Imane Berchane, first Moroccan woman named Obama Scholar

Imane Berchane, co-founder of Robots & More and LOOP For Science & Technology, has been selected to join the seventh cohort of Obama Scholars, which includes 30 emerging global leaders. As part of this Obama Foundation initiative, Berchane will spend the 2024-2025 academic year at either Columbia University in New York City or the University of Chicago.

«Imane Berchane is a tech social entrepreneur and STEM advocate, and Techwomen alumna working to advance gender and social equality across Africa. Leveraging her private education technology business and nonprofit organization, Imane aims to provide underserved students with future-proof skills through access to STEM education», states the program’s announcement.

Berchane previously collaborated with Morocco’s Ministry of National Education and international partners to introduce STEM programs in over 180 schools, train 500 teachers, and boost girls' participation in these programs to over 50%, the release highlights.

With her organizations having already impacted more than 21,000 people, Berchane continues to receive requests for the program. She plans to support the reformulation of visions and strategies, develop new funding models, and form partnerships to expand the programs within existing communities and extend their reach across Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire.

The Obama Scholars program, launched in 2018, is a key part of the Obama Foundation’s mission to nurture the next generation of leaders. The program equips participants with practical skills, tools, and experiences to maximize their impact when they return to their communities.

Throughout the academic year, scholars will engage in academic, skills-based, and experiential learning opportunities organized by Columbia University and the University of Chicago in collaboration with the Obama Foundation.