Close to 50 girls have been compensated for developing brilliant project ideas, on the occasion of the international ICTs day and the world Telecommunications and information society day (WTSID) by the minister of post and Telecommunications Minette Limbom Likeng alongside plan international Cameroon.
In recent times, the world has witnessed an increasing hunger for change. Change eminent with an advancement in the digital world. According to statistics by the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ITU), the proportion of women and girls using the internet worldwide stands at 48%, compared to 55% for men. In relative terms, this means that the gender gap in internet use worldwide is 12.5%.
This has motivated especially young girls in Cameroon to actively and increasingly take the frontline in various activities that have supported initiatives and strides by the ministry of Post and Telecommunications and one of its leading technical Partners Plan international to bridge this gap and enhance the use of new technologies for improved Standards of living for girls and the elderly.
Lower sixth student Epie Noella’s says her impressive project plan would educate many on ways to cater for old people often neglected in society. “My software program is called Abuela, Spanish word for grandmother. It is simply to train people on how to cater for their grandparents especially those with age related issues. It has up to four options, one on cooking methods for the elderly, second, to share experiences with others in same situation, third to be able to book rendezvous with health practitioners particularly if one lives in a rural or remote area and fourth to find home nurses ready to render services. This is all possible with just one click on my software.”
Through the use of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology amongst others, girls have mastered techniques that can facilitate and transform nearly every sphere of live including business, education, political, social and agricultural sectors in the world.
Another 15-year-old Njong Christine demonstrated her expertise, creating an online store to help market products designed by herself and team mates, to avoid joblessness. “I will complete my three-year training on December 3, 2022 at the “Bobine Dor” training center in Yaoundé and through this platform created by my team mates and I, we can secure a job for ourselves upon graduation.”
Mr. Nlend Raphael technical adviser at the training center says “the celebration of WTSID is a reminder of the importance of ICTs in our daily lives and that many obstacles and distant issues have been resolved, with the rapid evolution of ICTs in the world.”
In the Cameroonian context, most young girls and boys are been referred to as the “Android generation” a misleading appellation which has deterred some youths from understanding the beneficial gains attainable with the use of information and communications technology tools in the society. They rather indulge in hate speech, information pollution and propaganda, all detrimental to their peers and the society at large on the social media.
The ministry of post and Telecommunications and that of women’s empowerment and the family, together with partners, plan international Cameroon and NGOs associated with promoting girls connecting with ICTs, have encouraged the use of the internet to school young girls on becoming strong and outstanding people in society rather than be a generation that uses the internet for unnecessary competitions, blackmailing or to pursue all forms of cyber-crime.
Along with policy change, a critical shift in attitudes towards girls in technology, and stereotype thinking that only men can adapt to the recent technological practices or advancements, as well as a cultural change to override these assumptions, will empower girls in ICT, transforming our society and future to a balanced free and fair environment.
By Miranda Awah