Registrations open for ‘She is a Virtual Astronaut’: this is how 100 Colombian girls will be able to participate

Luc Williams

The She Is Foundation, in collaboration with NASA’s Space Center, launched the second call for ‘She Is a Virtual Astronaut 2024’, a program that seeks to inspire Colombian girls in the field of space science.

This initiative, which will take place over four months, is aimed at girls and young people between 11 and 16 years old throughout the country. The program uses an online learning platform to deliver STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education, as well as foster skills such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking and leadership.

Since its inception in 2019, the project has graduated and certified more than 500 Colombian girls. In this seventh edition, it is expected to train more than 100 participants nationwide. At the end, The students will present final projects, and the two best will be awarded with an academic immersion at NASA’s Space Center Houston in 2025.

“In this second stage, our objective is to reach the most remote corners of Colombia. This will be possible thanks to the invaluable support of various companies and actors that have been fundamental to the expansion of this program. Today, we not only seek to transform the lives of hundreds of girls through education, but also contribute to the development of more prosperous regions and peace in our country,” says Leidy Martínez, project director of ‘She is Astronaut’. .

Requirements to participate

The call for ‘She’s a Virtual Astronaut’ will be open from June 20 to July 20. Interested girls must meet the following requirements:

  • Participants must be girls between 11 and 16 years old.
  • Not having any family relationship in the first degree of consanguinity with a public official in positions of decision-making and management of the public treasury, this due to conflict of interest and following the guidelines of the code of ethics of the She Is Foundation.
  • The family group must belong to groups A (population in extreme poverty), B (population in moderate poverty) or C (population in vulnerability) of Sisbén IV. Registration to Sisbén or population from qualified areas and population groups in vulnerable situations will be verified, in accordance with the biases of CONPES and DNP.
  • Receive academic training in a public institution of basic, secondary or technical secondary education and demonstrate excellent academic performance.
  • Guarantee access to the internet and the technological tools necessary for the development of the program, whether own or provided by the institution.
  • Guarantee the availability of time for training.
  • Not having participated in any of the missions of the ‘She is an Astronaut’ program in person or virtually.
  • Have a responsible tutor.
  • Fill out the application form in its entirety with accurate information.

How to register?

Candidates who meet the aforementioned conditions will have the opportunity to register through the website www.she-is.org. On this site, you will find a form along with precise instructions for its correct completion.

Subsequently, a selection process will be carried out among all applicants. As a result, a hundred girls will be chosen to immerse themselves in the universe of STEAM education. This educational experience will be available to those selected regardless of their geographic location within Colombian territory, thanks to the virtual nature of the program.

About LUC WILLIAMS

Luc's expertise lies in assisting students from a myriad of disciplines to refine and enhance their thesis work with clarity and impact. His methodical approach and the knack for simplifying complex information make him an invaluable ally for any thesis writer.