Information and Communications technologies are everywhere and are important to every aspect of our lives. They make our lives richer and more comfortable. They connect people worldwide – anywhere, anytime. A career in the ICT sector has no limits anymore. Jobs range from traditional engineering or programming to designing new types of mobile phones or saving the environment. However, studies show that not enough young people are choosing careers in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT’s) – especially not enough young women.

International Girls’ Day is an initiative launched in 2011 through Resolution 70 (Guadalajara) by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communications technologies. The ITU has set the fourth (4th) Thursday in April every year to be the day girls and young women are particularly encouraged to consider careers in ICT.

The SMA will be supporting this initiative by hosting an Open House on Thursday, April 25th at its offices located at 13-19 Harbour Street. Young women from the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology who are engineering majors or considering a career in that field and their lecturers have been invited to attend. The event is designed to give students the opportunity to meet with members of our Engineering team and to discover more about ICT and telecommunications engineering. The day’s activities will run from 9:00 am to 2:00 p.m. and will include a career talk by Judy Anderson, Mahlangu Lawson and Cheyenne Powell (who participated in the SMA/UTech work experience programme) and also a visit to the SMA’s remote monitoring site at Planter’s Hall in St. Catherine.