Sunday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

On this day, and all year round, we celebrate, honor, and lift up the women in The Clubhouse community, our members, mentors, and coordinators. Whether it’s targeted programming, guest speakers, or creating a culture of daily inclusion, Clubhouses around the world are supporting young women by granting them access to the tools and resources to explore their interests and express themselves. We prioritize supporting the most marginalized of our communities, including women. Now more than ever, it’s important that we support STEM education for young women.

Why Support Women and Girls in Science, Technology, and the Arts?

According to the United Nations:

• Women make up only 30% of researchers worldwide (source).
• 90% of future formal sector jobs will require computer skills (source).
• Of 900 Nobel Prize winners, Only 53 of the winners have been women, 19 in the categories of physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine (source).
• In the 92-year history of the Oscars, only five women have ever been nominated for the Best Director Award category; and one woman—Kathryn Bigelow—has ever won (source).

Celebrating Young Women Across The Clubhouse Network

This is just a snapshot of activities in our Clubhouses and how young women are taking advantage of Clubhouse resources, mentors, and their peer communities.

The Importance of Self-Expression

The RE@CH (Revolutionizing Expression @ The Clubhouse) Festival provides an outlet for youth around the world to express themselves and explore issues most important to them. Clubhouse and Teen Tech Center members create media that convey their personal experiences and gives voice to their ideas, feelings, and concerns. This festival showcases the talents and voices of youth media. These are just a sample of the kinds of projects our youth are creating.

Spoken Word: “I Am Worthy”

In the words of the youth who produced this, “Our project is about encouraging females to be proud of who they are and they must not try and change themselves. #ProudlyFemale.”

Produced by members of The Etwatwa Clubhouse, Benoni, South Africa.

Music Video: “Black Girls Fly 2”

Produced by members of The Best Buy Teen Tech Center @ HOPE Community, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Public Service Announcement (PSA): #BodyGoals

Produced by members of The EXPO Center Clubhouse, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

See more media created by Clubhouse youth The Global RE@CH Media Festival website.

About The Clubhouse Network

Since its beginnings more than 25 years ago, The Clubhouse: Where Technology Meets Imagination has been a resource for thousands of young people to explore their own interests, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology. At The Clubhouse, underserved youth unleash their creative talents, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and develop a unique voice of their own to express themselves through “STEAM” – STEM and the arts. Founded in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, The Clubhouse Network is a global community comprised of more than 100 Clubhouses in over 19 countries, providing 25,000 youth per year with access to resources, skills, and experiences to help them succeed in their careers, contribute to their communities, and lead outstanding lives