Swaziland Posts & telecommunications Corporation, Swaziland Television Broadcasting Service, and high schools in the Kingdom of Swaziland
Hhohho, Manzini & Shiselweni, Swaziland, 2012, April 26
In the celebration of 'Girls in ICT' day the Swaziland Posts & telecommunications Corporation (SPTC), which directly reports to the Ministry of Information Communications & Technology (MoICT), the Swaziland Television Broadcasting Service (STBC) and the high schools in the Kingdom of Swaziland embarked on an outreach tour to various communications installations throughout the country to raise awareness among students (female students in particular) of potential careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Girls in ICT Communications Installations Tour was the first of its kind to be undertaken in the Kingdom of Swaziland in sympathy with the ITU similar annual celebrations.
A comprehensive programme was prepared by the stakeholders for the one day 'Girls in ICT' celebrations in line with the MoICT initiative, which aims to narrow the digital divide in the Kingdom of Swaziland and increase citizens' understanding of the role of ICT as an enabler in the economic and social transformation.
The ICT installations tour was launched on the Girls in ICT day (April 26th, 2012) and during this day three Swaziland regions (Hhohho, Manzini & Shiselweni) participated in the celebrations, but only one region had the privilege of visiting the Swaziland Television station.
A total of 160 school girls from 16 High Schools in the four regions participated;
- Hhohho Region : 70
- Manzini Region : 60
- Shiselweni Region : 30
The participating High Schools were;
- Hhohho Region: St Francis, Mbabane Central, SAGM, MDS, St Mark's, KaSchiele & SAIM
- Manzini Region: Manzini Central, Nazarene, Mjingo, St Michaels, St Theresa's, St Paul
- Shiselweni Region: Baring, Central, Nsongweni
The girls who participated were nominated by their schools principals, since the students were already on their first term school holidays.
The girls were taken through verbal presentations by professional ladies and gentlemen who are already working in the ICT industry and the main objective was basically to enable them to realize that ladies have already ventured into the ICT careers and are effectively enjoying themselves in the industry.
