CIBC FirstCaribbean supports girls in ICT

Several girls at the tertiary level of education stepped up their technology skills and knowledge during the recent Barbados leg of the Caribbean Hackathon which was described as a success by an Information & Communications Technology (ICT) expert.

The Hackathon which attracted about 60 female students from the island’s secondary and tertiary institutions was among thousands of events held worldwide to mark ‘Girls in ICT Day’ which aims to create a global environment that encourages, educates and empowers girls to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and ultimately launch their careers in ICT.

The event was held at the Cave Hill School of Business under the theme #SafeGirlsSafeFuture and the participants, working in teams, were challenged to address issues of safety in the home, on the street, in relationships and online with ICT solutions. Mentors were on hand to assist the teams.

One of the event’s judges, Director of Data and Corporate Centre Technology at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Trevor Wood said that in only a few short hours, the participants devised a variety of creative solutions which featured chats, websites, mobile applications and even a short film.

Wood who described it as “an absolute privilege to be invited to judge,” noted that the event was meant to reduce any apprehension that girls might have toward ICT and to empower them to use technology meaningfully.

“Although the Hackathon was clearly successful in allowing the girls to develop and express these capabilities, I believe its success lies beyond that. The teams presented passionately, and many of them mentioned that they would continue work on their projects even after the competition. That the girls left the Hackathon with the skill, will and enthusiasm to develop impactful ICT solutions might be the greatest measure of the event’s success,” he said.

He added that he enjoyed watching the teams have fun, and it was heartening to see the commitment and ingenuity they displayed in attempting to solve difficult social problems.

“I am excited about the new generation of tech-savvy, Caribbean problem-solvers, and I would welcome opportunities to assist with other events of this kind in the future,” he added.

Stressing the importance of participating in the Hackathon, of which CIBC FirstCaribbean was a sponsor, he said it signalled to girls that there is room for them in ICT and that ICT did not mean fixing computers, but rather it comprised a spectrum of professional activities.

Wood added that even in his student days, women were underrepresented as students and workers in IT but to create the country’s future, it was important to encourage them, starting when they are young, by making sure they don’t feel intimidated but rather at home in the IT field.

At the start of the Hackathon, participants received inspiring words from Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Development, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau, both of whom were featured speakers.

It was the second “Girls in ICT Day” Caribbean Hackathon and was staged by SheLeadsIT and Change Makers Development Ltd.

In promoting the event, Bridget Lewis, Co-Founder of SheLeadsIT said, “To produce a versatile Caribbean workforce capable of navigating the ongoing digital revolution, we must get more women involved. Adding that in the next ten years, 80 per cent of jobs will require a blend of STEM she said, “We believe it is critical to engage women earlier in the pipeline to bridge the digital gender divide.”