Special 10 Year Anniversary Celebration of International Girls in ICT Day
Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures!
On Girls in ICT Day– marked annually on the fourth Thursday in April – the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is highlighting the need to promote technology career opportunities for girls and women in the world’s fastest growing sector.
ITU estimates a skills shortfall of over two million jobs in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector within the next five years. Girls and young women who learn coding, apps development and computer science will not only be well-placed for a successful career in the ICT sector, but ICT skills are rapidly becoming a strong advantage for students in just about any other field they might choose to pursue.
“Girls in ICT Day reminds us that ICTs help to improve the lives of people everywhere – through better health care, better environmental management, better communications, and better educational systems that transform the way children and adults learn,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, in a press release.
“ICT professionals work on some of the most exciting projects imaginable. […] Girls with ICT skills can expect to earn good salaries and enjoy plenty of career opportunities,” he added.
According to the agency, the Day serves to inspire both government and the private sector to find ways to equip girls and young women with the skills they need to become ICT professionals.
“Empowering girls to choose a career in ICTs is not just good for girls and their families, it can be a major accelerator of socio-economic development at the national level,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, which leads the global Girls in ICT Day campaign..
The agency is also highlighting the stories of women role models, such as Chali Tumelo, ITU Representative for Southern Africa, who says she is inspired by the challenges of the evolving industry.
2021 Theme: Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures
While girls across the world tend to outperform boys in reading and writing skills, they continue to be under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Through International Girls in ICT Day, we work with partners build awareness about the gender digital divide, support technology education and skills training, and encourage more girls and young women to actively pursue careers in STEM.
Join the international celebration!
Join the Celebration around International Girls in ICT Day this 22nd of April
Be part of the Girls in ICT Campaign. Complete the sentence: “#GirlsinICT are… “ and email it to girlsinict@itu.int along with a picture of yourself with your favourite digital device. The best pictures will be published on our website on the International Girls in ICT Day.
Thinking of organizing an event yourself? Here is the toolkit
ITU Podcast
Stay UNconnected: follow the podcast by Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Engaging in one-to-one conversation, the series provides rich insights to bridge the digital gender divide and overcome barriers with the transformative power of ICTs.
Check out the brand new episode of ‘The UNconnected’ with NASA trainee astronaut and astrobiology student Alyssa Carson sharing her dreams and thoughts on female role models.
Source: ITU
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