Flow backs ICT workshop

Communication company Flow was among the sponsors of the Girls in ICT Tech4Girls workshop which attracted some 100 participants in the 18-25 year range.

Flow said it back the programme as it wanted to show that ICT is and exciting field, offering thriving career options for women and girls.

Flow communications manager Yolande Agard-Simmons said in a media release, "We are doing what we can to shape the workforce of tomorrow, and demonstrating that ICT is an exciting field of study and offers innumerable opportunities for a thriving career for women and girls.”

Some of the benefits imparted at the workshop on April 17, included participants being guided through the process of commercialising their small businesses. The facilitators took them through the steps of creating an e-commerce site using the Shopify platform, the release said.

One Upper Sixth Form business student, Johanna Lewis of Vessigny Secondary School, was in high praise of the workshop.

Lewis said in the release: “In pursuing my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, the opportunity to be a part of the Tech4Girls programme (gave) me a lot of valuable knowledge. I am now capable of creating my online store where can I sell products that reflect me, at affordable prices.

"I greatly appreciate the knowledge I have (gained) as it is not taught in school. I can't imagine the cost of this programme, so for that I am thankful and grateful to (have received) it for free.

"I must give credit to my instructor (who) did a wonderful job by going through each step in a timely and understanding manner, answering all my queries and even (reviewing what) seemed puzzling to me.”

CANTO’s secretary general Teresa Wankin said “the free online workshop aimed to make young females feel empowered in the industry and to overcome gender barriers in relation to access and use of digital technologies. It seeks to promote tech for girls and encourage ICT-related career opportunities amongst underserved communities.”

Additionally, selected participants will be awarded Shopify licences to further develop and commercialise the best sites for viability for conducting a small business internationally, the release said.

The workshop was a partnership among CANTO, the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) and RSC TECH Clubs, in partnership with GSMA, USA and Verizon under the EQUALS programme.

The Tech4Girls initiative was initially launched in March 2018 by GSMA North America with a mission to inspire girls and young women into STEM careers.

The programme was hosted virtually via GSMA’s Edukado Platform.