National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Donate Computers to Girls in Malawi
National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust donate eleven desktop computers to girls during the commemoration of International girl’s Information and Communication Technologies(ICT), and official launch of NICE Ambassadors for girl empowerment Thursday in Lilongwe.
Executive Director for NICE Ollen Mwalubunja, reveals that a girl child and young women are vulnerable and excluded in technological development hence introducing NICE Ambassador for girls empowerment (NAGE). The NAGE project is of paramount importance as it continues to eradicate barriers of ICT literacy by promoting and implementing ICT education and democracy empowerment. “The core aim of the launch ceremony is to increase the visibility of the NICE Ambassadors and encourage many girls to enroll for ICT lessons. ICT skills equip girls with computer knowledge and enable them to access vital information through the internet. For example, in such issues as reproductive health rights and wider range of the rights that would enable them stand up against abuse”, said Mwalubunja.
Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture representative Frederick Ndala, appeals to the corporate world to assist in imparting ICT skills and knowledge by coming forward to support NICE Trust. “Malawi government realizes that in a global economy fuelled by knowledge and information, it is extremely difficult to break the shackles for stagnation without the help of Information and Communication Technologies hence supporting the project”, said Ndala.
Speaking during the launching one of the beneficiaries Caroline Nsomanje attribute the continuing of NICE to provide civic education and raise awareness of government’s initiative and citizens’ roles as hope for change in girl child development. “Girls are vulnerable also to early pregnancies and prone to HIV/Aids which hinder their livelihoods. Therefore, introduction of ICT centers for young women and girls enables them to be busy in due-course changing the negative stereotype attached to girls in ICT related field”, she said.
Over the years several adoptions of various policies and enactment of legislation that aims at addressing challenges faced by girl in Malawi have been made. For example, the recent passage of the Marriage Divorce and Family Relations Act is to protect vulnerable groups by giving them right and freedom to voice out their concerns. Fair Allocated for Information Tech Resources Denmark (FAIR) in partnership with NICE work to strengthening good governance, democracy process through provision of civic education and ICT education to improve ICT literacy.
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