–Office of the Prime Minister commences International Girls in ICT Day observance
THE Office of the Prime Minister’s Industry and Innovation Unit, on Saturday, launched its observance of International Girls in ICT Day with a Virtual Training Programme in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO).
Hosted under the banner of Tech4Girls: AI Skills for Success, this regional initiative, brought together participants from across the Caribbean region, including Guyana.

Females aged 15 and above participated in the one-day programme, which offered a dynamic and engaging platform to explore key areas in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as career opportunities in AI, text-to-speech technologies, the use of ChatGPT, and ethical considerations in AI.
In Guyana, approximately 50 females from Leonora Secondary, Buxton Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, and the Corentyne Comprehensive High School participated face-to-face in Regions Three, Four, and Six.
At the same time, several females joined remotely in several regions across the country. The Tech4Girls was crafted with engaging sessions, workshops, live demonstrations and a platform for motivational speeches.

It offered females a safe space to gain practical exposure to cutting-edge digital tools and concepts. The collaboration kick-started the Guyanese Girls Code Programme, an annual initiative of the Unit, which stands as a testament to Guyana’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG Four, Quality Education and SDG Five, Gender Equality.
Director of the Industry and Innovation Unit, Shahrukh Hussain, emphasised the unit’s dedication to enhancing opportunities for women in the ICT sector.
He said that programmes like those inspire girls to pursue education and careers in technology.

“Initiatives such as Guyanese Girls Code and Tech4Girls: AI Skills for Success serve as a foundational effort to empower women in STEAM and ICT fields,” he said.
The unit’s director also noted that additional programmes will be launched nationwide to observe International Girls in ICT Day.
Girls in ICT Day is a global initiative celebrated every fourth Thursday in April, aimed at encouraging girls and young women to pursue careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
It is a day that shines a spotlight on the importance of digital inclusion and gender equality in the tech world, reminding us that everyone, not just a few, must build the future of innovation. By creating spaces where girls feel empowered to explore technology, coding, and digital creativity, Girls in ICT Day helps to break down stereotypes, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of female leaders in STEAM. (Office of the Prime Minister)