tTech Limited, a managed IT Services provider in Jamaica, continued its commitment to youth development by partnering with the STEAMHouse Network for Girls in ICT Day 2024.

This initiative aligns with tTech’s ongoing thrust to support local youth through education.

As part of the Girls in ICT 2024 activities, tTech collaborated with education hub STEAMHouse to undertake a comprehensive program throughout April to engage girls from various high schools across Jamaica. The program included school pop-ups with panel discussions, mentorship and workshop sessions, and the CreatHer Hackathon competition.

The tTech team, throughout the month, participated in panel discussions, led mentorship sessions, and facilitated skill-based workshops at Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS) and St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) in Kingston.

Through the partnership with STEAMHouse, tTech aimed to inspire and empower young ladies to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) – specifically, the IT and ICT fields by providing mentorship and guidance, showcasing the exciting opportunities available in Tech, and highlighting its commitment to diversity and female leadership.

Speaking about the reason for joining the initiative, Marsha Bucknor, sales and marketing manager at tTech, stated, “Our passion for youth development and education was foremost in our decision to join this Girls In ICT initiative, especially because the wide gender gap in STEAM fields remains an issue both locally and globally.”

“tTech is an advocate for women in technology, with about 75 per cernt of our management team being females, so I am pleased to see these girls expressing interest in the field, and we are committed to providing opportunities for youth seeking to enter the IT sector,” Bucknor continued.

The girls were encouraged to keep an open mind about their career path, consider the many possibilities that the field of ICT offers, and not let the fact that they are female deter them from exploring and excelling in these fields.

The students, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn and engage with industry professionals, were enthusiastic about the activities, expressing many thanks to the organisers and tTech.

Akeelah Anderson, a third-form student at ICHS stated, “It is good to see that companies like tTech took the time to share some of their knowledge with us about the STEAM fields that we are interested in.” She continued, saying “I feel more inspired and confident now to pursue a career in ICT.”

The Girls in ICT 2024 activities culminated in a hackathon competition, where girls were challenged to innovate solutions to address specific problems in their communities using technology and AI.

tTech provided support and encouragement throughout the competition, emphasizing the importance of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

At the culmination of the event, tTech presented prizes to the innovative young ladies for impactful solutions and expressed pride in playing its role in promoting innovation and excellence in technology.