RIYADH: Marking International Women’s Day this year, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Development and Management Company partnered with Mastercard, Misk Schools, UNESCO and UN Global Compact to launch a STEM education program, Girls4Tech, for young girls in the Kingdom.
The Girls4Tech initiative aims to inspire and motivate young girls in Saudi Arabia and the wider region to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
This year’s global theme for International Women’s Day on March 8 was digital innovation and technology for gender equality.
A panel discussion on the role of girls and women in STEM for economic growth and development was held on Wednesday at the KAFD.
A panel of experts shed light on the program and its importance.
“The program focuses on creating a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in particular, those pertaining to the quality of education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth,” said Ibrahim Al-Hilali, executive director of the UN Global Compact network in Saudi Arabia, who also moderated the session.
The UN has predicted that greater numbers of women in STEM disciplines will see global gross domestic product rise by almost 25 percent, adding $28 trillion to the world economy.
“So we have got a big gap here that we need to address,” said Gautam Sashittal, CEO of KAFD DMC, told the panel.
Sashittal added that he has always believed in a work environment creating equal opportunity, diversity and inclusiveness.
He said that KAFD’s status among the world’s premier smart districts allows it to create opportunities for women to join STEM fields.
“You would be surprised at the number of women engineers that are out in the field of construction, not just architects,” said Sashittal.
According to UNESCO, fewer than one-third of women worldwide work in scientific research and development, said Al-Hilali.
Maria Medvedeva, vice president and country manager of Saudi Arabia & Bahrain at Mastercard, said that it is important to engage girls from a young age and nudge them toward other possibilities and fields.
Medvedeva said that her male coworkers and employers pushed her to the frontline, and are supporting and encouraging drivers of change.
Since she joined Mastercard four years ago, Medvedeva said that she was able to bring the ratio of female to male employees to about 43 percent.
She added that systemic challenges present another challenge that can halt girls from being interested in STEM fields.
“We need to break the boundaries of females and stigma toward these fields from the parents’ standpoint, that even we need to educate the parents more.”
Al-Hilali praised the efforts of MasterCard, as it has pledged to connect 25 million women worldwide by 2025 to technology training, digital tools, insights and solutions that will enable them to grow and scale businesses.
“Their commitments will undoubtedly have a significant impact on promoting women’s economic empowerment, reducing gender inequality and achieving sustainable development,” he said.
Dr. Steffen Sommer, director general of Misk Schools, said: “Knowledge development happening in Riyadh needs to be in the top 10 city economies in the world by 2030, so we have to make sure that you have that inclusive workforce that actually incorporates both men and women.”
Salah Khaled, UNESCO representative to the Gulf states and Yemen, said that the role of women in science and technology is a priority for each and every single one of the SDGs.
One of UNESCO’s flagship programs is with L’Oreal Paris, which promotes and supports women in sciences.
“We are happy and proud to be supporting 250 researchers through this partnership,” said Khaled.
Another program is the Open Science program which allows access and sharing of knowledge and information in the face of the digital divide.
Khaled said: “We work with governments of our member states to encourage women and girls to engage in scientific and STEM fields, but it has to start from the primary level and young ages.”
Girls4Tech: KAFD DMC partners up to promote women and girls in STEM
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Girls4Tech: KAFD DMC partners up to promote women and girls in STEM
- The Girls4Tech initiative aims to inspire and motivate young girls in Saudi Arabia and the wider region to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- A panel of experts shed light on the program and its importance
Young voices at heart of Misk forum
- Misk City ‘empowering and investing in youth,’ Misk Foundation CEO says
- Kadi Al-Khathaam: Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance
RIYADH: Misk City is poised to be a transformative hub for young people, blending creativity with opportunity, according to the CEO of the Misk Foundation.
“Misk City is not just a place filled with buildings and roads, it is an exceptional place for an exceptional city,” Badr Al-Bader said on the first day of the Misk Global Forum 2024.
The purpose-built destination was committed to fostering talent and innovation, he said.
The eighth Misk Global Forum is showcasing the foundation’s dedication to engaging young minds.
“With over 150,000 visitors and more than 1,000 speakers from 130 countries, this edition was notable for its youthful demographic,” Al-Bader said.
“This is the largest and smallest in terms of average age. We are proud to see so many young voices contributing to the dialogue.”
