Empower HER: Leading with Digital Literacy
In Trinidad and Tobago, many girls living in rural communities do not have access to the internet and/ or are not trained in proper internet and computer use. Considering this, digital literacy is key for their economic empowerment.
Moreover, girls in rural communities have the potential to be influential leaders for positive change in their communities. Therefore, they must be empowered with skills and opportunities for their development and the progress of their communities.
Considering Girls of Impact’s work with and for young women, we have launched a digital literacy and leadership programme for young women in rural Trinidad to assist with skills development, educational opportunities, economic empowerment and increased participation in society and decision making.
International Day of the Girl Child
EMPOWER Her is a Programme that commemorates International Day of the Girl Child which is an annual international observance that recognizes and celebrates girls and young women globally. Its focus is on providing quality education to girls and opening opportunities for them. It is celebrated on 11th October annually.
Challenges & Opportunities for Rural Girls
Challenges
- Lack of reliable internet connectivity and devices which can hinder digital literacy efforts.
- High costs of devices and internet and data plans.
- Lack of education in online safety to protect them from online threats.
- There may be limited opportunities for girls to learn about leadership through educational programmes in rural communities.
- Traditional gender roles often exist in rural communities, and this may limit the expectations and opportunities of girls to take on leadership roles.
Opportunities
- Economic empowerment: Digital literacy training provides rural girls with economic empowerment through online job opportunities.
- Increased participation in decision-making: Leadership training can encourage rural girls to participate in community initiatives and decision-making processes.
- Civic engagement: Digital literacy training can facilitate rural girls’ participation in civic activities so that they can participate in democracy and be involved in issues they care about.
- Skills development: Digital literacy training equips rural girls with skills needed for the job market.
Programme Structure
Empower HER: Leading with Digital Literacy has two components:
- A one-day in-person workshop; and
- A two-month virtual mentorship programme.
Programme Objectives:
- To develop leadership skills of girls in rural Trinidad.
- To build the capacity of rural girls in digital literacy.
- To assist rural girls to better operate in a digital environment.
- To provide mentorship on careers and opportunities in ICT and STEM for rural girls in Trinidad.
For the 2023 edition of Empower HER, we are targeting young women aged 15-20 from Mayaro and environs and will focus on the following topics:
Leadership:
- The importance of leadership.
- The development of leadership qualities.
- Leadership styles.
- Leadership in STEM fields.
Digital Literacy:
- The relevance of digital literacy in the modern world.
- The basics of digital tools and terminology.
- Online safety and cybersecurity.
- Responsible internet use and dealing with cyberbullying.
The Workshop
The first cohort of our Empower Her Programme was launched on Saturday 14th October 2023 at the bpTT Mayaro Resource Centre. The Programme was free for all selected participants.
The Mentorship Component
The mentorship component took the form of a two-month virtual small group mentorship programme. It ran from 14th October – 14th December 2023. This ensured that young women could connect with various STEM professionals, entrepreneurs, and advocates who provided guidance and insight on careers and educational opportunities in STEM fields.
See the media release for the 2023 edition here!
Questions? Contact us via email at info@girlsofimpact.org