International Women’s Day

In a world increasingly reliant on digital technology, access to connectivity is not just a matter of convenience for women and girls; it's a gateway to education, employment, and empowerment.

The stark reality revealed by a recent UNICEF report paints a troubling picture: the digital gender gap remains a significant barrier to progress for women and girls worldwide.

To mark International Women's Day, it's imperative to shine a light on this issue and explore both its challenges that we must continue to strive to overcome as well as the remarkable success stories in our efforts thus far that show why this collective action is so worthwhile.

Across the globe the statistics speak volumes as young women face substantial hurdles in accessing and utilising digital technologies.

In 41 countries and territories, young women are nearly 13% less likely than young men in the same household to own a mobile phone, significantly affecting access to education, employment, and other crucial services.

Particularly in low-income nations, 90% of adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 remain offline, compared to 78% of their male counterparts within the same age bracket.

South Asia exhibits the largest gap, with a 27%-point advantage for adolescent boys and young men.

Across 32 countries and territories studied, there's a notable disparity in digital skills, with only 65 young women possessing similar competencies for every 100 young men.

Even in affluent countries like the United Kingdom, gender gaps persist in digital skill acquisition among youth aged 15-24, stressing the importance of policy initiatives for achieving gender parity in digital skills acquisition, even in high-income nations.

Women face multifaceted barriers that hinder their full participation in the digital world such as the disproportionate prevalence of online harassment that they face.

Digital literacy and lack of digital education further exacerbate the gap, with women disproportionately affected by the lack of opportunities to acquire essential digital skills.

Despite girls' better performance in foundational reading and numeracy, this advantage often doesn't translate into proficiency in digital skills, hindering their opportunities in pursuing education and careers in STEM-related fields.

Amidst these challenges, however, stories of progress are out there to celebrate, as organisations like unconnected.org work tirelessly to bridge the digital gender gap and empower women through connectivity.

Rahel's Story:

Before Unconnected.org supported Rahel Zakir, she struggled to access the internet and online courses, often having to travel to public libraries.

Now, with Unconnected.org's help, she's pursuing a world-class education at MIT, shaping her own future in tech and paving the way for more opportunities for IT professionals in Ethiopia.

Rahel dreams of inspiring girls to enter the tech field, despite its challenges for women due to a lack of infrastructure. 

Raised by her mother, who was a teacher, Rahel was always reminded of the importance of financial independence and is determined to empower young girls to pursue IT careers in order to achieve this.

Growing up in Addis Ababa, Rahel’s mother instilled in her a duty to support other girls and be self-reliant.

Reflecting on the difficulties of studying abroad, she notes the financial challenges most Ethiopians face and the scepticism many have about women's abilities in tech.

Rahel highlights this, stating, "Many guys in Ethiopia don’t believe that women can follow their passion, that women can make a change. They don’t believe in us."

Herlendo – a tool for female education:

As part of Unconnected.org’s effort to bring connectivity to schools in rural parts of Malawi, using Starlink connections, some of the schools we work with are introducing Herlendo software.

The programme delivers accessible and trustworthy guidance on critical personal matters like menstrual hygiene, family planning, combating discrimination, and preventing sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.

All materials are available in Chichewa and are not only co-created by young women in Malawi but are also customised to address their needs and cultural nuances.

The power of a SIM card:

Vodafone's charities.connected scheme, in collaboration with unconnected.org, has distributed thousands of SIM cards across the UK, aiming to provide meaningful connectivity to those in need.

Through initiatives like these, real change is being achieved, as demonstrated by the stories of beneficiaries like a mother who escaped coercive control, received mental health support, and rebuilt her life with the help she received.

Meanwhile, in Mexico through a program sponsored by Ding we have supported 10,000s of refugee families. One of the people supported is Ana María, a Salvadoran mother of four that had to escape her native country and take a treacherous route across Latin America to Mexico where she sought refuge due to concerns for her safety.

Forced to leave her daughters behind, a SIM card became a lifeline, not only to maintain contact with her children, but also to help her connect with lawyers to help her in the process of repatriating her daughters so that they can join her and can build a new and safer life away from El Salvador.

Jewel’s story:

When Jewel Ike-Obioha came to the UK in 2021 to study her master’s degree at the University of East Anglia she had always had a passion for cause-led work.

Her lived experience as a woman growing up in Imo state in Nigeria with limited access to connectivity has motivated her to become an advocate for bridging the digital divide with Unconnected.org so that the next generation of girls do not have to go through the same challenges.

 “I have lived through what this organisation is trying to do because growing up in the city that I grew up in Nigeria, we did have internet, but it wasn't as accessible as it is right now.

“So, to get connected to the internet, I had to go the extra mile.”

Upon her arrival in Norwich she got in contact with a friend who works with UN Women.

Jewel attended the Commission on the Status of Women in 2023 as part of a delegation with UN Women UK in which she could connect with like-minded women who want to uplift younger generations and ensure that the sustainable agenda for female empowerment was in place.

In her role as an ambassador for unconnected.org, Jewel feels a degree of satisfaction knowing that the organisation seeks to support women from across the globe.

She said: “Women and girls are the minority that are kind of overlooked per say and when certain things are happening in social circles, people just feel, ‘oh, okay, let's empower the men’. 

“But knowing that as a woman I'm able to not just use the internet for any other thing like for my education, for instance, I'm able to use the internet, I'm able to use the internet to sell my business, I'm able to use the internet to connect with my friends, to make more money, to connect with potential buyers and people that could literally help my life one way or another.”

She continued, “It's an amazing feat that we are doing in Unconnected and that's why I'm so passionate about it.”

The fight has only just begun

As we celebrate International Women's Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to bridging the digital gender gap and empowering women worldwide.

By addressing the systemic barriers and amplifying initiatives that promote connectivity and digital inclusion, we can create a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Rahel, Ana María, Jewel, and countless others stand as testaments to the potential of meaningful connectivity in breaking down barriers and fostering opportunities for women globally.

If unconnected.org want to leave you with one message this International Women’s Day, let it be that digital rights are women’s rights.

With your support, we can harness the power of technology to uplift and empower women, leaving no woman or girl behind in the digital age.