International Girls In ICT Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Careers Technology Women
Where:: International
Date change rule:: 4th Thursday of April
Holiday emoji:: 👩‍💻

International Girls in ICT Day champions the vital role of girls and young women in Information and Communications Technology every fourth Thursday in April. This global observance encourages them to explore STEM education and careers, fostering a more inclusive and diverse tech landscape. Discover mentorship opportunities, participate in workshops, and advocate for equitable access to tech skills.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected International Girls In ICT Day Deals

International Girls in ICT Day primarily focuses on advocacy and educational initiatives rather than commercial deals. However, many tech companies and educational institutions offer special programs. Look for free online coding workshops from organizations like Girls Who Code, mentorship events hosted by companies such as Google and Microsoft, and scholarship announcements from groups like the AnitaB.org Institute. Tech retailers like Best Buy and Amazon may highlight educational software or hardware bundles. Universities often host open days or virtual tours of their STEM departments. We will update this page with confirmed live events and programs as April approaches.

Platform Guide for International Girls In ICT Day

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #GirlsInICT. Share success stories of women in your tech company or highlight mentorship programs.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #GirlsInICT. Join the global conversation by sharing statistics, resources, and inspiring quotes from female tech pioneers.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #GirlsInICT. Post visuals of girls engaged in STEM activities, behind-the-scenes glimpses of tech careers, or success stories with empowering graphics.

International Girls In ICT Day Hero

Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper (1906–1992) was an American computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral. A pioneer in the field, she was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer and invented the first compiler for a computer programming language. Her work led to the development of COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages, significantly advancing the accessibility of computers. She is celebrated for her visionary approach to programming and her efforts to make computing more user-friendly.

History of International Girls In ICT Day

In 1822, Charles Babbage, an English mechanical engineer and polymath, invented the first mechanical computer. This computer, called the Difference Engine, was designed to perform basic computations and solve complex calculation problems. It had storage where data was temporarily held, and outputs were stamped into soft metal. Looking at the limitation of the Difference Engine – it could only perform one operation — Babbage decided to go a step further. In 1833, he devised the Analytical Engine. This automatic mechanical digital computer could perform all calculations and store up to 1000 50-digit numbers (more than any computer built before 1960). The machine consisted of four components: the mill, the store, the reader, and the printer. Inputs were to be entered using punched cards, and the machine will be steam-driven and operated by one attendant. However, the device was not built as he couldn’t obtain funding.

In 1843, Augusta Ada King, the countess of Lovelace, published a paper explaining the Analytical Engine and made a comparison between it and existing calculators. In 1843, she wrote the world’s first computer program by sequencing instructions on the punched cards that the Analytical Engine used. At the time, King was the only expert in the world in programming. In 1945, the University of Pennsylvania academics John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. led a project to build the first electronic programmable computer in the United States. The computer called ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was Turing-complete and could be programmed for many complex problems. The programming of the ENIAC was handled by six women, known as the “ENIAC girls.”

Between the mid-20th century and early 21st century, we experienced a significant leap in the development of the computer that dwarfed the innovations of the previous centuries. These advancements include the invention of the transistor, COBOL, FORTRAN, UNIX, floppy disk, and the Ethernet. During this same period, some of the biggest tech companies were established, including INTEL, I.B.M., Apple, and Microsoft. In the early 2000s, portable computers became commonplace due to the advancements in portable battery life and miniaturization of computing resources. This innovation also led to the development of cellular mobile phones in the early 2000s.

International Girls In ICT Day timeline

1822

The Father of Computers

English mathematician Charles Babbage invents the Difference Engine.

1843

A New Career is Born

Augusta Ada King writes the first computer program and becomes the first programmer.

1945

The ENIAC

John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert Jr. lead a project to build the first electronic programmable computer in the United States.

Early 2000s

The Computer Comes To Homes

Portable computers and mobile phones gain popularity globally.

How Businesses Can Celebrate International Girls In ICT Day

Local businesses, especially those in the tech sector, can actively participate in International Girls in ICT Day by hosting open house events or virtual career fairs. Offer mentorship opportunities to high school and college-aged girls, providing insights into various tech roles and career paths. Consider partnering with local schools to deliver engaging workshops on coding, digital literacy, or cybersecurity. Highlight your female employees in ICT roles on social media, sharing their stories and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

International Girls In ICT Day FAQs

When is International Girls In ICT Day?

International Girls in ICT Day 2027 will take place on Thursday, April 29. It’s a key date for promoting gender equality in the tech sector and encouraging STEM education among female students.

What is ICT and why is it important for girls?

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) refers to the entire ecosystem of digital technologies. Encouraging girls in ICT is vital for economic empowerment and bridging the gender gap in a field that continues to drive global progress and innovation across all sectors.

How many women work in ICT globally?

While exact figures fluctuate, estimates suggest that women make up less than a third of the global tech workforce. This statistic underscores the persistent challenge of gender imbalance in ICT and the importance of continued advocacy to attract and retain female talent.

What kind of careers are available in ICT?

Careers in ICT are incredibly diverse, ranging from cloud architecture and digital marketing to UX/UI design and robotics. The field is constantly evolving, creating new opportunities for problem-solvers, innovators, and creative thinkers in a wide range of specializations.

International Girls In ICT Day Activities

Attend an event
Organizations such as the International Communication Union and Cisco host an International Girls in ICT Day event every year to encourage more girls and young women to join the tech sector. You can participate by attending one of those events. Check on the internet for events hosted by other organizations that might be happening online or in your area.
Inspire more girls to explore STEM careers
If you’re a tech professional, irrespective of your gender, you can use this opportunity to share your journey in the tech industry and provide a guide on how girls and women can pursue a career in STEM. You can also open yourself to mentorship and help build a girl’s STEM education or career.
Sponsor a girl in I.C.T.
Another way you can make an impact on International Girls in ICT Day is to sponsor a girl’s education in a STEM field. If you know a girl with potential, approach them with this opportunity. If not, you can ask people on social media to nominate a girl for sponsorship. Then you choose the one you consider to be the best from the nominations.

5 Interesting Facts About Women In I.C.T.

The first programmer
Augusta Ada King, the English mathematician and writer, is considered the first programmer in the world.
Female tech startup founders
Women found 20% of tech startups in the world.
A woman brought the internet to Thailand
Dr. Kanchana Kanchanasut led the introduction of the internet to Thailand.
The first compiler
The first compiler for a programming language was invented by Grace Hopper.
Female board of director members
Only 37% of tech startups have at least one woman on their board of directors.

Why We Love International Girls In ICT Day

Technology is rapidly penetrating every aspect of human lives
The economy of the future will undoubtedly be driven by tech. Therefore, it’s essential girls and women position themselves to take advantage of these opportunities by pursuing a career in I.C.T. Also, tech is a great equalizer and can be one of the instruments for bridging the inequality gap between men and women.
It encourages more young women to enter the tech industry
Events are organized every International Girls in ICT Day to educate girls and women about I.C.T. and possible career options for them. The day also provides an opportunity for female tech leaders and professionals to share their experiences and inspire other girls and young women.
It empowers girls and young women
International Girls in ICT Day has led to the creation of different initiatives to educate, train, and mentor girls and young women who are looking at a tech career. That includes Girls in ICT programs by the United Nations, Cisco, and Microsoft.