Girls in Tech Movement Gains Momentum in Belize

Belize is once again putting the spotlight on girls in technology, as the “Lead Like a Girl” initiative returns for its fourth year, bigger than ever. One hundred and forty students from thirty-five high schools across the country are taking part, exploring opportunities in ICT and building the skills needed to thrive in a digital world. News Five’s Shane Williams has this report.

 

Shane Williams Reporting…

From a small idea to a nationwide movement, the push to get more girls into technology is gaining serious momentum. Marking International Girls in ICT Day, this year’s program highlights just how far the initiative has come, now reaching more students and making a bigger impact than ever before. Ministry of Education Science and Technology Director Namrita Balani says the expanding program reflects rising interest among young women and a clear effort to ensure they aren’t left behind as tech careers continue to grow.

 

Namrita Balani, Director of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education

“ Two years ago we launched the pledge. How you could expose, how you could encourage and how you could support Girls in tech. We worked with the pledges divided into the Four Cs, how you could do it from your couch, your community, your company, and your country from your couch. Simple things like sharing a post. Being here, volunteering to more detailed ones with the country to support. So I think with the scholarship offer that Minister FCA has approved, that is how the country’s supporting with the ICT scholarship offers as well. So it’s nice to see how it’s growing. We had the student who was a guest speaker, SES Garcia, who. Whose father is a tech guy. And she said that she was exposed early, but she didn’t think of it as a field until she came to events like this. And she saw, she’s been participating for the past three years.  This year she’s volunteering and she’s enrolling into UB.”

 

Key partners, including UNICEF Belize, are also working to inspire participants to think beyond today and into the future. Country Representative Sajid Ali’s challenge to participants is to become the world’s next great innovators.

 

Sajid Ali, UNICEF Representative in Belize

“I think it, it’s important def digital tech and transformation is very important because we have seen and we use data to show that more boys are using it and the digital technology and as compared to girls, especially from the age of 15 to 24. And job opportunities or career opportunities are enhanced when you use digital technology. My message was to believe in themselves. There’s nothing that cannot be achieved. We are all here. Whoever has succeeded or been moving on in their career has believed in themself, of course with a little support from others and of technology. So they should continue to believe in themselves and to support get the support of others in this field because they will be the next leaders. They will be the next innovators, they will be the next decision makers for this country and in the world.”

 

That message is already resonating with past participants who are now going on to pursue careers in the field. Participating in past Lead Like A Girl challenges inspired Celeste Garcia to pursue a university degree in tech and now she is encouraging others to embrace the experience this year.

 

Celeste Garcia, Past Participant

“This is a learning experience and this event is all about you guys. Give it a chance, maybe a competition you partake in, sparks a passion in you. You never knew you had. I had no idea how much I’d love coding until I actually explored it. We need more girls in it. So it does. So it doesn’t matter what you know. If you like anything about these games that we play today, please don’t hesitate to pursue those interests. Every girl in here I’m sure is smart and talented and has something amazing to offer. Each one of you girls is meant to be here. So have fun, experiment, and most importantly, lead like a girl.”

 

Stories like Celeste’s highlight the program’s real impact, turning exposure into ambition and ambition into action. As “Lead Like a Girl” enters its fourth year, organizers are hoping the program is here to stay and empower the next generation of Belizean women to not just join the tech industry but to lead it. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: