A German technology and engineering company, Siemens, and Global Vision International (GVI) - an NGO focused on community development and women's empowerment, has rolled out an initiative aimed at empowering young girls in underserved communities with practical skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Dubbed “EmpowerTech”, it will provide 100 girls annually for three years with hands-on training in digital tools, coding, AI, and professional development to bridge the gender gap in technology and empower the next generation of female leaders in the field.

Siemens will provide laptops, a tailored curriculum, and certification for participants, while GVI Ghana will host the programme at its local resource centre and ensure community engagement and support throughout the initiative.

The initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG eight). 

Benefits

At the launch held in Accra last Wednesday, the Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa CEO, Sabine Dall’Omo, said Africa and Ghana in particular were well-positioned to benefit from emerging global trends such as green technology and business process outsourcing, as international demand increasingly shifts away from traditional hubs like India.

She emphasised that creating equal opportunities for girls in this evolving tech landscape was critical, stressing that they did not seek more than their male counterparts—only a fair chance to participate.

“When I started, I didn't know I would be the CEO one day. That opportunity wasn't written down for me in my life plan. But I'm here today, and I'm very proud,” she said, encouraging young girls to dream boldly and shape their futures. 

Hope

GVI Ghana Director, Matthew Craig, described the EmpowerTech initiative as  “a light at the end of the tunnel” for many girls who, until now, have lacked access to real opportunities.

Drawing on his years of experience working with underprivileged children around the world, he said the programme represented hope, offering girls a pathway into viable, modern careers in the country’s growing tech space. 

Shared growth

The German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, said the project was a clear example of how German companies did business in Africa, with a focus on long-term partnership and shared growth, helping the continent shape its developmental goals, unlike some companies that came in for short-term gains.

He said Ghana has had a long and positive relationship with German technology, from engines to trucks to industrial machinery, and emphasised that German innovation was both well-known and highly respected in the country.

The ambassador expressed hope that Siemens’ example would inspire more companies to follow suit and send a strong message that the tech industry is not a space reserved for men but one in which women and girls have every right to participate and lead.