Girls in ICT Day: Rwandan girls embrace tech career

Ten years ago, technology-related disciplines in the country were dominated by males because most girls opted for arts courses at higher levels of institutions. The rational for this include misguided school-age career counselling, the media’s ‘geek’ image of the technology field and a dearth of inspirational female role models.Women are half the world’s population and the world’s talent, but there’s a persistent gender gap in the information and communication technology field.However, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) broke the perception and launched an awareness-raising initiative designed to recognise women’s contribution to the tech industry and promote ICT careers to a new generation of girls with an interest in science and maths.Since its inception in 2010, the global momentum around Girls in ICT Day continues to grow, with 1,300 events organised in 2012, reaching more than 30,000 school-age girls, with around 100 countries taking part in this year’s occasion.Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, ITU and the global technology community observe ‘Girls in ICT Day’.On Thursday, Rwanda joined the rest of the world to mark the Day, in an event held at Lycée Notre Dame des Citeaux School, under the theme “Expanding Horizons and Changing Attitudes.”The day started with a group of high school students touring several tech innovation stands showcased at the event, to explore visions of digital future.“I am inspired to pursue technology as my future career because the world today is going digital. It’s time for us girls to be engineers, pilots and successful technology innovators,” Diana Musabyimana, a senior six student at Fawe Girls School, told The New Times at the event to mark Girls in ICT Day.The 18-year-old who is offering Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, plans to do telecommunication engineering at the university.Musabyimana, along with a group of about 100 students from six secondary schools in Kigali, had an interactive discussion with some of the leading women in ICT in the country. The students were urged to ponder why choose ICT career and what makes one a successful woman in technology sector, among other issues.InspirationRwanda’s first female pilot Esther Mbabazi was at the centre of attention from girls aspiring to be pilots in the future.Mbabazi, with a group called Girls in ICT Rwanda, which consists of women of all ages working in the field of ICT, explained how they considered a career in technology. They told the youngsters a catalytic role a tech career can play in creating exciting, far-reaching opportunities for women.“I am passionate about technology, even when I was in primary school, computer courses were my focus. I am very happy to have met the women who have managed to be technology experts. They are the source of my inspiration,” said Sandra Akaliza, a senior four student at Gashora Girls School.The 16 year old AKaliza, who is currently doing Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science, vowed to work hard to realise her tech dream.At the celebration, students participated in a challenge to look for possible solutions that would enable girls in rural Rwanda access ICT.How to do itThe students with the best ideas won the competition. Nu-Vision High School emerged the best, with Gashora Girls’ School and Lycée Notre Dame des Citeaux in the second and third position, respectively.“Find what is needed and what you love. I chose to be a pilot because I knew there were few pilots and Rwanda had its own airline,” Mbabazi said. “Girls will be more likely to pursue careers in ICT if they believe they can succeed.”Paula Saphir Helene, the senior network security engineer at Rwanda Development Board, said: “Stereotypes about girls represent them as less interested in subjects like mathematics and science. We should break this perception. I joined ICT field because I wanted to challenge males and I am proud of what I am today.”Several Rwandan women have made it in ICT. For instance, local ICT companies such as HeHe Ltd, OSCA Connect Ltd and the Shaking Sun, among others, have been founded by women.“It’s a very powerful and rewarding career that can help in transforming people’s lives. It needs one to be hard-working, confident and innovative to realise a career in technology,” said Jean Phibert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth and ICT.“I encourage girls to embrace this profession because, it’s not written anywhere, that it has to be a male dominated field.”Nsengimana said government is looking forward to seeing a dramatic change in the coming years, as more and more girls study tech subjects, acquire degrees in technology and pursue tech careers.Oda Gasinzigwa, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, said, “It’s important to break the existing stereotypes that technology careers are ‘too hard’ for girls, or ‘unfeminine.”According to ITU, only 21 of the Fortune 500 companies are run by women. There are only 16 women ICT ministers out of ITU’s 193 member states, and only 10 of the world’s 160 independent ICT regulatory authorities are headed by women.Geena Davis, ITU’s special envoy for Women and Girls, said: “Events like Girls in ICT Day are important in engaging and inspiring girls to explore careers in technology.” The Academy Award-winning actress and advocate added: “We want to empower them to be whoever they want to be, and reach their full potential.”

National

Girls in ICT Day: Rwandan girls embrace tech career