We continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day with the theme that goes, "Equal access to education, training, and science and technology: A pathway to decent work for women.”

Promoting equality is not only a matter of human rights but also makes good economic sense. From childhood, girls are taught that they are not meant to take up tough tasks or challenging jobs.

When it comes to choosing subjects at school, they are discouraged from pursuing science subjects with the notion that they are not good at these subjects.

Empowering women and girls goes beyond the intrinsic value of women and has profound impacts on families, communities and national economies. Since education is the key to greater empowerment, investing in girls’ education will have a positive multiplier effect on the well-being of their families, their communities, and nations.

Nations cannot move forward without assisting and encouraging women to study and become professionals in the fields of Science and Technology as this involvement is one of the major ways toward development.
 
Only through women’s participation in all areas of public and private life can we hope to achieve a sustainable, peaceful and just society.

The author is Miss East Africa 2009, Founder and Chairperson of Miss East Africa 2009 Foundation.