In an effort to close the gender gap in science and sustainability, the GREENIFY project is off to a strong start. Co-funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme, its mission is clear: to inspire and prepare girls and young women, especially from rural areas or without a higher education background, to lead the green economy.
Spain has come a long way in gender equality, but in the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) there is still a long way to go. According to the report ‘Women in STEM 2024’, only 5.5% of employed women in Spain work in these sectors, compared to 13% of men. The difference is accentuated in technical careers, where women account for only 27.8% of new entrants. This shows that there are still barriers preventing many young women from choosing these professions, especially if they come from rural areas or from families with no experience of higher education.
GREENIFY wants to change this reality with innovative educational tools, such as a STEM Toolkit and a Sustainability Management Module. By training teachers and providing access to resources tailored to the needs of young women, the project aims to create more opportunities for women to become an active part of the green economy.
Every 11 February is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a key date to remember the importance of initiatives such as GREENIFY. The project is led in Spain by AMUEBLA (Agrupación Empresarial Innovadora de Fabricantes de Muebles y Afines de la Región de Murcia), an entity with experience in corporate social responsibility projects, many of them focused on the role of women in different sectors. Its involvement in GREENIFY reinforces its commitment to equality and to creating a future in which more women can actively participate in the sustainable economy.
As Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: ‘The road to full equality is still long. It requires daily attention and commitment from each and every one of us, so that the next generation of women can finally get what they deserve: a world of equal rights and opportunities for all.’ GREENIFY represents this commitment.
The project has partners from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain and Belgium, all with a common purpose: to promote inclusive education for girls. Over the next two years, GREENIFY will test its tools in different schools, working with teachers, trainers and policy makers to ensure their long-term impact.
With the support of education, collaboration between institutions and the commitment of companies and public bodies, GREENIFY wants to give the necessary impetus so that more women become protagonists of the green revolution. Because it is not only about training qualified professionals, but also about transforming the culture and giving them the place they deserve on the road to a more sustainable future.
Follow all the news of the project and find out how you can join #greenifyproject! Together, we can build a fairer and more equal world.
