By Michel Outridge

ARIFA PERSAUD is the woman who ensures that all the equipment at the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) are in working order.She is probably one of the humblest individuals despite her responsibilities in the world of information and communication technology (ICT).

The 33-year-old has been with GNBA since its establishment in 2014, and her designation is Information Technology (IT) Coordinator. She is the only female in that field.

Persaud is responsible for the entire networking, database, and maintenance among other things; and finds her job most interesting, since she views it as an “everyday learning experience.”

So enthusiastic is this mother of three about her job that she returned to Guyana from India after completing a web designing course. She had resided in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for a few years, during which she was employed as a graphic artist.

Persaud told this newspaper that she was homesick after living abroad for many years, thus she returned to her homeland, Guyana, where she currently lives with her husband and three children.

This upbeat woman said she holds a Degree in Computer Science from the University of Guyana (UG), and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Nations University locally.

Persaud credits her achievement to her husband and family, whom she says were instrumental in encouraging her to pursue higher learning in ICT. Today she is pleased she had taken their advice to equip herself for that career.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that she started from ‘the ground level’, and with hard work and dedication, she is where she is today. She said she had the confidence in herself, and her family also believed that she could succeed.

Persaud said she would “keep going” to ensure that the GNBA is on par with international agencies; and working under Acting Chief Executive Officer Violet Boyle and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Leonard Craig, she is confident the GNBA would achieve that goal in due time.

She pointed out that her employers are very encouraging, and they are there to make sure you “keep going to enhance your skills to match the ever developing world of ICT”.

Persaud was once a Mathematics teacher, and had once worked at the now defunct One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project and with the Ministry of Public Service. She said her job has countless options, and it is not unusual for her to be the only woman in her field of work, although some men may find it emasculating to ask for her help, since the ICT field is dominated by men.

Persaud is one of the individuals the Guyana Chronicle is featuring in celebration of ‘Girls in ICT Day 2016’, which will be held on April 28.

Persaud has advised that young girls take the time to focus on the career they wish to pursue, and make an early start. She pointed out that young girls must seek to educate themselves, because by so doing they would earn the respect of others.

As it is, she is making the job easier for her husband, who operates a construction company. With her computer skills she designs kitchens to assist in his business.

In observance of Girls in ICT Day 2016, a series of activities has been planned by the NFMU. These include television, radio and newspaper highlights which will be featuring women and girls in ICT in Guyana.
The NMFU will host the Open Day at Starr Computers on April 21; there will be a networking luncheon on April 25; and a symposium has been planned for holding at the Bygeval Secondary School. In that symposium, 300 girls will be present.

From June to November, the NFMU will have Tech Day camps 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 ever, the differently-able will this year 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 it has won the Science and Tech Fair this year.

NFMU is seeking to use ICT to push innovation such as applications development even stay-at-home mothers can do, and will also focus on cyber security so that girls can be able to safeguard the information and identification online.

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

This year, the NFMU is targeting third and fourth formers for the networking luncheon and Tech Day camps, and will distribute 500 flash drives with information in this regard. The activity has also been 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 of ICT.

‘International Girls in ICT Day 2015’ is an initiative launched by members of the International Telecommunications Union at its 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference. The idea is to create a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).
Guyana has, for the past three years, celebrated/observed International Girls in ICT Day. As such, this year the NFMU plans to once again play its part in the celebration by hosting such activities for girls/women.

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 was 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.