Metlife Foundation launches partnership with inspiring girls international to boost focus on stem careers

Metlife foundation launches partnership with inspiring girls international to boost focus on stem careers

February 13, 2023

MetLife Foundation announced today a two-year partnership with Inspiring Girls International, aimed at empowering women of the future by building confidence in young girls and breaking down gender stereotypes in underserved communities, through a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

Inspiring Girls International is a global charity dedicated to raising the aspirations of young girls around the world by connecting them with inspiring female role models. Active across six continents, Inspiring Girls effects local change on a global scale through its teams in 28 countries.

The UK is one of five markets chosen to launch this partnership, along with Spain, Italy and Poland. Local Inspiring Girls teams with extensive school networks will work with MetLife volunteers to host school talks, speed-networking events, workshops and online activity to inspire girls aged 11-15 from underrepresented areas, so they have the confidence to become whatever they want to be in life.

This partnership is part of MetLife Foundation’s pledge of $150 million funding and 800,000 employee volunteer hours to support underserved and underrepresented communities.

MetLife Foundation is investing $242,000 over two years on programmes in the UK, Spain, Italy and Poland, with the aim of reaching more than 3,500 girls through approximately 550 volunteer hours over the two-year partnership.

Charlotte Lade, Head of Communications UK, MetLife said: “Connecting teenage girls in underserved communities with role models to boost confidence and highlight new opportunities for them is vital, given we hear that 67% of young girls feel they don’t have the same chances as men when it comes to career and the choices they have*. By partnering with Inspiring Girls, MetLife is committed to helping to break down these gender stereotypes and barriers.”

“We are focused on making the partnership a success in the UK and have already had an excellent response from employees who wish to volunteer to help build confidence with teenage girls and increase participation in STEM fields”.

Miriam González Durántez, Founder and Chair of Inspiring Girls International said: “Knowledge is power, and for young girls to feel confident and informed in the career choices they make they need to have a full understanding of the opportunities available to them. That is why I am so delighted that we are launching our EMEA partnership with MetLife to help girls explore opportunities in STEM. Over the next two years we will work together towards getting rid of gender stereotypes and helping girls achieve their dreams.”

Girls from selected schools will participate in a combination of virtual and in-person events designed to create meaningful engagement with girls in the Inspiring Girls network, whilst providing MetLife associates with the unique opportunity to engage with a wide network of girls from all socio-economic backgrounds.

* Girls Attitude Survey, 2019