Broadening Participation Winners 2026

Through the Broadening Participation Grant, the IEEE Computer Society has had the privilege of supporting emerging communities as they use technology to inspire success and new generations of innovators. The Broadening Participation Grant is unique among STEM outreach programs in that it has an international focus, extending opportunities to many who have little exposure to computing or advanced technology.

IEEE Computer Society grants for educators provide STEM access in rural areas and empower educators through technology. The 2026 cohort carries the torch for another year, with five projects focused on global computing education that combine community empowerment and sustainable technology for social good.

Empowering Underserved Teachers with Scratch for Interactive Science and Social Studies Teaching (Indonesia)

This project arms female teachers in Indonesia with digital skills using a hybrid online mentoring and in-person teaching workshop. Students will master Scratch and design interactive science and social studies modules.

The initiative will benefit more than 400 students, who will have the chance to engage more deeply with the lessons. The project also incorporates a peer-support network and offline toolkits — both of which foster longer-term collaboration and the continued success of the project.

From Blackout to Breakthrough: A Solar-Powered STEM Hub (Nigeria)

This initiative, which will take place in rural Nigeria, will give the area a solar-powered STEM lab and training hub. This will provide many children with their first exposure to digital tools. The program targets 300 girls each year, providing them with coding, STEM mentorship programs, and AI literacy.

The program also incorporates a “train the trainer” component and partnerships with the local community, which sets the stage for ongoing, self-sustaining benefits.

Promoting Broad Participation in ICT Education in Nomadic Primary School, Umugakwo (Nigeria)

This project is particularly unique in that it empowers nomadic children to innovate with digital tools using a solar-powered computer lab. Even when moving from one location to another, students will be able to learn to master digital tools.

Teachers will get training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) pedagogy, so they can boost student engagement with lesson content and the tech they are learning to use.

The BrightRoots Empowerment Initiative will support the initiative and is poised to set the stage for long-term rural ICT education.

Digital T-Disha: Empowering Rural Telangana Through Computing for Social Good (India)

The goal of Digital T-Disha stands out among IEEE Computer Society humanitarian projects because it promotes digital inclusion and equity for youth, educators, and women in computing in rural Telangana, India.

Like other IEEE global initiatives, it provides digital literacy in underserved communities, but with a unique twist: The program includes a Code for Telangana hackathon. Participants will also experience digital boot camps and gain access to tech toolkits.

Empowering Kargrachari Youth (Bangladesh)

Empowering Kargrachari Youth, like other coding-for-kids initiatives, aims to address poverty and unemployment by providing tech education for marginalized youth. The initiative will teach over 50 indigenous youth how to code and use AI using a solar-powered training facility.

As part of their sustainable technology education, participants will form a youth-led tech club, which will continue to foster an innovation culture in the area.

Shaping the Future with Community-Based Computing Projects

IEEE STEM outreach gives unique opportunities to people in developing areas that they may otherwise have to wait several years to experience. In this way, IEEE Computer Society education programs shape the future — by bringing computing to grant recipients and their communities.

Volunteer, check out the previous years' winners, apply for the next cycle, or share your impact story today.