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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com New Providence
International Girls in ICT (Information Communication Technology) Day was first launched in 2011 by the International Telecommunication Union, (ITU) and is celebrated the 4th Thursday of April each year. Around the world more than 150 countries set out to inspire more young women and girls to explore and consider the large array of exciting careers in the fastest growing sector, information communication technology. The Bahamas is a member of the ITU, which is the United Nations agency for telecommunications. ITU views the international recognition of Girls in ICT Day as a global effort to raise awareness of, and to empower and encouraging girls and young women to take another look at the ICT sector. Globally, there is still a gap between the number of females and the number of males who have access to and actually use the internet and, also a decline in the number of females graduating from college with ICT related degrees. In The Bahamas, the local organizing committee recognizes that while young women and girls are active users of ICTs that there is still a lot of work to do to insure that women are not just users of the technology but that they are inspired to pursue studies in STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics), are involved in the creation of ICT content and that they are well represented in the boardrooms of major ICT entities locally and internationally. Since the inception of Girls In ICT Day, more than 177,000 girls and young women have been reached in 150 countries worldwide. The celebration has also amassed more than 5,300 events and offers excellent job prospects, digital skills training and future ICT creators. In observance of Girls in ICT Day, the coordinating committee, led by URCA will again host a one day symposium and trade fair from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, Bay Street for more than 100 senior female students from schools in New Providence and the family islands. The event will be opened by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson. The first celebration of Girls in ICT Day in The Bahamas was held in 2015 and it welcomed students from high schools throughout New Providence for an exciting day of interactive learning. Several students were awarded internships with telecommunications service providers, URCA and other event partners. Students were able to meet and speak with women who are considered pioneers in various disciplines within the Electronic Communications Sector. URCA is especially pleased that this year’s plans for Girls In ICT Day include the participation of family island students from five family islands. Students and guests can expect a power-packed, informative and fun-filled day with leading ladies in the ICT sector representing aviation, meteorology, banking and finance and engineering. Pre Girls in ICT Day media events include two Round Table television shows which will be aired on all local stations. The shows will highlight the journeys of women who work in ICT environments, such as June Collie, Director of The Government’s Information Technology Department, Dr. C. Elizabeth Darville, CEO at Fourth Terrace Diagnostic Center, Dr. Patricia Walters Vice President, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Sue Reinhold, Vice President, Summit Broadband, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cable Bahamas Ltd. Throughout the day, guests will view Vignettes highlighting female movers and shakers in the ICT field including Ramona Wells an outstanding IT teacher, Cable Bahamas employees, Sharmaine Strachan and Ursula Dean, BTC employees Kailei Symonette and Joyann Moxey, and Indiria Clarke of The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. In addition to fun filled student activities led by students, there will also be opportunities for hands on experiences with technical exhibits from participating vendors in the ICT sector.
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