Milan, 24 April 2023 – Junior Achievement Italia, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to economic-entrepreneurial education in schools, JA Alumni Italia, Fondazione
Coca-Cola HBC Italia and Coca-Cola HBC Italia, the main bottler of The Coca-Cola Company branded products in Italy, continue their joint commitment to reduce the gender gap in scientific study and work. According to a recent Women and Science study by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS), women make up about 30% of the world's researchers and less than a third of female students choose to study subjects such as mathematics and engineering at university.
With the aim of reversing this course, the fifth edition of Girls in STEM kicks off, the initiative that rewards female students between the ages of 16 and 18 who most stand out for their interest in STEM, within the framework of the entrepreneurial education and soft skills development program of Enterprise in Action 2022/2023. The young winners will have the opportunity to participate in mentoring sessions to continue building their future with the Managers of Coca-Cola HBC Italia, as well as to be able to visit the company's production plants in Italy.
To raise awareness and reach more and more girls, Junior Achievement Italia, Coca-Cola HBC Italia Foundation and Coca-Cola HBC Italia are also presenting two scholarships worth 3,000 euros each in memory of Enza Cappabianca, coordinator of the JA Alumni community and past winner of the Girls in STEM Award. All girls with an upper secondary school diploma obtained in the 2022/2023 academic year and who have participated in projects during their studies and/or discussed a high school term or carried out a PCTO course on STEM topics in the following areas: sustainability, digital and innovation, circular economy, business management, STEM start-ups, with an entrepreneurial approach and active citizenship in the community in which they live and study and who are willing to continue their studies in these areas.
After careful evaluation by a jury composed of representatives of Junior Achievement Italia, JA Alumni Italia, Coca-Cola HBC Italia Foundation, Coca-Cola HBC Italia as well as Enza Cappabianca's Family, the winners will be identified and awarded at the JA Day event, which will be held in Milan in November 2023.
"For us, the issue of gender equality is fundamental. Gender equality means equal access to medical care but also to education, professions, science, work, as well as representation in decision-making, political and economic processes. This is why, together with the Coca-Cola HBC Italia Foundation and Coca-Cola HBC Italia, we are committed to raising awareness among young women on the issue with activities aimed at a greater dissemination of skills in the technical-scientific field. This year, then, we feel particularly close to the world of STEM because we want to remember and honor Enza, a talented girl who followed JA's projects with passion and success, embracing and sharing the values of the association and who with her example traced a course towards the future of all young men and women who will treasure her achievements and discoveries. Enza is and always will be the best testimony that girls are made for STEM subjects. Unfortunately, even today, despite the contribution of various female figures in the scientific and technological context, there are still too many young women who are not interested in this world. To promote true gender equality, it is necessary to launch information and awareness-raising activities already in lower secondary schools during orientation courses, in families and initiatives that aim to underline how the world of STEM is simply a space of excellence for everyone," added Miriam Cresta, CEO of Junior Achievement Italia.
"Coca-Cola HBC Italia's daily commitment to female leadership is embodied in the creation of an inclusive work environment based on merit: today many key roles in the company are led by women, as are two of our plants," says Giangiacomo Pierini, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director of Coca-Cola HBC ItaliaWe are very proud to be able to bring this commitment outside our offices and factories, confirming our collaboration with Junior Achievement and our support for Girls in STEM. A concrete way to reiterate the importance of addressing the issue of inequality and the elimination of the gender gap starting from school, thus allowing young women to overcome stereotypes and embark on conscious career paths"