Advertisement
The
government’s
‘
Girls
in
ICT
initiative
(GIICT)
has
just
received
a
boost
with
the
establishment
of
a
Trust.
The
Minister
for
Communications
and
Digitalisation,
Mrs.
Ursula
Owusu-Ekuful
on
Wednesday
launched
the
Ghana
Girls
in
ICT
Trust,
a
not-for-profit
organization,
built
on
12
years
of
lessons
learned
and
experiences
in
regional
activation
of
ITU’s
GIICT
day
initiative.
Developing
training
and
support
systems
in
all
16
regions,
the
Trust
will
deliver
a
pipeline
of
more
than
9000
young
women
every
year.
According
to
the
sector
Minister,
the
Trust
is
created
out
of
the
desire
of
the
Ministry
of
Communications
and
Digitalisation
to
offer
more
girls
a
more
in-depth
training,
with
age
appropriate
content,
and
a
developmental
curriculum.
Accompanying
the
Minister
was
a
host
of
Professors
from
the
University
of
Ghana,
Chiefs
and
representatives
from
the
Africa-
America
Disaporan
community.
The
event
proceeded
a
two-day
mentorship
programme
aimed
at
inspiring
elementary
school
girls
to
pursue
careers
in
technology.
This
regional
installment,
part
of
a
broader
national
effort,
was
held
at
the
Cedi
Conference
Centre
at
the
University
of
Ghana,
under
the
theme
“Leadership,”
and
brought
together
over
a
thousand
young
participants
eager
to
learn
about
opportunities
in
the
ICT
sector.
Speaking
at
the
Climax
ceremony
of
the
Greater
Accra
Region
edition
of
the
Girls
in
ICT
Initiative,
the
Minister
noted,
‘We
thought
of
the
value
that
global
interaction
and
best
practice
competitive
content
would
add
to
their
training.
We
also
thought
of
the
difference
a
long
term
relationship
with
a
role
model
working
in
ICT
or
STEM
could
make’.
Designed
to
take
world
class
best
practice
training
and
mentoring
to
girls
between
18
and
22
where
they
live
and
go
to
school
the
Trust
will
develop
face
to
face
and
online
training
programming
offered
to
young
women
out
of
Community
ICT
labs
serving
their
communities.
Specifically,
the
Trust
will
be
a
permanent
resource;
introducing
girls
to
ICT
in
primary
school,
offering
certifiable
learning/training
opportunities
in
secondary,
and
providing
support
and
guidance
to
secure
career
opportunities
in
stem
at
the
tertiary
level
.
It
will
create
a
network
of
girl/woman
friendly
labs
staffed
by
trained
and
fully
resourced
experts
offering
ICT
access,
subsidized
or
free
certified
training
opportunities,
and
a
team
of
manager
trainers”.
She
stressed.
To
achieve
this
goal,
the
Ministry
of
Communication
will
focus
on
promoting
an
enabling
environment,
working
with
corporate
representatives,
community
leaders
and
gate
keepers,
civil
society
to
modify
the
narratives,
opportunities,
and
frameworks
to
be
more
supportive
of
females
in
STEM.
BREAKDOWN
OF
BENEFICIARIES
Annually,
the
trust
will
impact
5000
primary-level
girls
from
(8
–11
years
old)
annually
exposed
to
ICT
and
ICT
opportunities,
also
informed
about
resources
available
to
them
via
internet.
Three
thousand
(3,
000)
secondary
level
girls
from
the
ages
of
(13
–18
years
old)
annually
certified
in
coding,
cyber
security,
exposed
to
age-appropriate
ICT
related
skills,
and
engaged
with
role
models
in
ICT
and
STEM
and
One
thousand
(1000)
tertiary
level
girls
from
(18
and
above)
annually
paired
with
a
mentor,
placed
in
a
STEM
internship,
short-term
or
full-time
position,
applying
for
graduate
level
programs
in
STEM,
or
positions
in
STEM.
Virtual
mentoring
platform
bringing
GIICT
graduates
and
participants
together
with
supportive
role
models.
A
Cohort
of
32
Master
trainers
tasked
to
tour
the
country
to
recruit,
train,
and
support
staff
trainers
will
also
be
an
addition
from
the
programme.
Some
150
staff
trainers
would
be
trained
annually
to
provide
training
to
girls
in
schools
whiles
another
50
ICT
hubs
will
be
created
or
upgraded
annually
to
offer
female
friendly
services,
support,
and
guidance.