GOV.VC
Each year the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), celebrates International Girls in ICT Day, which is “an initiative backed by ITU Member States in Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Rev. Busan, 2014), to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)”. The day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of April yearly.
“To date, over 300,000 girls and young women have been involved in more than 9,000 celebrations in 166 countries worldwide, offering them the opportunity to experience personally, the potential of ICTs, and to learn more about the opportunities this sector can offer.”
Here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development & Information Technology, has conducted activities to celebrate the day since 2012 (over the past six years).
Past activities included:
- In partnership with various public and private sector agencies, approximately one thousand (1000) female students from the 3rd and 4th forms in secondary schools across the country were made aware of the opportunities in the ICT sector and empowered with the knowledge that they too can have a career in ICT, or incorporate it in their choice of career; during site visits to business houses that employ ICT in their daily operations.
- Workshop on Web & Mobile Application Development, targeting young women and girls from the age of 15.
- Sensitization sessions on cyber danger for primary and secondary schools
- Essay competition on primary schools
This year the day will be celebrated on 26th April, and the main thrust is to “Introduce girls and young women to ICT career opportunities, involve them in hands-on ICT creation workshops, and directly contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Targets 4.4, 5.b and 8.6”.
The Information Technology Services Division would participate in the celebrations, on behalf of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, by conducting one week of ICT training workshops for young ladies, from 23rd - 27th April; from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, at the eGovernment Center.
The schedule for the workshops is as follows:
| DATE | TOPIC | FACILITATOR |
| Monday 23rd - a.m. | Document Preparation – Preparation of Job Applications | Ms. Donna Michael |
| p.m. | Windows and File Management | Mrs. Jozeene Bailey |
| Tuesday 24th - a.m. | Communication – Preparation for a job interview, Netiquette, emailing, telephony | Mrs. Desiree Armstrong |
| p.m. | Social Marketing | Ms. Lynette Layne |
| Wednesday 25th - a.m. | Web Designing | Ms. Phillia Alexander |
| p.m. | Data Storage | Ms. Kaydonna Ollivierre |
| Thursday 26th - a.m. | Budgeting | Mrs. Jozeene Bailey |
| p.m. | Internet Pros and Cons | Ms. Lynette Layne |
| Friday a.m. | Photography | Ms. Phillia Alexander |
| 2:00 p.m | Closing Ceremony – National Insurance Services conference room |
On Monday 23rd April, the workshops commenced with an opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. at the eGovernment Center (on the top floor of the Ministerial Building). Then, On Friday 27th April, the training would conclude with a graduation ceremony at the National Insurance Services conference room beginning at 2:00 p.m.
SOURCE: Information Technology Services Division (I.T.S.D)