Women and girls have been discussing how to acquire cutting-edge ICT skills during an online seminar backed by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Google.
Women and girls have been discussing how to acquire cutting-edge ICT skills during an online seminar backed by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Google.
The webinar, focusing on digital literacy, digital entrepreneurship and digital leadership in three interactive panel sessions, highlighted the need for governments, civil society and the private sector to increase their efforts to build the digital skills of women and girls.
Held on 22 April to coincide with the international ‘Girls in ICT Day’, this event was the third in the Secretariat’s Data, Technology and Digitalisation series, targeting both policymakers and the public with over 100 participants.
Providing an overview of key digital technologies and the skills required to harness their full potential in the Commonwealth, the panels addressed gender equality, the empowerment of women and the strengthening of partnerships to support Commonwealth member countries.
Short films showcasing the impact of empowering women and girls were screened, with women sharing the benefits of being digitally empowered.
Benefits of being digitally empowered
Sajeda Begam, from India, is one of many women from across the Commonwealth who has benefitted from digital skills, helped by Google’s ‘Women Will’ initiative.
She said: “When I got my first smartphone and started using it to access the internet, I realised that there's so much to learn. It gave me the self-confidence to teach others.”
Sajeda shared her experience of using the internet to help coordinate relief efforts with the authorities when her village was flooded and related how she passed on tech skills to other women and girls.
Nishma Robb, Google Director of Brand and Reputation Marketing, said: “I can never get tired of reading about these amazing stories of these women who've been given the opportunity and access to information.
“The opportunity to learn can fulfil not just dreams and ambitions but create more helpful opportunity for their families and communities. That's the progress we need.”
Impact of digital inclusion
Joining the webinar, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland said: “Attaining digital literacy lays the foundation for women and girls to then move on to careers in the digital world, digital entrepreneurship and to become digital leaders.
“We know, too, that digital inclusion has a significant impact for younger girls.
In education, the increased use of digital platforms and computer-centred resources means there is a potential for digital literacy to spread from schools to families and the larger community.”
The Secretary General added: “Digital inclusivity embraces the many ways in which we can cooperate and work together to tackle issues of knowledge, skill, opportunity, and access, relating to the design and use of technology and digital solutions .”
Three separate panel sessions of the seminar reached the same conclusion - that government and stakeholders should focus on programmes or initiatives that provide digital literacy for women and girls, digital entrepreneurship for financial independence and by extension, digital leadership.
Watch plenary sessions
digital-inclusivity-women-will-Recording_edited300421.mp4
Tell us about your experiences
The Commonwealth is inviting women and girls to share their experiences with the digital world in a short video message.
Click here to learn more and join the #DigitalSkillsForHer campaign.
