KINGSTON, Jamaica – Thirty girls and young women who have been making an impact in the information, communication, and technology (ICT) space in Jamaica, were recognised for their contributions by Flow on International Girls in ICT Day on Wednesday, at a special award ceremony at the company’s corporate offices in Kingston.

Among the recipients were Jada Wright, a 15-year-old prodigy in her second year at the University of Technology; Meron McPherson, a 19-year-old student of Immaculate Conception High School who has developed a website powered by AI that helps low-income families find affordable homes; and the Spike Prime Robotics team of Pixie Hall, Zora Hall, and Eve Hall.

Stephen Price, Flow’s VP & general manager, called for the empowerment of this grouping saying, “Empowering girls and young women in ICT is not optional; it’s a necessity for a thriving and inclusive digital future. Additionally, as a large technology-based company, we also depend on having a strong cadre of highly trained ICT talent available to us as we work to expand our digital agenda and pilot innovations that will drive the region forward.”

“Further to this, as we consider the theme for this year’s celebrations, it is a timely call to action for us to place focus on inclusivity of our women and girls as our region races to complete and implement ICT infrastructure and guiding policies for the ICT investments of the future. Representation and contributions from all backgrounds and perspectives, including our women is key and it starts by inspiring young minds to embrace their roles as leaders in ICT,” Price said.

During the event, the girls received rousing inspiration from guest speaker Dr Maria Myers-Hamilton, CEO of the Spectrum Management Authority, who shared stories of her personal and professional journey. The girls also received real real-world perspective from Flow team members Kimberly Roper, Nova Hamilton, and Ann-A-Kay Williams-Miller.

International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative that promotes ICT to young women and girls, encouraging them to pursue careers in the field. This annually observed event highlights the importance of empowering all girls and women through ICT for their educational and socio-economic development.

This year’s the day was celebrated under the theme, “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” which underscores the importance of empowering girls and young women to ensure an inclusive digital future.