ICT Girls' Day in the Balkans
17/05/2012
Several nations in the Balkans are encouraging girls to consider careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.
By Ivana Jovanovic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 17/05/12
 The Girls' Day event is aimed at encouraging girls and young women to consider a career in information, communications and technology. [Nada Bozic/SETimes] |
An effort to introduce teenage girls and female university students to careers in digital technology resulted in the second annual ICT Girls' Day event. Several countries in Southeast Europe, including Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina participated.
The Girls' Day event in late April aimed to create a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider a career in information, communications and technology (ICT) that uses digital technology for individuals, businesses and organisations.
The students visit the offices of ICT companies, academic institutions, government agencies, and other institutions that deal with digital technology, in order to become better informed and understand the ICT sector opportunities.
The ICT event has been held for the last ten years worldwide -- and since 2011 in some Southeast European countries. Last year's event was under the initiative of the Serbian telecommunications ministry, after which the ICT Girls' Day officially became a part of the UN events calendar.
Jovana Miladinovic is about to graduate from primary school. Since having to decide on a secondary school is the first step to a desirable profession, she took a part in the 2012 ICT Girls' Day in Belgrade.
"I'm interested in these IT professions, and I don't think they are only for the boys. I don't think there are male and female professions. I know many girls who are good in mathematics, physics, and other sciences. If I enter this line of work I think I'll have a chance to travel the world and meet people with the same interests."
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