaging events, workshops, and hackathons.
On the parallel path, Women TechMakers, a global initiative by Google, stands as a beacon for women in technology. It’s a movement creating visibility, forging communities, and offering invaluable resources.
Become a part of the GDSC VIT Bhopal family & The WTM Community — connect with like-minded peers, acquire new skills, and kickstart your tech journey through meetups, mentorship programs, and scholarships.
Meet the Team
“Empowering Evolution: Tracing the Roots and Impact of International Women’s Day”
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. Originating from early 20th-century labor movements, it symbolizes the ongoing fight for gender equality.
International Women’s Day provides a potent platform for bringing attention to the obstacles and injustices that women experience, including limited economic opportunities, gender-biased violence, and unequal access to healthcare and education.
For International Women’s Day 2024, the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion” and the overarching theme is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. It emphasizes the importance of creating an inclusive society and investing in women’s empowerment.
Curious to know more?
Empowering Evolution: Tracing the Roots and Impact of International Women’s Day
Wonders Unveiled: Trailblazing Tales of Extraordinary Women
1. Sudha Murthy: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges — An Engineer’s Legacy
From Engineer to Icon: Sudha Murthy’s journey transcends breaking barriers. It’s a story of social responsibility, empowering the marginalized, and leaving an indelible mark on the tech landscape and countless lives. Her legacy inspires generations to come.
2. Breaking Barriers: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s Path to Biotech Brilliance
From starting in a garage to becoming a global leader in biotechnology, her story embodies resilience, innovation, and the power of entrepreneurship in shaping India’s biotech landscape.
3. Aditi Gupta: The Woman Who Redefined Menstrual Education
Aditi Gupta, co-founder of Menstrupedia, pioneers menstrual health education in India. Her platform challenges taboos and provides vital information, bridging the knowledge gap surrounding menstruation. Gupta’s innovative use of technology fosters empowerment and breaks societal barriers, making menstrual hygiene accessible to all.
4. Soda’s Transformation: From Flies to Flourishing with “Baisa” Chhavi
From poverty to progress: Chhavi Rajawat, a young sarpanch, battled tradition and transformed Rajasthan’s Soda village into a thriving community, inspiring others through her dedication.
5. Dear Zari
‘Dear Zari’ unfolds the compelling journey of BBC World News Reporter Zarghuna Kargar, who, amidst personal turmoil, channels Afghan women’s voices through the radio show “Afghan Woman’s Hour.” Fueled by her own privilege, Zari pens a poignant book, exposing the harsh realities faced by Afghan women and calling for global recognition and change. A riveting narrative that illuminates the indomitable spirit of women in the face of societal constraints.
Golden Opportunities to look out for :
#IAmRemarkable
#IAmRemarkable is a global movement that empowers everyone, including underrepresented groups, to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond, while challenging the social perception around self-promotion.
Look out for these workshops from GDSC VIT Bhopal and get a chance to attend them soon.
Women Engineers (WE), a 24-month immersive and LIVE online learning experiential program offered by TalentSprint and supported by Google, selects, trains, and nurtures deserving first-year women engineering students to become world-class software engineers.
Google APAC Scholarship is awarded to women pursuing computer science for the academic year 2023–2024 based on each candidate’s strengths and achievements.
LinkedIn CoachIn is a mentorship program for female students. The 2024 edition marked the program’s 5th edition. The program provides monthly live sessions for practical problem-solving and discussions on solutions along with mock tests and interviews to simulate real-world scenarios for confident performance.
4. Desis Ascend Educare Program
The six-month program, conducted in 2021, featured two cohorts: a junior group with 2nd-year female students and a senior cohort comprising 3rd-year females, each consisting of 35–40 students. Geared towards STEM students, it enriches both technical and soft skills. Remarkably, participants receive a Rs. 50,000 stipend for the entire duration.
5. Outreachy
Outreachy is an open-source internship in projects ranging from programming to research.
6. SheCodes Foundation Scholarships
SheCodes Foundation scholarships typically aim to bridge the gender gap in the tech industry by empowering women with coding skills. These scholarships may cover part or all of the tuition costs for coding courses, making it more accessible for women pursuing careers in technology.
Flipkart Runway is strategically designed to establish a solid groundwork for women in engineering, offering them early exposure to developmental opportunities. Through engagement with challenging real-time problem statements, mentoring, and networking opportunities, participants will gain invaluable experience.
8. Uber She ++
She++ is a professional development summit hosted by Uber to empower women and people from underserved communities to find and achieve their career ambitions, fostering a community for the next generation in tech. Network with our leaders, meet peers near you, attend professional development sessions, and explore life at Uber.
9. Codess Cafe
Codess.Cafe was started with a vision to empower women in tech to grab the opportunities they deserve. With dedicated, quality guidance and mentorship, we wish to improve the representation of women in high-impact organizations for a better and more inclusive future.
Navigating Your Journey
Each individual’s college journey is distinct, often deviating from initial expectations. However, here is an intricate roadmap to help you maximize this experience. Dive into the realms of learning, networking, and elevating your career by enhancing both personal and professional facets.
Explore further insights into this roadmap for an enriched college experience.
Resourceful Radiance: Empowering Women with Essential Tools and Information
Books:
- “Dear Zari” by Zarghuna Kargar (Dear Zari gives voice to the secret lives of Afghan women. For the first time, Dear Zari allows these women to tell their stories in their own words )
- “She Walks Alone” by RK Narayan (collection of essays about women and their place in society.)
- “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” by Sheryl Sandberg (This book is a call to action for women to reach for their full potential in the workplace. Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, shares her own experiences and advice for women who want to succeed in their careers.)
- “Female Innovators at Work: Women on Top of Tech by Danielle Newnham” Newnham discusses the experiences and successes of female entrepreneurs in a largely male-dominated tech scene, interviewing a range of CEOs, founders, and inventors, who all share their insights and advice on how to navigate the tech world while being a woman.
Podcasts:
- She runs it: It features interviews with successful female founders and CEOs, offering valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring tech entrepreneurs.
- The Guilty Feminist: The host uses humor and stand-up comedy to discuss contemporary feminist issues.
- The Classy Career Girl Podcast: It is about work-life balance, a self-care podcast, to make you feel motivated
And the list is endless, you can look out for more resources and content by amazing women out there.
As we embrace International Women’s Day at GDSC, it’s a poignant moment to contemplate the strides we’ve taken in the pursuit of gender equality. While we acknowledge the persistent challenges faced by women globally, let us draw inspiration from the remarkable stories of resilient women who have triumphed over adversity, leaving an indelible mark on the world.
In celebrating the achievements of women this year, we also acknowledge the ongoing work required to build a more equitable future. It’s a collective effort to challenge stereotypes, advocate for equal rights, and provide unwavering support across all facets of women’s lives. Together, we contribute to the creation of a more inclusive world, a world where everyone can thrive. Here’s to empowering change, fostering inclusivity, and continuing the journey toward a brighter, more equal tomorrow.
Connect with us
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To get featured on GDSC’s Medium Page, send an email at: dscvitbhopal@gmail.com