National Data Management Authority (NDMA) Girls in ICT 2017 Event

4/27/2017

The Americas, Guyana, Guyana

The National Data Management Authority (NDMA), formerly known as the eGovernment Agency, observed Girls in ICT Day with the world on April 27, 2017. The NDMA organized tours to various local tech companies with the aim to (1) break the stigmatism of women/girls entering the ICT field and (2) for parents/guardians to have a better understanding of how females can fit into the ICT field and the opportunities that are opened by choosing this field. The Girls in ICT day event is in keeping with a sustainable approach that the Government of Guyana, through the NDMA, seeks to promote the involvement of Girls in ICT and STEM disciplines.

A total of ten (10) secondary schools were invited; specifically, the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th form students. A total of 40 students, 8 teachers and 7 parents visited three technology organizations: (1) Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GUYSUCO), (2) Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), and (3) the NDMA Data Centre. These three organizations provided exposure to the various careers, areas and hands on exercises with various aspects of technology and its use, for example, the students were shown how to splice fiber optic cables. The students were enthused by these activities and gained additional useful knowledge by the end of the tours.  

Feedback

Selena Kissoon, a 16-year old student of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School, is interested in becoming a Software Engineer. At the time of the Girls in ICT activity Selena, who was preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, said that “since I was small, I loved computers and I taught myself to use a computer and I always found a passion in IT.” Kissoon pointed out that even though she has decided on a career before having the tour, she noted that she is “motivated more to pursue my career”.

Thirteen-year-old Tamera Jones from Brickdam Secondary school said that she was amazed by what she learnt from the tour. Jones expressed “they motivated me to see that it not only a man’s job. I would like to create apps for the interest of people to help work easier.” She added that, “thinking that it is a sugar industry and it has so much high tech computers, is amazing.”

This event was successful. The students, teachers and parents gave positive feedback and hoped for more events of similar nature in future.