Melissa Monge is a social entrepreneur and a passionate believer in collaboration in order 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, use of technology for education and entrepreneurial mentorship, among others. She has a major 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 learn 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 was a participant in the IVLP Project Hidden No More: Empowering Women Leaders in STEM, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360.

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 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