Interconnected pathways, not standalone courses
FAT's core programmes bring together feminist leadership, technology and STEM education through a long-term learning journey. Together they form the FAT Model — a three-level leadership development framework that enables girls to grow into young women while building technical knowledge, confidence and leadership. Participants are not expected to move through every level; each programme equips them with distinct technical, leadership and community-building skills.
GiSTEMP and YWLP are parallel community-based entry points for girls of different ages, interests and aspirations. The Collectivisation Initiative represents the third level of leadership development. Across all three, we stay committed to feminist facilitation, participatory learning, safe and accessible community spaces, long-term engagement, and placing participants at the centre.
Pathways into Level 3
Participants from GiSTEMP and YWLP Level 1 who wish to continue transition into CI through a Bridge Course, which provides a shared foundation in STEM and technical skills.
Participants from the communities FAT operates in join CI through a selection process.
Young women from partner organisations who have demonstrated leadership in their own communities can join CI Level 3 via the same Bridge Course.
Together, these programmes create a continuous cycle: participants become facilitators, facilitators become collective leaders, and collective leaders nurture the next generation of girls while shaping the future of FAT itself.
Girls in STEM (GiSTEMP)
GiSTEMP addresses a specific barrier: the internalised belief — held by girls, families and communities alike — that science, engineering and mathematics are not for girls. Our approach does not just teach STEM skills; it simultaneously dismantles the gender beliefs that would prevent girls from using or building on those skills.
Community Jugaad Labs
Rooted in the spirit of jugaad — creative problem-solving and learning by doing — Level 1 encourages girls to experiment, ask questions and solve real-world problems without fear of failure.
It opens with a three-month Literacy Bridge Course to strengthen the reading and numeracy needed for what follows. Over two years, participants explore science, technology and engineering through practical projects reinforcing Grades 5–8 learning, alongside discussions on gender stereotypes, identity and aspirations, plus foundational digital literacy.
Community exhibitions at the end of each year let girls showcase their projects to families, community members and local stakeholders.
Girls' Makerspaces
Level 2 deepens STEM learning through design, experimentation and creative problem-solving with a range of technical tools and digital resources.
It aims to foster innovation, collaboration and pathways into emerging and informal STEM careers, encouraging participants to apply their learning to real-world challenges. Currently under development as part of FAT's evolving programme model.
Young Women Leadership Programme
FAT's flagship and longest-running programme, launched in 2010. It combines digital and technology education with feminist leadership development, enabling participants to build confidence, critical consciousness and collective leadership while navigating an increasingly digital world.
Community Tech Centres
Safe, accessible community learning spaces where girls build digital skills alongside feminist leadership. Over one year, participants develop foundational computer and technology skills, software proficiency and digital storytelling while exploring identity, gender, rights, relationships and wellbeing. Comprehensive sexuality education is woven throughout.
Learning is rooted in participatory, feminist facilitation. Rather than classrooms with teachers and students, Tech Centres bring together facilitators and participants who learn collaboratively — participants shape discussions and collectively influence the direction of their learning.
Peer Support Groups
Level 2 strengthens collective leadership by supporting young women to use media and technology for community engagement and advocacy.
Participants build advanced technical skills through photography, radio and filmmaking while learning to design and implement community campaigns, facilitate peer learning and support one another. Currently being redesigned and will be introduced in a future phase.
Collectivisation Initiative
The third level of the FAT Model and the programme that connects FAT's participant community with its organisational future — a leadership development programme for young women committed to becoming the facilitators, mentors and collective leaders who sustain FAT's work in their communities.
It emerged from years of learning: while Community Tech Centres created vibrant spaces for girls to learn and organise, long-term community ownership could not be sustained through external implementation alone. The strongest outcomes came when young women who had themselves participated took on leadership in their own communities.
Beyond leadership training
Participants develop the knowledge and experience to facilitate programmes, mentor younger participants, strengthen democratic collective processes and gradually take responsibility for programme implementation in their communities.
Sustaining a livelihood
The programme introduces organisational management, resource mobilisation and social entrepreneurship — recognising that young women need pathways to sustain both their leadership and their livelihoods while building community institutions.
Current cohorts
This model continues to evolve. FAT is actively learning from each cohort, refining the curriculum and strengthening the practical pathways through which young women build independent, community-led collectives and sustain Community Tech Centres over the long term.
See where the learning happens.
Our programmes run in Community Tech Centres, Jugaad Labs and Makerspaces built with the communities they serve.