Penplusbytes,
in partnership with STEMbees have started the training of girls in the use of
Information communications technology (ICT) at the ultra-modern New Media Hub
facility in Accra as part of efforts to support the promotion of ICT among
girls and young females.
The
training programme is a roll out on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Penplusbytes,
STEMbees and the South Labone Girls Vocational Training Centre in June this
year.
Daily
Express gathered that the training programme seeks to contribute to redressing
the gender divide that has less women in ICT skills development and use, and
empower women and girls to also leverage on ICT and its many benefits.
Having
held training sessions to kick start the programme last week, the training
scheme is designed to introduce each batch of 20 girls to the basics of ICT
skills acquisition for 4 weeks per batch with personnel from Penplusbytes and
STEMbees offering free skills training, mentoring and practical capacity
building in ICT for the about 200 estimated girls over the next 10 months.
ICTs
hold a huge potential in the process to addressing the challenges of
sustainable development at all levels of Ghana’s economy and placing women be
at the center of this process is only but a natural course of action. This is
however, yet to happen with women often sidelined from ICT policy and
initiatives.
“Envisioning
a society where women enjoy equal Internet access and rights hinges on opening
up opportunities for information and communications technologies to more women,”
said the organizers.
Stressing
on his organization's commitment to backing efforts to help girls to take
advantage of the advancements in ICT, Mr. Kwami Ahiabenu, II, Executive
Director of Penplusbytes said, “Currently, women are the more marginalized in
accessing ICT compared to men and failure to get them in on its rudiments to
enhance their businesses and livelihood would only mean an expansion of an
already unpleasant gender gap.”
According
to Lady Omega Hammond, a facilitator of the training from STEMbees, they are
motivated to give other girls what they have also earned in the ICT sphere by
encouraging them to be bold, curious and never doubt their own ability to change
things for the better.
“This
is exactly what excites us about what we’ve committed to doing with these girls
and their seriousness so far is enough to assure us of achieving our aim,” she
added.
Credit: sarpong's.blogspot.com
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