The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Foundation has launched its Tech4Girls Academy Project with the aim of scaling its free digital skills training, particularly Coding and Artificial Intelligence, for more girls.
The launch of the academy project, which marks a milestone in HACSA’s effort to empower young women with ICT skills, is an ambitious initiative to establish a permanent training facility dedicated to equipping young women with critical digital and leadership skills.
The Academy will also provide a space where trainees will have adequate mentorship, career development and work experience on hands-on projects in order to thrive in the digital economy. The Academy will also be used as an innovation and creative hub for the local community.
Alongside the launch of the Academy project at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Thursday, the graduation ceremony for the third cohort of 60 students of the Tech4Girls programme was held. Additionally, a fundraising campaign for the Academy project was also launched, inviting donors to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of the academy.
So far, the Tech4Girls programme, an innovative ICT skills development initiative for girls, particularly the underprivileged, has graduated 120 students. The free training programme is funded with support from philanthropists, and individual and corporate donors, The Foundation aims to increase enrolment to 250 students for 2025.
Ambassador Johanna Svanikier, Founder and President of HACSA Foundation, in her welcome address, underscored the importance of empowering women through coding and digital training for better jobs, and to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields.
“The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and it is certain is that technology and artificial intelligence will invade or take over in every area of human activity. In this ever-changing and uncertain world, we cannot afford to be left behind.
“The ability to understand and harness technology is no longer an option it is essential,” she stressed, indicating the HACSA believes in empowering girls and young women to actively participate in the digital space.
She thanked donors, sponsors and private sector partners, including Fidelity Bank, Svani Group and Kowri for helping the Tech4Girls Program, and invited support from more corporate partners.
Mr Charles Abani, UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, delivering the keynote address, lauded the initiative, describing it as an inspiring project which will help to bridge the digital gap for the benefit of women.
According to him, such projects and investments remain critical for the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly target eight of SDG five which focuses on enhancing the use of technology empowerment to promote gender equality for job creation and social protection.
He, therefore, called for more support for the Tech4Girls Academy project to enable it yield the desired outcomes which would positively affect livelihoods and households across Ghana and beyond.
He was optimistic that HACSA could increase enrolment to 10,000 students in the next few years, and assured the Foundation of the support and collaboration of the UN system to expand to that level.
Mr. Edmond Moukala, UNESCO Representative in Ghana, for his part, described digital skills as “no longer a luxury but a necessity” to unlock potentials for wealth creation, especially in developing countries.
Also, Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to Ghana, commended HACSA for the initiative and congratulated the graduates for the achievement, urging them to effectively utilize the skills acquired to support national economic development.
As part of the graduation, best performing students were awarded for their resilience and excellence.
