UN's Office for Outer Space Selects Canadian Future Astronaut as the Youngest Role Model to Promote STEM and Gender Equality Globally

TORONTO, June 19, 2020 /CNW/ - The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) selected Canadian Teen Future Astronaut, Zainab Azim, as a Mentor for the Space4Women Network. Zainab was chosen from a global pool of highly qualified candidates for the inaugural cohort.

The outspoken activist and university student is leading the charge to encourage girls to pursue STEM fields while advocating for access to education for all. Space4Women is an initiative of UNOOSA to promote gender equality and empowerment within the space and STEM industry. The Space4Women initiative includes a mentoring platform that advocates for women of all ages. Zainab is among space industry leaders and professionals who serve as role models by sharing their expertise and experiences while inspiring girls to be actively involved in the space and STEM field. She is also the co-founder of G.I.V.E - Global Initiative and Vision for Education, which aims to provide access to quality education, in addition to innovating a 21st century educational model.

Zainab has been an inspirational speaker and educational panelist at many international events and conferences, including the co-chair of the 2020 World Affairs Conference, Toronto, Canada. She was the protagonist at the 83rd edition of Campionaria Generale Internazionale in Bari, Italy, where she was personally praised as a great ambassador by the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, and an inspirational speaker at two other international conferences last year in Puglia by the Technological Aerospace Cluster (DTA). Zainab was a special guest speaker at the inaugural United Nations World Space Forum: Access to Space4All in Vienna, Austria, and she was welcomed by Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of UNOOSA, last fall at the 27th Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits in Washington, DC.

Zainab says it was her involvement in 2015 at the inaugural Space Girls Space Women Exhibition in Paris, France, that further ignited her commitment to support opportunities for women and girls in STEM and space. "It was a privilege to be invited to share my passion for pursuing excellence while inspiring girls around the world to pursue their dreams," she said.  "As a Space4Women Network member, I will continue using my platform to connect young women with mentors in STEM field, and also highlighting the importance of access to quality education for all."

As the world's youngest Future Astronaut to fly with Virgin Galactic, Zainab is looking forward to inspiring others as she fulfills her dream of space exploration. As UNOOSA's Space4Women Mentor, Zainab will be collaborating to develop STEM based solutions for access to education in developing areas in conjunction with her organization, G.I.V.E.

Zainab's accomplishments have been historically featured in the media nationally and internationally, including: Time Magazine, Bloomberg, CBC, CTV, CHCH and CityNews. She continues to be a highly sought-after inspirational speaker with numerous engagements throughout the world.

SOURCE G.I.V.E.(Global Initiative and Vision for Education)