Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and our daily lives, yet women are severely underrepresented in AI’s development and use. According to the World Economic Forum, only 22% of AI professionals are female, and even user data of leading AI tools like CHATGPT reinforce this imbalance, with 65% of users being male. This imbalance doesn’t just skew the technology’s evolution; it actively harms women by denying them economic opportunities.
The HeadStart project and the four pan-European partners involved are focused on closing the gender gap in ICT, in particular in AI, and enabling more girls to take advantage of the digital world and the opportunities that lie within. We are committed to empowering young women from an early age, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as youth educators with the essential skills and tools to develop the confidence and competence necessary for thriving careers in AI and digital environments.
Who are the partners involved in this project?
WIDE ANDCO happily coordinated this Erasmus+ project and collaborated with 3 other partners to drive systemic change in AI gender representation:
- Advocates for female empowerment and equality, Momentum is a hard-working Irish educator focused on developing progressive learning programmes (course curriculum and content development) and platforms for education. Momentum also has a strong marketing and dissemination division specialising in brand development, content generation, communication strategies, digital media and social media. they will be managing the HeadStart brand through the project.
- The European E-learning Institute (EUEI) is committed to offering quality learning experiences and innovative educational programs, promoting social cohesion, inclusion, and sustainability in Europe. Their experienced team supports educators in using e-learning and digital tools, specialising in projects covering pedagogical approaches, entrepreneurial competencies, digital skills, inclusion, and sustainability. They will be in charge of creating a resourceful platform to showcase all the resources we will create.
- Inspiring Girls Portugal is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to inspire girls to achieve their aspirations by connecting them with influential women in various professional fields..
The partners were reunited for two days in Galway, Ireland, to get to know each other and discuss the work plan of this two-year project. We had the chance to meet some actors already working in the digital field (Animation, filming, VR etc) while visiting the brand new venue: CREW hub.
For the second day of the meeting, we addressed project management aspects, particularly focusing on supporting the newcomer to Erasmus+ Inspiring Girls. This first meeting was also dedicated to working on our Visual Resource Showcase, featuring 13 interviews with women in AI or using AI as a central tool in their daily professional tasks. The goal is to use impactful storytelling to educate and inspire young women considering AI careers, showcasing diverse paths and challenging gender norms.
A big thank you to Momentum for their warm welcome in Ireland and a big thank you in general to all our partners for their work and efficiency on our meeting!
If you are a woman working in AI or using AI tools daily in your work, don’t hesitate to contact us to contribute to our great project!
Strengthening collaboration: the meeting in Portugal
Midway through the project, partners met in Portugal for an in-person transnational meeting hosted by Inspiring Girls Portugal. This meeting marked an important milestone, allowing the consortium to take stock of progress, strengthen cooperation and collectively shape the next phase of the project.
Beyond coordination and planning, the meeting created space for deeper discussions around inclusion, mentoring approaches and sustainability. Partners reviewed the first versions of the AI Toolbox, shared feedback from their local contexts, and aligned expectations for the upcoming networking and mentoring activities.
The Portugal meeting also reinforced the human dimension of the project. Bringing together organisations working at the intersection of youth work, gender equality and digital education, it strengthened trust within the consortium and reaffirmed the shared commitment to supporting young women in navigating AI-related opportunities.
Connecting people: networking and mentoring activities (WP4)
Work Package 4 focused on creating meaningful connections between young women, professionals and organisations working with AI. Rather than isolated events, the partnership aimed to develop a replicable and sustainable mentoring and networking model that could be reused beyond the project.
The consortium jointly developed a Networking and Mentoring Guide, providing practical guidance on how to organise inclusive mentoring sessions, define roles, prepare participants and ensure a safe and supportive environment. This was complemented by the creation of the HeadStart Directory of Women in AI, designed to increase the visibility of female professionals and facilitate longer-term connections.
Across partner countries, a variety of networking, mentoring and awareness-raising activities were organised, both online and face-to-face. These sessions brought together young women, mentors, youth workers and professionals to discuss AI careers, ethical challenges, personal pathways and real-life experiences in the sector. Some sessions focused on career guidance in small groups, while others emphasised peer exchange, networking and community-building.
A pan-European online mentoring session further strengthened the transnational dimension of WP4, allowing participants from different countries to engage in structured discussions around shared themes, supported by digital tools to capture insights and recommendations.
A collective effort with lasting impact
From inspiration to skills development, from mentoring to community-building, HeadStart was shaped by close cooperation across the consortium. Each partner contributed their expertise and local networks, ensuring that activities remained grounded in real needs while benefiting from a European perspective.
The project’s results (the Visual Resource Showcase, the AI Toolbox, the mentoring framework and the growing network of women in AI) remain openly accessible and reusable. More importantly, HeadStart has helped spark conversations, connections and confidence among young women and educators, contributing to a more inclusive and ethical approach to AI education.
As the project comes to an end, its resources and community continue to offer a strong foundation for future initiatives, partnerships and actions supporting gender equality in AI. Check out https://headstart-ai.eu/
Building skills: the AI Toolbox for Youth Educators (WP3)
While the Visual Resource Showcase focused on inspiration and role models, the next step of the HeadStart journey was about skills, confidence and practice. The partnership developed the AI Toolbox for Youth Educators, a set of practical, activity-based learning resources designed to help youth workers introduce AI topics in an inclusive, engaging and accessible way.
The work started with an online developmental workshop led by EUEI, where all partners collaboratively defined the structure, learning objectives and pedagogical approach of the toolbox. Each organisation then contributed its expertise to the development of individual modules, covering themes such as ethical and responsible AI use, AI tools and confidence-building, AI and the job market, and transversal digital skills.
A strong focus was placed on learning by doing: the modules were designed as ready-to-use session plans, with clear objectives, step-by-step guidance with a learning path, interactive activities and reflection moments. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles were embedded throughout the toolbox to ensure that activities are gender-sensitive and adapted to the realities of young women engaging with AI for the first time.