Junior Achievement Americas announces the launch of a new edition of the program She is Digital, an initiative created to reduce the gender gap in the tech sector. Starting in May, the program will offer 500 scholarships in Brazil —which is participating for the first time— 200 scholarships in Mexico, and 200 scholarships in Costa Rica, countries that are participating again this year. Participants will receive technical training, professional mentoring, and support for entering the tech workforce. This edition is supported by the Kyndryl Foundation, the Lenovo Foundation, Cisco, Delta Airlines, and Valvoline—strategic partners committed to a more inclusive and equitable tech ecosystem.
Since its inception, She is Digital it has had a significant impact on the region. More than 124,000 women have registered for previous editions, 37,000 have participated in interviews, and 8,801 have received scholarships to advance their careers. The results are compelling: 4,658 women graduated, 1,968 earned industry-recognized certifications, and 1,066 entered the workforce, including 700 who secured jobs in the technology sector.
Thanks to technical certifications such as Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity, complemented by interactive workshops and mentoring from industry leaders, participants strengthen their skills and develop key socioemotional competencies for the professional environment. The training, focused on practical application, enables many graduates to enter fields such as cybersecurity, software development, data analysis and technical support.
One of the most outstanding cases is that of Viridiana, a graduate of the program in Mexico, who founded the Instituto de Ciberseguridad para Adultos Mayores (Cybersecurity Institute for Older Adults) after completing her training. Her initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of technology education by providing digital literacy tools to a vulnerable population.
“I didn’t come from the tech world, but I saw an opportunity to add a cybersecurity certification to my resume. She is Digital It opened the doors to the industry for me, and I chose this field because of my interest in online safety—especially for my daughter. Although the learning curve was steep, the support network we built kept us going. As I came to understand the value of this knowledge, I wondered who else needed it, and I thought of older adults. That’s how my project to promote their digital independence was born. My dream is to see more women leading these kinds of initiatives and achieving financial independence thanks to technology,” says Viridiana.
With this new edition underway, Junior Achievement Americas reaffirms its commitment to training more women in technology and creating concrete opportunities that transform lives, families and communities throughout the region.