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  UNV empowering women and girls through information technology    
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is marked on 17 May and is an opportunity to promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development. The official theme for the Day this year is Women and Girls in ICT. More needs to be done to improve women's access to and participation in ICTs.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes the efforts of our partners in using ICTs to help build capacity, bridge the gender digital divide and promote development.

On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, meet some of the UN Volunteers, UN Online Volunteers and former UN Volunteers providing their ICT expertise and support to empower communities through ICT:
Web-based platform to fight corruption in Kosovo. (2012)
Empowering citizens through social media to fight corruption
17 May 2012
Kosovo: "This initiative is a part of our work in UNDP Kosovo Governance Team to improve capacities for policy planning, policy implementation and administration at central and local levels for effective and gender-responsive governance. My role in this initiative was to develop the concept of the social media site, consult with civil society organisations, select a partner and coordinate with the partner for the implementation of the concept, as well to organise the launching event. "

Read
More about: Civil society  Governance  ICT
Countries:  Kosovo
Other languages: en español  
UN Volunteer Cagla Cavusoglu, right, and Suat Can, a local volunteer IT instructor, celebrate the free ITC training they deliver to women and youth in Turkey through the SPARK for Women and SPARK (Youth Movement in Informatics) projects.  (Fatih Bekdemir /SPARK volunteer IT instructor, 2012)
Promoting new free ICT training project for women in Turkey
17 May 2012
Turkey: “To meet the various challenges, we have to come up with new strategies both to attract women’s organizations and NGOs as well as for presenting the training to women.” Read
More about: Gender  ICT
Other languages: en español  
Training of the members of the Programme for Women Headed Households (PEKKA) in Indonesia. Jordi Tablada (former UN Volunteer), standing in back with colleague, Cindy Nawilis, while filming this training. (Photo: Willow Paule)
Working to bridge the development divide through technology
17 May 2012
Indonesia: “I was very lucky because my UNV position allowed me to work at a very grassroots level. It was a completely life-changing and formative experience and formed the way I approached development work. I learned that everything has to be grounded in local culture, in local knowledge.” Read
More about: ICT
Other languages: en español  
Aida Othman (standing), former UN Volunteer, with UNICEF Uganda colleague who worked on first ever African Youth Forum 2010 held in Entebbe, Uganda. (Photo: UNICEF Uganda, 2010)
Facilitating online youth engagement in Africa
17 May 2012
Kampala, Uganda: “Work in the field is crucial to the peacebuilding process – it gives a chance for authentic understanding of the issues at hand.  But you can also contribute to the process even if you are working in front of a computer, behind a desk far away from the field. Everyone can do their part by leveraging on their respective personal strengths and knowledge.” Read
More about: ICT  Online volunteering
Countries:  Malaysia  Uganda
Other languages: en español  
Diana Cocoru, UN Online Volunteer for Kabissa (2011).
Coordinating volunteers online
17 May 2012
Online: “I would encourage everyone to volunteer.  It is important to let your passion guide your choice of a volunteering field.” Read
More about: ICT  Online volunteering
Other languages: en español  
This page can found at: http://www.unv.org/current-highlight/unv-empowering-women-and-girls-in-ict.html