Junior Achievement and Coca-Cola HBC Italia united against gender inequality in STEM subjects

The third edition of the Girls in STEM Award is underway, enriched with a new platform dedicated to children and teachers to overcome stereotypes.

Milan, April 1, 2021 – Coca-Cola HBC Italia, the leading bottler of The Coca-Cola Company branded products in Italy, and Junior Achievement Italia, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to economic-entrepreneurial education in schools, continue their common commitment to combat gender stereotypes that keep girls away from study in technical-scientific subjects, key roles in the current world of work. 

On the occasion of STEMintheCity, the digital event promoted by the Municipality of Milan, students, families and teachers from all over Italy will be able to participate free of charge in the GIRLS IN STEM digital workshop to share career opportunities in this sector. During the meeting, the third edition of the Girls in STEM Award will be launched, which, promoted by the Coca-Cola HBC Italia Foundation, rewards female students between the ages of 16 and 18 who most stand out for the skills shown in the field. The young winners will have the opportunity to be mentored to continue building their future with the Managers of Coca-Cola HBC Italia, as well as to be able to visit the production plant in Nogara (VR).

During the meeting, the new Girls in Stem platform will be launched, where children and teachers will be able to find more information on the project and content to discover the world of STEM more closely: inspirational videos, useful articles, testimonials, dedicated webinars. 

"STEMinTheCity represents an opportunity to reiterate the importance of addressing the issue of gender equality starting from school, to allow girls to overcome stereotypes and embark on conscious career paths" - comments Giangiacomo Pierini, Director of Institutional Relations and Communication of Coca-Cola HBC Italia - "We strongly believe in this project, as evidenced by our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, where merit counts exclusively. I like to remember that key roles in Coca-Cola HBC Italia, from Food Quality and Safety, to Trade Marketing, up to our sales force, the largest in Italy, are led by female managers".

Girls in STEM Award has been included among the best practices selected by STEAMiamoci, the project launched in 2016 to reduce the gender gap, which aims to support the importance of women in the cultural and productive fabric, find measures to increase their inclusion and value. 

"Working with Coca-Cola HBC Italia allows us to offer girls, but also teachers, a moment of meeting and a path on empowerment that stimulates initiative and awareness in girls of the future that can await them and of the reference companies to orient themselves to," says Miriam Cresta, CEO of Junior Achievement Italia. The activities we develop with Coca-Cola HBC Italia represent fundamental steps in building a quality offer for Italian schools by employing a new orientation model that combines with distance learning, especially in a historical moment like this".

A solid partnership between Coca-Cola HBC Italia and Junior Achievement Italia has been in place for four years now and is part of the #YouthEmpowered project, the company's program dedicated to young people to support them in knowing their attitudes and acquiring professional skills to facilitate their entry into the world of work. Since its inception, the #YouthEmpowered project has involved over 43,500 students throughout Italy.