International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day History

International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire and empower girls and young women around the world to consider careers in the rapidly growing field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This observance highlights the need to promote girls' and women's participation in ICT, not just as users, but as developers, creators, and leaders. The day also serves an opportunity to create a global environment that encourages, educates, and inspires girls and young women to pursue technology-related studies and careers.

Established in 2010 by ITU, International Girls in ICT Day has since become an important platform to address the worldwide gender digital divide. In South Africa, women remain significantly under-represented in the ICT sector, despite several interventions. The observance of Girls in ICT Day remains vital to encouraging more girls to choose ICT as a career path, thereby enhancing diversity in the sector. It is an opportunity to showcase the potential of digital technologies for development and the role that women and girls play in advancing South Africa's digital economy.

International Girls in ICT Day is marked in South Africa through numerous activities, from seminars and workshops to competitions and panel discussions. These activities aim at igniting interest in ICT and providing mentorship to girls and young women who aspire to join the sector. The South African Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has previously involved girls from rural areas in these events, highlighting ICT’s potential for social transformation. International Girls in ICT Day is observed annually on the fourth Thursday in April.

Facts about International Girls in ICT Day

• The theme for International Girls in ICT Day in 2024 was Leadership.The theme in 2023 was Digital Skills for Life.
• According to unwomen.org, about 65% of the children around the world who are entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist.
• Women hold only 25% of all the jobs in the tech industry, despite making up more than half of the workforce.
• South Africa also has powerful role models for women in ICT. Phumza Dyani, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Broadband Infraco is an example of a successful woman in the South African ICT industry.
• It has been found that while many girls in South Africa demonstrate a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects in school, few choose to pursue these subjects further in higher education or their careers.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for International Girls in ICT Day

Top things to do in South Africa for International Girls in ICT Day

• Discover events around you. The International Telecommunication Union hosts events around the world so be sure to check for any upcoming ones.
• Listen to a podcast with the founder of the Women in Science International League Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite.
• Watch a Documentary to learn more about Girls in ICT in South Africa:
  Code: Debugging the Gender Gap - It is a documentary that explores the reasons for the gender and minority hiring gap in the tech industry. It includes conversations with students, educators and entrepreneurs from across the globe, including South Africa.
• Attend Tech Workshops & Seminars: Many universities, tech companies, and organizations would hold workshops or seminars, focused on ICT. Girls and young women could attend these to learn from seasoned ICT professionals.