About Elles bougent
Elles Bougent: Empowering Women in Engineering
Elles Bougent is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire and encourage young women to pursue careers in engineering, particularly in the fields of aerospace, space technology, railway transportation, maritime industry, and energy. Founded in 2005 by Marie-Sophie Pawlak and Christiane Durand, Elles Bougent has been working tirelessly to bridge the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields.
The association believes that diversity is key to innovation and progress. Unfortunately, women are still underrepresented in engineering professions. According to a report by UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-related courses worldwide are female. This gender disparity persists even though studies have shown that companies with diverse teams perform better than those without.
Elles Bougent seeks to change this narrative by providing young girls with role models who have succeeded as engineers or technicians. The association organizes various events such as company visits, workshops on career guidance and orientation days where girls can meet female professionals from different industries.
One of the flagship programs of Elles Bougent is "Ingénieuses", which translates into "Ingenious Women". This program targets high school girls who are interested in pursuing engineering careers but lack information about the profession or face social barriers. Ingénieuses offers mentoring sessions with female engineers or technicians who share their experiences and provide guidance on how to succeed academically and professionally.
Another program offered by Elles Bougent is "Les Sciences de l'Ingénieur au Féminin" (SIF), which means "Engineering Sciences for Women". SIF aims at introducing middle school girls aged between 11-14 years old to science through fun activities such as building robots or designing bridges using computer software.
Elles Bougent also collaborates with companies from different sectors such as Airbus Group Foundation or Total Foundation to offer scholarships, internships or job opportunities to young women who have participated in their programs. These partnerships help bridge the gap between education and industry and provide girls with a clear path towards a successful career.
In addition to these programs, Elles Bougent also raises awareness about gender equality in STEM fields through various campaigns such as "Girls on the Move" or "Women in Energy". These campaigns highlight the achievements of female professionals and encourage young girls to pursue their dreams regardless of gender stereotypes.
Elles Bougent has been recognized for its efforts by various organizations such as UNESCO, which awarded them the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in 2017. The association has also received support from public figures such as French astronaut Claudie Haigneré or former Minister of Education Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.
In conclusion, Elles Bougent is an association that plays a crucial role in empowering young women to pursue careers in engineering. By providing role models, mentoring sessions, fun activities and job opportunities, Elles Bougent helps break down barriers that prevent girls from entering STEM fields. Their efforts are not only beneficial for individual girls but also for society as a whole since diversity leads to innovation and progress.