This year, Misk City welcomed students from Misk Schools and plans to extend its reach to schools across Riyadh and beyond.
“The city mirrors the youth growing alongside them, day by day. Misk has been empowering and investing in youth, making their support its highest priority,” Al-Bader said.
With the “unwavering support” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, more than 7 million young men and women had benefited from Misk programs, he said.
Kadi Al-Khathaam, the Saudi winner of the 2024 Arab Reading Challenge, was part of the “Leadership in a Future-Led Generation” panel at the forum.
“Reading is a transformation phase and it’s an enlightenment process where I can expand the horizon of my knowledge,” she said.
“Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance.”
Al-Khathaam said that the ability to communicate effectively allowed individuals to share their insights and experiences with others.
“I read, I discuss, I give the outcome to the world with the best of what I have.”
The crown prince’s advocacy for the education of all Saudi children was a source of inspiration for her, she said.
Saudi Minister of Communication, Information and Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha shared insights on youth-driven leadership and innovation, in line with the forum’s theme of “By Youth For Youth” and commented on Shawn Achor’s book “The Happiness Advantage.”
“We often link happiness with external factors, but we must realize that happiness and ambition are the main drivers of hard work,” he said.
“Let us take it the other way around: If we work with happiness in our hearts, success will follow.”
Al-Swaha shared the story of Dr. Firas Khalil, the first Saudi surgeon to perform heart surgery using AI and robotics.
“This procedure not only reduces recovery times but also saves lives,” he said.
He also spoke about Rayyanah Barnawi, the Kingdom’s first female astronaut.
“Her love and ambition to serve humanity made her the perfect candidate,” he said.
“Nothing is impossible from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the greatest country in the world.”
The forum ends on Tuesday.
Indonesian artist fuses art, technology at Jeddah showcase
JEDDAH: Works by an Indonesian artist who blends creativity with technology have been on show at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah.
The exhibition, by Andry Boy Kurniawan, was organized by the Indonesian Consulate and included a talk by the artist in which he explained how he fuses traditional painting techniques with augmented reality.
Based in Yogyakarta, Kurniawan said he drew inspiration from the larger-than-life characters, both real and imagined, that shape modern culture. His style features bulbous-headed figures with small, beady eyes.
Other common elements include gummies and gemstones that reflect the light and add a dynamic, whimsical quality to his art.
The event reflected the advancements in Indonesia’s contemporary art scene and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s emerging role as a hub for creative exchanges.
The consulate said it hoped it would also help foster greater innovation and collaboration between the two countries.
New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
- To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions
RIYADH: The Museums Commission launched the “Telling Tomorrow’s Story” campaign on Monday to raise awareness of museums’ role in preserving history, strengthening national identity, and promoting creative expression.
The campaign reflects the commission’s vision, which focuses on innovation, the preservation of cultural treasures, and fostering creativity for future generations.
It features digital content highlighting the commission’s museums and cultural centers, including the National Museum, Al-Masmak Palace Museum, Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah.
It also introduces future museums, such as the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh and the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, which will enrich the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.
To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions: Qassim, Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah, Jazan, and Baha.
The regional museums, under the motto “Our Saudi Story,” will celebrate Saudi history, heritage, and identity, weaving a collective narrative of the Kingdom’s diverse cultural tapestry and rich history.
These museums will offer permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, becoming inclusive spaces for knowledge, creativity, and community.
Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
- The exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities
RIYADH: The International Dates Conference and Exhibition is set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from Nov. 19 to 28 under the theme “World of Dates.”
The event aims to solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in the production and export of dates, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities.
It will showcase innovative date products and serve as a global platform for knowledge exchange and market expansion, promoting Saudi dates in international markets.
The event seeks to support innovation in the dates industry, enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, and position the palm and dates sector as a key contributor to economic development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
The exhibition will also include a scientific conference in collaboration with King Faisal University, SPA reported.
The conference will focus on local and international efforts to advance the palm and dates sector in Saudi Arabia by adopting smart solutions to improve agricultural practices, highlighting the health benefits of dates, and encouraging the use of e-commerce.
Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
- Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.
The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.
The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Saudi Arabia. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.
Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.
The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.
The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.
The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.
CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Saudi Arabia.”
Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”
The collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.
