Tech Age Girls from Kyrgyzstan Visit the United States

Zina Kabylbek kyzy, a Tech Age Girls participant from Kyrgyzstan, saw a teacher at Webster Groves High School in St. Louis, Missouri, draw on a Smart Board during math class, using the board as an interactive template for teaching the students how to solve problems. Zina researched Smart Boards online and thought of how this technology could benefit classrooms at her school. It would make classes more interesting and exciting for students, and it would make lesson planning easier for teachers.

But, the technology is expensive and not available in her school yet. So, Zina decided she could adapt her school's current resources to serve the same function. She would need a computer, projector, white board and some markers, all of which her school has.

Zina and two other high school age girls from Kyrgyzstan interested in strengthening their own community development projects visited the United States as part of the Global Connections and Exchange Program. During their trip they met women leaders in technology, government, and business. While in Washington, D.C. they met with staff members from the offices of Congressman Russ Carnahan (Missouri) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (Arizona) to discuss the importance of supporting young women and the use of technology in development. At their host high schools, they observed how youth use technology in extracurricular activities and community service.

Daria Azina had another idea to adapt current resources to implement a project similar to one she learned about during her exchange in Tucson, Arizona. If we don't have something, it doesn't mean we will stop, she said. It means we will use something we have.

Daria said she could use Google Maps to create a community assessment map allowing citizens to provide information about areas of her city that need improvements. The project she learned about in the US does the same thing with a global positioning system.

Daria, Zina and Amanda Zhaparova are alumni of the 2010 TAG program. They have each created community projects using technology. TAG addresses the systemic underrepresentation of women in the IT field and promotes the online presence of girls voices in local languages through the use of IT and leadership skills. TAG finalists become mentors for other girls, leading technology trainings and positively affecting their communities.

GCE is funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is implemented by IREX. TAG is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and USAID and is implemented by IREX.

For more information please contact:

IREX, 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington D.C., 20037, 202-628-8188; irex@irex.org