Micro Focus Costa Rica joins Inspiring Girls International to inspire digital futures and tackle stereotypes

Micro Focus Costa Rica and Inspiring Girls International, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising the aspirations of young girls around the world by connecting them with female role models, teamed up in December 2020 to deliver a virtual programme designed to inspire girls about the exciting careers in technology and skills needed to get there.

Research shows women role models have a significant impact in positively influencing young girls to think differently about their futures, especially careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). To address stereotypes and encourage more women to consider future careers in technology, a group of 15 women employees from Micro Focus Costa Rica will volunteer their time to work with Inspiring Girls International to deliver series of virtual workshops with 60 girls from two local high schools.

Through an interactive approach, including mentoring, our employee volunteers will share insights into a variety of jobs including cybersecurity, software development and robotics. The sessions will focus on soft and technical skills together with the study pathways needed to get started in building a successful career in technology.

Our team in Costa Rica worked closely with Inspiring Girls and teachers from the two high schools to design and package the workshop materials. It includes a set of six virtual workshops that our employee volunteers will deliver as two-hour sessions over a three-week period.

Maria Gabriela Esquivel Vasquez, Sales Manager and CSR Ambassador for Micro Focus Costa Rica, said: “We are very excited to start this new partnership with Inspiring Girls International. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to be involved in a project that will have lasting positive impacts. To be part of this project that can make a real difference not just for today but in the future is incredibly rewarding.”

Sarah Atkinson, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, said: “This partnership is a fantastic example of our efforts through Micro Focus INSPIRE to tackle gender stereotypes and make technology careers more attractive to girls. Collaborating with organisations like Inspiring Girls helps to scale our impact in addressing the lack of diversity in the technology industry from the classroom right through to the workplace.”

Inspiring Girls International is active across sixteen countries in four continents. The organisation partners with businesses, schools and education authorities to deliver programmes that introduce young girls, aged between 10 and 15, to the full variety of careers and options in life – inspiring them to aim high.