Men take the lion’s share of ICT development. However, some women stand out in the creation of web applications. They impose themselves in digital development like Mrs. Aline Joëlle Nduwindavyi, a young girl who develops websites. She invites other women to break down barriers and stereotypes to harness their talents.
Aline Joëlle Nduwindavyi, a website developer: “Since my childhood, I was passionate regarding electronic and electrical objects, I remember having repaired sockets and broken down landline telephones at home. I was only 12 years old”.
Aline Joëlle Nduwindavyi is a young girl from a family of 5 children of which she is the third. After her studies in China, she returned to Burundi with her degree in Software Engineering in her pocket. His know-how ended up seducing HOGI ACADEMY, a hub in applied computing and design. She works there as a web developer. “DSince my childhood, I was passionate regarding electronic and electrical objects, I remember having repaired sockets and broken landline telephones To the House. I was only 12 “, she reacts on the question of whether it was her parents who motivated her to take an interest in the subtleties of technology.
Asked regarding the attitude of customers towards her, she says that customers are satisfied with her service. ” Sometimes clients are surprised by my projects and ask me if I am the initiator without the intervention of my colleagues. I definitely answered them Yes “, she explains without procrastinating.
She asserts that the inequality between men and women in the field of technological sciences persists on an international scale. “Even in China, we were 85 students in class, only 15 of them girls. “, she says.
Internal and external barriers
Ms. Nduwindavyi said that there are internal barriers specific to women and cultural and societal barriers that prevent her from investing in this area. For her, women sometimes lack self-esteem.
“I remember a competition where women were invited to bring their creations, either apps or anything else that showed their innovation, but no one participated. regrets Nduwindavyi.
The patriarchy prevails
Some girls or women feel embarrassed to work in a male-dominated environment. Thus, they prefer popular disciplines that do not require a lot of concentration, such as mathematics and technology.
According to Ms. Nduwindavyi, parents and girlfriends worsen the gender digital divide. They sometimes discourage young girls by telling them that certain disciplines are reserved only for boys. Hence the disinterestedness of women in science and technology. In addition, other problems are related to the means of financing to acquire the necessary equipment.
What possible solutions to reverse the trend?
Our interlocutor proposes possible solutions to reduce the gap between men and women in technological innovation. To meet this challenge, parents have a key role. They must motivate young girls or women to break down all the social and psychotic barriers that prevent them from investing in this area. “Girls are sometimes shy. They do not have self-confidence like boys, they are afraid to face science and technology “, she says with firmness. She winks at parents who discourage their daughters while telling them that certain fields are reserved only for boys not to do it anymore.
She calls on leaders to identify women and girls who have proven themselves by daring to invest in the field of technology to support them so that they can train their little sisters. ” Like this, the latter will have models to follow in order to break down the barriers and stereotypes that block the development of women in the field of ICT. “, she concludes.
The United Nations estimates that gender inequality in digital development will lead to a loss of USD 1.5 trillion in gross domestic product in low- and middle-income countries by 2025 if no action is taken.
