Mastercard Brings Girls4Tech Program to Turkey, Empowering Girls in STEM

Mastercard has launched its global Girls4Tech program in Turkey, aimed at encouraging girls to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields and develop their skills in these areas. The program, which features a curriculum specifically designed for STEM subjects, is led by Mastercard employees as instructors. The first training session took place at Mastercard’s Istanbul office, where girls from Darüşafaka had the opportunity to explore the world of STEM. The program will continue with the goal of reaching 100 children in the upcoming period.

Equal Opportunity for Girls in STEM Fields

STEM fields are among the fastest-growing career sectors of today and the future. However, female representation in these areas remains relatively low. Mastercard’s global research reveals that girls tend to lose interest in STEM between the ages of 9 and 13, leading to a significant drop in their involvement in these fields. Additionally, women still account for only 33% of technology roles. With this awareness, the Girls4Tech program was developed to increase girls’ interest in STEM, help them develop skills in these areas, and explore future career opportunities.

Girls4Tech supports students in gaining hands-on experience in critical topics such as coding, cryptography, data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, empowering them to become proficient individuals in the digital world. The program’s instructors are entirely made up of Mastercard’s volunteer employees, offering girls inspiration and guidance for a successful career journey in the technology sector.

Girls4Tech is a highly valuable program that encourages young girls in STEM fields.

Our Girls4Tech program is an important step towards increasing girls’ interest in technology and equipping them with the skills they need to pursue careers in STEM fields. Mastercard’s global research shows that girls, particularly between the ages of 9 and 13, tend to lose interest in STEM. For this reason, we aim to strengthen their connection with STEM during this critical period and help them explore career paths in these areas. Reducing gender inequality in STEM and supporting girls to rise into leadership positions within these fields are among our top priorities. At Mastercard, we feel a responsibility to help girls further highlight their strengths through technology and prepare the younger generation for the future. Our curriculum, which consists of global games, has been adapted into the local language to give girls hands-on experience in this field. We take great pride in helping young girls discover the world of STEM and grow into competent individuals through these trainings, which are entirely delivered by Mastercard’s volunteer employees.

– Esin Ünal Yılmaz, Vice President of Consulting, Mastercard

An Inclusive and Hands-On Learning Experience

The Girls4Tech curriculum is developed based on Mastercard’s expertise in digital payment systems and is designed to support greater representation of girls in STEM fields. Through the program, students gain practical experience in areas such as cryptography, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital innovations, while learning the fundamental principles of these fields directly from Mastercard professionals. This approach empowers young girls, inspiring them to take their first steps toward a STEM career by learning from experts in the technology world.

Bringing Global Success to Turkey

Launched in 2014, Girls4Tech has made a significant global impact, reaching approximately 7 million girls in 64 countries. Mastercard aims to replicate this success in Turkey by helping girls here take bold steps in STEM fields. Through the program, more girls will have the opportunity to explore the world of STEM and receive crucial support in becoming successful individuals in the technology sector. As Girls4Tech expands, it seeks to raise STEM awareness across Turkey and offer girls a more equitable career future.