Multinational semiconductor chipmaker Intel announced its national campaign to further acquire partners to drive its She Will Connect programme, an initiative that aims to expand digital literacy skills to young women in developing countries, further into Southern Africa, at the African EduWeek Conference, which took place in Johannesburg last week.
The programme’s current partners comprise community technology centre Siyafunda, the South African Woman Entrepreneurs Network, relief and development organisation World Vision and national nongovernmental organisation SchoolNet.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation also announced its partnership with the programme at the conference.
She Will Connect aims to reduce the Internet gender gap worldwide. The ‘Women and the Web’ report – which was released by Intel last year and analyses women’s access to and use of the Internet in low- and middle-income countries – states that, on average, almost 25% fewer women than men are online in developing countries. Within sub-Saharan Africa, the gap is nearly 45%, which is the largest across all the regions included in the study.
“At Intel, we believe education is a fundamental right for everyone and technology opens doors to opportunity,” Intel South Africa corporate affairs director South Africa Thabani Khupe said.
He noted that, through this initiative, the company aimed to empower millions of girls and women worldwide by closing the gender gap in access to education, inspire more girls and women to become creators of technology and connect girls and women to opportunity through technology access.
“Educating girls and closing the Internet gender gap also have an important multiplier effect — expanding opportunities for families, communities and nations,” he said.
Khupe further noted that, as affordability, the lack of awareness of the benefits of Internet connectivity and lack of familiarity with technology were among the key barriers to accessing education, Intel would reduce this gap through an innovative combination of digital literacy training, an online peer network and gender-relevant content.
“Intel plans to improve digital literary skills by integrating digital literacy training into gender and development programmes in shared computing environments using an engaging interactive learning platform where women can access hardware, software, Internet connectivity and ongoing support,” he explained.
Khupe further noted that Intel’s online peer network aimed to improve access to and relevance of information on the Internet through women-tailored content. This network will enable girls and women to exchange ideas and find support and mentorship.
“Connected participants will receive access to gender-relevant content and resources that will be provided by programme partners and other organisations. By expanding their understanding and use of technology, young women will be able to access health, government and educational information, economic opportunities and gender-specific resources.”
Khupe added that, consequently, they would be able to receive a better education, enhance their political participation, gain a stronger voice in their communities and increase their income by connecting to new economic opportunities.