THE National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) will be joining countries the world over in celebrating Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day 2016, which will be held on April 28.NFMU Managing Director Valmikki Singh told reporters at his Charlotte Street, Georgetown head office that because not too many females are in the sector, the NFMU wants to highlight the few girls and women in ICT as role models.

He said it is not a traditional job; women have gone into regular fields of work, and the NFMU wants to change that with a new perspective and have a series of activities to empower women and girls.

Singh added that the NFMU had created a Facebook advertisement in an effort to promote its page, which is targeting females between the age of 16 and 30, to encourage them to select careers in the ICT sector.

He explained that Girls in ICT was first observed in Guyana in 2012, and its promotion and participation have grown over the years.

Melissa Layne said that a series of activities was held in observance of Girls in ICT 2016, with television, radio and newspaper features about Guyana.
She added that an Open Day is planned to be held at Starr Computers on April 21, a networking luncheon is planned for April 25, and a symposium involving 300 girls will be held at Bygeval Secondary School.

Layne said that from June to November, Tech Day camps will be held so that girls can get a hands-on feel of some of the technology, so as to take on careers in the ICT field.

For the very first time, the differently-able will be included in the celebrations, and the Guyana Society for the Blind will participate for self-development.

The Bygeval Secondary School was chosen for the symposium because the school has won the Science and Tech Fair this year.

Global Technology is on board, and will embark on ICT training in foundation in computer usage for girls drawn from all the regions across Guyana.

This year, third and fourth formers are being targeted for the networking luncheon and Tech Day camps, and the NFMU will distribute 500 flash drivers with information.

The activity was also geared at empowering the students to consider careers in the field of ICT.

Given that the ICT sector worldwide is dominated by males, the NFMU has been planning and executing a number of activities in an effort to ensure that Guyanese women are knowledgeable in the field.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a global effort being spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to raise awareness of the need for more women to become involved in the ICT sector worldwide.

Girls in ICT Day will be observed on April 24th, 2016 under the theme “Expanding horizons, changing minds”, and it presents opportunity for girls and young women to get inspired about the ICT sector by listening to women role models in ICT.