Lori Castenada is only 16, but she’s already developing an affordable vacuum to help reduce air quality issues.

She’s a member of Do it Yourself Girls, and says she won’t let any barriers stop her from her dreams.

“I come from immigrant parents. I’m from a low-income community, so if I make it big, and be a bio-engineer, I feel like that will be adding diversity to the topic itself," she said. "Because I feel like it’s mostly men, not Hispanic, so for me to be the complete opposite, I will be adding something new."

Women represent only a quarter of the tech workforce in the nation, but DIY Girls is dedicated to changing those numbers.

Lori is one of nearly 900 students with DIY Girls. The SoCal based nonprofit and after school program aims to provide girls with more access to training and networking in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

“The program striked my loved for engineering so now I know that I like building, I like creating something out of nothing," said Lori. "So DIY Girls has influenced me, and has had a really big impact on what I want to do with my life. So, yeah I’m really grateful for DIY.”

As a future engineer, she says being in male-dominated atmospheres is common, but refining her vision with other girls that have a similar passion is increasing her confidence and excitement.

“I love the whole idea because we do need more girls in tech. That’s the foundation of DIY Girls,” she said.

The program’s facilitator at San Fernando High School says the most unique part of DIY Girls is not just the skills training, but the fact that they’re creating solutions to better serve humanity.

“To see students inspired, doing things for the community, for no reason other than the fact that they are helping their community. They’re not doing it for a grade," she said.

"They’re staying here till 5:30 p.m. and I’m just honored and pleased to be at their company,” said Violet Mardirosian, a teacher at San Fernando High School. 

As for Lori, her goal as a future engineer is to help low-income communities, and her inventions are already well on their way to doing just that.

Lori Castenada is only sixteen, but she’s already developing an affordable vacuum to help reduce air quality issues.

 

She’s a member of Do it Yourself Girls, and says she won’t let any barriers stop her from her dreams.

“I come from immigrant parents. I’m from a low income community, so if I make it big, and be a Bio Engineer, I feel like that will be adding diversity to the topic itself, because I feel like it’s mostly men, not Hispanic, so for me to be the complete opposite, I will be adding something new,” Castenada said.

 

Women represent only a quarter of the tech workforce in the nation, but DIY Girls is dedicated to changing those numbers.

 

Castenada is one of nearly 900 students with DIY Girls. The nonprofit and after school program aims to provide girls with more access to training and networking in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

 

“The program striked my loved for engineering so now I know that I like building, I like creating something out of nothing. So DIY Girls has influenced me, and has had a really big impact on what I want to do with my life. So, yeah I’m really grateful for DIY.”

 

As a future engineer, she says being in male dominated atmospheres is common, but refining her vision with other girls that have a similar passion is increasing her confidence and excitement.

 

“I love the whole idea because we do need more girls in tech. That’s the foundation of DIY Girls,” she said.

 

The program’s facilitator at San Fernando High School says the most unique part of DIY Girls is not just the skills training, but the fact that they’re creating solutions to better serve humanity.

 

“To see students inspired, doing things for the community, for no reason other than the fact that they are helping their community. They’re not doing it for a grade. They’re staying here till 5:30PM and I’m just honored and pleased to be at their company,” Violet Mardirosian said.

 

As for Lori, her goal as a future engineer is to help low income communities, and her inventions are already well on their way to doing just that.

Lori Castenada is only sixteen, but she’s already developing an affordable vacuum to help reduce air quality issues.

 

She’s a member of Do it Yourself Girls, and says she won’t let any barriers stop her from her dreams.

“I come from immigrant parents. I’m from a low income community, so if I make it big, and be a Bio Engineer, I feel like that will be adding diversity to the topic itself, because I feel like it’s mostly men, not Hispanic, so for me to be the complete opposite, I will be adding something new,” Castenada said.

 

Women represent only a quarter of the tech workforce in the nation, but DIY Girls is dedicated to changing those numbers.

 

Castenada is one of nearly 900 students with DIY Girls. The nonprofit and after school program aims to provide girls with more access to training and networking in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

 

“The program striked my loved for engineering so now I know that I like building, I like creating something out of nothing. So DIY Girls has influenced me, and has had a really big impact on what I want to do with my life. So, yeah I’m really grateful for DIY.”

