Melissa Monge is a social entrepreneur and a passionate believer in collaboration to create social impact. She co-founded Ideas en Acción in 2013, an NGO that aims to prepare youth for a purposeful 4th Industrial Revolution and offers transformative experiences to advance towards a better society. As Ideas en Acción´s Executive Director, she mainly works on programs empowering women in tech and STEAM, and use of technology for education and entrepreneurial mentorship. She has a degree from the Universidad de Costa Rica in Communications with a Public Relations emphasis. Melissa believes in the power of youth and aspires to generate true social impact at a large scale.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Niñas Superpoderosas Podcast

The Niñas Superpoderosas Podcast motivated 123 young girls from 7 to 10 years old to learn and be excited about STEAM, highlight leaders and how they can use STEAM superpowers for a better world. Parents also learned about the opportunities in STEAM and the importance of supporting and motivating their daughters in a male dominated industry. The podcast showcased 8 episodes that invited girls on a journey through science and technology, while they learned about other amazing women, all as a way of empowerment for their future. The podcast listening events were complemented by hands-on activities in engineering, arts, and science. This effort was directed at closing the gender gap and promoting interest in young girls to pursue a career in science and technology. You can listen to the podcast here.

Melissa also moderated the IVLP Impact Awards Alumni Discussion Series panel on “Youth & STEM,” which you can read more about here.

"My daughter was very happy to be a part of this workshop and wants to keep coming back to learn and play. She says she wants to be an engineer" – Parent of Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Melissa participated in the IVLP Project Hidden No More: Empowering Women Leaders in STEM, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360, in partnership with International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles, WorldChicago and Gulf Coast Diplomacy.

Melissa's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "Understanding the power of storytelling, the power of starting at a young age and the need to fight the 'dream gap' in girls in order to encourage more women in STEAM was something I knew but more profoundly understood after my IVLP experience, thanks to my fellow participants, amazing women who inspired me with their personal and professional stories."

U.S. Communities Visited

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Pensacola, FL; Chicago, IL

Country: Costa Rica

Click here to go back to the IVLP Impact Awards Main Page