Information and Communication Technologies have become a powerful force for social and economic development, delivering substantial benefits for both, individuals and society. However there remains a significant digital gender gap which must be addressed to ensure that women are not being left behind. There are still significant challenges to overcome in ensuring women are included in the digital transformation journey. Even though Kerala enjoys good mobile and internet penetration levels, the women face barriers to access and use digital technologies; lack of skill, few women are involved in the design, development, production of ICT systems and many have to take a career break as part of their life events like marriage, expansion of family, to care of ailing parents etc. It is in this context that International Center for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) an autonomous Research and Development Institute, with one of the mandate of us tools to bridge the gender divide, has initiated a bouquet of programs with a specific focus on women, grouped under “GENDER AND TECHNOLOGY Initiatives” with an aim to bridge the Gender divide. Activities involve increasing awareness amongst women community about how to participate in FOSS projects and how can they contribute to the free software projects. ICFOSS carries out targeted interventions to bridge the divide by holding events with women at the center. Various activities carried out under this initiative include Women Hackathons, She Fellowship, Workshops, Winter schools, Back to Work etc.

https://www.icfoss.in

• India

• Youth
• Women
• The unemployed
• The poor
• Remote and rural communities

Yes, Started of as a pilot in one district in Kerala State and later scaled up to accommodate participants from entire country.

International Center for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) an autonomous Research and Development Institute, with one of the mandate of us tools to bridge the gender divide, has initiated a bouquet of programs with a specific focus on women, grouped under “GENDER AND TECHNOLOGY Initiatives” with an aim to bridge the Gender divide.

For Women by Women and of Women, The programs could not only impart training, but also bring over a dozen of women back to work in MNC companies. It also has kindled spark of innovation and entrepreneurship and many women led startups was founded and doing great.