Britney – Fired Up and Ready to Make An Impact

Britney, TechGirls 2022, Cameroon

Coming back from the TechGirls program in 2022, I was so fired up to take giant strides. With the guidance of the TechGirls RAs, program facilitators, and my Local Engagement Coordinator, I received maximum support to start “NewFangled Education”. NewFangled Education is an initiative put in place to empower young people in Cameroon with tech skills.

From November 2022 till date, NewFangled Education has impacted over 200 young people in Cameroon through hands-on tech skills acquisition programs, leadership development programs, and mini grant donations. Our major milestones include opportunities to pitch our strategy about leveraging technology for problem-solving in special meetings with government bodies like the Ministry of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education. We have also secured a project partnership with UN Women’s Second Chance Education. We have five active staff members from around Cameroon, and we are working towards leveraging youth potential to solve pressing social and environmental issues with the aid of technology this year, 2024.

My TechGirls story is a miracle, and my journey to being a part of the beautiful TechGirls family taught me proactivity and adaptability. While on my 15-hour+ flight to Washington on July 7th, 2022, I was drawn into deep thoughts and reflections on how my actions, decisions, and personality will go a long way in affecting my TechGirls experience and my goals after the TechGirls program. Arriving in the US and connecting with 135 girls from over 36 countries around the world, I was exposed to a world of possibilities and endless resources. The Virginia Tech classes, leadership development sessions, huddles, Pod Olympics, NASA visit, museum tours, and shopping trips equipped me with the necessary skills to thrive in a diverse and inclusive environment. I have learned to appreciate and respect different cultures, and I am eager to continue learning and fostering a global perspective wherever I find myself.

“Once a TechGirl, always a TechGirl” is my reality! I will continue to be a TechGirl by fostering peer mentorship for aspiring and rising TechGirls, staying in touch with the family of TechGirls alumnae, and leveraging our collective skills and unique perspectives to make a positive impact on the world.