ERICSSON SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL GIRLS IN ICT DAY ON THURDAY, DIEPSLOOT.
Joanne van der Walt, promotions director for Sage Foundation and 10 Sage volunteers taught the thirty three girls about programming, and using the online tool called Scratch as an introduction to coding. Picture: Nokwanda Shabangu.
Maleka Charles
Embracing the spirit of femininity and the empowerment of women in the community of Diepsloot on Thursday.
Wot-if trust together with Ericsson held a girls only workshop called 'Girls who innovate workshop' at the Father Blondel center in Diepsloot Ext.5, as part of empowering girls about how technology can change the future of education.
Gail Styger, founder and trustee for Wot-if trust, said Ericsson was celebrating the International Girls in ICT day which happened in almost 160 countries around the world.
She said the company is also trying to create a gender equality in the ICT industry for women around South Africa.
"It was an Ericsson event, celebrating International Girls in ICT Day, which is celebrated in 160 countries around the world."
"Ericsson are dedicated to creating gender parity in the ICT industry. In fact, they’ve set a goal for their workforce to be made up of at least 30% women by the year 2020."
Styger raised her concern about girls who don’t pursue careers in ICT and attributed that to stereotype and discrimination, but said will make sure girls are taught to love technology at young age.
“Because of stereotypes and discrimination, many girls don’t pursue interests in ICT. But we can change that by teaching girls to love technology from a young age and encouraging them to pursue ICT careers and interests.”
Sheila Isidro, the Improvement and Performance manager for Ericsson, advised the girls to read a lot and keep diaries and journals for new ideas wherever they go.
“Don’t be afraid to read about things, and always keep a journal or a book for new ideas.” She Said.
Joanne van der Walt, promotions director for Sage Foundation said they needed to encourage young girls to respect technology and solve the world’s biggest challenges.
“We need to encourage girls and young women to not only play with technology, but also create, innovate and solve the world’s most pressing challenges.”
The girls were later on put in groups to discuss among themselves what they understood about collaboration in team work and skills of innovation.
As the day progressed the participants were issued with certificates of participation from Ericsson and some titivating prizes.
They were also told to enter the girls who innovate competition, which will run from the 16th April to 25th May this year, where eighteen regional winners will receive a day internship with an Ericsson employee,
While three global winners will receive an Ericsson Instagram feature, a blog and 1,000 pounds scholarship.
