Cognizant Awards $20,000 Making the Future Grant to Girls Garage

BERKELEY, Calif. - June 18, 2020 - PRLog -- Girls Garage announces the receipt of a grant from Cognizant that will enable teen girls to attend the summer Young Women's Design and Building Institute at no cost. The funds will be applied to instructor stipends, tools and building materials, and other expenses directly related to running low- and no-cost programming.

Cognizant, a global technology consultant and services company specializing in the digital transformation for business models across industries, established the Making the Future initiative to advance STEM literacy and project-based, design- centric learning. Cognizant's commitment and mission "to advance maker-centered learning as the catalyst for life-long learning, a future-ready workforce, and an equitable and inclusive society" are goals shared with Girls Garage. Cognizant's support of the Young Women's Design and Building Institute aligns with maker-centered programs that focus on building competence in the use of tools, materials, and processes, developing confidence in one's abilities, and empowering youth to take control of their learning.

In assessing applicants for the Making the Future grant, Cognizant sought out US nonprofits that provided STEM programming to youth who might otherwise have limited access. Other evaluation criteria included access to professional development for youth, offerings that addressed the decline in proficiency and interest in STEM fields, and nonprofit organizations that provide hands-on learning and encourage creative problem-solving.

Emily Pilloton, Girls Garage Founder said, "Cognizant is the perfect partner given how well our missions align. Like them, we understand that it is critical for our youth to develop technical skills, leadership abilities, and a builder mentality, while having access to one-on-one mentorship and hands-on, real-world projects. And we also believe that addressing under-representation in trades and STEM career paths will ultimately create a better world."

Girls Garage's summer intensive program for girls ages 13-18, the Young Women's Design and Building Institute, teaches hands-on skills in carpentry, welding, architecture, engineering, and graphic design. Girls apply these skills to architecture projects with local clients and significant community impact. The two cohorts of 16 girls each also receive dedicated mentorship and support time to nurture each participant individually.

Kristy Higares, Girls Garage Director of Development said, "Having support from Cognizant is a great symbol of hope for the future of girls in STEM. This grant will allow us to support our cohorts of fearless builder girls at no cost to their families as they embark on college and career paths in STEM."

More information about Girls Garage at https://girlsgarage.org/
More information about Cognizant at https://www.cognizant.com/