London, UK, 13 January 2025 – Teens in AI, an initiative focused on inspiring teens to explore a future in tech and AI through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences, continues its partnership with Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll tech for small and mid-sized businesses, to launch its 2025 flagship International Women’s Day Techathon campaign, running from February to April 2025. Both organisations share a common goal in leveraging technology to build an equitable world where every individual has an equal chance to unlock their potential, fostering innovation and generating positive societal change.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Teens in AI run annual, distributed Global Techathons inspiring teens aged 12 to 18 to come together to collaboratively solve a real-world problem through the use of AI and Data Science for social good. This hackathon-style programme is either in-person or virtual, with challenges centred around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Aaron Harris, Chief Technology Officer at Sage, comments: “At Sage, we are committed to knocking down barriers so everyone can thrive. One of the best ways we can do this is by empowering the next generation of innovators. The Teens in AI IWD Global Techathon continues to champion this vision, by providing young people from all backgrounds with the opportunities to engage with cutting-edge technology, whilst addressing real-world challenges. By being proactive for the future female talent of tomorrow, we’re collectively fostering creativity, diversity, and technological advancements to the greater benefit of us all.“
For over a century, International Women’s Day has championed progress and action, providing ongoing inspiration for Teens in AI’s campaigns. This year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, resonates deeply with Teens in AI and Sage’s shared mission to drive meaningful change in AI. By advancing AI literacy, education, and awareness, both organisations are committed to creating a future where diverse voices shape the AI landscape. According to UNESCO, women make up only 22% of AI professionals worldwide, highlighting the critical need to accelerate efforts toward greater representation and equity. Addressing this disparity requires deliberate, focused action to build a more inclusive and diverse AI ecosystem.
Teens in AI Founder and CEO, Elena Sinel, adds: “Accelerating action to address the disparities in diversity and representation within the AI and tech industries is critical to building a future shaped by a wide range of voices and free from bias. At Teens in AI, our mission is to empower teens from all backgrounds with the skills and opportunities to explore technology’s potential for social good. With only 29.2% of STEM roles—and a similarly low percentage in AI—occupied by women globally, it’s clear that urgent and focused efforts are needed, particularly to support girls in accessing these spaces. This year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, reflects the urgency of our work and reinforces our commitment to driving meaningful change.“
The IWD2025 Global Techathon will see participants come together from 79 locations around the world from the UK and Europe, across Africa, and the Americas, to Asia and the Middle East! They will immerse themselves in a challenging, hands-on tech experience that allows them to explore careers in AI, Data Science and Design Thinking; and learn how these emerging fields intersect with other industries. This year, in addition to participating in a techathon in their native country, participants from around the world will also have access to selected core skills workshops such as AI Ethics, Design Thinking and Pitching, in English, French, German and Spanish. In 2024, we had techathons delivered in 17 languages across 22 counties.
Sage’s support is vital in driving the success of the IWD campaign, amplifying opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to thrive in AI and technology into their futures. A shining example would be Sheila, an alumna of Teens in AI, began her journey in our programmes and has since hosted two impactful IWD techathons in Tanzania, empowering underserved youth with AI and coding skills. Now a Data Science student and founder of Code Her, she continues to inspire through initiatives like leading Teens in AI Tanzania and creating a decentralised skill-sharing platform. Sheila is just one of the many young people who have used Teens in AI’s programmes as an opportunity to open doors to their future.
With the resounding success of IWD’s inaugural Bootcamp Week in 2024, we have decided to make it a permanent fixture on the roster of experiential learning. Our 2025 event will kick off with Inspiration Week in February (coinciding with ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’), followed by Bootcamp Week later in the month; with the Global Techathons running throughout the month of March (aligning with ‘International Women’s Day’); and in April, a Virtual Panel and International Demo Day, which concludes the programme, on 24 April 2025 (coinciding with ‘International Girls in Information and Communications Technology Day’).
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Teens in AI International Women's Day Flagship Programme
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Teens in AI run annual, distributed Global Techathons inspiring teens aged 12-18 to come together to collaboratively solve a real-world problem through the use of AI and Data Science for social good. This hackathon-style programme encompasses in-person and virtual events, with challenges centred around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
About Teens in AI
Launched in 2018 at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit, Teens in AI is a social impact-driven initiative that inspires teens to explore a future in tech and AI through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences. Since its inception, Teens in AI has been instrumental in guiding over 20,000+ young minds across 97 countries, leading initiatives that resonate with UN Sustainable Development Goals. It provides teens, aged 12 to 18, the platform and knowledge to create AI solutions with societal benefit at their core. They believe in harnessing technology to create a fair world where everyone has equal opportunity to maximise their potential. By encouraging diverse perspectives, Teens in AI acts as a catalyst for change, inspiring the next generation of responsible leaders, innovators, and technologists from all walks of life to shape the world of tomorrow.
For more information please contact:
Media enquiries: Bev Chislett, Head of Marketing, Teens in AI [email protected]
About Sage
Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of small and mid-sized Businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis.
For more information please contact:
Visit Sage’s website for further information: www.sage.com
