Today is the international girls in ICT day. This day is observed annually on the fourth Thursday of April and this year on April 24.  International girls in ICT day was established by the International Telecommunication Union ITU. The day is an initiative of the plenipotentiary resolution by the member states of the International Telecommunication Union to create programs that encourage girls and young women to consider studies and careers in information and communication technologies.

This year’s theme is ‘Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation. This theme emphasizes the need to ensure that girls are part of the digital world and can benefit from technology equally and it raises awareness about the need to support more girls in getting involved in stem fields Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.The primary purpose and goal of the international girls in ICT day is toaddress the gender digital divide and increase the representative of women and girls in ICT fieldsbreaking gender stereotypes associated with science technology engineering and mathematicsCreate access to digital skills, mentorships and internship opportunities for girls and young women. The international telecommunication union collaborates with various partners including Government’s NGOs and the private sector to organize events and activities to celebrate the day.

To support the goals of girls in ICT day, CHRDA organized a two week training program from June – July 2023 that was focused on empowering young people through digital skills. The training gave participants, especially girls the chance to learn useful ICT tools like graphic design and basic Microsoft word. Many who took part shared how the program helped boost their confidence and gave them a push to explore more opportunities in the tech worldThis day serves as a reminder to all girls and young women to pursue ICT education and jobs as the information communications technology business is expanding and female participation would benefit both girls and technology enterprises.

Wondering how to observe international girls in ICT day? Here are some useful tips to enable you start your tech journey

Learn a new tech skill –  start small with using things like basic coding, learning how to create a website , graphic designing or even how to use productivity tools like Excel Canva or Google docs. This helps spark interest and build confidence in tech Explore success stories- watch videos and read articles about women doing amazing work in technology.

Let their journey inspire yoursTake a free online course- use websites like coursera , khan academy or YouTube to learn ICT tools at your own pace.

Talk to a mentor- ask a teacher older student or tech professionals for advice on how to grow your interest in ICT.

Lastly with technology playing a role in all kinds of careers from art and history to law primary teaching and graphic design, learning tech skills at a young age will set up girls for economic independence.