Digital skills for girls lead to game changing solutions
A spotlight on girls and young women leveraging tech tools to impact their communities
Girls everywhere have the right to opportunities and a bright future, equipping them with the tools and skills they need to thrive yields positive outcomes for them and their communities.
UNICEF Office of Innovation (OOI) its partners and collaborators around the world are working with adolescent girls and their communities, equipping them to be architects of a safe, secure and equitable digital future.
Initiatives such as the Game Changers Coalition (GCC), Giga, Tinkering with Tech and UPSHIFT ignite creativity, stimulate digital learning and foster innovation. The girls and young women who participate learn together, building and sharing essential digital skills.
“UNICEF is betting on a brighter future for girls – working alongside them to shape the tools and skills they need to thrive now and in an increasingly digital future,” says Oumayma Raimi, UNICEF Innovation Manager.
Here we share reflections from girls and young women leveraging digital skills to impact lives and drive transformative change in their communities.
Nare, Armenia
Nare Tovmasyan, 15, is an avid gamer who was fed up with never seeing girls like her represented in the games she played, so she decided to flip the script herself, building her own game with support from GCC.
“I have loved video games since I was little,” Nare says. “I was fascinated by the process of creating characters, exploring different worlds, overcoming challenges and becoming more adaptable.”
Y Hỉnh, Vietnam
Schoolgirl Y Hỉnh, 12, took part in the experiential learning initiative, Tinkering with Tech, creating a game that encourages communication, collaboration and care for the environment.
“I want to bring this game back to my village and share it with my friends and family so we can feel more connected and take more responsibility for our environment,” says Y Hỉnh.
Sereny, Cambodia
University student, entrepreneur and GCC mentor Sereny Mechpring, 21, is an inspiration to the adolescent girls she works with as they learn new skills for the future.
“It’s not just about technology anymore, it’s about problem-solving, storytelling, design, and imagination. That’s what makes [STEAM] truly exciting and welcoming, especially for girls. It helps them see that they belong here too,” Sereny says.
Tamara, Poland
Ukrainian refugee, Tamara Mamporia, 20, lives in Poland where she joined the UPSHIFT social innovator programme and co-created a digital photography project sharing experiences of youth with disabilities from Ukraine.
“At first, I wrote about myself, but now I understand that I can help people share their stories with the world,” Tamara says. “We didn’t just create an exhibition; we showed that everyone has the right to dream and to have opportunities.”
Nazym, Kazakhstan
Researcher, video game developer and GCC mentor Nazym Zhumabayeva, 22, leads by example, helping to equip adolescent girls with 21st century skills that mean they can move from playing, to learning, to earning.
“What we are creating together shows that play can be a force for well-being, creativity and connection, where every young person can live, create and thrive,” says Nazym.
Darlene, Kenya
Congolese student Darlene Vakoko, 17, lives in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya where she used the internet connectivity provided by Giga to teach herself to code and then built a website for her school, inspiring her to dream big for the future.
“When I’m finished with my studies, I want to be a software engineer,” Darlene says. “I trust myself, I believe in myself, I can do it.”
Salma, Morocco
GCC mentor Salma Nassiri, 22, was sceptical at first but was quickly convinced of the power of video games to deliver digital skills and education, and since being introduced to game development has enrolled on a master’s degree in technology, engineering and innovation.
“I’m not a gamer!” Salma recalls thinking. “I don’t play games; I don’t create games. At the beginning I was questioning, is this my field or not? It changed when I became a trainer.”
