Young women project wins prestigious award
TIGO’S Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in collaboration with Apps and Girls, a local non-government organisation has emerged as a winner out of five champions selected in the 2023 WSIS Prize.
The winner, Jovia Programme, was under the e-employment category edging out other 190 nominated projects from across the globe.
The Jovia Programme under the Girls and Young Women Empowerment project was recognised for addressing the digital gender divide by providing ICT and entrepreneurship training and startup incubation for underprivileged girls and young women in Tanzania.
Tigo’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Sylvia Balwire said the fact that the Girls and Young Women Empowerment initiative won among the WSIS best ICT projects, demonstrates Tigo’s goal of empowering the girl child by providing support to further digital inclusion in the country.
“This global award is a testament to the impact we are creating across Tanzania in empowering underprivileged girls and young women.
“This year marks three years of financially and technically supporting the Girls and Young Women Empowerment project, and with this award, we have the necessary impetus to keep fostering these girls to greater heights in the digital space,” Ms Balwire said.
The overall winner of the 2023 WSIS Prizes was announced and awarded recently in Geneva Switzerland during the 2023 WSIS Forum organised by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line co-facilitators and other UN organisations.
The Apps and Girls Founder and CEO, Carolyne Ekyarisiima, said the progress that Apps and Girls were making on the global stage was encouraging.
“We are proud to be awarded as global champions. We hope this award will encourage the girls and young women under the Jovia programme to work harder towards achieving their goals,” she said.
The Jovia Programme is one of the six-month programmes of advanced IT and entrepreneurship training for unemployed and out-of-school underprivileged girls and young women.
