TechGirls is a U.S.-based summer exchange program designed to expand the talent pipeline in STEM. Young women (ages 15-17) from the United States and select countries gain valuable hands-on training leading them to pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
In 2026, the program will include 111 young women from 37 eligible countries/territories and 13 U.S. peers in a dynamic three-week U.S.-based experience with a seven-month mentoring program (including pre-and post-exchange).
Participating Countries: TechGirls will be competitively recruited and selected from the following regions/countries and territories (approximately 3 participants per country/territory):
- United States of America
- Sub-Saharan Africa (AF) – Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia
- East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) – Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Vietnam
- Europe and Eurasia (EUR) – Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Türkiye
- Middle East and North Africa (NEA) – Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia
- South and Central Asia (SCA) – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
- Western Hemisphere (WHA) – Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Suriname
The core of the TechGirls program is a 23-day experience in the United States. In partnership with Virginia Tech University, participants engage in an interactive tech camp that provides an in-depth examination of cutting-edge technologies and various educational and professional paths in STEM fields. Then, TechGirls travel to a city around the USA (Austin, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City or Seattle) for community immersion and STEM career exploration. The program ends in Washington DC. The TechGirls programming yields a multiplier effect as participants return home to conduct community-based projects with seven months of mentorship.
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
The application for the 2026 TechGirls program opens on December 11 at 8:00 AM EST and closes on January 20 at 12:00 PM/Noon EST.
Please note that due to strong interest in the program globally, ONLY the first 125 fully completed applications from each country/territory will be considered. Do not wait until the last minute to apply as you will not be able to submit an application after 125 completed applications have been received from your country/territory. There will be no exceptions.
an I use AI/other software to help with essays?
All answers in the application, including written responses to essays, must be your own original work, based on your own creativity and effort, without any aid or assistance from others or from any technological tools (including, but not limited to, translation services and editing software tools).
Using language copied from other applications (including those of other applicants or TechGirls alumnae) or from other sources (including websites or blogs) is considered plagiarism and will result in the application being disqualified.
Candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, including but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The review panel reserves the right to discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have used AI tools in the application process.
