Editor,

THE NEWS about women representatives from top Silicon Valley-based tech companies who are due in Kigali for the launch of a girl-child empowerment programme is a positive development, and an encouragement to the tech-savvy young women of Rwanda.

Over the years, though girls have been ambitious, they have lacked role models and mentors who would encourage them and show them that it is possible for them to go beyond humanity subjects. 

The programme will bring together Rwandan girls and women who are going places thanks to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

The idea of having young girls taken to global tech firms to get first-hand experience is a model that other sectors should replicate.

With that, girls can have an idea beforehand of what they would like to pursue and focus on early enough. 

It is also very encouraging to see women who have made it in technology fields give back to the community in such ways without expecting anything in return. The women spearheading the initiative have probably realised that they cannot leave it into policymakers’ hands to reach out to young girls.

It is probably time we saw the Ministry of Education playing a more active role in encouraging more girls to take up technology-related courses. 

Lately, there have been a lot of emphasis on getting girls on to the ICT ‘bandwagon’ forgetting that there are other sectors in science that need to be developed as well. There are plenty of opportunities in technology that should be explored too.

Edward Rubega, Rwanda

Reaction to the story, "Silicon Valley women gurus inspire Rwandans” (The New Times, January 27)