Ericsson partners with five schools in an initiative to mentor young women in ICT studies

Ericsson has signed a three year partnership with five schools in Nairobi in an initiative aimed at supporting, promoting and mentoring young women who are in their third and fourth year of Secondary school studies mentor young women to undertake studies in the ICT field.

25 girls from the schools selected; Starehe Girls’ Secondary School, Embakasi Girls’ Secondary School, Pumwani Girls’ Secondary School, Huruma Girls’ Secondary School and Alliance Girls’ High School were hosted at Ericsson Kenya offices in celebration of International Girls’ in ICT day.

The young women will be mentored to undertake studies in ICT field and in the course of time the programme will have them monitored in a follow up to see the career choices they make. For those who will pursue ICT studies and emerge successful in relevant qualifications, Ericsson will consider them as potential future employees.

International Girls’ in ICT Day is an initiative backed by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Member to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs.

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. They allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to undeserved communities worldwide.  It aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Despite a shortage of two million ICT skilled labor and majority of young girls never considering a career in ICT, many companies are looking to increase the number of women in the sector. To date, over 111,000 girls and young women have taken part in 3,500 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day in 140 countries worldwide.

Ericsson’s goal is to influence girls’ career choices by creating an interest in them, to pursue studies in the ICT (information and communications technology) field. In addition, Ericsson intends to follow up with the girls and get its employees to mentor the young girls through their school life and even after so we contribute positively to their careers.