The Oracle4Girls program stands as a transformative initiative that seeks to close the gender gap in the field of technology and science careers. Through a series of free workshops and trainings, distributed in various locations in Spain, Oracle4Girls offers girls between the ages of 4 and 16 the opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of discovery and learning. These workshops not only focus on providing knowledge about technology and science in a playful way, but also seek to break down ingrained stereotypes by demonstrating that STEM careers are not exclusively for men. Oracle4Girls strives to convey the message that studying STEM careers is exciting, accessible and, above all, a viable option for all girls. To foster deeper identification, Oracle4Girls offers the unique opportunity for participants to meet inspiring women who have made their mark in the world of technology and science. These role models not only capture the girls’ attention, but also provide them with tangible examples of what they can achieve. But the program doesn’t stop there. Recognizing the importance of family support in the girls’ professional development, Oracle4Girls hosts discussions and roundtables for parents. These sessions provide a vital space to discuss how parents can encourage and support their daughters on the path to STEM careers, overcoming challenges and barriers that may arise along the way. In short, Oracle4Girls is much more than a series of workshops and trainings. It is a powerful platform that empowers girls, inspires families and challenges conventional gender perceptions in the world of technology and science.

Keys to its success

The Oracle4Girls program has excelled in several key areas that have contributed significantly to its success:

1. Comprehensive educational approach: in a context where barely 25% of those choosing STEM careers in Spain are women, according to the report “Radiografía de la brecha de género en la formación STEM” by the Ministry of Education, Oracle4Girls positions itself as an active social agent in the promotion of STEM subjects among girls. The program is distinguished by its personalized approach, which uses a methodology based on the completion of small projects. This allows the girls to gain self-confidence by seeing that they have the ability to develop ideas and put them into practice.
2. Participation and volunteering: The high participation of volunteers, parents and girls in all events reflects the deep interest and commitment of our community. Especially noteworthy is the constant presence of Oracle volunteers of all ages, who have demonstrated enthusiasm and dedication in multiple events. In addition, parents have not only attended workshops and events, but have also actively participated, showing a genuine interest in the proposed activities and in the future of their daughters.
3. Collaboration: the success of the program is also attributed to the collaboration with various entities and collaborators, both companies and institutions, who have provided resources and support in the preparation of workshops. These collaborators include Explorium, Edukative, Camp Tecnológico, Ingeniera Soy, How I Learned Code, Fablabs, Libolis, Rockbotic, Fabcafé Barcelona, Universities (such as Universidad de Málaga, Universidad del País Vasco, Universidad de Valladolid, Universidad de Burgos, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, IE School of Human Sciences and Technology, UPV Universitat Politècnica de València, Universidade da Coruña, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universitat de Girona), Phonos, Wisibilízalas, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Asociación de Altas Capacidades de Castilla y León (ACYLAC), La Estación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Málaga Tech Park, Captioma, Escola Superior de Enxeñaría Informática and Genext Robótica Educativa. This collaboration has been fundamental to enrich the educational offer and achieve a more significant impact on the participating girls.

Results

During the last edition of Oracle4Girls, more than 785 girls participated in 81 workshops and 8 face-to-face events held in various cities in Spain, including Girona, Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid, Seville, Bilbao and Palencia. Since its inception, the program has impacted nearly 3,300 girls in 12 Spanish cities, providing them with not only knowledge, but also confidence in STEM areas. This achievement is a testament to the commitment of Oracle and its employees to the education and empowerment of young girls in our community.

The success of Oracle4Girls is largely due to the collaboration of Oracle employees. Each workshop and activity has been supported by a team of volunteers from our offices throughout Spain, who have shown exceptional commitment in the organization and management of the events. Their dedication has been fundamental to the successful development and execution of the program. The program represents a long-term educational investment whose results will be revealed over time as participants choose their academic path, whether by opting to major in science during middle and high school or by selecting a university career in the STEM field. In terms of visibility, the initiative has been widely reported in the media and social networks. In addition, the positive impact of the program has been recognized through several awards such as:

• The Special Company Award granted by Dones pel Futur in 2023
• The IT Pioneer Award in 2021
• The Dona TIC Award in 2017.

These awards highlight the initiative’s dedication and success in promoting the inclusion of women in technology and science, as well as its pivotal role in inspiring future generations of women leaders in STEM.