International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day is a global initiative coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It aims to inspire and empower girls and young women around the world to consider careers in the rapidly growing field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The observance highlights the need to promote girls' and women's participation in ICT, not just as users, but as developers, creators, and leaders. The day serves an opportunity to create a global environment that encourages, educates, and inspires girls and young women to pursue technology-related studies and careers.

Established in 2010 by ITU, International Girls in ICT Day has since become an important platform to address the worldwide gender digital divide. In South Africa, women remain significantly under-represented in the ICT sector, despite several interventions. The observance of Girls in ICT Day remains vital to encouraging more girls to choose ICT as a career path, thereby enhancing diversity in the sector. It is an opportunity to showcase the potential of digital technologies for development and the role that women and girls play in advancing South Africa's digital economy.

International Girls in ICT Day is marked in South Africa through numerous activities, from seminars and workshops to competitions and panel discussions. These activities aim at igniting interest in ICT and providing mentorship to girls and young women who aspire to join the sector. The South African Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has previously involved girls from rural areas in these events, highlighting ICT’s potential for social transformation. Observations specific to South Africa typically coincide with the global date set by the ITU, the fourth Thursday in April.