YCDI and the Seprod Foundation Launch Landmark Women in IT Mentorship Program
Youth Can Do I.T (YCDI), a non-profit organisation founded by Lianne McNaughton in partnership with the Seprod Foundation, on Thursday hosted the launch of its Women in I.T Mentoring Program, a one-year pilot programme aimed at exposing girls to the IT industry.
The mentoring programme will expose high school and college aged young women to the STEM industry, and provide them with a community of support on which they can call for assistance in honing and developing the strengths and skills needed to progress in the field.
With the help of the Seprod Foundation, YCDI will accommodate 31 participants for the 2018 pilot programme.
The participants eagerly participated in the day’s activities, as they prepared for the start of what would surely prove to be life changing experiences including being matched with a suitable mentor, personal development and strengths coaching sessions, and technology workshops and training sessions. Moreover, select mentees will be given the opportunity to attend the Grace Hopper Women in Computing Conference in Houston, Texas in September
Guest speaker at the launch, Director of the Seprod Foundation, Melanie Subratie, also commend McNaughton and everyone involved in YCDI for the work they are doing with the programme.
“Information Technology has emerged as one of, if not, the most important and dynamic industries of our time, and it is essential that our young women are not left behind as the industry develops,”Subratie said.
She added that the Seprod Foundation was delighted to be a part of this programme.
“I believe it will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the participants , and I look forward to hearing great things from them as they spearhead Jamaica’s future IT innovations,”she said.
Founded in 2016, YCDI was born out of the desire to use technology and self-actualisation as the catalyst for capacity building among youth. The organisation uses technology and strengths-based initiatives to develop and empower Jamaica’s youth.