The Internet Society Uganda Chapter conducted a webinar to join the world in celebrating the International Girls in ICT Day, an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) initiative and global movement centered to promote the exciting career opportunities waiting for girls and young women. This year’s theme will be “Access and Safety”
On 8 April 2011, ITU announced the establishment of an international “Girls in ICT Day”, which is held every year on the fourth Thursday in April. Girls around the world gathered on 28 April 2011 to celebrate the first annual international Girls in ICT Day. International Girls in ICT Day draws attention to the critical need for more girls and women in the area of information communication technology (ICT).
The webinar was hosted in partnership with National Information Technology Authority, Fundi Bots, Aydia Gender and Technology Initiative who earmarked concrete conversations regarding creation of activities and opportunities for girls in Uganda.
National Information Technology Authority (NITA) Uganda
Deliberations from this webinar captured key programs that allow participation of girls in ICT related fields. To support this cause, NITA Uganda has provided an enabling environment in terms of laws to address online participation of girls by ensuring legal systems like the Computer Misuse Act of 2011 and as well conducting Cybersecurity awareness to allow reporting e.g online rights abusers and combating child pornography through the Internet Watch Foundation. NITA further went ahead to launch CertUg a platform where citizens can report online abuses for prosecution.
Fundi Bots Uganda.
Fundi bots Uganda acknowledged the acceleration of science learning and technology to increase the innovation of girls in ICT. In its programs, Fundi bots has launched several programs that capture the young girls among which include Fundi at home, Fundi at work, Fundi Girls, Fundi in communities alongside its internship program that natures girls in Technology for an inclusive ICT arena. With regards to mindset change, Fundi Uganda starts its programs in partnership with school children aged 6 years and above to group them in competitions of robotics that center their focus on adopting technology as a key tool in their lives. Being intentional in teaching science and technology to schools is a comprehensive approach to reach more young girls with ICT skills.
Aydia Gender and Technology Initiative
The participation of girls in Technology can be influenced by parental/ career guidance. According to Aydia Gender and Technology Initiative, girls are attracted to careers easier to them citing the existing stereotypes as a major factor in their decisions. The misconceptions hinder the participation of girls in ICT since its perceived to be male dominated. However, many girls lack the knowledge on practicality of ICT systems until they have the experience to come face to face with technology.
Another key challenge for girl’s participation in ICT is attitude, anxiety and lack of knowledge make girls think technology isn’t for them.
Webinar Recommendations
- Accelerating science learning by training more teachers with Technology orientation to mentor girls in ICT.
- Building more partnerships for ICT skills orientation is needed to expand the number of girls benefiting from ICT.
- Information access and creating opportunities for girls needs to be enhanced to increase participation of girls in technology.
The webinar drew participation from all sectors of the economy which included civil society, private sector, academia among others who learnt from the panelists different wats of networking for further engagements,
