In Cote d'Ivoire, only 1 in 16 students are in college, and less than half are female. This disparity is even greater in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. Cote d'Ivoire aspires to be an emerging economy in 2020. This aggressive goal demands educational gender equity in STEM. This program will provide scholarships to well-qualified female students from rural areas to attend IUGB in Cote d'Ivoire to build a diverse workforce.
Ivoirian women are traditionally underrepresented at the tertiary level of education, but even more so within STEM education programs. Cote d'Ivoire's ranking is among the lowest in international gender equity indicators. It is ranked 152nd out of 155 countries (U.N.) and 43rd out of 56 African countries (AFdB).
Cote d'Ivoire Rising program will help raise educational gender equity among rural communities by providing female members with the financial means to attend school. These graduates will lead the vanguard of a dynamic new workforce and will also serve as important mentors to the women who will follow them.
At a time when Cote d'Ivoire is seeking to achieve economic emergence, reducing discrimination against women could generate benefits of some US$6 billion to US$10 billion. These new graduates will be more likely to take advantage of available employment or entrepreneurship opportunities. Our goal of $100,000 will educate 6 women with a fully paid 4-year education which will give them the power to create wealth and break the cycle of poverty.