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Mastercard – the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai – is partnering with the Expo School Programme to expand its work in designing a better world for women by calling on girls across the UAE to join a virtual Girls4Tech session on March 8, 2021 to celebrate International Women’s Day. Mastercard is hosting virtual Girls4Tech sessions in 23 countries to inspire girls across the globe to explore the possibilities of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

A Mastercard signature education program, Girls4Tech was launched to drive the interest of young girls in STEM subjects. The program aims to help support the skill gap in the technology industry for girls in primary school, using basic technology and training content that effectively drives learning and engages curiosity.

Emanating from a deep and enduring partnership between Mastercard and the Expo School Programme team, the virtual session – co-hosted with Expo 2020 – will help create a pipeline of female talent for the jobs of tomorrow by teaching subjects that are shaping the future of science, research and the digital economy.

Through Girls4Tech, Mastercard has committed to reach 2,020 girls across the UAE before Expo 2020 ends on 31 March, 2022 – leveraging its deep expertise in payments technology and innovation in a way that creates limitless possibilities for girls. The initiative covers topics such as encryption, fraud detection, data analysis, digital convergence, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes important skills, including collaboration, creativity and communication, to enable young girls to apply their technical knowledge to solve real-world challenges.

“International Women’s Day has been marked every year for over a century. In the run-up to the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, we are working towards a bright and connected future, not just on this special day, but every day. Working with our partners, we are committed to tackling the problem head-on to see women succeed and thrive in domains where they have historically been overlooked. Through Girls4Tech, we can inspire young girls to become the technology leaders and innovators of tomorrow,” said Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Mastercard Middle East and Africa.

“Since the launch of Expo School Programme, we have been engaging with schools from across the emirates, inspiring and empowering the next generation to explore, create and learn through a variety of initiatives and programs. We have been engaging with the schools community through a series of diverse virtual workshops and are now delighted to collaborate with Mastercard on Girls4Tech to celebrate the power of technology for girls across the UAE,” said Alya Al Ali, Vice President, Expo School Programme, Expo 2020 Dubai.

Girls4Tech has already reached more than one million girls in 41 countries, and Mastercard has committed to reaching five million girls globally by 2025. The award-winning program is available in 14 languages, including Arabic.

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, held annually on 11 Feb, Expo has also teamed up with UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to promote gender equality in STEM.