Data Girl Technologies has successfully completed the next phase of the STEM reach project  in Tiko. 50 young women and girls, boys inclusive for two months were empowered with basic computer literacy.

The project which aims to empower young women and girls in the rural communities and foster opportunities in technology, took place at the Tiko council hall in collaboration with other partners.

This two months project saw these students gain basic knowledge on MicroSoft word, Excel, Powerpoint and basic drone knowledge by NERVTEK, just to name a few. After a successful training followed the graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of these students who are making significant progress towards closing the gender gap in tech.

Data Girl Technologies’ PRO, Precious Natang  said:  “The STEM Reach Project is a project by Digital Girl Technologies which aims to empower 200 women in the southwest region of Cameroon as a whole and with tech skills. And the goal is really to foster the next generation of female tech talents in Africa. So at Tiko, we are empowering 50 young women, teaching them in digital literacy, Microsoft, Excel, PowerPoint, introduction to hardware, even marketing, Internet of Things, and a few more things.”

“Coming to Tiko, it’s been interesting because of the kind of effort that we’ve made. In other locations, we did not have the opportunity to work with very young women, young students in junior secondary schools, and then working with older women.

And it’s been quite interesting having people from different walks of life just coming together and eager to learn about tech. After Tiko, I’m shooting straight to Mamfe. And I cannot wait, actually.”

Precious added: 

Feedback from Participants

The representative of the mayor of Tiko highlighted the timeliness of this training session, especially given the fact that it falls in line with the municipality’s goal towards achieving a digitally transformed system.

 “On behalf of the Lord Mayor of the Tiko Municipality, Chief Ikome Peter Mesoso, who gave me very firm instructions to accompany you people in this worthwhile exercise that you people carefully choose theTiko Municipality to carry out, especially this training session.”

“In actual fact, on behalf of the Lord Mayor,this particular desire has always been his. It is part of his vision, part of his mission, to make the population of the Tiko Municipality to be literate as far as ICT is concerned. I want to use this opportunity on behalf of the Lord Mayor to really address very strong appreciation to you people. Because under this policy of decentralization, most of our issues in the days ahead or the years ahead will become digitalized.”

“Presently, we have the Department of Civil Status here. I think in less than two weeks, they’ll come here to install the various gadgets, as far as that again because they want to change the system. It is already a signal to show that people are gradually becoming aware of the fact that they need to have some sound knowledge as far as computer literacy is concerned.

And I think what we have witnessed for this past two months, our prayer is that if we can have several of such opportunities, even till the end of the year, I think with us here in the Tiko municipality, people will actually operate, and then within the community again at least people will see the need of becoming computer literate.Those who attended the seminar here, they are actually appreciating you people immensely for that.”

Feedback from graduates

Graduates of the STEM reach project expressed their gratitude, sharing how this training has transformed their lives and career aspirations.

 “Computer illiterate, that was what I was. Computer illiterate. so I can proudly tell people now that I’m computer literate for the class program. I can go to WordPad and do something.

I can go to PowerPoint and do something.  I can go to Excel and do something,”  Senge Emerencia Awasume said. 

“Like, while we’re teaching the children, we’re not going deeply, we’re just doing the basics, only on books, but now that I’ve come to this training, I went back, when I went back, the teachers, I took them to the computer lab. So, I was showing them how to do it. We learned Excel, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. So, from that, I can teach the children,” said Elizabeth Ngomasay Bonjie Wambe.

Conclusion

With the success of this laudable initiative, Data Girl Technologies strongly commits to expanding its impact, ensuring more women in Cameroon gain access to tech education. To conclude this year’s stem reach project, Data Girl Tech has announced the next location to be the Mamfe community.

For more information on our upcoming programs and courses, visit STEM REACH TIKO or follow Data Girl Technologies on all social media platforms.