During this Women’s Month, Bizmod Consulting, a women-driven organisation, is shining a light on Letsibogo Girls Secondary School in Meadowlands, Soweto. One of Bizmod’s core missions revolves around encouraging and creating opportunities for South African girls and women with a passion for information and communications technology (ICT). To achieve this, they established the Bizmod Women’s Trust 2016, empowering underprivileged girls in the ICT field, with Letsibogo Girls Secondary School being a primary beneficiary since 2021.
At the helm of the Bizmod Women’s Trust is Jessica Tandy, a dedicated tech enthusiast who is passionate about contributing to the growth of gender skills parity in the ICT space. “The school aligns perfectly with the Trust’s objectives to empower girls in the ICT field, especially those who are underprivileged,” says Tandy. “In 2022, we took pride in donating towards the renovation of the school’s computer lab, and this year, we have provided the school with robotic kits and training for both the teachers and students.” Recently, Letsibogo Girls Secondary School was officially launched as a school of specialisation in Mathematics, Sciences, and ICT, with a specific focus on Media and Communication.
While there has been a noticeable increase in the number of women enrolling in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education programmes, which are essential for pursuing ICT careers, the gender gap remains evident. “Studies have shown that as girls progress through school, their interest in technology and computer science can decline due to stereotypes and biases,” explains Tandy. “To address this issue, we have created programmes such as these and promote women role models who are innovators in the industry. By doing so, we break these barriers and encourage girls to pursue rewarding ICT careers.”
Tandy firmly believes in empowering the upcoming generation, and she emphasises that promoting education is one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal. The Bizmod Women’s Trust has set an ambitious target of empowering 500 women in the field of ICT over the next five years. “We will achieve this goal through our partnership with Letsibogo Girls Secondary School, as well as through bursary and internship programmes designed for girls who share a passion for ICT. Empowering the future women leaders in tech is the responsibility of each individual and organisation, and it is up to us to drive and create a more inclusive and diverse tech industry,” concludes Tandy.
