Approximately 2000 African Girls, among them 124 girls from Ethiopia, today concluded a continental coding boot-camp aimed at promoting the importance of ICTs as a tool for the empowerment of women.
Since November 30 the girls were on the training organised in the form of a hybrid (online and in-person) the programme included how to code using the Scratch program. They also discussed gender equality, human rights, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and techniques in confidence building and public speaking.
They have been taking lessons in Robotics and Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking, Gaming, Fashion, Animation. A competition will select the best apps, innovation, accessibility, commercial potential and overall impact for Africans. The training attracted Girls from ITU’s African Girls Can Code Initiative, UN Women, AUC women, and young girls between 13-20 years old across Africa, including those in universities that have shown an interest in ICTs and innovation hubs.
The Continental boot camp that ends 11 December 2020 was jointly organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the auspices of the United Nations 75th anniversary celebrations and the Decade of Action for achieving the SDGs.
Among the guests featured at the closing ceremony today are Dr. Vera Songwe, UN-Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA and ITU’s Representative Mr. Stephen Bereaux.