International Girls in ICT Day was celebrated yesterday 27th April 2017 around the globe at hundreds of events showcasing the technological skills of girls and young women.
The day highlights the value of women in the field of information and communications technology (ICT), and seeks to encourage more girls to plan for a career in this expanding field.
Today is the international commemoration of #GirlsinICT. She Codes for Change is dedicated to increase girls’ participation in STEAM & ICT pic.twitter.com/4fgCaAOKmv
— She Codes For Change (@SheCodes4Change) April 27, 2017
The day is organized annually by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the leading United Nations agency for telecommunications and ICTs. A highlight of this year’s event was a virtual international meetup of girls in Geneva, Vilnius and Beirut through a shared game application and video link. This enabled them to explore ICT together in an interactive format in real-time.
The girls demonstrated new digital skills they learned in activities leading up to Girls in ICT Day and had the opportunity to meet women mentors from the tech sector. In Vilnius, the girls enjoyed a robotics workshop, practical demonstrations of virtual and augmented reality, and witnessed a presentation of winning projects from Lithuania’s biggest annual robotics and technology competition, ROBOTIADA.
“The important value that young women bring to ICTs was showcased today at hundreds of hands-on Girls in ICT Day events organized around the globe,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “ITU hopes that Girls in ICT Day will continue to introduce more girls to ICTs and to the real opportunities that exist for them in this innovative and expanding field.”
Other key events also took place around the world:
Students learning how to build a CPU @OURGirlsinICT Day event now on at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. #girlsinict pic.twitter.com/Ohpk89WTMF
— The OUR Jamaica (@TheOURja) April 27, 2017
Great to have @KadriVeseliKS, Chairman of Kosovo Parliament, talk about importance of #GirlsinICT to build economy @ipkofoundation pic.twitter.com/pzmSNyzCBb
— Sheba Najmi (@snajmi) April 28, 2017
#GirlsinICT #girlsdaypower 50 girls at @EricssonHungary to peek Ericsson office, our life, meet women role models and have fun. Nice day! pic.twitter.com/EdbF2nwimG
— Ericsson Hungary (@EricssonHungary) April 28, 2017
Across social media, messages came in from around the world with the hashtag #GirlsinICT. These demonstrated the broad global recognition of the day and the importance of supporting girls to explore the field of ICT so that they can one day contribute to future innovations.
Self introductions by #GirlsInICT attendants! pic.twitter.com/J6KkCLf8ah
— mHub Malawi (@mHubMW) April 28, 2017
Since its inception in 2014, over 240,000 girls and young women have taken part in more than 7,200 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day in 160 countries world wide.The annual event is supported by a growing number of governments, community organizations, schools and the business community.