Oracle Academy can help young girls turn an interest in IT into practical skills, confidence, and a clearer path to further study. This came to life at the 2026 Ameri-STEAM Girls Bootcamp, held in Assouindé, Côte d’Ivoire from August 1-8, 2026. This vibrant eight-day event was designed to broaden access to digital skills and leadership development for girls in the Sud Comoé region.
Launched with a mission to close gender gaps in STEM and aligned with international Sustainable Development Goals, Ameri-STEAM’s 2026 bootcamp welcomed 23 girls, aged approximately 13–20, supported by professionals whose educational and career journeys expanded their understanding of what is possible. The initiative blended technical training with resources provided by Oracle Academy, including Alice 3 coding software and digital literacy modules with leadership workshops, public speaking, wellness, and project-based community learning.
Guest speakers from Oracle, including Falnan Silue, Senior Principal Customer Success Manager, Oracle Canada; and Bekere Amassoma, Oracle Academy Program Manager, Sub Saharan Africa, enriched the program with practical insights on resilience, career planning, and the societal impact of STEAM fields, encouraging participants to “imagine boldly and aim high.”
Notably, the coding sessions and Oracle Academy’s learning resources helped girls explore computational thinking, build digital confidence, and see the powerful role technology plays in addressing real-world problems.
The highlight of the bootcamp was the team projects, where participants used Alice 3 to develop 3D animations that tackled urgent local issues ranging from environmental pollution, forced marriage, and early pregnancy prevention to girls’ education advocacy. Each project combined technical skills with persuasive storytelling to drive social awareness.
The 2026 event welcomed returning Ameri-STEAM alumnae from several program cohorts. All are currently pursuing higher education, with academic pathways spanning medicine, engineering, civil engineering, law, education, and communication. Two alumnae, Kobina Kouakou Grâce and Elsa Trazié, are completing engineering degrees this year. Their continued involvement reflects the program’s emphasis on continuity, peer support, and the long-term development of young women beyond their initial participation in Ameri-STEAM.
Oracle Academy remains committed to expanding opportunities for young women in STEAM, inspiring confidence, and enabling the next generation of African tech leaders.
To learn more about Oracle Academy’s global impact and how we support educators and students worldwide with free resources and learning opportunities, visit Oracle Academy.
Links to publications: https://ameri-steam.org/