NVIDIA : Tech Skills Take Root Through Four Women-Focused Projects in India

Lifting women out of poverty in developing countries takes more than storybook success. It requires building the right skills through great training.

And that's what we're doing as part of our corporate social responsibility efforts in India. We're funding four nonprofits bringing training in basic computer skills, coding, photography and filmmaking to nearly 1,000 underserved women.

With hands-on learning and real-world applications founded in science, technology and engineering, these courses are geared to kickstart careers, giving young women a leg up on rewarding careers.

The Anudip Foundation for Social Welfare, Feminist Approach to Technology, the Gyanodaya Foundation, and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled all share a focus on technology education and vocational training for girls and young women.

Since 2008, NVIDIA has helped education causes in communities near our three offices in India - Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune - reflecting the passion of our local employees.

Most women engaged in these programs haven't been exposed to STEM-related training. The courses offer training in coding, robotics, digital media and software programs like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

This coursework, along with field trips to destinations like the Indian Institute of Technology and NVIDIA's office in Pune, encourages the young women to pursue further STEM-related education and give them a chance to learn more about what it's like to work in the tech industry.

The organizations receiving our support are:

Anudip Foundation for Social Welfare

Anudip will use NVIDIA's grant to run a digital livelihood training and placement program for 300 girls and women from impoverished communities. The program, which will serve Hyderabad and Rangareddy, includes an intensive 12-week course in basic computer skills, financial literacy and corporate readiness, and has a strong focus on helping women develop career paths and secure jobs in corporate sector.

Feminist Approach to Technology

Feminist Approach to Technology will use its NVIDIA grant to offer training in photography and filmmaking for students who've completed basic computer skills training courses, and to expand its program to new students to begin basic training. In the past year, the group opened an NVIDIA-funded center in Pune and hosted training for more than 60 girls and women from 10 nearby slum communities.

Gyanodaya Foundation

The Gyanodaya Foundation will expand its Slum Innovation project to serve Bangalore and Hyderabad, in addition to offering support to existing projects in Pune and Mumbai. Thanks to NVIDIA's funding, the program last year served almost 400 girls. The curriculum includes intensive training in programs such as computer science, robotics and web design. The project goal is to teach leadership and entrepreneurial skills to girls and women from rural areas and urban slums.

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled

The Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled will use NVIDIA's funding to train 200 disabled and underprivileged women through a three-month residential computer skills training course. The curriculum is focused on basic computer skills and relevant industry requirements, as well as training sessions on business etiquette, job searching and job interviews.