 

As a future engineer, she says being in male dominated atmospheres is common, but refining her vision with other girls that have a similar passion is increasing her confidence and excitement.

 

“I love the whole idea because we do need more girls in tech. That’s the foundation of DIY Girls,” she said.

 

The program’s facilitator at San Fernando High School says the most unique part of DIY Girls is not just the skills training, but the fact that they’re creating solutions to better serve humanity.

 

“To see students inspired, doing things for the community, for no reason other than the fact that they are helping their community. They’re not doing it for a grade. They’re staying here till 5:30PM and I’m just honored and pleased to be at their company,” Violet Mardirosian said.

 

As for Lori, her goal as a future engineer is to help low income communities, and her inventions are already well on their way to doing just that.

Lori Castenada is only sixteen, but she’s already developing an affordable vacuum to help reduce air quality issues.

 

She’s a member of Do it Yourself Girls, and says she won’t let any barriers stop her from her dreams.

“I come from immigrant parents. I’m from a low income community, so if I make it big, and be a Bio Engineer, I feel like that will be adding diversity to the topic itself, because I feel like it’s mostly men, not Hispanic, so for me to be the complete opposite, I will be adding something new,” Castenada said.

 

Women represent only a quarter of the tech workforce in the nation, but DIY Girls is dedicated to changing those numbers.

 

Castenada is one of nearly 900 students with DIY Girls. The nonprofit and after school program aims to provide girls with more access to training and networking in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

 

“The program striked my loved for engineering so now I know that I like building, I like creating something out of nothing. So DIY Girls has influenced me, and has had a really big impact on what I want to do with my life. So, yeah I’m really grateful for DIY.”

 

As a future engineer, she says being in male dominated atmospheres is common, but refining her vision with other girls that have a similar passion is increasing her confidence and excitement.

 

“I love the whole idea because we do need more girls in tech. That’s the foundation of DIY Girls,” she said.

 

The program’s facilitator at San Fernando High School says the most unique part of DIY Girls is not just the skills training, but the fact that they’re creating solutions to better serve humanity.

 

“To see students inspired, doing things for the community, for no reason other than the fact that they are helping their community. They’re not doing it for a grade. They’re staying here till 5:30PM and I’m just honored and pleased to be at their company,” Violet Mardirosian said.

 

As for Lori, her goal as a future engineer is to help low income communities, and her inventions are already well on their way to doing just that.

Lori Castenada is only sixteen, but she’s already developing an affordable vacuum to help reduce air quality issues.

 

She’s a member of Do it Yourself Girls, and says she won’t let any barriers stop her from her dreams.

“I come from immigrant parents. I’m from a low income community, so if I make it big, and be a Bio Engineer, I feel like that will be adding diversity to the topic itself, because I feel like it’s mostly men, not Hispanic, so for me to be the complete opposite, I will be adding something new,” Castenada said.

 

Women represent only a quarter of the tech workforce in the nation, but DIY Girls is dedicated to changing those numbers.

 

Castenada is one of nearly 900 students with DIY Girls. The nonprofit and after school program aims to provide girls with more access to training and networking in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

 

“The program striked my loved for engineering so now I know that I like building, I like creating something out of nothing. So DIY Girls has influenced me, and has had a really big impact on what I want to do with my life. So, yeah I’m really grateful for DIY.”

 

As a future engineer, she says being in male dominated atmospheres is common, but refining her vision with other girls that have a similar passion is increasing her confidence and excitement.

 

“I love the whole idea because we do need more girls in tech. That’s the foundation of DIY Girls,” she said.

 

The program’s facilitator at San Fernando High School says the most unique part of DIY Girls is not just the skills training, but the fact that they’re creating solutions to better serve humanity.

 

“To see students inspired, doing things for the community, for no reason other than the fact that they are helping their community. They’re not doing it for a grade. They’re staying here till 5:30PM and I’m just honored and pleased to be at their company,” Violet Mardirosian said.

 

As for Lori, her goal as a future engineer is to help low income communities, and her inventions are already well on their way to doing just that.