HeadStart – Empowering Young Women for a Future in AI

Partenaires 

• WIDE ANDCO (Luxembourg)

• European E-Learning Institute/EUEI (Denmark)

• Inspiring Girls Portugal (Portugal)

• Momentum (Ireland)

Durée

du 01-01-2024 au 31-12-2025

Activités

The project implemented three main strands of activities. First, 13 interviews with women working in AI and related fields were produced and promoted through the Visual Resource Showcase. Second, an AI Toolbox for young women and youth educators was developed, including practical learning modules addressing AI literacy, ethics, bias, career pathways and inclusive use of AI. Third, mentoring and networking activities were organised across partner countries, supported by a Mentors Directory and Networking Guide. These activities were complemented by stakeholder engagement, dissemination and structured user testing and evaluation.

Produits 

The project produced a Visual Resource Showcase featuring 13 interviews with women in AI; an AI Toolbox with practical learning modules for young women and youth educators; supporting facilitator and DEI resources; and a Networking & Mentoring Hub including a Networking Guide and online Mentors Directory. The Mentors Directory registered 29 women professionals, while the Networking Guide recorded 803 downloads. The project also produced communication and dissemination materials and tested its main outputs with target users across partner countries to refine their accessibility, relevance and usability.

Impacts

HeadStart reached a broad community of young women, educators, youth workers, women professionals and other stakeholders across the partner countries. WP4 activities involved 150+ girls, young women and students, 20+ educators/youth workers, 15+ women professionals/mentors and 70+ other stakeholders. The quality and relevance of the outputs were strongly confirmed through user testing: 92 validated responses for the Visual Showcase. The AI Toolbox was tested by 98 respondents, including 61 young women aged 13–29 and 37 youth educators/workers. The Networking Guide was downloaded 803 times, demonstrating uptake beyond direct participants. Qualitative feedback also highlighted increased confidence, motivation, AI awareness and a clearer understanding of career pathways.

Perspectives

The project’s outputs are designed to remain accessible and reusable beyond the project lifetime. The Visual Resource Showcase, AI Toolbox, Mentors Directory and Networking Guide remain available online and can continue to be used by young women, educators, youth workers and organisations working on AI and digital inclusion. The resources can also be integrated into future workshops, training activities and mentoring programmes and adapted to different national and educational contexts. The project partners intend to continue promoting and using the resources through their existing activities and networks, while maintaining opportunities to connect young women with female role models in AI. The user testing process also identified areas for future improvement, including more interactive and shorter formats, continued mentoring relationships and additional career-related content. These findings provide a basis for further development and potential follow-up initiatives addressing women’s participation and confidence in AI.